On social media, in newspapers or on television – images of freshly groomed slopes and snow-covered winter landscapes can be seen everywhere. These very images make many people want to get back on their skis. But one look at the ski pass prices in Europe can quickly dampen their enthusiasm: the differences between affordable and expensive ski resorts are enormous.
In this article, we will show you where skiing in Europe is particularly affordable, where the most expensive day ski passes await, and how expensive prices actually are in Austria during the 2026/27 winter season.

Affordable ski resorts in Europe
Anyone looking to save money on winter sports should also look beyond the Alps. Real bargains can be found especially in Eastern Europe and smaller French or Italian ski resorts. Here is a selection of the cheapest ski passes in Europe:
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Kolas, Montenegro: This small ski resort with 45 kilometers of slopes is a real bargain. A day ski pass here costs only €15 during the high season. (2025/26 winter season)
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Villard-Corrençon, France: 125 kilometers of slopes for just €42 per day – perfect for anyone looking for plenty of variety at a low price. (2025/26 winter season)
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Artesina-Mondolè, Italy: Winter sports fans get 105 kilometers of slopes for €48 here. (2025/26 winter season)
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Bansko, Bulgaria: Famous from the Ski World Cup, Bansko attracts visitors with 50 kilometers of slopes and a day ski pass for €50. (2025/26 winter season)
👉 Conclusion: Anyone looking to ski affordably will find exciting alternatives with fair prices outside the classic Alpine hotspots.
Most expensive ski resorts in Europe
On the other hand, there are destinations that impress with their exclusive atmosphere and huge ski resorts – but also with high prices. Here is an overview of the most expensive ski passes in Europe:
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Zermatt, Switzerland: A dream destination for ski fans – but expensive. A day ski pass costs an average of €104 (97 CHF) during the high season and offers access to 322 kilometers of slopes. (2025/26 winter season)
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St. Moritz, Switzerland: The luxury ski resort also charges an average of €104 per day (97 CHF) for its 163 kilometers. (2025/26 winter season)
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Dolomiti Superski, Italy: One of the largest ski areas in the world with an incredible 1,200 kilometers of slopes. Price per day: €86. (2025/26 winter season)
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Les 3 Vallées, France: With 600 kilometers of slopes, the area around Courchevel is legendary. The price: €82 per day. (2025/26 winter season)
👉 Conclusion: Exclusive ski resorts are not only large, but also in a price bracket of their own. Anyone who skis here pays for the overall package of slopes, infrastructure, and lifestyle.
Austrian ski pass prices 2026/27 compared
Austria is priced between the affordable Eastern European ski resorts and the luxury destinations in Switzerland. For the 2026/27 winter season, day ski passes in Austria range between approx. €43 and €85 during the high season.
In return, Austrian ski resorts offer not only top-quality groomed slopes, but also numerous extras: snow parks, ski cross tracks, giant slalom slopes, speed measurement facilities, and an extensive après-ski offer with umbrella bars and clubs. It is precisely this combination that has made Austria one of the most popular ski destinations worldwide for years.
The following table shows some Austrian ski resorts with more than 40 kilometers of slopes, as well as their ski pass prices for comparison.
|
Ski resort |
State |
Kilometers of slopes |
Day ski pass high season for adults* |
|
Carinthia |
55 km |
from €42.50 |
|
|
Upper Austria |
40 km |
from €44.50 |
|
|
Styria |
43 km |
€62 |
|
|
Salzburg |
46 km |
€64.50 |
|
|
Tyrol |
42 km |
€66 |
|
|
Upper Austria |
51 km |
€69 |
|
|
Vorarlberg |
140 km |
from €51 |
|
|
Salzburg |
100 km |
€72 |
|
|
Tyrol |
113 km |
€71.50 |
|
|
Carinthia |
110 km |
€73 |
|
|
Carinthia |
45 km |
€73 |
|
|
Carinthia |
103 km |
€73 |
|
|
Styria |
230 km |
€81.50 |
|
|
Salzburg |
210 km |
from €69 |
|
|
Tyrol |
65 km |
€75.50 |
|
|
Vorarlberg |
109 km |
€75.50 |
|
|
Tyrol |
112 km |
€69.50 |
|
|
Tyrol |
284 km |
€79.50 |
|
|
Tyrol |
214 km |
€80.50 |
|
|
Tyrol |
60 km |
€82 |
|
|
Tyrol/Switzerland |
239 km |
€83 |
|
|
Tyrol |
150 km |
€82 |
|
|
Tyrol |
140 km |
€82 |
|
|
Salzburg/Tyrol |
408 km |
€82 |
|
|
Tyrol |
233 km |
€83 |
|
|
Tyrol |
142 km |
€84.50 |
|
|
Vorarlberg/Tyrol |
303 km |
€85 |
*Prices are based on average prices from research conducted in October 2026. Prices may now differ on many websites due to dynamic pricing calculators, and may also vary on different days.