Family ski holidays are some of the most magical times of your lives, and we want to make them absolutely perfect.
We’re fully committed to making the children’s experience amazing - both to their benefit and yours! - as well as ensuring you’re able to truly relax and enjoy yourself, too.
We’ve made a list of our best family-friendly ski resorts based on various factors (which we’ll discuss below), as well as the top family-friendly accommodations we’d recommend for each resort.
Key features of family-friendly resorts
Our list of recommended resorts will all have top-quality ski schools with experienced, English-speaking instructors to make lessons on the mountain fun and sociable.
They’ll have dedicated beginner areas with well-groomed, gentle slopes and magic carpets to allow absolute beginners the chance to learn in the perfect environment.
We’ve factored in childcare facilities and kids’ clubs for those parents who would like a holiday for themselves, too!
And there’s also consideration for fun activities that the family can do together when the skiing stops - whether that’s outdoors, like ice-skating or tobogganing, or indoor ones like swimming pools with slides, or bowling alleys.
The following family ski resorts will also have easy access to both the town centre and the slopes, as well as a friendly atmosphere - ensuring you’ll make amazing memories with the children in the mountains.
| Resort | Green slopes (France only) | Blue Slopes | Adult private lesson (hour) | Child group lesson (hour) | Number of free lifts | Local lift pass cost (day) | Free child lift pass* | Discounted family lift passes | Transfer time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Plagne | 4 | 67 | €58 | €32 | 16 | €65 | Under 5 | No | 2h |
| Les Arcs | 5 | 45 | €60 | €28 | 11 | €65 | Under 5 | No | 2h 40m |
| Alpe d’Huez | 31 | 31 | €64 | €26 | 4 | €42 | Under 5 | Yes | 2h |
| Flaine | 8 | 26 | €55 | €15 | 4 | €53 | Under 8 | No | 1h 50m |
| La Rosière | 8 | 27 | €60 | €23 | 2 | €57 | Under 5 | Yes | 2h 30m |
| Morzine | 6 | 28 | €54 | €20 | 0 | €46 | Under 5 | Yes | 1h 30m |
| Alpbach | n/a | 24 | €70 | €25 | 0 | €63 | Under 6 | No | 1h |
| Zell am See | n/a | 31 | €65 | €25 | 0 | €65 | Under 6 | Yes | 1h 30m |
| Kitzbühel | n/a | 29 | €100 | €40 | 10 | €72 | Under 5 | No | 1h 30m |
| Söll | n/a | 2 | €70 | €30 | 2 | €69 | Under 6 | No | 1h |
Best resorts for a family ski holiday
La Plagne, France
THE IGLU EXPERT
Iglu Ski team member, Aimee, recently went to La Plagne:
"La Plagne has an excellent, chilled vibe about it, making it a great choice for families. We stayed in a chalet in La Plagne 1800, which has a villagey feel - and you can often get chalet accommodation for a good price there. However, I’d stay in Belle Plagne or Plagne Soleil if you’re looking for direct access to the slopes.
"There are lots of gentle blue slopes in La Plagne, meaning even beginners can explore the wider ski area once they’re ready!"
WHERE TO STAY
The Les Granges Du Soleil in Plagne Soleil, is a ski-in/ski-out, self-catering residence with great facilities and stunning views. There are a number of apartment sizes to suit your family, plus you have access to the lounge, indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna, hammam and fitness room all free of charge.
Les Arcs, France
There are 11 free lifts, and several very good designated beginner areas - details of which can be found in the beginner’s guide to Les Arcs - that can be accessed easily.
With free skiing for Under 5s, there’s loads of beginner and early intermediate slopes to get your teeth into - and once the skiing’s over, there’s plenty more going on.
The Mille8 Aquatic and Fitness Centre has a huge indoor and outdoor swimming pool, with attached water massage jets, bubble beds, fitness rooms, saunas and steam rooms.
The Aiguille Rouge zipline is great fun as you hurtle down the mountain - you can reach speeds of 130km/h, either as a duo or by yourself. There’s also a separate zipline course that lets you fly between the trees, and may be more suitable for younger children.
Arc 2000 and 1800 are home to bowling alleys, and you can find a mountain animal museum at the top of the Vallandry cable car. Another option might be getting the funicular down to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, which is a proper valley town which has mini golf and laser rifle shooting, among other activities.
