Best for non skiers

Best Ski Resorts for Non Skiers in Europe

The best European resort for non skiers is St Moritz, where the glamour, grand hotels, frozen lake events and winter sun fill a full week without ever clicking into a binding. Cortina and Megeve follow for beautiful walkable villages and superb food, with Bad Gastein the contrarian spa pick and Bansko in Bulgaria the budget standout. Below we rank ten resorts on what actually matters off the slopes: the village, the food, the spa, the activities, how easy it is to get around and, where it counts, the price.

By the Ski Resorts for Kings editorial team · Last reviewed June 2026

What matters

What makes a resort great for non skiers

A non skier needs different things from a skier, and most resorts are built for the slopes first. The ones that work share a few traits: a beautiful, walkable village you can enjoy on foot, excellent restaurants and cafes, good spas and hotels, and a real spread of off snow activities, from cleared winter walks and tobogganing to sleigh rides, shopping and easy lifts up for lunch with a view.

The other thing that matters is getting around without skis. The best non skier resorts have good public transport or a compact, level center, so you are not stranded while the rest of your group is on the mountain. A pretty village on a steep one way slope is far harder work than a flat, connected town.

We have ranked for non skiers who still want to be in the mountains and part of the trip, not sidelined, and we have flagged the value picks because a non skier week of spas and restaurants can run up a bill fast. Many of these resorts also work brilliantly for mixed groups where some ski and some do not. For the wider picture, see our best ski resorts in Europe.

A pretty snow covered alpine village street with lit shops at dusk

A sunny mountain restaurant terrace with people relaxing over lunch in winter

The ranking

Our non skier picks for Europe

Ranked on the things that fill a non skier's day: the village, the food, the spa and hotels, the activities, how easy the resort is to enjoy on foot, and the value for money.

St Moritz

Switzerland | the glamour capital

The best non skier resort in Europe, a full week of glamour and winter sun.

St Moritz gives non skiers more to do than anywhere, with grand hotels, designer shopping, fine dining, spas and a famous calendar of frozen lake events from polo to horse racing, all under plenty of winter sun. The lakeside town is made for strolling and watching.

It takes top spot because the off snow life is the main event here, not an afterthought. It suits anyone who wants glamour and atmosphere. It is not cheap, so budget travelers should jump to Bansko lower down.

Cortina d'Ampezzo

Italy | the stylish stunner

The most beautiful setting in the Alps, with Italian style and the best food.

Cortina sits in an amphitheater of pink Dolomite peaks, with a chic, walkable town of boutiques and cafes, superb restaurants and a famous see and be seen passeggiata. The scenery alone is worth the trip, and the food is the best in the Alps.

It ranks second for combining a real town with stunning views and Italian style. It suits non skiers who love food, shopping and people watching. A car helps for the spread out valley.

Megeve

France | the charming village

The prettiest village in France, built for long lunches and slow days.

Megeve is a beautiful medieval village of cobbled streets, horse drawn sleighs, grand hotels and superb restaurants, created by the Rothschilds as a place to be seen rather than to ski hard. The flat, walkable center is ideal for non skiers.

It ranks third for sheer charm and food. It suits those who want a refined, gentle week. Keen skiers in the group should know the slopes are easy rather than challenging.

Zermatt

Switzerland | car free under the Matterhorn

A car free village with the best mountain views and easy high lunches.

Zermatt is a charming, car free village of timber chalets under the most famous peak on earth, easy to enjoy on foot, with excellent restaurants, good shopping and high lifts and railways that take non skiers up to sunny terraces and viewpoints like the Gornergrat.

It ranks fourth because the scenery and car free calm make it a delight off the snow. It suits non skiers who love mountain views and walking. It is expensive and the lifts are the main paid activity.

Kitzbuhel

Austria | the medieval town

A genuine medieval town with shops, cafes and a lively, friendly buzz.

Kitzbuhel is a beautiful walled town with a pedestrian center full of shops, traditional cafes, good restaurants and a warm Austrian welcome, plus an easy gondola up for a long lunch with a view. There is plenty to fill a non skier's day on foot.

It ranks fifth for being a real, lively town rather than a resort, and for better value than the Swiss names above. Lower altitude means it looks best with good snow cover.

Chamonix

France | the dramatic town

A vibrant real town with grand views, spas and the Aiguille du Midi.

Chamonix is a lively, year round town beneath Mont Blanc, with shops, museums, restaurants and spas, plus the spectacular Aiguille du Midi cable car that lifts non skiers to a viewing platform among the high peaks. There is a genuine buzz here off the snow.

It ranks sixth for combining a real town with some of the most dramatic mountain access anywhere. It suits active non skiers. The town is busy and less polished than the luxury names above.

Wengen

Switzerland | car free and scenic

A tiny car free village reached by railway, with sublime walks and views.

Wengen is a car free village perched on a sunny shelf in the Jungfrau region, reached only by mountain railway, with no traffic, gentle cleared walks, spectacular views of the Eiger and easy train and lift access for non skiers to ride up for lunch.

