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The best ski resorts for families with children. Ski resorts for families with children

On December 21, the winter season started at many European ski resorts. A ski vacation is a great way to harness the endless energy of kids. And sports, mountain air and vitamin D every day are useful in unlimited doses for adults too. Here is a list of European resorts that are best suited for families. When choosing, factors such as convenient infrastructure, a variety of children's entertainment programs, the availability of restaurants and hotels ready to accept young travelers, and security are taken into account. Alina Trofimova, editor-in-chief of the Superski ski news agency, Roman Tyulyakov, editor-in-chief of the mountain travel website, and Olga Yakovina, editor-in-chief of the Voyage magazine, who have visited many European ski resorts personally, and sometimes with children, acted as experts.

Nanny for holidays and toys for rent

Villars (Switzerland). Where to leave the child: 3 kindergartens, including a nursery for children under 1 year old Where children will be taught to ride: two schools for children from 3 years old Subscription for five days: free for children under 9 years old, €118 - for older children, €207 - for adults Bonus: only 18 km away is the thermal spa Les Bains de Lavey with the hottest springs in Switzerland (water temperature reaches 70°C). True, children are only allowed here from 4 years old. The sunny resort of Villars is comfortably located just 20 km from Lake Geneva and 110 km from Geneva at an altitude of 1300 meters above sea level. Villars was historically created as a family resort. For attention to children, he was even awarded the prestigious Families Welcome quality certificate, which is issued after a multi-stage examination of a commission headed by the Swiss Tourism Federation. The city has five major international schools and boarding schools, whose students live here almost all year round. Villars has more than 225 km of slopes, more than half of them are easy: you can go here with children of almost any age and level of sports training. For beginners in the city center there is a free ski area with a children's park, houses, a small slide and belt lifts. There will be entertainment for those who are not only skiing, but also not standing on their feet. In Villars there are trails for walks with strollers, children's trails for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. The local tourism office has a service for finding nannies at the resort (although not Russian-speaking), as well as a large collection of toys that you can rent. In the village of Grillon next to Villars, you can rent a chair, stroller, bed or playpen. Not far from Villars, there are as many as five amusement parks, including the Geneva Island Caribbean water park and the Swiss steam locomotive park. And adults, leaving their children in one of the local gardens, can safely conquer the most difficult routes in the region. For example, the Glacier 3000 glacier in Diablera can be reached by car from Villars in just 20 minutes.

Water slides and ski slopes

Leukerbad (Switzerland) Where to leave the children: two kindergartens for children from 18 months Where children learn to ski: two schools where children from 2.5 years old Ski pass: free for children under 8 years old, children from 8 years old - € 120 , for adults - €267 for five days of skiing. There are family discounts and special offers Bonus: the largest alpine thermal complexes in Europe Bugerbad and Walliser Alpentherme & SPA are located in the resort. The largest thermal resort in the Alps at an altitude of 1411 meters in the Valais valley was created by the Romans. They did not ski, but they liked to take baths. Today Leukerbad is a popular thermal and ski center. The price of the ski pass includes a visit to the hot springs. The city has 30 outdoor and indoor thermal pools that will captivate both children and adults. There are several special pools for children. Hit - hot tubs and a large water slide. There are two peaks that can be conquered - Gemmi and Torrent located opposite each other. Leukarbad has excellent cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, tobogganing and more than 50 km of ski slopes. It has everything that caring parents might need: play areas and special menus in restaurants, beds and toys in apartments, special family rates and discounts, a kindergarten and nannies. It is especially convenient to put kids on skis from three years old at this resort. In the very center of the town, on the sunny part of the slope, there is a large Erli ski area: gentle slopes, ideal for first starts, comfortable belt lifts, a playground, a school with Russian-speaking instructors. There are competitions here every Friday. Next to the ski area there is a sports arena - an indoor complex where children will also find something to their liking.

