What Are the Best Family Ski Resorts?

Whether you're looking for convenient ski-in ski-out accommodation, gentle runs where you and your children can learn your turns for the first time, non-ski activities to keep all ages entertained, or simply a welcoming and family-friendly friendly atmosphere, you'll find all of this in the resorts below.

You'll want to pick a destination that is suited to your level of skiing too, so we've ordered the resorts by their difficulty level, with beginner-friendly resorts at the top and more advanced towards the end.

Our team has skied in all of these resorts, including on their own family ski holidays, so if you want assistance organising your ideal family ski holiday, we're the people to speak to! Either enquire online or call 01273 224060. Or discover more about our family ski holidays.

Geilo is a world-class ski resort where the entire focus is on families and first-timers. It's a well-designed resort that's safe and easy to navigate with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere and slopes that are gentle and totally unintimidating, particularly good for those who are just finding their feet on the slopes and for parents with young children.

Geilo offers as easy an introduction to skiing as you'll find anywhere. It has an award-winning ski school with English-speaking instructors and lesson sizes are limited to ten skiers for adults and even fewer for children. You'll learn in Geilolia, a purpose-built beginner area that sits right by some of the best family accommodation options.

If you're travelling with young children, childcare in Geilo is almost second to none. The Trollkluben crèche takes children from six months to eight years old, with daily activities including stories, drawing, sledging, sculpture building and singing put on for youngsters.

Getting to the resort is a joy rather than a chore. You'll travel to Geilo on the famous Oslo to Bergen railway, which takes you on a magical snow-laden journey, passing fjords, forests and frozen waterfalls.

For a vote of confidence in Geilo, here's what our Norway and Sweden Product Manager Andy has to say about the multiple winner of 'Norway's Best Ski Resort' in the World Ski Awards:

"As an ex-ski instructor who lived and worked in Geilo for five seasons, this is where I'd take my family skiing for the first time - superb ski tuition, amazing childcare and genuine hospitality."

Geilo has some of the best accommodation options for families of any resort we could name. The 4*+ Vestlia Resort, where you'll wake up just a hundred yards from the lifts, features a host of kid-friendly activities including a large soft play area, family indoor pool with slide, ten-pin bowling and a cinema.

The 4* Geilolia Forest Cabins provide a cosy, more personal family experience. Dotted among the trees near the slopes, the quiet cabins offer a choice of three, four or five bedrooms and quick access to the ski school, lifts and creche.

"All the slopes come down to the same base and so it is easy for a family to split up to do runs that suit their ability and then meet up again at the base. I'm a nervous skier but this is by far the best resort I have skied at and I felt safe and very comfortable with the layout." - Rosalie Bryer

For almost uniquely beginner-focussed skiing, Beitostølen is pretty much perfect. Smaller than Geilo and with even gentler slopes, it is the ideal place for parents and children to learn their turns together on easy-going green runs. If you're looking to find a quiet family holiday away from the action, it's well worth making the journey to.

Discover our picks for The Best Ski Resorts for Beginners

Beitostølen offers excellent facilities for young children. Bamsebakken, the dedicated children's and beginner area that sits right at the bottom of the slopes, is a great place for youngsters to learn in a safe and assured environment. And if they ever tire of their ski lessons, take them to the Winter Playland to let off steam, a 17-acre area which hosts tobogganing competitions, ski games of all kinds and sledding.

If lugging both yours and your children's skis to and from the slopes is a chore you'd sooner drop from your daily to-do list, Beitostølen will suit you just fine. All the accommodation here is close to the slopes.

When it comes to convenience, the brand new 4*+ Riddergaarden Apartments are unbeatable. They are literally at the base of the slopes, beside the main lifts. Ski school starts right outside and the equipment rental shop is next door. On-site you have a wonderful Italian restaurant – Casa Montagne - and one of the very best pool and spa facilities.

For those looking for a more traditional hotel stay, we recommend the 4* Radisson Blu Resort Beitostølen. Along with quick access to the slopes and ski school, it offers a children's playroom, a large indoor pool and a good range of family suites.

