Winter holidays are the most wonderful holidays of the year, and how much fun it can be to spend them with the whole family. A skiing holiday with children is great for lots of reasons, regardless if you go with your baby, toddler, preschooler or challenging teenager. Think of playing together in the snow, building a snowman or proudly watching them make their first turns on the children's slope. Here is our selection of the top 10 ski resorts for a winter holiday with children.
In Grächen, SiSu the snowbird will ensure that children have an unforgettable time. In this incredibly versatile ski resort, even the little ones will have fun making their first turns on skis. They can also play in a children's park, eat delicacies in the family restaurant Mäc SiSu and have endless practice on the wonderful children's pistes. Your children will have something to do all day. They can even take a break in the video room or special hammocks and check out the fairy-tale gondola, ghost tunnel and an igloo village with cinema. If you are looking for a great destination for winter sports with children in Switzerland, put this ski resort on your list.
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis is an excellent ski resort for winter holidays with children. The children's pistes Kinderschneealm, Murmlipark and Berta's Kinderland are huge and offer so much variety and adventure that every child will want to learn to ski there. Kids can also visit a children's centre, children's stage, adventure course, and indoor playground; and these are just a few examples of the facilities for the little ones that are on offer! Moreover, the life-size mascots Murmli and Berta encourage kids on the slopes. Once your kids have been to Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, they'll never want to go anywhere else.
This car-free French village is all about families with children. As there are no cars on the streets, the little ones can run and play around safely. The youngest skiers can learn how to ski at the Club Piou Piou, while the more experienced kids can try out their skills in a modest ski area. With 65 km of slopes, La Norma is a manageable ski resort where you won't lose each other easily. It offers many facilities for children and has been awarded the 'Family Plus Mountain Label'.
Zillertal Arena is a perfect ski area for the whole family. It boasts many varied slopes suitable for all levels. You can stay in the attractive village of Königsleiten, located at a high altitude and very snow-sure, featuring a lovely practice area for children. Another option is to stay in Gerlos, generally known as an après-ski village, but also perfect for families with children. Here, too, is a nice children's area in the middle of the village, while the slopes on the mountain are suitable for all the family. You can also find accommodation in Zell am Ziller, a lovely but slightly quieter village.
Fulpmes is a small charming village in the Stubai Valley. Above it is a great ski area Schlick 2000, boasting around 40 km of slopes, located amidst a stunning mountain landscape. Children can learn how to ski in Big Ron's Kinderland, located at the middle station of the cable car. Next to it, children from 1 year on can be looked after in a warm and cosy playroom. You can also visit the snow-sure Stubai Glacier at the end of the valley, with a large Kinderland and excellent facilities for the whole family.
A winter holiday with kids is fun, but it must remain affordable. Maria Alm is, therefore, an excellent option! Families with small children will especially enjoy the slopes around Natrun, right by the village. Once the children have mastered the turns, they can move on to the Aberg or the rest of Hochkönig. Both Maria Alm ski areas have dedicated slopes for children: Hugo's Kinderland and Schneewutzel Kinderclub. In Natrun, you will also find a special Funslope and Beginner Funpark.
The Tiroler Zugspitz Arena consists of five different ski resorts and several villages. The village of Ehrwald is a perfect choice for families with children. On the Ehrwalder Alm, there are perfect runs for the whole family - nice, wide and easy. A lovely children's area is also available, perfect for the first turns on skis. The village of Lermoos also has a wonderful children's practice area in the valley, where kids can learn to ski or snowboard in a fun way. This practice slope even has its own cable car! How much more comfortable can it get?
Kronplatz is a perfect area for a winter holiday with children. The slopes are generally wide and not too difficult, so there's plenty of room for practice. Although most villages around Kronplatz are family-friendly, Olang and St. Vigil in Enneberg stand out in terms of ski schools and family facilities. They are quiet villages where kids can also play in the snow, next to spending time on the slopes.
In SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser - Brixental, the pistes are generally relatively easy. Children who can already ski can take beautiful day trips with their parents. For the little ones who are skiing for the first time, there are great children's areas in Ellmau and Westendorf, among others. If you require childcare and a ski school on the slopes, choose Scheffau am Wilder Kaiser or Brixen im Thale.
Meiringen-Hasliberg is a family-friendly destination in the Bernese Oberland. The youngest winter sports enthusiasts will enjoy the Skihäsliland, located next to the middle station of the Bidmi lift. This lovely children's area includes a ski carousel, special children's lifts and an igloo village. Haslital is also home to an exciting fun park for children. It has been adapted so that they can have a great time there. After all, Shaun White didn't start on high kickers either!
I grew up in Slovenia, close to the Julian Alps. Early on, my parents put me on skis and skates, and the winter sports enthusiasm hasn't left me since. I also enjoy cross-country skiing and have been a keen snowboarder for the past 20 years.