The shortest metro and children's theater on skis

Serfaus (Austria) Where to leave the children: three kindergartens for children from 0 months Where children will learn to ride: two schools where children from 2.5 years old Ski pass: free for children under 8 years old. From 8 years old - from €107, adults - from €185 for 5 days of skiing. There are family discounts and special offers Bonus: Skyswing attraction, where you can experience the state of weightlessness The Tyrolean resort of Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis differs from its mountain neighbors in that it has the shortest metro in the world (its length is 1208 m). The local subway consists of one branch and four stations, at the beginning of the branch there is a large parking lot, at the end there is a platform from which several cable cars start at once. But it’s worth going here, of course, not for the metro, but for the atmosphere of a large entertainment complex for children in the mountains. Serfaus is a pedestrian town where cars cannot be entered, which means that a child can be let out on the street without fear. There are several large children's centers, the main one is the Kinderschneealm play area (near the Komperdel intermediate station) with numerous animation programs, a children's ski school, towns and children's restaurants. The lift that goes to the children's town is adapted for loading strollers. Another large children's area - Murmli - is located in the very center of Serfaus. There are many comfortable wide trails in Serfaus, which is especially convenient when traveling with children. There are also original attractions: children's parkours for snowmobiling, children's theater, train rides in the snow, adventure trails for children, slides and jumps for beginner freeriders, as well as three children's restaurants for hungry explorers.

Ice skating on the lake

Zell am See (Austria) Where to leave the children: two kindergartens for children from 18 months Where children learn to ski: two schools where children from 3 years old Ski pass for 5 days of skiing: free for children under 8 years old, older - €107 euros. There are family discounts and special offers. Bonus: At 3,029 meters, the Kitzsteinhorns glacier has two viewpoints providing a 360-degree view, including the Top of Salzburg, the highest point in the region. Zell am See is a friendly and sunny town in the Alps. It is located in the Austrian region of Salzburg, on the shores of the beautiful Lake Zeller. In winter, you can play curling and ice-skating on the lake. On the united with the town of Kaprun - three ski areas, three different mountains and 138 km of ski slopes. The most difficult tracks are on the glacier. For easier slopes and wide pistes for young skiers, head to Maiskogel and Schmittenhöhe. Local ski schools hold fun classes for the little ones and teenagers who dream of mastering the complex technique and going “through the virgin lands” with their dad. Many hotels in the resort are marked with the Families Welcome sign, for example: Hagleitner Family Balance Hotel & Spa, Amiamo Familotel, Rudolfshof and others. After a day of fun, the large water complex Tauern Spa in Kaprun or the indoor sports pool in the center of Zell am See awaits tourists.

Pier under the mountain

Madonna di Campiglio (Italy) Where to leave the children: two kindergartens for children from three months Where children will learn to ski: one school where children from three years old are engaged Ski pass for five days of skiing: free for children under 8 years old, free rental helmets for children under 11 years old. For children over 8 years old - from € 88. Adults - from € 176 Bonus: 32 restaurants and 24 bars of the resort are worth asking friends to stay with the children for the evening and go for a tasting of the best Italian dishes and cocktails. Just 220 km from Milan, among the most beautiful Dolomites of the Trentino region, there is a cozy resort of Madonna di Campiglio. It will be interesting here for advanced, beginners, and the smallest. Confidently skiing teenagers will surely like the huge snow parks (there are three of them above the resort) and wide, not too difficult tracks. And for kids, training ski areas with funny characters are suitable. Playgrounds are scattered throughout the ski area, the highest at the Val Mastellina station: there are all the pleasures for future skiers, and small slopes, and magical transport carpets, and funny houses. There are regular competitions for children. And for adults, from December 19 to 22, the Alpine Skiing World Cup was held, the rest of the time, everyone can ride along the most interesting slalom track.

Ski carousel

Kronplatz (Italy) Where to leave the children: two kindergartens for children from 18 months Where children will learn to ski: five schools, including a cross-country skiing and biathlon school, where children from three years old Ski pass for five days: with the purchase of an adult ( from €170) for children (under 8 years old) is issued free of charge. For children under 16 years old - from €119 to €148 (low-high season). Pay attention to the Dolomiti Super Kids special offer for families, which is valid for the period of Russian children's holidays Bonus: the opportunity to visit the colorful medieval town of Brunico, 20 km from Kronplatz up to 1650 meters above sea level. All together they are part of the Dolomiti Superski skiing region and are perfectly suited for family holidays in any composition (for example, there are fewer chair lifts and many more cabins). In Kronplatz, as well as other resorts in the Dolomites, you can come with teenagers and younger students who are already bored on very gentle slopes. They will be interested in a huge snowy park, on a difficult ski-cross track. For smaller children, there are easy trails, a fun Kids Safety Park (down from the Olang ski lift), where they introduce the rules of behavior on the mountain, as well as a wide variety of entertainment: sledding, carousels, parks with animation and even a children's restaurant Kroni, where you can get to on the gondola and in the same way go down without skis back.