"The resort was very small and quiet but suited our needs perfectly - the slopes (and therefore ski school meet) were a one minute walk across the road. Snow maintained very well on the slopes" - Beth Perritt

As you might have realised by now, Norway is as good as it gets if you're looking for family and beginner-focused skiing and we have one more Norway recommendation before switching things up. Myrkdalen offers some of the quietest and cruisiest ski runs anywhere to be found. Situated in the west of Norway near the fjord region, the modern resort offers parents and children a gloriously tranquil break from the world of work and school.

Read our 7 Reasons to Take Your Family Skiing in Norway

Norway in general tends to go under the radar in the UK ski market, but Myrkdalen seems to be a particularly well-kept secret. With the ski area so quiet, you'll never have to worry about losing sight of your family members in a blizzard of skiers. Even during the school holidays, the resort stays quiet, and if you're thinking about a Christmas or Easter trip, Myrkdalen is a great bet, with its long season from early December to early May.

Close enough for a weekend (although you will want to stay for longer than that!), there are direct flights from Gatwick, Aberdeen and Liverpool followed by a two-hour transfer by road from Bergen Airport. Plus, create even more lasting memories for the family and make the 30 minute journey to the famous UNESCO Nærøy Fjord, a stunning fjord surrounded by huge cliffs and majestic mountains.

Like Geilo and Beitostølen, the accommodation options here are placed right next to the ski area. In prime position is the 4* Myrkdalen Hotel, which is located next door to the Myrkdalsekspressen chairlift and has a host of features to keep the whole family happy during hours off the slopes, including three restaurants and a well-equipped children's playroom.

"Great resort for families or mixed ability groups. Good nursery slopes which did night skiing which the kids loved. As it was ski in ski out it was really easy to get on the slopes each morning and get the kids to ski school." - Claire Mitchell

So you and the kids have been skiing before, maybe even in one of the resorts above, you've dumped the snowploughs and your skis are always perfectly parallel... ish. So where next for a family of budding intermediates? A good place to improve your skills and challenge yourself that little bit more is Åre, Sweden's largest resort.

For teens who like a challenge and parents who are confident skiers, Åre offers an incredible variety of terrain across its 1,000 acres. Our team has been skiing there for years and we still manage to find something new whenever we go. The areas of Mörvikshummeln, Sadeln, Duved and Björnen all have fantastic networks of red and black runs and are all easily accessible.

It's not just the skiing that provides fun for the whole family. Keep the kids entertained during their hours off the slopes with dog-sledding, a visit to the chocolate factory and even go and see some igloos. Åre also has superb and varied cuisine with an excellent range of high-quality eateries that you'd expect to find in a small city.

And if you want to enjoy all of this in perfect slopeside convenience, the 5* Copperhill Mountain Lodge has a beautiful mountainside setting with accommodation options ranging from double rooms to large suites. If you're staying in Åre with young kids, the hotel has a kids club and games areas so kids can play in between hours on the slopes.

Less luxurious but making up for it in cosiness, the 3*+ Vargen Apartments are perfect for families, with ski-in ski-out access and two, three or four bedroom options.

"A fantastic family resort with a mix of runs, very much focused on intermediate skiers and boarders." - Simon Pattinson

Our customers' most popular resort, Trysil is the perfect intermediate skier's playground with an awesome selection of runs, including cruisy blues and greens and some thrilling reds and blacks in Høgegga, where kids and competitive dads alike can enjoy getting up some speed.

It has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere and a laid-back après scene. Off the slopes, there's plenty to keep older children and teenagers happy including dog sledding, bowling, swimming and even indoor surfing. Yes, the FlowRider, located at the Radisson Blu Resort, is the only indoor surf-wave in Norway and lets you try out your surfing skills on an artificially created wave.

