Best for non skiers

Best Ski Resorts for Non Skiers in the Alps

The best Alpine resort for non skiers is St Moritz, where the glamour, grand hotels, frozen lake events and winter sun give you a full week without ever clicking into a binding. Megeve and Cortina follow for beautiful walkable villages and superb food, with Bad Gastein the contrarian spa pick. Below we rank ten resorts on the things that matter when you are not on the slopes: the village, the food, the spa, the activities and how easy it is to get around.

By the Ski Resorts for Kings editorial team · Last reviewed September 2025

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 for non skiers 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. Many of these resorts are also strong 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

A pretty alpine town to explore in the mountains

The ranking

Our non skier picks for the Alps

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

St Moritz

Switzerland | the glamour capital

The best non skier resort in the Alps, 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 300 plus days of sun a year. 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 look lower down.

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 second 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.

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 amphitheatre 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 third 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.

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 fourth for being a real, lively town rather than a resort. It suits those who want atmosphere and good value. Lower altitude means it looks best with good snow cover.

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 that take non skiers up to sunny terraces and viewpoints like the Gornergrat railway.

It ranks fifth 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.

Gstaad

Switzerland | discreet old money

Quiet, walkable luxury with grand hotels and famously long lunches.

Gstaad is a car free village of chalets and grand hotels with a discreet, low key glamour and a flat, strollable promenade of boutiques and cafes. The real action is in the spas, restaurants and hotel lounges rather than on the gentle slopes.

It ranks sixth for refined, unhurried days off the snow. It suits non skiers who want calm luxury. The skiing is scattered and gentle, so it is more about the lifestyle.

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 seventh 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 eighth 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.

Seefeld

Tyrol | the gentle all rounder

A flat, sunny plateau town built around walking, wellness and easy days.

Seefeld sits on a high, flat plateau near Innsbruck and is famous for cross country and winter walking rather than downhill, with a pretty pedestrian center, excellent spa hotels and miles of cleared trails. It is one of the easiest resorts in the Alps to enjoy without skiing.

It ranks ninth for being purpose built for gentle, active days. It suits non skiers who like walking and wellness. There is little challenging downhill, which is the point.

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 tenth because it is more spa town than ski village, which is exactly its appeal. It suits non skiers who want wellness and character over glamour. The setting is steep, so it is less flat to wander than Seefeld.

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.
Megeve	France	Charm and food	The prettiest village.
Cortina	Italy	Style and scenery	The stunning Italian town.
Kitzbuhel	Austria	A real lively town	Medieval charm, good value.
Zermatt	Switzerland	Views, car free calm	Best mountain views on foot.
Gstaad	Switzerland	Discreet luxury	Quiet, walkable, grand.
Chamonix	France	A vibrant real town	Drama and the Aiguille du Midi.
Wengen	Switzerland	Walks and peace	Car free and sublime.
Seefeld	Austria	Walking and wellness	Easiest week without skis.
Bad Gastein	Austria	Thermal spa and character	The contrarian spa town.

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.

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.

Compare lift passes Book a transfer Find lessons Reserve ski hire Travel insurance

Keep planning

Related guides

If your group is mixed, see our lists for families in the Alps and luxury 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 the Alps?

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. Megeve and Cortina 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 resort is best for a spa and wellness focused trip?

Bad Gastein and Seefeld in Austria are built around wellness, Bad Gastein for its natural thermal baths and grand spa hotels, Seefeld for its walking trails and spa resorts. Gstaad and Arosa in Switzerland are also excellent for a spa focused, restful week.

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 more expensive?

Not always, but the most famous non skier resorts like St Moritz, Megeve and Gstaad are luxury destinations and sit in the higher budget bands. Kitzbuhel, Seefeld and Bad Gastein offer the non skier experience at more moderate prices, often in the $2,000 to $4,000 per person band.

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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