425 km of slopes for the whole family

Les Arcs and La Plagne (France) Where to leave the child: each village has its own garden and nursery for children from 9 months Where children will learn to ski: two schools for children from three years Ski pass for five days of skiing: free for children under 6 years. There are family ski passes for 1-3 children. For children from 6 to 13 years old - €199, for adults - €265. Bonus: If the child and parents are cold hardy, you can stay overnight in a snow-built igloo hut. A quiet starry night, a view of Mont Blanc, a real Savoyard fondue, a special technique of sleeping in a sleeping bag on a snow bed will become an unforgettable adventure. The French Les Arcs, La Plagne and Peisey-Vallandry, united into one Paradiski skiing region, celebrate a joint anniversary this year. 10 years ago, the world's largest cable car, the Vanoise Express, was launched for the first time, linking both resorts and turning Les Arcs and La Plagne into the second largest ski area in France. Paradiski includes 20 villages scattered on different slopes of two mountains facing each other. This is more than 425 km of tracks for every taste and for every age. With kids, it is better to go to a quiet pedestrian Arc with a beautiful view of Mont Blanc. There is a kindergarten and a nursery, small slopes, an excellent slide for sledges, a beautiful square, there are practically no cars - resort guests leave their cars in a giant underground parking. With older children it is better to choose La Plagne. There are more entertainment for teenagers, a wider variety of slopes for confident skiers. In La Plagne you can, for example, take a ride on the bobsleigh track.

fairy tale atmosphere

Morzine (France) Where to leave the child: four kindergartens, including a nursery for children under one year Where children will be taught to ride: two schools where children from 3 years old are engaged; private lessons for children under 5 days ski pass: for children under 5 years - free of charge. For children under 12 years old - from €111, for adults - from €148. Bonus: for intrepid parents - the most difficult track of the resort, the almost vertical Swiss Wall Morzine is located on the border of Switzerland and France, 35 km from Geneva, in the region with the warm name of the Gate of the Sun. The colorful old town of the Haute-Savoie region was lucky: they did not build it up with concrete high-rise buildings, as they do in many French resorts. Therefore, the ancient architecture and the atmosphere of the good old Europe have been preserved here - a fairy tale that children will especially like. The old market, the town square, the stone bridge over the river Drance deserve a walking tour. At the same time, Morzine is a full-fledged town with a well-functioning bus service. There are cinemas, a skating rink, bars, restaurants, and a small sightseeing train for children runs through the streets. The unified ski area Portes du Soleil includes 13 resorts in France and Switzerland, 650 km of slopes and 228 lifts. No children's vacation is enough to try everything. Morzine itself is perfect for little conquerors of trails. It was here that they began to actively accustom not only children from 3-4 years old to skiing, but also very young children with the help of the Babysnow invention. This is something between a large ski and a scooter with a steering wheel. The board allows children who can already stand on their feet to get on their skis and enjoy sliding on the snow. Experienced instructors from the French Ski School (ESF) will explain and show you how Babysnow works. Adjacent to Morzine, the resort of Avoriaz is more suitable for teenagers, there are many fun parks for freestyle and steep slopes.

