Spring Skiing in Europe: Your Guide to April's Best Alpine Escapes
March 19, 2025 / 7 MINUTE READ
By Alice Lindeman
April might typically signal the time to stow away your ski gear and dust off those flip-flops. But savvy skiers know better. While your friends are posting Instagram stories about their first lukewarm pub garden pints of the year, you could be carving through pristine snow under brilliant blue skies. Perhaps you're chasing winter's last hurrah, or maybe you simply fancy a spring fling with the mountains. Either way, Europe's high-altitude resorts continue to deliver exceptional conditions long after the daffodils have bloomed back home.
Where to Ski in April Across Europe
I've curated the premier destinations for late-season skiing in Europe. These spots will have you regaling everyone at the office with tales of your snowy April adventures for months to come. Here's your definitive guide on where to ski in April across Europe.
Austria
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Hintertux Glacier:
- Nearest airport: Innsbruck Airport, then 1 hour 30 mins by car.
- Ski season: Year-round.
- Ideal for: Glacier skiing, expert skiers, and off-season enthusiasts. If consistency is your top priority when pondering where to ski in April, Hintertux is your spiritual home. This Austrian gem boasts year-round skiing, courtesy of its glacier perched at a lofty 3,250 meters (10,663 feet). When other resorts are transforming into muddy hiking trails, Hintertux continues to offer approximately 200 km (124 miles) of impeccably maintained pistes well into April.
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Sölden:
- Nearest airport: Innsbruck Airport, then 1 hour 30 mins by car.
- Ski season: Late September to early May.
- Ideal for: Freeriders, après-ski lovers, and intermediate skiers. Fancy carving where James Bond once did in Spectre? Sölden allows you to channel your inner 007, minus the helicopter chases and improbable survival scenarios. With access to two glaciers, Rettenbach and Tiefenbach, this resort boasts serious high-altitude credentials, ensuring snow flows well into spring. The resort's "Big 3" peaks—all exceeding 3,000 meters (9,842 feet) and accessible by lift—offer spectacular vistas. And when the snow gets heavy in the afternoon, you can always retreat to one of Sölden's famously energetic après-ski venues.
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Kaunertal Glacier:
- Nearest airport: Innsbruck Airport, then 1 hour 45 mins by car.
- Ski season: October to May.
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Ideal for: Advanced skiers, freeriding and ski touring, snowboarders, late-season skiing, and quiet slopes. If you find joy in the absence of selfie-stick-wielding tourists, Kaunertal might be your personal nirvana. This hidden Austrian treasure offers uncrowded slopes, even during peak times, making April feel like your own private ski playground. Thrill-seekers will find their match on the "black Ibex slope," the steepest in Europe, with a gradient exceeding 87.85%. Its two long black pistes with varied terrain will challenge even the most accomplished skiers.
France
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Val d'Isère:
- Nearest airport: Geneva Airport, then 3 hours by car.
- Ski season: Late November to early May.
- Ideal for: Advanced skiers, vibrant après-ski, and luxury stays. Part of the immense Espace Killy area, shared with Tignes, Val d'Isère resort sits at a snow-sure 1,850 meters (6,070 feet), with skiing extending up to a dizzying 3,456 meters (11,338 feet) on the Glacier du Pisaillas. The notorious La Folie Douce transforms from a respectable mountain restaurant into what can only be described as "Ibiza-on-ice" by mid-afternoon. For those seeking a quieter ambiance, Val's upscale village offers plenty of Michelin-starred dining and designer boutiques.
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Val Thorens and Orelle:
- Nearest airport: Geneva Airport, then 2 hours 30 mins by car.
- Ski season: Mid-November to mid-May.
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Ideal for: High-altitude skiing, beginners, and mixed-ability groups. Val Thorens is Europe's highest resort, with slopes reaching an impressive 3,230 meters (10,597 feet). As part of the massive Three Valleys system, Val Thorens offers something for everyone, making it perfect for groups with mixed abilities. The resort's north-facing slopes retain snow remarkably well, while the high-altitude terrain remains skiable long after lower resorts have transitioned to mountain biking.
Switzerland
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Zermatt:
- Nearest airport: Geneva Airport, then 3 hours 30 mins by car.
- Ski season: Late November to early May.
- Ideal for: Intermediate and advanced skiers, iconic views, and long ski runs. If you've ever dreamed of skiing while being photobombed by the world's most recognizable mountain, Zermatt is your destination. The majestic Matterhorn looms large over this car-free Swiss paradise, providing a perfect backdrop for your April ski escape. With Europe's highest cable car station at 3,883 meters (12,739 feet) on Klein Matterhorn, Zermatt practically guarantees snow when other resorts are already serving pints on sun terraces. April skiing here provides access to over 200 kilometers (124 miles) of high-altitude pistes, including the spectacular 13-kilometer (8-mile) run from the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise all the way down to Zermatt.
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Engelberg:
- Nearest airport: Zurich Airport, then 1 hour 30 mins by car.