WHERE TO STAY
Le Village Apartments in Les Arcs 1950 are very popular due to their ideal position in the centre of the car-free resort. Furnished in Savoyard style, the apartments have ski-in/ski-out convenience and guests have free access to the ‘Cinq Mondes’ spa and wellness area.
Le Village Apartments Double Bedroom
Alpe d'Huez, France
Free beginner lifts: 4
Green slopes: 31
Blue slopes: 31
Discounted family lift pass: Yes
Free child lift pass: Under 5
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €42
Transfer time: 2h
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: €64
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: €26
Alpe d’Huez is another of France’s family-friendly ski resorts, with a useful 4 free lifts for beginners and relatively cheap lift pass prices.
If you have 2 children with you, you’re in for even more luck, as a ‘family pass’ of 2 children and 2 adults results in everyone paying child rates - saving you €146 if you get a 6-day family pass.
Ski schools are as strong as anywhere, while there is a sports centre with a swimming pool, climbing wall, badminton and squash courts - as well as yoga and pilates classes for the parents.
You could also go to the cinema if you’re a family of fair weather skiers - look out for VO films, standing for “version originale”, in English.
Just 5 metres away from the slopes and situated just further up from the Vieil Alpe area of the resort, the Chalet Hotel Escapade is a beautiful accommodation. A groomed track allows you to ski down to the chairlift which takes you into the main ski area and for most of the season you will be able to ski back to the hotel!
For a more exclusive experience, the Chalet Vieux Logis is located in the heart of the old town. Providing a welcoming and warm ambiance as well as quality and convenience, it’s an ideal property to stay in with your family.
Flaine, France
Free beginner lifts: 4
Green slopes: 8
Blue slopes: 26
Discounted family lift pass: No
Free child lift pass: Under 8
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €53
Transfer time: 1h 50m
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: €55
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: €15
Flaine is a top family ski resort, with a really gentle atmosphere that is aimed largely at families.
The local Flaine area has 8 greens and 26 blue runs to tackle, and if these are comfortable for the children, there’s the rest of the Grand Massif ski area to explore - a whopping 265km of pistes in total.
While our beginner’s guide to Flaine has more information, it’s worth pointing out here that there are 2 dedicated beginner zones at either end of the village, fit with magic carpets.
The atmosphere in general is really relaxed. Flaine is largely car-free, and has plenty of ski-in/ski-out accommodation and strong ski schools.
Off the slopes you can enjoy the Galaxy Bowling Alley, which also has a bar, while you could also go to the swimming pool, indoor climbing centre, outdoor ice rink and cinema (which shows some films in English).
There’s lots of the usual outdoor mountain activities, including snowshoeing, sledding and quad biking.
WHERE TO STAY
Ideal for families wanting to stay in a self-catering apartment, the Terrasses De Veret Apartments are located at the foot of the Grand Vans chairlift. The apartments are modern and comfortable and offer beautiful alpine views across the resort. After a day of skiing, guests can relax in the indoor heated pool and sauna.
Located in the centre of Flaine and providing prime access to the Grand Massif ski area, the Hotel Le Flaine has spacious and comfortable bedrooms as well as a stylish bar, lounge area with fireplace and spa area. There are also various kids’ clubs for specific age groups in house and the restaurant provides a cosy welcoming feel with morning and evening buffets.
La Rosière, France
Free beginner lifts: 2
Green slopes: 8
Blue slopes: 27
Discounted family lift pass: No
Free child lift pass: Under 5
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €57
Transfer time: 2h 30m
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: €60
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: €23
Peaceful La Rosière is another of France’s best family ski resorts, with plenty of quiet, tree-lined runs and wide open slopes. It’s also more likely than most resorts to get sunshine thanks to its southerly orientation and micro-climate.
Families can stay in either the main town of La Rosière, or its new offshoot Les Eucherts - the two are separated by a beautiful 1km, floodlit walk through the trees.
Slopes are right next to the resort, with a couple of charming bars next to the foot of the slopes, where you can keep a watchful eye on the children messing about in the snow.
Our beginner’s guide to skiing in La Rosière has more detail, but it’s worth noting there are 2 free lifts - the Manessier drag lift in the main village, and Lutins magic carpet in Les Eucherts.
There’s also a dedicated area of green runs next to the Clarines lift - and just plenty of easy terrain everywhere near the base.
More able skiers can get right to the top of the mountain and head over to the Italian resort of La Thuile for even more skiing - the skiing on this side is harder than in La Rosière, and you need to be able to ski reds just to get over to that side.