A fantasy resort like Carlson's

Ore (Sweden) Where to leave the child: one kindergarten for children from 3 years old with English-speaking teachers Where they will teach children to ride: two schools where children from 3 years old ski pass for five days: free for children under 7 years old. For children under 12 years old - from €150, for adults - €208. Bonus: After the reindeer sleigh rides, you can head to the restaurant for freshly smoked salmon or game. The most remarkable place is the hut in the Carins Stuga forest, which can only be reached by dog sled or snowmobile. There is no electricity, and the menu includes game dishes cooked over an open fire. The main Swedish resort, where the royal family rests and the atmosphere of a real fairy tale reigns. The local mountains are lower than the Alps, and skiing is a little easier. Ore is located at the foot of wooded mountains, the highest of which is Oreskutan (1429 m). But the amount of entertainment on the slopes and opportunities for excursions will please the most active parents. Dog and reindeer sledding, a children's town for miners, a mini-forest game, excursions to a frozen waterfall and an ice hotel - this is not a complete list. It is worth going to the resort with children who have not yet mastered the most difficult descents: here it will be easy for them to hone their skills. In local schools, there is a 15-level class system in order to achieve the same level of skating for all students as accurately as possible. Of the three resorts in Åre, Åre Bjørnen is the best for families with children, with a playground and a special children's Teddy Bear track that runs through a picturesque forest.

Cross-country skiing and snow field cooking

Geilo (Norway) Where to leave the child: three kindergartens, including a nursery for children under one year old Where children will learn to ride: three schools where children from 3 years old ski pass for five days: free for children under 7 years old. For children from 7 to 15 years old - from € 80, for adults - from € 160 Bonus: Geilo with its winds is one of the best places for snowkiting and paragliding The quiet town of Geilo is located at an altitude of 800 meters above sea level at the foot of the largest in Norway mountain plateau - Hardangervidda. The highest point of the resort is at an altitude of 1178 m. Geilo has many trails suitable for family skiing, some of which are illuminated at night. The resort has a wide variety of winter activities for children: treasure hunting in the forest with trolls, cross-country skiing, snowman building workshops and baking snow pies. Surely both children and adults will like the local invention - a large air cushion that you can jump on skis (even children from 4 years old are allowed). And of course, there are ideal trails for cross-country skiing, which are more popular than mountain skiing in Norway. Geilo has many cozy apartments, four large supermarkets, and prices are not much higher than in other European countries.

Chasing the Northern Lights

Levi (Finland) Where to leave the child: two kindergartens for children from 0 months Where children will learn to ride: two schools where children from 3 years old Ski pass for five days: for children under 12 years old - € 82 for 5 days, for children over 12 years old - from € 130 to € 150, for adults - from € 138 Bonus: a chance to see the northern lights. In order not to miscalculate the dates, you can check with the forecast service. This resort is located beyond the Arctic Circle, in Lapland, but due to the proximity of the Gulf Stream, the climate here is mild. The resort looks like a village decorated for Christmas, and the residence of Santa Claus is only an hour away. Around the village there are hills with round tops, the trails leading from them are simple and not long, there are several dedicated training slopes, a huge children's area with free lifts, schools and nurseries for young skiers (by the way, there are no problems with Russian-speaking instructors). Every day there are competitions for young riders. There is a large water park with slides and thermal pools. As well as a variety of entertainment: a park with husky dogs, a deer farm, a snow town, an ice gallery, as well as many children's entertainment areas. A separate plus - from St. Petersburg to Levi can be reached by car in 12 hours (if, of course, you're lucky at customs).

The main ski resort in Bulgaria

Bansko (Bulgaria) Where to leave the children: one kindergarten for children from 3 years old Where they will teach children to ski: two schools where children from 4 years old go Ski pass for three days: for children under 12 years old - €62, for schoolchildren and students - €77, for adults - €86 Bonus: In Bansko you can go cross-country skiing on a professionally prepared track. There is a biathlon stadium here, where the stages of the European Biathlon Cup are often held. Bansko is the main ski resort in Bulgaria. It is located at the foot of the Pirin Mountains surrounded by three peaks - Pirin, Rila and Rhodopes. In recent years, thanks to powerful investments, Bansko has turned into a modern mountain resort, in terms of infrastructure and services, it is quite comparable to the Alpine ones. There are modern lifts, simple and well-groomed trails 70 km long, most of which are located on the sunny side and protected from the wind by the forest. There are large hotels in the town, many of which are designed for families with children. For example, the local Kempinski has its own Kids Club, and other hotels have game rooms. Bansko has a huge private sector - apartments with their own kitchens and a transfer to the ski lift, which is very convenient for families. And more than 100 taverns with live music and an excellent menu. Holidays in Bulgaria have many advantages: a short flight, simple and understandable cuisine with delicious dairy products and no extra spices, the almost complete absence of language problems, affordable prices.

