Top 10 Resorts for Skiing in April

Firstly, why choose April for skiing? 

April is a great time to ski and is too often underrated. As well as the gorgeous sunny weather, there are plenty of perks when skiing late in the season.

Pistes tend to be less crowded (outside the school holidays at least) in April, with lots of cheap, last-minute spring skiing deals and reduced lift pass prices.

While you may have to contend with some slushy afternoons, soaking up the rays during an après session on a sun deck is really special - not to mention lifts stay open for longer as the light remains later in the day.

If the absolute highest quality of skiing is essential to you, then pick a high-altitude resort with a glacier and north-facing slopes, where colder conditions and reduced direct sunlight mean less slushy conditions in the afternoon.

And despite the sun, there’s often strong snowfall to ensure the slopes remain in great condition - although if not, then most resorts have good snow cannon coverage to top it up.

If you’re wondering what the best places to ski in April are, then keep reading for our top recommendations - based on the points above.

Read more:

Discover more about spring skiing conditions and top tips for late season skiing in our dedicated guide.

Read more:

Looking to ski over Easter? Head on over to our dedicated guide to skiing at Easter, where you'll find the top Easter resorts, family-friendly accommodation suggestions, and general advice for your Easter ski holiday.

What to consider for an April ski holiday

The key points to look for are…

• High altitude – ideally with glacier skiing and north-facing terrain
• Good snowfall records
• Good sunny day records
• Snow machine capabilities
• Late season lift pass offers

Our list of the best places to ski in April 

Read on to find out where to ski in April - with resorts in France, Austria, Switzerland and Canada.

All the resorts mentioned below are suitable for every type of skier, regardless of ability - each with a good mixture of beginner, intermediate, and advanced slopes. They also all have a rapid lift infrastructure which minimises queues, and a good range of hotels, chalets and apartments to choose from.

The following table allows you to compare our resort picks with each other. A “blue bird day” is a day when there are blue skies while skiing, while a “blue bird powder day” is when there are both blue skies and fresh snow.

Statistics are an average of the last 5 seasons’ worth of data.

1. Val d'Isere (1,850m) & Tignes, France (2,100m)

Blue bird powder days: 0.9
Blue bird days: 1.6
Total sunny days: 2.5
Snowfall per week: 31cm
Altitude of ski area: 1,150m - 3,456m
Snow machine coverage of pistes: 50%
Lift pass offer: n/a

With a ski area of over 300km of slopes, our best place to ski in April is either Val d’Isère, or neighbouring Tignes.

The Espace Killy ski area (the combination of the two resorts) has more than half of its pistes above 2,500m, and its towns are so high that it’s always possible to ski back into them.

Both Val d’Isère and Tignes have a glacier, meaning there’s a great area to stick to if the snow gets a bit sticky downhill in the late afternoon.

Snow cannons ensure excellent coverage - Val d’Isère’s “La Snow Factory” is Europe’s largest artificial snowmaking facility.

You should also get at least the equivalent of two full days of sunshine - a paradise for dancing at La Folie Douce or having a beer down in town.

2. Val Thorens, France (2,300m)

Blue bird powder days: 0.9
Blue bird days: 2
Total sunny days: 2.9
Snowfall per week: 22cm
Altitude of ski area: 1,100m - 3,230m
Snow machine coverage of pistes: 40%
Lift pass offer: Yes, April 12-21 (details below)

Val Thorens is Europe’s highest resort, which is part of the incredibly high-altitude 3 Valleys ski area - also the largest on Earth with 600km-plus of slopes.

You can ski over to other major resorts like Courchevel and Méribel - as well as some more smaller ones - and enjoy a discounted 3 Valleys lift pass towards the end of the season, in which a 6-day adult lift pass goes down from €395 to €355.50 (child discounts also available!).

There’s lots of sunny skiing to be enjoyed, while the vast majority of its slopes are above the 2,000m mark. There are also 2 glaciers to enjoy if the lower slopes get a bit sticky.

The local area also stays open right into May, underlining Val Thorens’s claim as one of the best places to ski in April and one of France’s most snow-sure ski resorts.

Val Thorens is both family-friendly and an attractive choice for après-seekers, with a Folie Douce among its various bars and clubs.

Iglu team member, Aimee, went to Val Thorens in the last week of April 2024:

“You wouldn't have known it was almost May. There was still loads of snow and the air temperature was still really cold, meaning great conditions all day - and the resort was still open for another week after we left.”

Read more:

France is one of the best countries in Europe for April skiing. In fact, Val d'Isere, Tignes and Val Thorens are only the tip of the iceberg. We've put together a dedicated guide to the best French resorts for April skiing, containing all the information you need to pick your perfect French April skiing destination. 