The resort also has every convenience you could need in close proximity to the main accommodation areas. Like all our Scandinavian destinations, you can book with confidence, knowing that there'll either be plenty of snow. And if there's not, Trysil's snow guarantee will ensure you get your money back on your lift pass, ski rentals, ski school and accommodation.

With everything from a bowling alley to an adventure pool, indoor wave surfing and on-site restaurants, the 4*+ Radisson Blu Resort Trysil is our top choice for families. Getting to the ski area is easy as well - just a couple of hundred yards walk from the hotel - and you can ski right up to the entrance on your return.

On the opposite side of the resort, the 4* SkiStar Lodge Trysil has a mid-mountain location and predominantly north-facing slopes which provide optimal snow conditions, particularly around Easter and the end of season. From the front of the hotel, you can watch skiers zip past you just metres away on cruisy blue runs.

"Skiing was great for families. Plenty of long green, blue and red runs and several black ones for the more experienced. None or very little queuing for lifts." - Sarah Burl

For many families, the only time they can really travel is during the school holidays. And with a lot of the better-known resorts not being entirely snow-sure at Christmas or Easter these days, it can feel like the only real option is a February half term trip. Let Gausta put your mind at ease. New to our programme this year, this outstanding Norwegian resort has a near-perfect snow record, even early and late in the season, so there'll be no nervously watching the weather forecast in the lead-up to your trip.

Discover the best resorts to ski at Christmas and Easter

This is one of the few true all-abilities ski areas in Norway with gentle green runs sheltered amongst the trees for beginners, red and black runs to challenge the intermediates and some thigh-burning freeride terrain for the experts. Whether you and your kids are learning your turns for the very first time or you're looking for a more exhilarating challenge, Gausta has it.

When talking about ski holidays to Norway, we usually talk about the gentle, undulating terrain. Gausta, in this regard, literally sticks out like a sore thumb. Gaustatoppen, the dramatic volcano-like peak that dominates the views wherever you are in the resort stands at 1,883m and is the tallest peak in the Telemark region.

Children will have a great time taking the train up to the top. Built during the Cold War, travelling on the Gaustabanen will feel like you've stepped into a James Bond film as it takes you up through the inside of the mountain.

The ski-in ski-out Gaustablikk Fjellresort presents families with first-rate convenience for their Norwegian slopeside adventure, with the rentals and ski school just outside, award-winning on-site restaurant, kids' playroom and pool and a host of other family-friendly facilities. There are even floating saunas on the lake outside the hotel where you can take a refreshing dip.

Breckenridge is a fantastic option if you're looking to go on a ski trip with your extended family as it's got some of the best accommodation options for large groups in our entire programme. Going skiing with your wider family and letting your children and their cousins loose on the slopes is brilliant fun and an experience you'll be talking about many years from now.

A firm favourite of the UK ski market, this traditional American resort offers all-abilities skiing where adventurous teenagers can enjoy zipping around 2,908 acres of exhilarating North American terrain.

In between hours on the slopes, all generations can enjoy the traditional American town complete with clapboard houses and warm and welcoming locals. On Main Street they really go heavy on the Wild West aesthetic. Almost every building looks like it's been designed to be used on the set of a Western, so you can let the kids feel like cowboys and cowgirls as you wander around the town.

A property that has options for parties of all shapes and sizes, the spacious condos at 3*+ The Village are positioned at the base of Peak 9, a short walk from the Quicksilver Superchair. Not only will you have quick access to plenty of easy greens, cruisy blues and double black diamonds, there's also a great selection of shops and restaurants within the complex. Room options range from studios for a family of four up to three bedroom condos that sleep ten, so the whole family can enjoy a classic North American ski holiday.

"Great town to stay in, excellent skiing for all levels of skiing from our 10 year old on lower slope greens and blues to those capable of double black diamonds, something for everyone." - Jonathan Robinson

Stay in Panorama and you won't only enjoy world-class skiing and stunning views of the Purcell Mountains. You'll also experience a village that puts families right at the heart of what they do.

