5 of the Best Ski Resorts in the World

Once a winter sport strictly for thrill-seeking mountaineers, downhill skiing is now a family-friendly activity and part of a multi-billion-dollar tourism industry. In 2022 ski resorts in the United States generated more than $4 billion in revenue, and resorts worldwide continue to expand their amenities and create runs of varying difficulties to keep up with demand.

There are more than 470 active ski areas in the US, with most located in Northeastern states like New York, Michigan, and Wisconsin. While these may have resorts with more cost-effective rates and runs for beginners, veteran skiers and snowboarders looking for a challenge should check out one of the following five best resorts in the world.

1. Whistler Blackcomb (Canada)

Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada, is North America's largest winter sports area, but that isn't the only standout feature of the world-renowned resort. In addition to a combined skiable terrain with more than 200 runs, the resort is known for its world-class grooming and diverse terrain as well as the PEAK 2 PEAK gondola, which runs more than 3 kilometers between mountain peaks and is the longest unsupported lift in the world.

The resort isn't just a favorite among downhill skiers. It has five freestyle skiing and snowboarding parks covering nearly 100 acres. These areas include features such as rails and easy jumps as well as an Olympic-sized halfpipe and the Nintendo Terrain Park.

The Whistler Village is a great location for apres-ski dining and entertainment. Situated between the Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, the pedestrian-only resort village has unique slopeside bars, more than 200 dining establishments, and hundreds of premier retail outlets, including Can-Ski and Showcase.

2. Courchevel (France)

Courchevel is the highlight of France's Les 3 Vallées region, which boasts more than 600 kilometers of ski runs spanning 10 summits, all higher than 2,500 meters. Best suited for experienced skiers, Courchevel features 150 kilometers of skiable area and 60 different lifts. Its Grand Couloir is considered one of the world's most challenging black runs. Jean Blanc, a former downhill run on the World Cup circuit, is another popular but challenging run.

Courchevel has six unique resort villages, each of which features diverse dining options rooted in mountain tradition. Restaurants include Michelin-starred establishments and those that offer traditional French cuisine created with local ingredients. Visitors can also take advantage of other snow-related activities, including tobogganing, Nordic walking, snowshoeing, and dog sledding.

3. Zermatt (Switzerland)

Boasting 350 kilometers of slopes and trails, Zermatt in Switzerland is the highest skiing area in the Alps and features the world's highest 3S Lift, which is capable of carrying 2,000 skiers per hour to the Matterhorn Glacier at more than 3,800 meters altitude. Here, skiers can tackle Europe's longest downhill run, which descends 25 kilometers into Zermatt. Visitors can even ski in two different countries—the resort's Theodul Pass drops into a trail system in Italy's Val d'Aosta.

Zermatt also stands out for its exhilarating off-piste experiences. The resort, along with three others, is a gateway to Haute Route, a 178-kilometer trail system that extends to Chamonix in the French Alps.

4. Baqueira Beret (Spain)

Baqueira Beret in the Central Pyrenees is not only a hidden gem of skiing but one of Europe's premier downhill skiing destinations. The snow here is wetter than that in the Alps, which makes it stick to steeper slopes, creating Alaskan-style spines.

Baqueira Beret isn't known as much as other resorts for its apres-ski options, but it has a variety of runs, is more cost-effective than most resorts in the Alps, and typically isn't as crowded. Olympic medalist Jenny Jones spoke favorably about the resort in a 2019 story for SNOW magazine.

"After a full day of exploring, Baqueira strikes me as a resort that would perfectly suit everyone from beginners to intermediates, with plenty of scope for the pros to play further afield," Jones wrote. "And I just can't get over how quiet the slopes are here—there's a relaxed mix of local and international skiers out on the snow but it's by no means busy, and it really does feel like most of the great powder skiing is somehow still a local secret."

5. Hakuba (Japan)

Japan stands out for its skiing, but that wasn’t the case before it hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics. Today, visitors flock to the mountains for its world-class skiing. Hokkaido receives the most snow of all resorts in Japan, but Hakuba, a mountain town on Japan's main island of Honshu, has much better terrain and offers a variety of runs for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels. Hakuba features three main ski areas: Cortina, Norikura Onsen, and Happo One, the latter of which has 52 kilometers of runs and hosted ski events during the Olympics.