The Best Value Ski Resorts in Europe

It’s no secret that skiing or snowboarding is an expensive hobby, but we’re here to help you lower costs by highlighting some of Europe's best-value ski resorts. Thanks to thousands of unbiased, non-sponsored ratings, reviews and tips from the Snomad community, we’ve been able to identify which resorts offer lower-priced lift passes, reasonably priced accommodations and great skiing conditions to boot. Who said you couldn’t afford another trip this season?

Val Cenis, France

Lift pass cost (6 days): €221 Cost of a beer: €4 - €6 Snomad value for money rating: 4.91/5

Located in the lesser-known Haute-Maurienne region of the French Alps, Val Cenis sits southwest of Tignes and Val D’isere, close to the Italian border. It is made up of five traditional alpine villages, which are Lanslebourg, Lanslevillard, Termignon, Sollières-Sardières, and Bramans, each situated between 1,200 and 1,500 meters in elevation. There’s an interesting blend of Savoyard and Italian culture, which as you can imagine makes for some mesmerising culinary experiences. In terms of skiing, there are 125km of marked pistes serviced by 29 ski lifts. It’s also home to the longest green run in Europe, a 10km stretch named L’escargot. A decent range of accommodation (including self-catering) will allow you to suit your budget.

What the Snomad community say: “Val Cenis is a brilliant family-friendly resort that offers a range of runs for people of all abilities. Lovely choice of accommodation to suit a variety of budgets. Great snow even at the end of season. Would recommend to anyone wanting a great ski trip that won't pull the purse strings too much.” - Vicky, Jan 2025

See what else our community loves about Val Cenis.

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Pamporovo, Bulgaria

Lift pass cost (6 days): €160 according to their website. Note: The local currency is Bulgarian lev, but we have converted it for ease of comparison.
Cost of a beer: €1.50 - €2.50 Snomad value for money rating: 4.77/5

A gem of southern Bulgaria, Pamporovo is one of the country’s lesser-frequented resorts when compared with the likes of Bansko and Borovets. Despite this, it's pretty highly rated by the Snomad community, scoring over 4 out of 5 for things like eating out, value for moneyand accommodation options. There are around 60km of slopes, which is probably why it’s favoured by beginners and intermediates, as opposed to those looking to clock up miles and cross country borders. For a cheap ski break though, you won’t catch us complaining….

What the Snomad community say: Pamporovo is a great resort for beginner skiers, lots of easy blue and green runs and some nice reds. For more intermediate/ advanced skiers there are a few nice black runs but the resort is quite small so you could probably ski it all in one day if going fast. There were some lovely off-piste areas down one of the blue runs which made it more interesting! It was great value for money and the lift queues were quiet (we went during term time). Beers and restaurants were cheap and lots of nice places to stop on the mountain, but was not particularly lively in the evening.” - Daisy, Jan 2025

Livigno, Italy

Lift pass cost (1 week): €318 Cost of a beer: €4 - €6 Snomad value for money rating: 4.53/5

Equidistant from several major cities, untouched by the unsightly modern developments and offering duty-free shopping to boot, Livigno has a reputation for being one of Italy’s budget ski destinations. Enjoy high-alpine skiing on either side of the valley in either Carosello 3000 or Mottolino, and enjoy a range of terrain parks, the longest being over 800m with more than 50 features. Livigno has been named as the host for the Winter Olympics 2026, so maybe try and squeeze in a trip before everyone else hears about it….

What the Snomad community say: “All the pistes were in good condition, even when it was windy there was somewhere to ski. There are plenty of places to eat on the mountains on both sides, a couple of expensive ones, cheap by Swiss resort prices but good quality. Great town for bargains as it is duty-free, paid an excellent price for skis and bindings. Great restaurants in the town and there is some lively apres.” - Neal, Feb 2025

Got something to add about Livingo? We’d love to hear it!

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Ellmau, Austria

Lift pass cost (1 week): €359 Cost of a beer: €3 - €5 Snomad value for money rating: 4.88/5

Nestled at the base of the Wilder Kaiser mountain range in the Tyrol region of Austria, Ellmau is a pretty alpine village. It forms part of the expansive SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental, one of the largest and most modern ski areas globally. That means there’s a colossal amount of skiing to be had, with over 270km of pistes. Dispute this, it’s known as a beginners and intermediates resort, with limited long and steep options.

What the Snomad community say: “A great resort for all skiers and snowboarders of all abilities. The skiwelt is vast interlinking the runs and lifts from other villages so you never get bored of the same runs - the lifts are fantastic. There is an abundance of smaller mountain huts and bars meaning you can stop at will and enjoy drinks and snacks to break up the day. Ps it is also worth knowing that Austrian food portions are massive and therefore great value to share. Definitely recommended.” - Stephen, March 2024

Join the conversation and read more reviews about Ellmau here.

Les Deux Alpes, France

Lift pass cost (1 week): €311 as of the 2024/25 season Cost of a beer: €5 - €7 Snomad value for money rating: 4.20/5

Perhaps not the cheapest resort in this line-up in terms of food and drink, but when considering overall value, we think it deserves a spot on the list. Les 2 Alpes does have a wide range of accommodation options and has an elevation range between 1650m up to 3600m, meaning the conditions tend to be reliable and you can score yourself a cheap trip if you’re happy with sandwiches at lunchtime.

What the Snomad community say: “Been to Les 2 Alpes 4 times now such a great value-for-money resort! Majority of slopes at high altitudes so great snow even in March! I know some people don't like the lack of run options back down to town as the blue and green back down can get pretty busy at the end of the day but easy to download via lifts or the black run down is always quiet so not a bother for me. The new Jandri lift has improved the lift system so much. There’s a nice warm indoor picnic area with microwave, sinks etc. under the middle lift which is great for cold days!” - Erin, Feb 2025

Got an insider budget-friendly tip for Les 2 Alpes? Share it with other skiers and snowboarders here.

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Discover the best value ski resorts with Snomad

If you disagree with this line-up, or think there are better value-for-money resorts out there, we’d love to hear your opinion, which you can share via Snomad. Snomad is a community of thousands of snowsport enthusiasts based all around the world. Accessible for everyone, it’s a place where riders like you can rate hundreds of ski resorts based on things like off-piste riding, après and of course, value for money. Not only can you explore unbiased reviews, there’s also a Q&A section where locals and tourists alike can swap insider info and tips. Sound good? Find your next cheap ski resort destination or join the conversation here.