The Best Ski Resort for Scenery

There is nothing better than skiing or boarding amidst a magnificent mountain range with stunning views down the valley. If amazing scenery is important to you we have compiled a list of what we think should be the top 10 most scenic resorts. Interesting to note how many are in Switzerland!

Top 10 Most Scenic Ski Resorts

We've taken a look at ski resorts from around the world, and whilst this is a little subjective, the scenery in all of them will take your breath away. What a way to spend a week or two skiing or boarding in the mountains! Check out our thoughts on the most scenic ski resorts now and why not book a holiday there too!

Zermatt, Switzerland 

Read our Full Review of Zermatt

Zermatt is voted by many the most scenic resort they have skied or boarded in and it is easy to see why. This is scenery on an epic scale! The resort is nestled in a deep valley enclosed by mountains and dominated by the huge pyramid shape of the Matterhorn. The cobbled streets and chocolate box style chalets all add to the charm of the place and it’s so quiet as there are no cars allowed in resort. Many of the lower runs also descend down beautiful tree lines pistes. For really great views take the cable car trip up the Klein Matterhorn which gives you close up views of the glacier and if you want views of the Matterhorn from your balcony stay on the east side of the village.

Telluride, USA 

Read our Full Review of Telluride

Located in the San Juan Mountains of SW Colorado Telluride has some of the most amazing scenery in the Rockies and is often referred to as "the most beautiful place you’ll ever ski". The scenery here really takes your breath away as the 14,000 foot peaks covered in white snow touch clear blue skies. The mountains here are certainly steeper than elsewhere in Colorado and the town, an old Victorian mining town, has bucketfuls of character. Telluride isn’t the easiest resort to get to but it really is worth it if you want to experience skiing or boarding in the most wonderful, breathtaking scenery!

Alpbach, Austria 

Read our Full Review of Alpbach

Just a 50 minute drive from Innsbruck is the beautiful family friendly ski resort of Alpbach. Often voted the ‘most beautiful village in Austria’, an award it richly deserves. Complete with a beautiful village, church, pine forested landscape and traditional Tyrolean looking chalets Alpbach really is very impressive to look at. Set against the backdrop of the Gratlspitz peaks it really is the most beautiful place to ski or board, full of rustic Tyrolean charm. The après ski will not excite you but with views like these we would argue you don’t need it!

Villars, Switzerland 

Read our Full Review of Villars

Think of Switzerland and what comes to mind is a village nestling in amongst the mountains and awe inspiring scenery; in fact you could easily be describing Villars. Situated in the heart of the Rhone Valley Villars gives skiers and boarders the most amazing views of both the Swiss Alps and Mont Blanc. Here you will find chalets nestling into the hillside, a compact village made up of a station, some shops and a small number of bars and restaurants. You wouldn’t come here to live it up with lively après ski but you won’t better it for the scenery.

Megève, France 

Read our Full Review of Megève

Just over an hour’s drive from Geneva Airport is the pretty chic resort of Megève. The resort itself has a fine medieval church surrounded by luxury hotels and smart boutiques and bars, there are no huge hotels or chains here, exclusivity is the byword. Once you see the resort centre you can easily understand how, in its heyday, this resort was built to rival that of St Moritz. But it isn’t just the resort itself which is beautiful. The slopes, located within the Mont Blanc massif, are some of the most scenically attractive in the world. Megève's trails are largely cut through thickly forested slopes and the ski area around Jaillet and Mont d’Arbois are very picturesque.

Saas-Fee, Switzerland 

Read our Full Review of Saas-Fee

Often referred to as Zermatt’s little sister, a better title is the ‘pearl of the alps’ as Saas Fee has some of the most spectacular scenery you will find anywhere. It sits at 1800m and despite development Saas Fee still feels like a traditional village complete with cobbled streets, cow sheds in abundance and beautiful chocolate box chalets. What’s even better is that it is also car free. As you ski or board the views really are stunning, with 4000m peaks and dazzling glaciers all around.

Heavenly, USA 

Read our Full Review of Heavenly

Heavenly is situated on the California/Nevada border around the beautiful Lake Tahoe. The most spectacular view of the lake is from the summit of the Heavenly Sky Express where the lake looks like a beautiful blue sapphire. The views are really incredible. On one side of the mountain it seems like you are about to ski down into the dessert, on the other you are skiing down towards a lake! To add to the amazing scenery you also might want to consider finding a hotel room on the lakeshore itself. So for clear blue water, snow capped mountains and cosy lakeside villages it’s no wonder Heavenly is one of our top resorts for scenic value!

Wengen, Switzerland 

Read our Full Review of Wengen

With stunning views over the mighty Eiger it’s no wonder Wengen made it into our list. It is set on a sloping shelf above the Lauterbrunnen valley, opposite Murren reached only by the mountain railway that gives you stunning views of the surrounding area as you arrive in resort. The views across the valley are really stunning and when the three peaks come into view-the Monch (the monk), the Jungfrau (maiden) and the Eiger (Ogre) it doesn’t really get any better than this! Whilst here you may want to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Jungfraujoch, the highest train station in Europe.

Banff, Canada 

Read our Full Review of Banff

Banff sits in the national park in the Canadian Rockies and is at the centre of skiing in Alberta. It is set in the most amazing scenery you can ever imagine-glaciers, peaks, forests and lakes all come together here to make a really special place to ski and board. And combine all of this with an average snowfall of 30ft of the lightest snow in Canada you can see why it’s so popular. The three local ski areas are Norquay Mountain, Lake Louise and Sunshine Village. This 3 centre ski region provides one of the best beautiful regions to ski and board in in Canada.

Champéry, Switzerland 

Read our Full Review of Champéry

Nestled at the base of the Dents du Midi and the Dents Blanches at the end of the Vallee d’Illiez sits the idyllic ski resort of Champéry. It looks like a scene from a chocolate box, complete with mountains and traditional chalets. Champéry is part of the Portes du Soleil one of the most expansive ski areas in the world. We would recommend that expert skiers try the famous Pas de Chavanette, the Swiss Wall, a steep long demanding run set amidst the most spectacular scenery in Switzerland.