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According to the environmental organization Protect Our Winters (POW), traveling to ski resorts is responsible for most of the emissions emitted during skiing and snowboarding. This is why more and more skiers, especially in Europe, are choosing trains to get to their snowsports destination.
These trains are also a good opportunity for international travelers who want to save money since things like rental cars won’t be necessary. Sleeper trains, trains that travel overnight and arrive in the morning, are increasing in popularity. Here are the top five ski resorts that you can reach by normal or overnight train in Europe.
- Related Article: 15 Fantastic Spots for Summer Skiing in Europe
5. Garmisch Classic, Germany
Garmisch Classic ski area is just 100 km (62 miles) outside Munich and it is the ideal place to ski if you visit or live in Munich. A train departs from Munich’s central station to Garmisch every hour. From there, you switch trains to the Bavarian Zugspitzbahn, which takes you right to the base of the mountain. The trip takes about one and a half hours one way. Once you have arrived, you can enjoy 40 km (25 miles) of slopes and 1,310 vertical meters (4,297 ft) of skiing. The town also hosts a ski World Cup race. It’s best to get the Germany Ticket if you plan on taking the train to any skiing destination in Germany.
4. Åre, Sweden
Åre can be reached by the Snälltåget, an overnight express train that leaves from Malmö, Sweden, and passes through Stockholm, Sweden’s capital, before arriving at the ski area in the morning. Åre is one of the biggest ski areas in Scandinavia and has over 90 km (55 miles) of slopes. The ski area is known for its night skiing. Åre hosts a World Cup ski race and Red Bull Unrailistic, a competition inspired by Jesper Tjäder’s legendary Unrailistic video, which was also shot in Åre.
3. Serre Chevalier,Briaçon, France
The Intercité de la nuit leaves Paris in the evening and arrives in Briançon in the morning. From Briançon, you can access a variety of ski areas. One of the best ski areas located around Briancon is Serre Chevalier. The area has 250 km (155 miles) of ski slopes that can be reached from four different mountain towns, including Briançon. The ski area offers 1,600 vertical meters (5,250 ft) of skiing. On off days, you can enjoy Briançon’s historical center, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
2. Ski Arlberg, St-Anton, Austria
Ski Arlberg, Austria’s biggest ski area, can be reached by the ÖBB Nightjet. Travelers can take the overnight express from multiple cities like Hamburg, Amsterdam, or Vienna. The train passes through Innsbruck before reaching its destination in St. Anton. From there, you can access the Ski Arlberg ski area, which offers 300 km (186 miles) of slopes and 200 km (124 miles) of freeride runs.
1. Matterhorn Ski Paradise, Zermatt, Switzerland
Zermatt can be reached by taking an SBB train from Basel or Zürich to the town of Visp. There, you switch trains to the Gotthard Train, which climbs 1,000 vertical meters (3,200 ft) to the town of Zermatt. The Matterhorn ski area, the highest in the Alps, offers year-round skiing with 360 km (223 miles) of slopes in Italy and Switzerland. The resort is situated below the iconic Matterhorn and was crowned “Best Ski Resort in the World” by best-ski-resorts.com. Zermatt is also home to Europe’s highest gondola, the Little Matterhorn Express, which takes skiers and snowboarders to 3,880 m (12,740 ft). Since Zermatt is a car-free town, it’s the ideal location for a holiday by train.