Most of the most famous ski resorts in Western and Central Europe are focused on accepting tourists without children. Their tracks are of little use for skiing with children aged 6-7 years and older, and there are practically no entertainments for kids there. However, in France, and in Switzerland, and in other European countries, it is still possible to ride with children in a ski resort. An overview of the most interesting places for family holidays is in our article.

France

At the very foot of the French Alps, in the historic region of Savoie, there is a picturesque village called Morillon. Over the past few decades, it has been considered one of the best places for family holidays in the winter season. The resort has even built a special "children's village", where ice rinks, children's cafes and clubs operate. If desired, parents can ride with their offspring and dog sledding.

Learning to ski at the Morillon ski resort is easy. There are several schools for children and beginners, and most of the local slopes:

smooth, gentle and very safe;
not crowded even on weekends;
with the most modern lifting equipment.

Just 40 minutes drive from this resort is the beautiful Swiss city of Geneva. You can go to it with a guided tour if you get bored with the rest in the Savoyard village.

Listing the best ski resorts for beginners in France, one cannot fail to mention the town of Puy-Saint-Vincent (Puy-St-Vincent). It is located in the Hautes-Alpes region, in the southeast of the country. There are 2 excellent schools for beginners with qualified trainers, most of whom have experience working with children. The resort has a large kindergarten. All Puy-Saint-Vincent slopes converge in the center, so it is simply impossible to get lost on them. In your free time from skiing with your children you can:

go to the cinema, to family film screenings;
visit one of the many restaurants, and almost every one of them has a children's menu;
take a snowmobile trip.

Switzerland

Switzerland also has excellent ski resorts for families with children. The most famous among them is called Adelboden (Adelboden) and is located in the Bernese Alps. Most of the resort's slopes are gentle and even, relatively uncrowded even in high season. The infrastructure of Adelboden meets the highest international standards and is adapted to accommodate children. For them there are:

several spacious playrooms;
2 large swimming pools;
a school with children's instructors who will teach the child to ski;
numerous cafes and restaurants with a children's menu.

And of course, in Adelboden you can go not only skiing, but also skating and sledding, as well as dog sledding. However, keep in mind that Swiss resorts are among the most expensive in Europe. The cost of renting equipment and staying in hotels is quite high here.

Italy

Ski resorts for children in the Italian Dolomites are more economical. In terms of price and quality, one of the most attractive options is the small town of Selva. It accepts tourists with children aged 4 months and older. In Selva there are family hotels of a very high standard, many of them employ nannies. You can leave the baby to the nanny while his parents ride on local tracks.

Older children will also have something to do. They can have fun in special clubs or playgrounds with sports towns. At the request of a teenage child, you can enroll in classes at a rock climbing school.

Another great family holiday resort is called Passo Tonale and is also located in the Dolomites. It is a small village located at the foot of a mountain over 3000 m high. More than a dozen tracks have been laid on its slopes. Among them there are both very simple, for beginners, and more difficult routes. Like other best ski resorts for families with children, Passo del Tonale offers its guests:

use the services of nannies;
be trained in ski schools for children and adults;
visit cozy cafes with a children's menu.

An important feature of the resort is the long duration of the season. Snow in this picturesque corner of the Dolomites lies from the end of October to the very end of May. Peak season is December-February.

Sweden

The best ski resorts for children are not only in the Alps and the Dolomites. Not everyone knows that skiing can be excellent in Sweden. Local resorts are not as popular as Swiss or French, so there are significantly fewer vacationers here. Prices for holidays in the Scandinavian country cannot be called low, but the service from the Swedes is really impeccable.

Ski resort Zermatt (Zermatt) in Switzerland

The Swiss resort, overlooked by the everglacial peak of the Matterhorn, is open all year round. Cars are illegal in Zermatt, and all resort guests travel only in old-fashioned cabs or modern electric cars. You can also ride the Gornergrat electric railway leading to the Riffelberg slope.
Zermatt is an old town where many historical buildings have been preserved.

