Best Family Ski Destinations in the Alps: Switzerland, Italy and Austria

Traveling to Europe for a family ski vacation in the Alps is the trip of a lifetime for avid skiers. As intimidating as Alpine skiing may seem, most resorts are well-designed for families, even those with young children. Dedicated slopes for beginners and children, daycare for non-skiers, other snow sports, and family-friendly lodgings are common throughout Italy, Switzerland and Austria.

Switzerland

The distinctive profile of the Matterhorn is the postcard image of Zermatt, and it is visible from nearly anywhere in the Alpine town. Kids ages 9 and under ride free with an adult holding a multiday pass, and the free Wolli Card lets them ride Gornergrat Bahn and adds free lodging for kids in some Zermatt hotels. The gentle terrain in Wolli’s Park, at the top of Sunnegga funicular, is filled with play features.

Less pricey and filled with cozy Alpine villages, Jungfrau is known for its long runs. But family skiers will find shorter beginner-friendly runs around the village of Wengen. Especially fun for kids is riding the many cable cars and rack railways connecting the Jungfrau towns.

Italy

The poster child of Italian ski resorts is Cortina D’Ampezzo, scene of winter Olympics and numerous world-class races. Lower keyed, with less glitz and the same superb Dolomites snow conditions, nearby Alta Badia is a good choice for families, with gentle beginner terrain and about 50 percent of trails rated intermediate. You can avoid Cortina’s crowds, get the same fine skiing and find a good variety of lodging for families in Alta Badia’s main village of La Villa.

Also in the Dolomites, Alpe di Siusi is one of the region’s most family-friendly ski resorts, with plenty of terrain for beginning and intermediate skiers. A ski school, kids’ play parks, and children’s ski tours cater to young skiers and teen snowboarders, like the multiple features and challenges of the snow park. Parents applaud the child-safety features on lifts. Perfect snow-making assures good ski conditions December through March.

Austria
Saalbach and several other resort towns combine to form an extensive trail and lift network. Called SkiCircus, it forms a ring of mountains with more than 100 miles of ski runs and more than 60 lifts. Experienced skiers can make a circuit of multiple runs rather than repeating terrain. Families with beginning and intermediate skiers will find plenty of terrain across the entire 1,000-meter vertical. The most budget-friendly town in the circuit is quiet Hinterglemm, connected to other towns by free ski buses.