Ski holidays for non skiers, what to actually do
A non skier can have a wonderful time on a ski holiday, as long as you pick the right resort. Look for a real town with spas, good restaurants, walking and sledding, scenic lifts non skiers can ride, and easy day trips, not a purpose built ski station. The best bases pair a charming village with proper non ski activities, so book the resort for the village as much as the slopes.
By the Ski Resorts for Kings editorial team · Last reviewed April 2026
The short answer: the secret to a happy non skiing holiday is the resort, not the activities. Choose a place that is a genuine destination in its own right, with a walkable town, spas and good food, pedestrian friendly lifts and mountain restaurants, winter walking and sledding, and the occasional day trip, and a non skier can fill a week happily while the rest of the group skis. Choose a functional, purpose built ski station with nothing but lifts and you will be bored by day two.
What there actually is to do
Plenty, in the right place. The mountains are spectacular whether or not you ski, and most of the best things to do off the slopes are about being in them, eating well and slowing down. Here is what a non skier can realistically do, day to day.
| Activity | What it involves | Where it shines |
|---|---|---|
| Winter walking | Cleared trails and snowshoe routes, often up the mountain by lift | Resorts with marked winter footpaths |
| Scenic lift rides and lunch | Ride a cable car up to a sunny terrace for a long mountain lunch | Resorts with pedestrian lift passes |
| Spa and wellness | Thermal baths, pools, saunas and treatments | Spa towns and hot spring resorts |
| Sledding and tobogganing | Long marked toboggan runs, some floodlit at night | Austria and Switzerland especially |
| Shopping and cafes | Browsing a real town, long lunches, people watching | Historic towns like Kitzbuhel and St Moritz |
| Day trips and culture | Trains to nearby cities, markets and sights | Resorts with rail links |
| Husky, snowmobile and horse drawn sled | Booked excursions into the snow | Scandinavia and the high Alps |
Add the apres ski, which is open to everyone, and the rhythm of a non skiing week falls into place: a slow morning, a lift up to meet the skiers for lunch, a walk or a spa in the afternoon, and the whole group back together in the evening.
Where to go
The best non skier resorts are real towns first and ski resorts second. St Moritz pairs glamour, spas, shopping and the Glacier Express with a famous mountain, Kitzbuhel is a perfectly preserved medieval town with cafes, walks and atmosphere, and Zermatt is car free and beautiful with the Matterhorn as the backdrop to easy walks and long lunches. In Japan, hot spring towns like Nozawa Onsen are made for non skiers thanks to the onsen culture.
For full rankings, see the best resorts for non skiers in the Alps, in Switzerland and in Austria, plus our occasion picks for non skiers across the Alps.
How to make the week work
A few practical moves make all the difference. Buy a pedestrian or walkers lift pass so the non skier can ride up to meet the group for lunch and enjoy the views, which most resorts sell cheaply. Pick accommodation in or near the town center rather than out by the lifts, so there is somewhere to walk to. And agree a loose daily plan, so the non skier has company at lunch and in the evening but freedom during the day.
Pack properly, because standing around in the cold is different from skiing in it: warm boots with grip for icy streets, layers and good gloves matter more for a non skier than a skier. Our layering guide and packing list help. If you want a trip that genuinely works for skiers and non skiers together, tell us your dates and budget below and we will route your brief to the right operators.
Non skier holiday FAQs
Can you enjoy a ski holiday if you do not ski?
Yes, if you choose the right resort. A non skier can fill a week happily with winter walking, scenic lift rides and long mountain lunches, spas, sledding, shopping, day trips and the apres ski. The key is to book a real town with things to do, such as St Moritz, Kitzbuhel or Zermatt, rather than a functional purpose built ski station.
What is there to do at a ski resort if you do not ski?
Plenty: winter walking and snowshoeing on cleared trails, riding cable cars up for sunny mountain lunches, spas and thermal baths, tobogganing, shopping and cafes in town, booked excursions like husky sledding and snowmobiling, day trips by train, and joining the group for apres ski. The best resorts offer all of these within easy reach.
Which ski resorts are best for non skiers?
Real towns with strong non ski offerings are best. St Moritz, Zermatt and Kitzbuhel are top picks in the Alps for their walking, spas, shopping and atmosphere, while Japanese hot spring towns like Nozawa Onsen suit non skiers thanks to the onsen culture. Avoid purpose built, lift only ski stations with no village life.
Can non skiers use the lifts and mountain restaurants?
Yes. Most resorts sell a cheaper pedestrian or walkers lift pass that lets non skiers ride scenic cable cars up to the mountain restaurants and viewpoints, where they can meet the skiing group for lunch. It is one of the best ways for a non skier to share the mountain and the views without skiing.
Is a spa or wellness break a good option for non skiers?
It is one of the best. Many Alpine and Japanese resorts are also spa destinations, with thermal baths, pools, saunas and treatments, and the hot spring towns of Japan are built around it. A non skier can structure the whole week around wellness while the rest of the group skis, then reunite for lunch and the evening.
What should a non skier pack for a ski holiday?
Warm, grippy boots for icy streets, plenty of layers, a good waterproof coat, hat and gloves, because standing or walking in the cold needs as much warmth as skiing does. Sunglasses and sun cream matter at altitude too. See our layering guide and packing list for the full kit.
Plan My Ski Trip
Travelling with a mix of skiers and non skiers and want a base that works for everyone? Tell us your dates, your group and your budget and our partner operators will price a trip built around the right town.