Best resorts to go snowboarding in Europe

Europe is every rider’s dream. It’s home to some of the world’s top resorts, with unparalleled trail networks, expansive shred areas, impressive infrastructure, tons of snow, and an impossible-to-beat après scene. But are these spots snowboard-friendly – aka, with as few flat sections as possible? You bet.

So, let’s dive into the top ten destinations for snowboarders. And once you’ve been persuaded to book your flights, don’t forget to secure your gear. Our new collection features fresh outerwear and can’t-ride-without accessories. Check it out below.

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Top snowboarding destinations

St. Anton, Austria

Drag lifts. Two words to make any snowboarder shiver in fear. So, ideally, you want a resort with as few as possible, right? Lock in on St. Anton, then, with 85 lifts (mostly gondolas and chairs) taking you to dreamy winding slopes. You’ll also have access to the iconic Ski Arlberg region, with 189.5 miles/305 kilometers of trails across St. Anton, St. Christoph, Stuben, Lech, and Zürs alongside Warth and Schröcken. Not bad, right?

Of course, dipping into the backcountry guarantees zero drags. The Ski Arlberg region is a freeride mecca with 124 miles/200 kilometers of marked off-piste terrain full of natural features, deep steeps, tree runs, and pow fields. St. Anton is also Austria’s only resort where it’s possible to take a heli. Then, it’s time to swap choppers for Glühwein in St. Anton’s infamous après scene. Our top pick? The legendary MooserWirt. Beware, though – its unofficial slogan is ‘awesome and expensive as hell’!

Top tip: Get ready to switch your après footwear. Some clubs and bars forbid entry after 8 pm if wearing snowboard boots.

Verbier, Switzerland

Looking for a cracking freeride destination? You can’t get much better than Verbier! This Swiss mountain town hosts a stop on the legendary Freeride World Tour (FWT), where the likes of Victor de Le Rue, Erin Sauvé, and Anna Martinez launch themselves off cliffs and conquer technical, gnarly lines. More of a groomer cruiser? No sweat. Verbier is the gateway to the 255-mile/410-kilometer 4 Vallées ski area, with perfectly groomed slopes alongside breathtaking panoramic views. 

Most snowboarders on our team head to the nearby linked resort of Bruson, calling it an absolute paradise. They rate the sheltered glade runs, which keep the snow soft and light. Bruson is heaven on a pow day, with a few hella-fun off-piste runs to dip into. If you hate drag lifts, avoid some areas around Verbier, such as Thyon and Veysonnaz, as there are a few around. 

Top tip: Book a lesson with Vivid Snowboarding, Verbier’s specialist snowboard school. These guys are the real deal, offering backcountry and freestyle camps and private lessons for all abilities.

Tignes, France

Being snow-sure is Tignes’ claim to fame. Reaching 11,319 feet/3,450 meters via the Grande Motte Glacier, this bowled resort is always laden with pow. Rock up and discover over 186 miles/300 kilometers of slopes (thanks to its link up with Val d'Isère), huge, drool-worthy freeriding areas, stellar après, and more. Oh, and rad freestyle opportunities, of course. 

Speaking of freestyle, the DC* Park at the top of the Grattalu chair is insane, with a pro-only line, beginner and intermediate-friendly zones, and a chillout area. There’s also a free airbag for going big – if you’re brave enough! Once you’ve had your fill, it’s time to fill your glass at Loop Bar. Ready yourself for epic après vibes on its sun-soaked terrace. Mega dreamy. 

Top tip: Snowboarders and skiers come together at The Marmot Arms, a legendary post-ride spot – and the world’s only marmot-themed pub. Order a gourmet burger or indulge in their famous Happy Hour from 4 to 6 pm. Or both!

Livigno, Italy

Fast lines and freeriding are generally snowboarders’ drinks of choice. But what if you’re learning? Check out Livigno! Home to the Carosello 3000 ski area (west side of Livigno’s valley) and multiple beginner runs, this place is perfecto for nailing your first turns and. Livigno’s snowboard schools also feature super-friendly instructors and small groups. 

Livigno is awesome for every rider, though – including a fun, lively town for those wanting a day off. You’ll discover epic freeriding alongside world-class terrain parks and a freestyle scene. Oh, and Livigno is a duty-free zone where everything is remarkably cheaper than the rest of Europe. That’s the perfect reason to treat yourself to a new snowboard setup while there! 

Top tip: Take a lap (or two) through the award-winning Snowpark Mottolino, one of Europe’s first-ever terrain parks! 

Davos, Switzerland

If you’re with a crew, look no further than Davos. Spread over six areas, the Davos-Klosters region has something for everyone, serving over 186 miles/300 kilometers of snowboard-ready slopes, epic terrain parks, waist-deep pow, a boardercross circuit, and more. Davos is also Europe’s highest town, with a base altitude of 5,118 feet/1,560 meters! 

Park rats will quickly zero in on Jakobshorn (the only mountain snowboarders were allowed to use in the 80s). Today, it has the JatzPark, a terrain park full of kickers, rails, and tables. Freeride fans will zone in on Parsenn and Pischa (accessible from Klosters). Rinerhorn holds lift-accessible stashes – if you don’t mind tackling t-bars first. More into carving? Tackle the 7.5-mile/12-kilometer-long Parsenn descent from the summit of Weissfluh and rip as hard as possible! 

Top tip: Conquer the 22-foot superpipe – or stand back and admire. It’s part of the Bolgen Park in Jakobshorn and kinda hard to miss…

Åre, Sweden

We’re now traveling closer to the Arctic Circle, stopping into Åre, Scandinavia’s largest snowboard spot and personal favourite of Dope rider Jesper Tjäder. If you want to feel you’re cruising in the middle of nowhere, this is a resort for you, with fairytale-looking landscapes, wide-open faces, and, hopefully, a visit from the Northern Lights (fingers crossed!). 