- Ski season: October to May.
- Ideal for: Late-season skiing, freeriding, and snow reliability. Engelberg might translate to "Angel Mountain," but its challenging terrain may have you swearing like a sailor. This Swiss resort has quietly flown under the radar of many skiers for years. Its crown jewel is the Titlis glacier at 3,020 meters (9,908 feet), ensuring skiable conditions well into spring. The famous Laub run—a gloriously wide, consistently steep north-facing slope—maintains excellent snow quality throughout April. With a vertical drop of over 2,000 meters (6,560 feet) from top to bottom, you can experience everything from full winter conditions at the summit to spring skiing at lower elevations in a single run.
Iceland
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Bláfjöll Ski Resort, Blue Mountains:
- Nearest airport: Keflavík International Airport, then a 50-minute drive.
- Ski season: Late November to early May.
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Ideal for: Beginner and intermediate skiers, scenic skiing, and Northern Lights viewing. Bláfjöll (try pronouncing that after a few Icelandic beers!) offers a truly unique April skiing experience just a stone's throw from Reykjavik. What makes April special here isn't just the skiing—which, admittedly, is more limited than Alpine resorts. Rather, it's the magical possibility of catching the Northern Lights while making your way down the floodlit slopes during evening sessions. The resort's proximity to Reykjavik means you can combine urban adventures with skiing, and perhaps even squeeze in a dip in the Blue Lagoon to soothe those muscles after a day on the slopes.
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Siglufjörður:
- Nearest airport: Akureyri Airport, then 2 hours by car.
- Ski season: Mid-December to early May.
- Ideal for: Quiet slopes, ski touring, and backcountry skiing. If your idea of holiday heaven involves escaping absolutely everyone, Siglufjörður might be your spiritual home. This remote former herring-fishing-village-turned ski resort in northern Iceland offers an April skiing experience that's about as far from the packed pistes of the Alps as you can get. Its location within a narrow fjord creates a microclimate that retains snow remarkably well into spring. While facilities are more modest than European mega-resorts—don't expect heated chairlifts or champagne bars—what you gain is pristine snow, minimal lift queues, and unique, dramatic scenery.
Italy
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Livigno:
- Nearest airport: Milan Malpensa, then 3 hours 30 mins by car.
- Ski season: November to May.
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Ideal for: Beginner to intermediate skiers, budget-friendly skiing, snowboarders, and freestyle parks. Livigno has two key claims to fame: exceptional snow reliability and duty-free status. It's essentially the skiing equivalent of finding extra cash in your pocket and getting a free shot of espresso. April skiing here means 115 kilometers (71 miles) of mostly blue and red runs bathed in sunshine. Yet, they maintain excellent snow cover, thanks to the resort's high altitude. Snowboarders and freestyle skiers flock to Livigno's extensive park, which remains in prime condition longer than most in Europe.
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Cortina d'Ampezzo:
- Nearest airport: Venice Marco Polo Airport, then 2 hours 30 mins by car.
- Ski season: Late November to early May.
- Ideal for: Scenic skiing, luxury stays, and advanced skiers. Host of the 1956 Winter Olympics and playground of the Italian elite, Cortina d'Ampezzo offers some of the most spectacular mountain scenery you'll ever encounter while trying not to face-plant on a black run. April skiing here is special. A unique pink glow, a phenomenon called enrosadira, bathes the dramatic limestone peaks at sunset, making the entire mountain range look like it's wearing an Instagram filter.
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Stelvio Pass:
- Nearest airport: Milan Malpensa, then 3 hours 30 mins by car.
- Ski season: End of May to early November.
- Ideal for: Summer skiing, glacier skiing, and training camps. If you're reading this list and thinking, "April is for amateurs, I want to ski in July," then Stelvio Pass is your unique and stunning answer. This quirky Italian resort operates in reverse to normal ski areas, opening from late May until November, thanks to its lofty altitude of 2,758-3,450 meters (9,048-11,319 feet). The resort sits atop the famous Stelvio mountain pass, offering summer skiing on glaciated terrain that would normally be inaccessible in winter. It's also favored by national ski teams for summer training, so you might find yourself sharing a T-bar with the next Olympic champion—or, more likely, being aggressively overtaken by one. April sees the area in its winter hibernation, as the roads remain snowbound and resort teams prepare for the summer season.
However, it's worth including Stelvio Pass on this list as a reminder that in Europe, with a bit of determination and clever planning, you can actually ski almost year-round.
Stay Connected on the Slopes with RoAmigo
Don't let dodgy Wi-Fi and hefty roaming fees spoil your late-season ski trip. Whether you're sharing snowy selfies, checking forecasts, or finding your way after one too many mulled wines, an eSIM can keep you connected without stress—as essential as your lift pass. Head to the RoAmigo store to find the best eSIM for Europe, select, install, and stay online as you explore where to ski in April. Bon voyage!
Alice Lindeman is a Canadian content specialist who loves connecting with audiences through strategic storytelling.