Off the slopes, make memories while ice skating together, or go ten-pin bowling. There’s also a cinema which shows some English-language films (look our for VO - standing for version originale).
THE IGLU EXPERT
Iglu Ski’s Phil went to La Rosière recently with his young family:
"There is a great selection of easy slopes coming into town, which are all easily accessible from the ski school meeting points.
“The slopes are really quiet compared to most of the other French ski areas we've been to, and we had no lift queues.
“You can also head over the border into Italy and ski down to La Thuile, where there are some more intermediate and advanced pistes, and some great mountain restaurants to stop at for an Italian lunch."
WHERE TO STAY
Sleeping 5, the Grandes Alps - Chalet Valentine is perfect for larger families looking for exclusivity for both accommodation and family meals. The nearest lift and slopes are both 150 metres away and childcare facilities are also available in-chalet.
Chalet Papillon 4 is great for 2 to 3 families who can relax in the communal open plan living and dining area. You can ski to and from the chalet, while the ski school meeting point and Les Eucherts chairlift are very close by.
Morzine, France
Free beginner lifts: 0
Green slopes: 6
Blue slopes: 28
Discounted family lift pass: Yes
Free child lift pass: Under 5
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €46
Transfer time: 1h 30m
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: €54
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: €20
Originally a mining town, Morzine retains its historic charm with a bustling town centre and lots of lovely restaurants and cafes.
There is quick access to the enormous Portes du Soleil ski area, too. It has more than 600km of slopes and spans across 12 different resorts, making it France’s second-largest ski area.
There is no shortage of easy runs in both the local area and the Portes du Soleil, while at just 90 minutes, it’s one of the shorter transfer times you’ll get in France - for more information on all the benefits, read our beginner’s guide to skiing in Morzine.
Off the slopes, you can visit the aquatic centre, which has pools for various ages. There’s another water park up in neighbouring Avoriaz, which has a climbing wall (over the top of a pool), a lazy river, and various slides and fun bits - as well as relaxing parts for the adults!
Morzine also has a new cinema - Le Rex - which shows films in English (make sure it’s a VO film - version originale), or you can try the town’s escape room, enjoy a round of mini golf, or watch the local ice hockey team, the Morzine Penguins, play.
THE IGLU EXPERT
Iglu team member, Clair, visited Morzine with her young family:
“Some of our favourite skiing memories are from holidays in Morzine with our young daughter. There are lots of easy, wide, tree-lined blues to cruise and plenty of fun navigating the obstacles of Le Grand Cry run and the Penguin Park.
“There’s also no shortage of mountain side cafes for a well deserved hot chocolate and a good range of child-friendly restaurants, with arguably some of the best pizzerias in the Alps!”
WHERE TO STAY
The Village Club Du Soleil Florimontane is the perfect choice for families who want full board catering, close proximity to the pistes and lifts and kids’ clubs from 3 months to 17 years. For parents, the sauna, steam room and whirlpool provide a lovely space to unwind after a day of skiing.
For a family of 4 looking for their own exclusive chalet, the Little Lumi is divine. This luxury contemporary chalet in the heart of Morzine is just 100 metres away from the nearest lift and complete with a flat screen TV, heated terrace and its own living and dining area with its very own chalet host.
Chalet Little Lumi Living Area
Alpbach, Austria
Free beginner lifts: 0
Green slopes: n/a
Blue slopes: 24
Discounted family lift pass: No
Free child lift pass: Under 6
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €63
Transfer time: 1h
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: €70
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: €25
Over in Austria, one of the sleepiest resorts you’ll find is Alpbach, which is great for families who want a peaceful retreat to the mountains.
With a healthy 113km of piste, a major pull for (particularly young) families is that it doesn’t attract many advanced skiers, meaning you can potter about on the slopes in a very relaxed environment.
It’s also got a rapid transfer time from Innsbruck Airport, meaning you can reach the tree-lined paradise in often less than an hour.
Off the slopes, the town is again quite sleepy. You can do the usual outdoor activities, including tobogganing, snowshoe hiking and ice skating - but don’t expect a lively atmosphere in town.
WHERE TO STAY
Head to the Aktiv & Wellnesshotel Pirchnerhof where you can enjoy the heated indoor pool, while the children mess about in the kids’ play area and games room, which has pool and table football. The ski room has heated boot racks, too.
