Hidden Gems: The Best Ski Resorts That You've Never Heard Of!

Skiing and snowboarding were once hobbies reserved solely for the very adventurous, elite, or those that happened to live on the side of a mountain. Thankfully though, these days a winter holiday is an annual staple for millions of us. If you spend most of your year thinking about sun soaked days atop crispy corduroy, or that floating, flying feeling of the white room, you’re probably also keen to seek out the lesser-known, intrepid options that will inevitably broaden your skiing and snowboarding horizons. Great news, we’ve done the research for you. We’ve scoured the Snomad community reviews and done a little bit of digging to find hidden gem ski resorts throughout Europe that cater to families, mixed groups and off-piste enthusiasts.

The Best Hidden Gem Ski Resorts for Families

For families, we’ve prioritised ease of access, ski-in-ski-out locations and quieter resorts. Here you’ll find welcoming cruisey slopes and a soothing lack of après boot stomping.

Myrkdalen, Norway

The largest ski resort in western Norway, you might think that Myrkdalen can’t possibly be a hidden gem. However, this snow-sure destination has a reputation for quiet slopes and zero queues. Based in the spectacular fjord region, natural phenomena such as the northern lights and the midnight sun are common here. A haven for families with little ones, Myrkdalen is home to The Adventure Forest, where green slope Huldreskogen is illuminated after hours with magical colour-changing lights. There’s also night skiing available and regular children’s competitions where everyone wins a prize.

Puy Saint Vincent, France

Positioned on the edge of the Ecrins National Park, Puy Saint Vincent is the epitome of convenience - everything is ski-in, ski-out, with seriously stunning views out across larch forest. The accommodation is spread out across 1400, 1600 and 1800 metres, and we’d recommend staying in one of the many apartments available at 1600m, or there’s a choice of hotels. There’s an ESF school here and a very friendly ski area of varied terrain. You can reach the resort from Lyon, Geneva and Turin, with Turin offering the shortest transfer time of around 2.5 hours.

La Thuile, Italy

A laidback winter paradise near the head of the Aosta Valley, La Thuile is known for being affordable and accessible, with great links to the neighbouring La Rosière in France extending the ski area to 152km of slopes. The esteemed ski school here has been running for over 60 years. Based just 2 hours from both Geneva and Turin airports, La Thuile was once an important mining town. These days, it’s known for relaxed ski holidays with access to the entire San Bernado area, stunning views of Mont Blanc and the best of both French and Italian cuisine.

The Best Hidden Gem Ski Resorts For Mixed Groups

The mixed group ski holiday can be a tricky beast. You’ll need a healthy mix of terrain, a choice of places to eat and the option to get involved with some entertaining après - but just the right amount of each so that everyone is up for it again next year.

Sainte Foy, France

A small, beloved resort just a short journey from its much better-known neighbours Tignes and Val D’isère, Sainte Foy (pronounced San Fwah) offers a micro-climate environment thanks to it’s sheltered proximity to Northern Italy, as well as stunning views down the Tarantaise Valley out across Mont Pourri. There’s a range of accommodation options available, and a decent mix of varied terrain which all leads back to the resort centre - nobody’s getting lost and angry here. There’s a small but undeniable après scene emanating from Les Moulinettes, and those in search of something more rowdy can always venture out for the day to one of the larger neighbours. Sainte Foy is also a bit of hidden gem for the high quality of the off-piste terrain, meaning that you will be able to find fresh tracks here long after a snowfall.

Warth-Schröcken, Austria

Forming part of the colossal Arlberg Ski area, Warth-Schröcken is not as well known as the heavy hitters such as Lech and St Anton nearby. There’s an average of 11 metres of natural snow here each winter, making it a snow-sure choice with varying terrain. The two villages are a short distance apart, and are mostly known for being a quiet hamlet with just a few hotels and a limited choice of restaurants. That being said, this is the hidden gem choice for a group looking for decent snow and mixed terrain. There’s also plenty of mountain huts where you can enjoy a lively après scene, and perhaps even factor in a night out in the legendary St Anton atmosphere.

Baqueira-Beret, Spain

Set within the stunning surroundings of the Aran Valley in the Pyrenees, Baqueira offers an extensive ski area of over 160km of slopes serviced by 36 lifts. The majority of the runs are beginner, closely followed by intermediate and finally with a few black - enough to satisfy the speed racer of the group. There’s also a snowpark in the Beret sector of the resort, and a sun-soaked Moët Champagne lounge at the bottom of the Jesus Serra lift.

The Best Hidden Gem Ski Resorts For Off-Piste

Rugged, rustic and formidable, our small selection of hidden gem ski resorts for the freeride fan are the stuff of legend. You’ll need to know your stuff, be equipped with avalanche safety gear and potentially remain tight-lipped enough about your experience so that the resort remains a hidden gem.

La Grave, France

A purists’ playground, La Grave has been on the lips of locals for quite some time, with big names in the international freeride industry choosing to base themselves there each winter. Nestled below France’s iconic peak of La Mieje, this ‘village with a ski lift’ is entirely at the mercy of the conditions, and the ski lift won’t run in times of bad weather. This is the place to come for world-renowned couloirs and powder fields finished off with authentic, local food and warm hospitality.

Val d’Anniviers, Switzerland

Okay so we’re cheating a bit with this one, as Val d’Anniviers is an entire Swiss valley home to several picturesque villages where any keen off-piste riders can base themselves. The five resorts are called St-Luc, Chandolin, Grimentz, Zinal and Vercorin. Each one is beloved for having retained its rustic, traditional charm which is the perfect antidote to ultra-modern, fast-paced resorts elsewhere. There are plenty of freeride guides here, with the Grimentz and Zinal areas just taking top place.

Riskgränsen, Sweden

A true arctic ski experience, Riskgränsen embodies nordic charm with its endless panoramas and red-painted wooden huts. While there are only 15 pistes, the off-piste opportunity here is huge, with legendary runs including Hamres, Rimfors, Sheriffen, Branten and Uffe’s wall. Get a guide for the day for an unmatched introduction to the pockets of powder that sit in the surprisingly easily accessible areas from the Nordalsfjall summit.

Be sure to also check out our league table ranking the Best Ski Resorts for Quiet Slopes, all based on our community ratings.