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A skiing holiday can be made all the more peaceful when the disturbance of cars is effectively cut down to zero.
In line with World Car-Free Day 2024 on the 22nd September, we’ve put together a useful list of those car-free ski resorts - and the key reasons why it matters.
Why do car-free resorts make for a nicer holiday?
There are three key ways your ski holiday could improve if you visit a car-free resort.
1. They're safer for children
Sliding around on icy pavements, excitable walks to ski school, wiping freshly fallen snow off surfaces - there's lots to distract when you're out and about with children in ski resorts.
While speed limits are very low in ski resorts and roads a well-treated, you can have complete peace of mind that the kids are safest when you choose a ski resort with a car-free centre.
Much more space is given back to both people and nature.
2. Pollution levels will be much lower
Nothing beats mountain air - you can really tell the difference between the air you breathe in in a city vs the clean fresh air of the mountain.
While ski resorts aren't known for their traffic jams or congestion, it's nice to know that you can sit out on a sunny terrace in the resort centre and breathe in air just as pure as you'd find it up on the mountain.
3. It will bring a sense of tranquility that the mountains deserve
When you find yourself the only person on a treelined slope and you stop and just listen, you won't find a silence like it anywhere else in the world. While there's something particularly magical about that experience, it's also great to have some peace and tranquility in the resort itself.
When the cars go, so does the chug of engines as you wonder around the bars, shops, and restaurants. That serene mountain landscape will really feel like one, and you can let the landscape do its thing to help you relax and enjoy your time away.
The standout car-free ski resorts to think about
We've compiled a list of our favourite car-free ski resorts in Europe.
Car-free ski resorts in France
Avoriaz
One of our top sellers for a reason, Avoriaz offers outstanding skiing in the brilliant Portes du Soleil ski area, and when you’re done for the day, you can ski right back through the high street and to your accommodation.
Its car-free policy means the town centre really is a great place for kids to be kids - and did we say you can travel around Avoriaz on a horse-driven sleigh?
The snow cover is also really strong - it’s a purpose-built resort, 800m up from its older sibling Morzine, and has an altitude of 1,800m.
Valmorel
This quaint resort is a good pick for beginners and intermediates. You can expect good snow conditions in Valmorel as it is only round the corner from the snow sure Three Valleys.
As a quieter pick than there, you can enjoy much of the same lovely food and drink on its gorgeous cobbled high street - but for a much more affordable price.
Flaine
A funky resort with lots of brutalist architecture, this 1960s purpose-built village is part of the brilliant Grand Massif ski area.
Flaine has two public funiculars which run for 24 hours a day at either end of town. These connect the higher and lower parts of the village, rendering cars meaningless for your stay.
(Parts of) La Plagne
La Plagne is made up of eleven villages overall, and two of its big ones - Belle Plagne and Plagne Bellecôte - are pedestrian-only.
In the former, you can park in one of two huge underground car parks, and you won’t need to touch the car for the next week, while the latter has a similar set up, but overground.
La Plagne is part of the esteemed Paradiski area, with glacier skiing, reliable snow conditions, and a fantastic range of slopes.
Car-free ski resorts in Austria
Serfaus
This is a smaller resort than most, but it’s home to a world-record piece of infrastructure - the shortest, highest-located underground train. It makes four stops, beginning at the car park in the east, then the Church area, the town centre, and finally the cable car station in the west.
Serfaus is a great pick for a family resort, with plenty of activities going on for the youngsters.
Oberlech
A beautiful satellite resort 200m higher than Lech, Oberlech’s high altitude and car-free nature means pretty much every accommodation is ski-in, ski-out.
The resort is brilliant for intermediates, while beginners and advanced skiers won’t feel left out either.
Car-free ski resorts in Switzerland
Zermatt
One of the most famous resorts devoted to pedestrians, Zermatt is nestled cosily under the imperious Matterhorn (the Toblerone mountain!). Drivers park 7km away before jumping on a rustic train up to the resort, taking in some of Switzerland’s most stunning views.
The train also goes all the way up to the Gornergrat peak, where you can see the glacier right in front of you. The skiing is also extensive and top quality, with easy links over the border into the Italian resort of Cervinia.
Saas-Fee
A neighbour to Zermatt, Saas-Fee is known as the “Pearl of the Alps” - and for good reason. It’s got a glacier above, and has a lovely shell-shaped bowl for plenty of cruising.
It has one long main street, and a good choice of bars, restaurants and après to enjoy inside its pedestrian-focused town.
Wengen
Another quaint Swiss town, Wengen is a glorious place for beginners and intermediates. It shares a top-quality ski area with neighbour Grindelwald, and has a train station to serve the town.
There’s plenty to do in this car-free village, including tennis, squash, swimming and a trip to the cinema - aside from the usual food and drink establishments and après fun.
Discover the mountains with Iglu Ski
If a car-free resort would be important to you but you’re not quite sure on where to go, then do get in touch!
We’re the UK’s largest ski travel agency, and our skilled sales staff will be more than happy to help break down all the pros and cons of the resorts you’ve got an eye on.
You can call them on 020 3848 3700, or have a look at our best ski deals.