Europe’s Most Exclusive Ski Resorts to Visit This Winter
5th November 2026
Maison Sport, the online ski instructor booking platform, shares its knowledge of the best upmarket resorts in the Alps. NEW
For many, the annual ski trip is a winter highlight, with time on the slopes at the heart of the experience.
But for those seeking a more exclusive getaway, Europe offers plenty of resorts where world-class skiing goes hand in hand with luxury both on and off the snow.
From glamorous alpine hideaways to resorts favoured by royalty, the experts at Maison Sport, Europe’s leading ski lesson booking platform, have handpicked Europe’s most exclusive ski resorts to visit this winter.
These destinations combine exceptional skiing with glamorous après-ski, luxury spas, designer shopping and outstanding restaurants, making them the ultimate Alpine escapes for those looking to indulge.
Luxury, lifestyle, and sports meet Engadine nature and tradition at this eternally bougie Swiss resort.
St. Moritz is among the largest and most varied winter sports regions in the Alps and is known for its dry “champagne climate” and high-society social calendar.
It is regarded as the birthplace of Alpine winter sports and offers 87 World Cup-standard slopes and pistes.
Off the ski slopes, resort highlights include polo and horse racing on the frozen lake, high-end designer shopping along the Via Serlas, and legendary luxury hotels like Badrutt’s Palace and the Kempinski Grand Hotel.
Celebrities including supermodels Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss, and Hollywood actor George Clooney and wife Amal are regularly spotted on the slopes.
How to get there: The resort is roughly three hours from Zürich Airport by road or train.
St Moritz, Switzerland. Image © Helen Gillespie/PlanetSKI.
Zermatt in Switzerland is a picturesque, car-free alpine village nestled right beneath the dramatic peak of the Matterhorn.
Home to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Europe’s highest mountain station, it offers high-altitude Alpine air with breathtaking views of the snow-covered peaks of the Alps and the iconic Matterhorn.
The mountain-top restaurant and shop at 3,883 metres are among the resort’s distinctive attractions and there are plenty of elite secluded luxury chalets for visitors to reside in.
Lewis Hamilton is frequently spotted in the area, and stays at the ultra-luxurious Chalet Zermatt Peak tend to be a favourite with celebrities.
How to get there: Most international travellers fly into a major Swiss hub and take the efficient SBB rail system, as the resort is car-free. The train takes approximately three hours from Zürich Airport.
Zermatt, Switzerland. Image c/o Steve Sparks
Klosters is a picturesque, upmarket alpine village located in the Prättigau region of the canton of Graubünden in eastern Switzerland.
It is known for its beautiful natural scenery, first-class winter sports regions and many activities for families.
It is a quiet, traditional chalet-style village offering a relaxed pace.
Klosters has been a long-standing favourite of the British Royal Family, with King Charles III amongst its most famous visitors.
Princes William and Harry spent many childhood winter holidays at the secluded resort, and learnt to ski on the gentle slopes before venturing onto the wider mountain terrain.
Kate Middleton made her first public holiday appearance in the resort with Prince William in 2004.
Unlike many high-profile ski destinations, Klosters remains refreshingly discreet, making it appealing to high-profile celebrities who want to go unnoticed, with Elton John, The Beckhams and Leonardo DiCaprio also visiting the resort.
How to get there: The fastest way to get to Klosters is to fly into Zürich Airport and take a 2-hour and 20-minute train ride via Zürich Hauptbahnhof and Landquart.
Klosters, Switzerland. Image c/o Heather Jefferies.
Courchevel sits at the heart of the Three Valleys in the French Alps, the world’s largest ski area.
It is known for its expansive ski terrain, vibrant atmosphere and exceptional luxury hospitality.
Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, have favoured this upscale French resort for private ski getaways, having most recently been seen there in January 2026.
The après-ski scene in Courchevel 1850 reflects the resort’s reputation: glamorous, expensive, and upscale.
Chalet de Pierres offers a long slope-side lunch which smoothly transitions into a lively afternoon of champagne and music.
The large sun terrace of Le Tremplin attracts an exclusive crowd, and the resort features some of the most luxurious and high-altitude alpine wellness centres in the world, with Le Chabichou Hôtel & Spa offering the largest hotel spa in the resort.
How to get there: Chambéry is the closest airport, although Geneva is the airport of choice for most visitors, with transfers from Geneva to Courchevel taking two and a half hours.
Courchevel 1850, France. Image © PlanetSKI.
“Some of Europe’s most exclusive ski resorts offer much more than exceptional skiing,” said the CEO and Co-Founder of Maison Sport, Nick Robinson.
“From glamorous après-ski in Zermatt to world-class mountain dining in Courchevel, these destinations combine outstanding skiing with memorable experiences off the slopes.
“For those looking to make the most of their trip, knowing where to go beyond the pistes can make all the difference.
“Hennu Stall in Zermatt is a great choice for lively, slope-side après-ski, while Bagatelle in Courchevel brings a taste of the French Riviera to the mountains.
“Our ski instructors know these resorts inside out and can share their local knowledge, from the best runs for your ability to favourite spots for lunch and après-ski, helping visitors get even more out of their time in the Alps.”
To book a private ski instructor in St. Moritz, Zermatt, Klosters or Courchevel, or other top resorts across Europe, visit maisonsport.com.
About Maison Sport
Founded in 2016, Maison Sport is an innovative ski lesson booking platform, created by a team of industry professionals with over 25 years of ski teaching experience.
All former British ski team members, the founding team started the company with the aim to modernise the traditional, antiquated ski school model by empowering both customers and instructors and connecting the two parties directly through a tech-first platform.
The Maison Sport platform enables customers to find their ideal instructor and make highly informed decisions based on detailed instructor profiles and authentic reviews.
Additionally, it provides a more ethical and profitable practice for instructors, who keep up to 93% of the lesson costs.
Currently, the Maison Sport marketplace includes over 1,300 trusted, verified snow sports instructors across more than 400 European ski resorts.
Offering flexible, personalised lessons in multiple disciplines, it has become a go-to platform for skiers and snowboarders of all levels, making ski experiences more accessible, tailored and enjoyable.
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