3. Obergurgl, Austria (1,930m)

Blue bird powder days: 0.8
Blue bird days: 1.2
Total sunny days: 2
Snowfall per week: 31cm
Altitude of ski area: 1,793m - 3,082m
Snow machine coverage of pistes: 90%
Lift pass offer: n/a

Obergurgl is Austria’s highest parish and offers some of the country’s most snow-sure skiing thanks to its high-altitude and north-facing slopes, as well as its extensive snow machine coverage, which covers almost every piste.

This artificial snow coverage is particularly useful to protect the lower pistes from the late afternoon sun, while there’s also extra skiing in neighbouring Hochgurgl - now connected by the modern Top Express gondola - and Sölden (although this is a half-hour bus away).

Ranking number one for our most snow-sure Austrian ski resorts, there are relatively fewer expert runs compared to other Austrian resorts, which means the slopes tend to be more gentle and sleepy, particularly towards the bottom.

There is plenty of snow - 31cm on average per week - and you should enjoy some sunshine, too.

4. Cervinia, Italy (2,050m)

Blue bird powder days: 0.9
Blue bird days: 0.9
Total sunny days: 1.8
Snowfall per week: 43cm
Altitude of ski area: 1,525m - 3,480m
Snow machine coverage of pistes: 45%
Lift pass offer: n/a

Cervinia is another fantastic option thanks to it being part of the vast Matterhorn Ski Paradise area which has 360km of slopes, connecting with Valtournenche and Swiss Zermatt, among others.

The area is a haven for intermediate skiers, but if you’re hoping for loads of advanced skiing, you might be better off elsewhere - although there are still a good 20km of black slopes. The off-piste scene in Cervinia is also very strong.

Ranking top in our list of Italy’s most snow-sure ski resorts, Cervinia gets a lot of snowfall in April (by far the most compared to its Italian counterparts).

Thanks to its very high altitude, even its south-facing slopes tend to stay strong in the sun - resulting in a perfect combination for those who like some sun-kissed skiing. And if you do feel the slopes are getting a bit sticky, you also have the benefit of the Theodul Glacier to retreat to, which has 26.5km of runs.

Cervinia is home to one of the most spectacular backdrops in world skiing, as the Matterhorn mountain looms over the majority of slopes. It’s the same one that used to be on the Toblerone packaging, and is incredible to see in person.

You can also make the most of the slightly cheaper Italian pricing, and indulge in some lovely Italian cuisine.

5. Saas-Fee, Switzerland (1,800m)

Blue bird powder days: 1
Blue bird days: 1.3
Total sunny days: 2.3
Snowfall per week: 45cm
Altitude of ski area: 1,800m - 3,600m
Snow machine coverage of pistes: 45%
Lift pass offer: n/a

Saas Fee is one of Switzerland’s top resorts, and is another great place to ski in April. It’s a charming, traditional chalet resort with a cosy atmosphere.

The majority of its runs are over 2,500m and are north-facing, ensuring minimal meltage when the sun comes out. And when the sun does shine (you can expect more than 2 full days’ worth!) the whopping 45cm of snow each week should do enough to maintain good skiing conditions.

Saas Fee is home to a glacier of its own as well which has 20km of year-round pistes, while the majority of the runs off the glacier are similarly wide and above the treeline.

Known as the “Pearl of the Alps”, most of the ski area sits in a shell-shaped bowl, while the resort itself is car-free and backs onto a forest.

6. Ischgl, Austria (1,400m)

Blue bird powder days: 0.4
Blue bird days: 0.4
Total sunny days: 0.8
Snowfall per week: 31cm
Altitude of ski area: 1,377m - 2,782m
Snow machine coverage of pistes: 95%
Lift pass offer: n/a

Ischgl is another of Austria’s non-glacier gems. Like Obergurgl, there’s no icy haven to retreat to, but this doesn’t matter as its slopes are so well looked after that sticky conditions are rare.

Close to all the slopes are topped up by artificial snow when needed, and there’s plenty of natural snowfall, too. This is reflected in the season length in Ischgl - finishing in early May, it’s one of the last resorts open in Europe.

Ischgl is also one of Austria’s top après-ski resorts, with plenty of bars and clubs in town.

7. Les Arcs, France (1,950 – 2,000m)

Blue bird powder days: 2.9
Blue bird days: 3.5
Total sunny days: 6.4
Snowfall per week: 23cm
Altitude of ski area: 1,200m - 3,250m
Snow machine coverage of pistes: 25%
Lift pass offer: April 12-21 (details below)

Les Arcs is another of France’s best ski resorts, and one statistic stands out for April skiing - the sunshine.