It ranks seventh for peace, safety and scenery. It suits non skiers who want quiet walks and grand views over nightlife. It is small, so those wanting shops and bustle should look higher.

Lech

Austria | refined and walkable

A polished, snowy village of grand hotels, good spas and quiet luxury.

Lech is a refined Arlberg village with a flat, walkable center, excellent spa hotels, good restaurants and a discreet, well heeled feel. The snow is reliable and the setting pretty, and the village is easy to enjoy on foot between lunches and the spa.

It ranks eighth for calm, comfortable days off the snow. It suits non skiers who want low key luxury in a real Alpine village. It is high end, so it is not a budget week.

Bad Gastein

Austria | the contrarian spa pick

A dramatic belle epoque spa town built around thermal baths, not the slopes.

Bad Gastein is our contrarian pick, a striking belle epoque town tumbling down a gorge around a waterfall, famous for its natural thermal spas long before it was a ski resort. The grand old hotels, the thermal bathing and the unusual architecture give non skiers a genuinely different week.

It ranks ninth because it is more spa town than ski village, which is exactly its appeal. It suits non skiers who want wellness and character. It is also better value than the marquee names.

Bansko

Bulgaria | the budget standout

The cheapest non skier week in Europe, with an old town, spas and very low prices.

Bansko is the value pick, a Bulgarian resort with a characterful old town of cobbled lanes, mehana taverns, cheap and hearty food, and several spa hotels at a fraction of Alpine prices. Meals, drinks and treatments cost a fraction of what they do in Switzerland.

It ranks tenth on polish but first on value by a distance. It suits non skiers who want a warm, characterful week without the Alpine bill. The skiing is modest, but for a non skier that hardly matters.

Compared at a glance

The non skier shortlist

Resort	Country	Best for non skiers	The verdict
St Moritz	Switzerland	Glamour and sun	The complete non skier resort.
Cortina	Italy	Style and scenery	The stunning Italian town.
Megeve	France	Charm and food	The prettiest village.
Zermatt	Switzerland	Views, car free calm	Best mountain views on foot.
Kitzbuhel	Austria	A real lively town	Medieval charm, good value.
Chamonix	France	A vibrant real town	Drama and the Aiguille du Midi.
Wengen	Switzerland	Walks and peace	Car free and sublime.
Lech	Austria	Quiet luxury and spas	Refined and walkable.
Bad Gastein	Austria	Thermal spa and character	The contrarian spa town.
Bansko	Bulgaria	Value and an old town	The budget standout.

Plan it well

Make the trip easy for everyone

When some of the group ski and some do not, a little planning keeps everyone happy. Book the skiers' lift passes, lessons and hire ahead, and arrange a single transfer for the whole party so nobody is left stranded at the airport or in the village. A non skier can save real money by buying a pedestrian lift ticket or a few single ascents rather than a full ski pass they will not use.

Book the extras and save

Lift passes, airport transfers and lessons are where a trip quietly leaks money. Booking ahead almost always beats the resort window price.

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Keep planning

Related guides

If your group is mixed, see our list for non skiers in the Alps and families in the Alps, or read how to plan a group ski trip. For the resorts themselves, browse the best ski resorts in Europe and our destination guides.

Questions worth asking

Non skier FAQs

What is the best ski resort for non skiers in Europe?

St Moritz is our overall pick, where the glamour, grand hotels, shopping, spas and famous frozen lake events give non skiers a full week without ever skiing, all under plenty of winter sun. Cortina and Megeve follow for beautiful walkable villages and superb food.

What do non skiers do at a ski resort?

Plenty. Non skiers enjoy cleared winter walks, tobogganing, sleigh rides, spas and thermal baths, shopping, fine dining, ice skating and riding lifts or mountain railways up for lunch with a view. The best resorts also host events, from frozen lake polo in St Moritz to museums and concerts.

Which is the cheapest European resort for non skiers?

Bansko in Bulgaria is the standout for value. Its characterful old town, hearty taverns and spa hotels cost a fraction of Alpine prices, so a non skier can fill a week of meals, drinks and treatments for far less than in Switzerland or France. Kitzbuhel and Bad Gastein in Austria are the next best value.

Can a non skier enjoy a trip with a group of skiers?

Yes, and the right resort makes it easy. Choose a walkable village with good transport, restaurants and activities so the non skier has a full day while the others ski, then meet for lunch on the mountain or dinner in town. St Moritz, Megeve, Cortina and Zermatt all work very well for mixed groups.

Are non skier resorts expensive?

The most famous, like St Moritz, Megeve, Zermatt and Lech, are luxury destinations and sit in the higher budget bands. But the non skier experience is available far cheaper at Kitzbuhel and Bad Gastein in Austria, often in the $2,000 to $4,000 per person band, and cheaper still at Bansko in Bulgaria.

Which non skier resort has the best mountain views?

Zermatt under the Matterhorn, Cortina amid the Dolomites and Wengen facing the Eiger have the most spectacular views, all easily enjoyed without skiing thanks to lifts and railways that carry non skiers up to viewpoints and sunny terraces.

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