The village is absolutely perfect for families, especially if you don't want to spend a lot of time lugging the kids as well as your own skis between the hotel and the lifts. It has one of the most compact villages of any resort. And if you really want to cut down on your walking time,  there’s even a gondola that connects the upper and lower villages.

We think of Panorama as a progressive paradise and the stats back it up. About 75% of the runs are suitable for beginners and intermediates whilst the remaining 25% is a steep and deep powder playground.

Splash around with the kids in the expansive pools of the 4* Panorama Springs. Hugely popular with families, rooms vary from studios to two bedroom condos and all have mountain views. The lodge also offers ski-in ski-out access to the beginner lifts.

"Panorama is a terrific ski resort for families. It has a variety of slopes to suit differing abilities with the added bonus of Mountain Friends- a group of locals who guide guests round the ski slopes with three different ability levels." - Ann Ford

Whistler makes it onto almost every one of our best-of lists and with good reason. It's got everything. Whatever kind of family ski experience you can imagine, Whistler will be able to deliver it.

Families of all abilities will feel welcome here but the challenging sections of both Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains are where advanced children and parents can really show off their skills. Harmony Bowl offers challenging ungroomed terrain off both ridges and the black runs under the Glacier Express on Blackcomb are a joy.

Whistler is equally good for families who are taking their very first turns on the snow. The mid-station on the Whistler Gondola is where you'll find the main learning area with its gentle green runs. The children's learning centre is fun and stimulating for kids of all ages and ski school lunches are provided.

Whistler is equally fun off the slopes as it is on them. If you and the kids are up for even more adventure, there are plenty of non-ski activities to keep you busy. Try snowmobiling through forests, winter bungee jumping, and the mesmerising Vallea Lumina nighttime walk.

Perfectly suited to families, the 4*+ Delta Hotels by Marriott Whistler Village Suites contain full kitchens, spacious living areas and fireplaces where you and your kids can enjoy a warm and cosy evening after a day on the slopes. The property is highly convenient too, just a 300-metre stroll or a shuttle ride from the door and Whistler's shops, bars and restaurants are even closer.

"Whistler has everything including lots of runs for every ability, a good network of lifts across the two mountains, and plenty of snow. The skiing and village activities and facilities are excellent and there is a huge choice of wining and dining. It was our second time at Whistler and as good as we remembered." - Michael Pleass

If you're looking for somewhere truly prestigious to go with the family, then you should look to Aspen Snowmass. The iconic ski town of Aspen is exclusive with a relatively small number of hotels and picturesque Victorian buildings in the town centre. If it's family-friendly convenience you're looking for, we recommend staying in Snowmass Village, which is great for those travelling with young children with its slopeside accommodation and easy access to the ski school and childcare facilities.

No matter what level of skier your family members are, there's a whole mountain for you in Aspen Snowmass. Buttermilk is where the majority of green runs are with really nice groomers. Aspen Highlands is the real local's hang-out as it offers steeper terrain and is definitely the place for advanced skiers on a powder day. Aspen Mountain is also a seriously steep mountain with long runs from the top of the gondola to burn the thighs. Snowmass is an intermediate's paradise with over 3,000 acres of skiable terrain and is a great place to learn as well.

As we've mentioned above, the best place to take your children to stay is Snowmass Village. This purpose-built village has a great range of kids activities including bowling, free ice skating, a climbing wall and the breathtaker coaster. The childcare here is industry-leading. The Treehouse Kids' Adventure Center offers a 'Kids Club' with themed rooms for kids aged 8 weeks and above and evening activities such as movie nights.

The 4* Crestwood Condos right across the street from Snowmass Village are perfect for families and groups with good facilities, plenty of bed configurations and a location close to the ski school.

"From perfectly groomed cruising runs to steep and deep double black diamonds the four Aspen mountains have it all." - Duncan Smith

If you've spotted a ski destination that would suit you and the kids then make sure you get in touch to book. Our team have skied all of these resorts and, as we mentioned, many of them have taken their families to these resorts on their own ski holidays, so if you have any questions, enquire online or call us on 01273 224060.

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