- A six-day ski pass in Dolomiti Superski, Italy, costs just €0.31 per km of slope
- Port Du Soleil (€0.49) and Sauze D’Oulx (€0.56) are the next best value for money lift passes
- Vallnord Pal Arinsal, Andorra, is the worst value for money resort at €4.29 per km
Ski passes can often be the most expensive part of any ski holiday, so for any winter sport enthusiast getting the best value for money is very important.
Sunweb, one of Europe’s leading holiday operators, has analysed the cost of a six-day ski pass in 21 of Europe’s top ski destinations to reveal the best value ski pass in Europe broken down by cost per km, with the Dolomiti Superski area costing just €0.31 per km of skiing. Alongside this, the package provider has also uncovered the places where you can find the most expensive and cheapest resort passes.
At €373, the Dolomiti Superski lift pass provides access to 12 resorts scattered throughout the Dolomites, offering up to 1,200 km of skiing – twice as much as the next largest areas, France’s Port Du Soleil (€0.49 per km) and Les 3 Vallées (€0.60 per km).
At €292.50, Port Du Soleil comes in at second place with a reasonable €0.49 per km. For skiers looking for a smaller area to conquer, Sauze D’Oulx comes in as the third best return on investment at € 0.56 - the best offer anywhere in the region. Playing host to freestyle skiing at the 2006 Winter Olympics, there’s no shortage of halfpipes or big air jumps for the more adrenaline-focused skiers.
Despite having a fairly low price, Vallnord Pal-Arinsal offers the worst value ski pass, with just 63km of ski-able slopes, meaning that for six days gliding down the slopes the cost per km is a hefty €4.29. Similarly, the steep price of a pass in Solden doesn’t give skiers much bang for their buck, with only 144km of slopes, setting keen snow-seekers back €2.62 per km.
Best Value for Money Ski Passes across Europe
Rank | Country | Resort | € / Km | Price of 6-day ski pass (€) Adult | Area size (km) |
1 | Italy | Dolomiti Superski | € 0.31 | € 373.00 | 1,200 |
2 | France | Port Du Soleil | € 0.49 | € 292.50 | 600 |
3 | Italy | Sauze D'Oulx | € 0.56 | € 223.00 | 400 |
4 | France | Les 3 Vallées | € 0.60 | € 360.00 | 600 |
5 | France | Les Arcs | € 0.78 | € 330.00 | 425 |
6 | Italy | Breuil-cervinia | € 0.94 | € 302.00 | 322 |
7 | Switzerland | Zermatt | € 0.99 | € 355.00 | 360 |
8 | Austria | St. Anton | € 1.17 | € 358.00 | 306 |
9 | France | Alpe D'Huez | € 1.24 | € 310.00 | 250 |
10 | France | Tignes - Val D'Isere | € 1.26 | € 378.00 | 300 |
11 | France | Les Deux Alpes | € 1.40 | € 279.00 | 200 |
12 | France | La Plagne | € 1.47 | € 330.00 | 225 |
13 | France | Chamonix | € 2.00 | € 300.00 | 150 |
14 | France | Meribel | € 2.03 | € 305.00 | 150 |
15 | France | Val Thorens | € 2.04 | € 306.00 | 150 |
16 | France | Les Gets - Morzine | € 2.10 | € 252.00 | 120 |
17 | France | Courchevel | € 2.17 | € 325.00 | 150 |
18 | France | Avoriaz | € 2.17 | € 282.00 | 130 |
19 | Switzerland | St Moritz | € 2.54 | € 393.00 | 155 |
20 | Austria | Solden | € 2.62 | € 377.50 | 144 |
21 | Andorra | Vallnord Pal-Arinsal | € 4.29 | € 270.00 | 63 |
According to Sunweb’s bookings data from last season, Val Thorens was the most popular resort destination for UK holidaymakers with the resort perched atop Les 3 Vallées appealing most to those in search of blue skies and fresh powder. If the 150km of slopes isn’t enough, skiers can upgrade to a full 3 Vallées lift pass which gives a significantly improved return on investment at €0.60 per km, compared to €2.04 in Val Thorens.
In the middle of the pack, La Plagne costs €1.47 per km and – per Sunweb’s bookings data - was also the second most popular destination for Brits last season with its 225km of glorious skiing.
Spokesperson for Sunweb, Jack Bolus, said: “The cost of a ski pass is often not factored into budgets by holidaymakers but at Sunweb, all our packages include a ski pass, meaning that there are no hidden or unexpected costs upon arrival in the mountains.
“With certain early bookings, skiers can get flights, accommodation, and a lift pass for less than the cost of a six-day pass in almost every resort researched.
“And, with the ongoing cost of living crisis meaning that ski holidays are becoming harder and harder to finance, Sunweb is more determined than ever to ensure all holiday packages are accessible and affordable for all.”