Okay, most of the lifts here are t-bars. However, if you want to zoom up to the best freeride runs, you can allegedly skip the t-bars and hold on to a piste basher instead. Once you’re at the top (4,659 feet/1,420 meters), you’ll have your pick of pow-filled faces or super-fun tree runs. Then, it’s time to join other shredders for après and live music at Verandan or chilled post-ride vibes at Hotel Åregården. 

Top tip: Add a kite to your setup! Yep, give snowkiting a go on Åre’s other-worldly,  wide-open terrain and surrounding areas. Our fave place is Storulvån, only an hour’s drive from Åre village. 

Avoriaz, France

Avoriaz has one of the richest snowboarding heritages in the Alps. Did you know it held the world’s first natural snowpark and became key in developing Europe’s snowboarding scene? Today, you don’t have to look far to discover an incredible shred spot or two across its 48 miles/77 kilometers of rideable terrain. Avoriaz is also part of the Portes du Soleil, one of Europe’s largest ski networks. This gives you access to over 404 miles/650 kilometers of trails to cruise, knuckle-drag ‘n’ rip.  

It’s no surprise this French resort is Burton’s European hub. In fact, Burton created and sponsors The Stash – one of the most legendary parks on the planet. This reinvention of a traditional park encourages flowy laps through trees and over 20 wooden features made in California. You’ll jib, grab, and glide over and off log rails, rainbow rails, wallrides, ramps, and more. Once you ride The Stash, you’ll understand why it was awarded ‘The World’s Best Run’ by CNN. 

Top tip: Learn and level up at the Avoriaz Snowboard School. It was co-founded by Johann Baisamy, an ex-pro snowboarder passionate about creating a school for riders, by riders.  

Mayrhofen, Austria

What doesn’t Mayrhofen have? Slash rooster tails on the insane freeride terrain above and below the tree line. Or catch air at the PenkenPark, a five-zone terrain park with a pro area, international crew shapers, and a giant multi-jib ‘Beastbox’ feature. Only just working out if you’re goofy or regular? Don’t worry – Mayrhofen is also ace for newbies, with 28 miles/45 kilometers of beginner-friendly slopes. It doesn’t get much better than nailing falling leaf in the sunshine on Penken Mountain.

If you have the skills, take on the iconic Harakiri, Austria’s steepest groomed slope with a gradient of 78%. So, make sure you’ve tuned your edges. Then, it’s time for après. And believe us, Mayrhofen is off the charts with dancing-on-table-tops venues and cozy spots. Of course, if you’re after a party, plan a stay when Snowbombing festival is on. This annual event brings waves of shredders and music stars to Maryhofen’s slopes, such as past acts Fatboy Slim, Mark Ronson, and The Prodigy.

Top tip: Time your trip to coincide with the Burton Mystery Tour at PenkenPark. It celebrates the awesomeness of snowboarding with banked slalom races, après sessions, exclusive demos with Burton athletes, and more. 

Laax, Switzerland

Some resorts are just made for snowboarding. And Laax is no exception. With its huge autumn glacier park and annual events, pro freestylers such as Anna Gasser, Mark McMorris, Maddie Mastro, and Scotty James are drawn here to train and compete in the Laax Open. If you’re not quite at that level, don’t worry, Laax has five terrain parks for you to learn, practice, catch air, and conquer over 90 obstacles. There’s also a 656-foot/200-meter-long super pipe to slay (the world’s largest). 

Laax excels in the freeriding department, too. Hike a little after a dumping, and you’ll find fresh tracks for days. Our top pick for experts? It’s got to be the La Siala area with its dreamy pow fields and trickier couloirs. Ot hit the Vorab Glacier. The descent is pretty gnarly, with a core-clenching 2.953-foot/900-meter vertical drop. Though we’d recommend hiring a guide for that one! 

Top tip: Don’t fancy heading out in a whiteout? Practice your park skills at Freestyle Academy, Laax’s 2,000-square-meter indoor facility, with a skate area, trampolines, ramps, and more. 

Chamonix, France

Looking to freeride en français? Set your eyes on the mighty Chamonix. When the snow gods are kind, there are few better places in the world to reap their rewards. And the pros agree. This snowboard spot regularly holds insane pro-level championships and public events, such as the Freeride World Tour Qualifier, the Kandahar World Downhill Ski Championships, and Freeride Days, a freeride-focused festival. 

But Cham is perfect for on-slope turns with the best view of Mont Blanc’s, too. It’s home to 74 miles/119 kilometers of marked terrain across four main areas. For example, you’ll find Grand Montets, an epic freeride zone above Argentière, and the mellower, family-friendly Les Houches at the other end of the valley. Don’t forget to hire a guide and fit in a descent of the Vallée Blanche, a 12-mile/20-kilometer trail just as hardcore as Cham’s reputation. 

Top tip: Order an artisan hotdog from Cool Cats on the Rue Des Moulins. It’s the perfect refueling snack. 

Wrapping up 

We reckon Europe has absolutely everything! Want to take things easy on groomers? 

Done! In the mood for pow slashing and creative freeride lines? Done and done! Going hard on the après? No problem! Whatever mountain days you’re chasing, Europe well and truly delivers.

Want to know more about anything we’ve mentioned – such as what exactly an artisan hotdog is? Want to pull us up on something? Or just want to say ‘hey’? Reach out to our team at crew@dopesnow.com. They’re happy to miss a pow day to chat and help out.

Related reading:

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• Women's snowboard base layers
• How to snowboard in powder