If the past 5 years are anything to go by, you’ll receive more than 6 days’ worth of Vitamin D while you whoosh about.

And there’s plenty of that to do - Les Arcs is part of the massive Paradiski area which it shares with neighbouring La Plagne. It’s got 425km of piste, making it France’s third-biggest interconnected ski area.

The majority of runs are above the 2,000m mark, and you can ski up to an impressive 3,250m on the iconic Auiguille Rouge glacier, while snow cannons will top up the snow on the slopes which get affected by the sun.

The Paradiski area usually does cheaper lift pass prices from the middle of April until the end of the season, although these aren’t public right now.

Les Arcs is also a great choice as it has a wide range of villages to choose from to match what type of atmosphere you want, although we’d recommend staying in the higher options of Arc 1950 and Arc 2000 if you want to ski back to your door.

THE IGLU EXPERT
Iglu team member, Joe, went to Les Arcs recently:

"Snow conditions were absolutely great, and I loved sitting in the sun with my mates in my t-shirt. I also had a great time on the glacier, doing the red and black runs over and over in the sun. You can also watch people try to ski over a water pool - and usually fail!"

8. Whistler, Canada (675m)

Blue bird powder days: 0.6
Blue bird days: 0.5
Total sunny days: 1.1
Snowfall per week: 33cm
Altitude of ski area: 675m - 2,284m
Snow machine coverage of pistes: unsure
Lift pass offer: n/a

Whistler is probably Canada’s most well-known ski resort thanks to its legendary snow record across the season - while April is still very strong, the snow which has stuck around from earlier in the season will ensure fantastic skiing.

North American resorts tend to be lower than European ones, but with similarly strong - if not better - snow conditions. Whistler does well thanks to its location near the coast, where rain rolls in from the ocean and quickly turns into snow upon meeting the mountains.

While it’s a pretty town that can welcome families and those seeking a quiet escape, there’s also the option for plenty of lively parties in the various bars and clubs.

9. St Anton, Austria (1,304m)

Blue bird powder days: 0.3
Blue bird days: 0.3
Total sunny days: 0.6
Snowfall per week: 27cm
Altitude of ski area: 1,269m - 2,811m
Snow machine coverage of pistes: 60%
Lift pass offer: April 5-22 (details below)

Probably Austria’s most famous resort, St Anton is another of the best places to ski in April, with plenty of north-facing slopes.

It’s part of the Arlberg Ski Area, which has about 305km of pistes, making it Austria’s biggest ski area. Skiers of all abilities are very much at home here, and you can ski over to neighbouring resorts like Lech, Zürs and St Christoph, among others.

Judging by previous years, there is less sun compared to other resorts - but remember, wind levels are right down compared to the rest of the season, meaning nice, calm conditions.

You’ll also be able to get much cheaper lift passes for the Arlberg area from April 5th onwards. A 6-day adult pass will cost €357 - down from €423.

St Anton is also a bit of a party town, as shown at times in the famous film Chalet Girl, which was shot there. Don’t miss out on Mooserwirt and Krazy Kanguruh which are on the slopes and overlook town.

10. Les Deux Alpes, France (1,651m)

Blue bird powder days: 2.6
Blue bird days: 3.9
Total sunny days: 6.5
Snowfall per week: 26cm
Altitude of ski area: 1,280m - 3,523m
Snow machine coverage of pistes: 15%
Lift pass offer: April 12 - May 4 (details below)

Another top option, Les Deux Alpes is home to the largest skiable glacier in Europe, with slopes as high as 3,500m.

There are loads of opportunities for sun-kissed skiing and drinks on terraces in t-shirts, with an average of more than 6 sunny days per week in April - pretty much your whole trip!

You’ll also save plenty of money on a lift pass here. Beyond April 12th, a 6-day adult lift pass costs just €264.50 - right down from €311 in the main season.

You also have the opportunity to ski in Alpe d’Huez for a day as part of your lift pass. It’s about an hour on the road, via a couple of buses and a gondola.

Discover the joys of April skiing with Iglu Ski

If you like the idea of putting away the thermals and grabbing your sunnies, then let us help you squeeze in a ski trip before summer starts.

We’re the UK’s largest ski travel agency and have been organising your perfect ski trips for more than 26 years. All of us have done at least one season in the mountains - we really do know what we’re talking about.

Have a look at our top April ski deals, or give us a call on 020 3848 3700 for a chat about what you’re after. Alternatively, drop us an enquiry and we’ll get back to you with what you need as soon as possible.