Zell Am See, Austria
Free beginner lifts: 0
Green slopes: n/a
Blue slopes: 31
Discounted family lift pass: Yes
Free child lift pass: Under 6
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €72
Transfer time: 1h 30m
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: €65
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: €25
One of Austria’s prettiest resorts, Zell am See is perched along the edge of a lake, with dramatic mountains on all sides.
It’s another beautiful resort which is still a proper working town, although its main focus is on skiing now. The pretty, tree-lined slopes above town are some of Austria’s loveliest, while you can also get a short bus over to Kaprun, where stunning glacier skiing awaits.
While our beginner’s guide to skiing in Zell am See has more details, there are 31 blue slopes in the local area, while a short connection to Saalbach might be an option for more adventurous families.
Off the slopes, you could visit one of the many pretty cafes and restaurants in town, or head to the indoor ice rink, where you can either use it yourself, or watch the local ice hockey team.
There’s also an indoor swimming centre next door, which has a heated pool, 74m water slide, toddler pool and pirate play ship.
THE IGLU EXPERT
Iglu Ski's Gordon has spent many a family holiday in Zell am See, both as a child and as a dad:"Zell am See has been a family favourite since I was very young. There's something quite special about a ski resort on a lake with a glacier off in the distance (Kaprun Kitzsteinhorn).
"Better still, access to the mountain is easy from the town centre (cityXpress) with the added convenience of a super convenient ski bus network to whisk off to neighboruing ski areas & resorts. I recall hours of fun in the Dragon Park & Kinder-Skiland and regular visits to the centrally located indoor swimming pool which now has a rival - the impressive Tauern Spa in Kaprun."
WHERE TO STAY
The Sportresort Alpenblick has a 3-8 kids’ club, as well as a games room with table football, board games and table tennis, plus heated indoor and outdoor pools and a heated boot rack…
Or choose the Hotel Waldhof, which has a children’s playroom with toys, a games room with pool, table football, table tennis and computer games, and an indoor and heated outdoor pool.
Kitzbühel, Austria
Free beginner lifts: 10
Green slopes: n/a
Blue slopes: 29
Discounted family lift pass: No
Free child lift pass: Under 5
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €72
Transfer time: 1h 30m
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: €100
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: €40
Kitzbühel is unique for Austria thanks to its 10 free beginner lifts - making it a great place to go for first-timers.
In addition, under 5s get to ski entirely for free - so it’s a great place to save money if you’ve got very young ones or absolute newbies.
It’s a lovely town with pretty buildings in various colours, with rustic horse-drawn carriages a common sight. There is also an ice rink that can be used by families (from 2pm-4pm and 7pm-9pm on weekdays, and 9am-9pm on weekends), while the neighbouring village of Kirchberg (8-minute bus ride away) has a fun indoor archery centre.
It’s also home to the Aurach Game Park, which is home to various types of deer, lynx, yaks and various other animals.
WHERE TO STAY
The Hotel Bruggerhof is perched on the edge of the pretty Schwarzsee lake, and has a children’s pool, as well as an adults’ pool and spa facilities…
Or opt for Hotel Erika, which has two indoor pools, a fitness room, table tennis, a children’s playroom with toys.
Söll, Austria
Free beginner lifts: 2
Green slopes: n/a
Blue slopes: 63
Discounted family lift pass: No
Free child lift pass: Under 6
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €69
Transfer time: 1h
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: €70
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: €30
If your children are ski fanatics, then Söll could be the place for one of your best family ski holidays.
It’s part of Austria’s second-largest ski area, SkiWelt, and has a whopping 63 blues to conquer, with territory over in Ellmau, Scheffau, and other resorts, to explore.
It’s often viewed as a cheaper alternative to the Ski Arlberg area, thanks to its competing amount of pistes, while the 1-hour transfer time from Innsbruck Airport is very attractive.
Söll’s village centre is pedestrianised and has lots of pretty cafes and restaurants, as well as a 3.8km floodlit toboggan run which can be used until 1am! There are also Panoramabad and Kaiserbad swimming pools, in Söll and neighbouring Ellmau respectively - the latter of which has an indoor adventure pool, lazy river, outdoor pool and water playground.
WHERE TO STAY
The Hotel Tyrol is a good bet - it has a kids’ playroom with toys and games, as well as a mini climbing wall and indoor pool.
Discover the joy of family skiing with Iglu Ski
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Have a look at our best family ski holiday deals, or get in touch with us on 020 3848 3700 to fire any questions our way - ask us anything! You can also enquire if you don't fancy a phone call.