Where to Ski in February

Best for Reliable Snow

• Val d'Isere
• Tignes
• Val Thorens

If snow reliability is the priority, French ski resorts are usually the best place to start. Val d’Isère, Tignes and Val Thorens all sit at high altitude, offer extensive skiing and have the infrastructure needed to cope with February demand.

Val d’Isère is one of the best places to ski in February if you want great skiing without compromising on resort atmosphere. The resort sits at 1,850m and shares 300km of pistes with Tignes, with the ski area reaching 3,456m. February snowfall averages around 96cm, but more importantly, the terrain is incredibly diverse. Confident skiers can head for the steeper runs around Bellevarde, Solaise and Le Fornet, while improving skiers have enough blues and reds to progress to across the mountain.

Tignes is not as attractive as Val d’Isère, but it is hard to argue with for February skiing. If your priority is altitude, piste access and value for money, it is an excellent choice. Sitting at 2,100m, with the same 300km ski area as Val d’Isère, it has an average February snowfall of around 187cm. Val Claret and Le Lac are the most convenient bases, particularly for skiers who want to reach the higher sectors quickly.

Val Thorens is the most obvious choice for altitude. Sitting at the top of the Three Valleys at 2,300m, it is the highest resort in Europe and gives direct access to the largest linked ski area in the world. Average February snowfall is around 107cm, and the resort’s ski-in/ski-out accommodation makes it especially useful for groups who want to be on the mountain quickly each morning.

Explore the highest ski resorts in France

Best for Families

1. Courchevel 1650
2. Lech

The difference between a good family ski holiday in February and a stressful one often comes down to logistics. How far is the chalet from ski school? Can children reach suitable slopes without crossing half the resort? Is there a driver service? Are there restaurants and activities for those who do not want to ski all day?

With excellent ski schools, childcare, lift access, restaurants and some of the finest luxury chalets in the Alps, Courchevel is one of the best places to ski in February for families. You have access to fantastic nursery slopes as well as the whole of the Three Valleys, so more experienced skiers have plenty of terrain while children and beginners can stay closer to home.

Whilst Courchevel 1850 is the most exclusive village in Courchevel with grand hotels, designer boutiques and some of the Alps’ most sought-after chalets, we would argue that Courchevel 1650 is often better for beginners and families. It has gentle slopes that are easy to access from the village and a calmer, more relaxed ambience.

Lech is another excellent option for families skiing in February. It sits within the Arlberg ski area, Austria’s largest linked ski area, but the village experience is very different from St Anton. Lech is quieter, more traditional and logistically easier with children or mixed-ability groups. The skiing around Lech, Oberlech and Zürs is particularly good for intermediates, with open blue and red pistes, whilst Oberlech offers a range of ski-in/ski-out chalets.

Discover how to plan a family ski holiday.

Best for Beginners

1. Morzine
2. Alta Badia

Morzine is a good choice for beginners in February with a traditional ski village and access to the wider Portes du Soleil ski area. First-time skiers can start on the Pléney side, where the local area has beginner-friendly terrain and covered carpet lifts, while more confident skiers in the group can head further into Morzine-Les Gets or across towards the higher altitude Avoriaz. Avoriaz can be reached from Morzine by the Super Morzine gondola or the Prodains cable car, giving access to higher slopes at 1,800m.

For February ski holidays in Itay for beginners, we recommend the region of Alta Badia, which offers 130 km pistes with plenty of blue terrain and easy reds to progress to. The scenery is beautiful, the atmosphere relaxed and you can refuel at one of the many wonderful mountain restaurants too.

Discover more ski resorts for beginners

Best for Scenery & Non-Skiers

1. Zermatt

Zermatt is one of the best places to ski in Switzerland in February, especially if not everyone in the group wants to ski every day. The village is car-free, with restaurants, shops, spas, winter walking routes and mountain viewpoints. Guests can take the Gornergrat railway, meet skiers for lunch on the mountain or spend the day in the village without feeling as though they are waiting for everyone else to return.

For skiers, the Matterhorn Ski Paradise offers extensive terrain across Zermatt, Cervinia and Valtournenche, with slopes reaching the Klein Matterhorn at 3,883m. The Sunnegga-Rothorn area is suitable for intermediates and families, while the Gornergrat side combines broad slopes with some of the best views in the resort.

Explore the best ski resorts for non-skiers

Best for Confident Skiers:

1. Verbier
2. St Anton

Verbier is one of Switzerland’s best resorts for confident skiers, with access to the 4 Vallées and some of the most famous off-piste terrain in the Alps. By February, the snow base is usually well-established, making the itinerary routes and higher sectors more rewarding. Confident intermediates can cover a lot of ground, while advanced skiers can explore routes towards Tortin, Mont Fort and beyond with a guide.

Discover our guide to skiing in Verbier

St Anton is the Austrian choice for advanced skiers and après-ski. It sits within the Arlberg, with 300km of marked slopes and extensive off-piste routes across St Anton, St Christoph, Stuben, Lech, Zürs, Warth and Schröcken. The skiing is steeper and more demanding than in Lech, and the resort has a long-standing reputation for serious terrain.

It is also one of the easiest Austrian resorts to reach by rail, with a station in the village. That can be useful for groups travelling via Zurich or Innsbruck, particularly during a busy February travel week.

Read our guide to skiing in St Anton

France, Switzerland, Austria or Italy?

France is usually the best choice for large ski areas and reliable February infrastructure. Val d’Isère, Tignes, Val Thorens, Courchevel and Meribel all work well, depending on whether the priority is altitude, family convenience or luxury chalets.

Switzerland is best for scenery, high-altitude skiing and non-skiers. Zermatt is the best all-rounder, while Verbier is the better choice for confident skiers and apres-ski.

Austria is ideal for village atmosphere and service. Lech is the better choice for families, intermediates and quieter luxury stays, while St Anton is better for advanced skiers and après-ski.

Italy is best for a more relaxed ski holiday. Cervinia is the most reliable Italian ski resort for altitude, while Alta Badia is better for beginners, food and Dolomite scenery.