Children under 9 years old use the ski lifts free of charge. In the children's ski park Sonnega, kids are taught to ski and snowboard, and master classes are held at the Kinderparadis Zermatt club. There is only one children's track in Zermatt, but it is long, flat and wide. The children's ski school Stoked has a kindergarten for children from 2.5 years old. Classes for children 4-8 and 6-12 years old are held at the Snowflakes Kids Park, where there are training areas for each age.

Kids activities in Zermatt

In Zermatt, kids will get to know Wally the sheep, the symbol of all the resort's children's services. It all started with the book "Wally on the Matterhorn", which was written by the owner of one of the local restaurants. Now a badge with the image of the hero of the book decorates the best places for children in Zermatt: shops, restaurants, hotels, kindergartens and clubs. For example, the children's snow park Wolli Park on Mount Sunnegga bears the name of the famous sheep. The Wally badge also marks the best children's hotels in Zermatt: Bristol with a games room, Schweizerhof and La Ginabelle with a kids club and entertainment program. With children, you can also stay at the Riffelberg Hotel-Restaurant or the Felicé, Ferienhaus, Matterhorngruss, Chalet Cortina, Dent-Blanche Apartments.

Ski resort Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis in Austria (Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis)

Serfaus is known for its children's skiing and entertainment programs. The resort carefully monitors the environment, so cars are not allowed to enter here. For children from 3 years old: ski schools and kindergartens Murmli Crèche and Berta's Kindergarten, a special children's lift. Education at school consists of 10 steps.

Children's entertainment Serfaus Fiss Ladisa
Amusement parks Kinderschneealm, Berta's Kinderland and Murmli Park, children's restaurant. Attractions: Bear Hill, Cave World, Indian Village or Dinosaur Forest. Natural park with deer, eagles and squirrels that can be observed in their natural environment. The famous Igludorf is a labyrinth of snow and ice. Many thematic routes, playgrounds, tubing, snow fields and toboggan runs. There are curling, rock climbing, motor sledding, snowshoeing.

Ski resort Nassfeld in Austria (Nassfeld)

Some slopes are ideal for family skiing, there are also children's slopes and areas. For kids 3-5 years old mini-club BOBO: games, cartoons and communication with peers under the supervision of educators. The following hotels have their own kindergartens: Wulfenia, Sonnenalpe, Hubertushof, and our favorite Ramsi hotel. The resort has a wonderful chain of hotels Kinderhotels for families.

Children's entertainment Nassfeld

Indoor pools, tennis courts, playgrounds, snow park, health centers, discos and cinemas. In the winter Day Park you can ride snow bikes, scooters, horse-drawn sleighs.

Ski resort Zell am See in Austria (Zell am See)

Center for the European Sports Region. A clean and well-groomed town on the shores of Lake Zell. A wide area on the line of the Araytban lift is allotted for children to ski. The ski schools in Schmitten, Kitzsteinhorn and Maiskogel teach children about winter sports in a fun and playful way. The school in Kaprun is famous for its best instructors, and the school at the Schmittenheebahn has reasonable prices. The resort has children's ski gardens: in Zell am See (from 1 year old), and in Schüttdorf, at the Areitbahn ski lift (from 2 years old).

Children's entertainment in Zell am See

Outdoor ice rinks, tennis courts, pony rides, ice sailing and other winter sports, winter hiking.

Ski resort Bad Gastein in Austria (Bad Gastein)

One of the most expensive ski resorts in Austria, mountainous Monte Carlo. There is a picturesque waterfall in the center of the resort. The resort has a ski kindergarten, a playground and a park. Several ski schools teach children winter sports: Skischule Schlossalm, Pflaum und Krvanja OHG and others. You can start classes from the age of 4.

Children's entertainment Bad Gastein

The adventure ski park in Dorfgastein, the children's park Gaste Schneepark in the Argental ski center, the leisure center in Stubnerkogel. There are playgrounds on the Schlossalm and Stubnerkogel lift lines.

Ski resort Schladming (Schladming) in Austria

There are several ski schools in Schladming, most of them have children's clubs. Classes are held on special children's tracks. In Ramsau there is a children's center Kinderland: nannies for children under 3 years old, and classes for children under 5 years old. Children's clubs are open at the Tritscher ski school branches in Rohrmoos and Planai. The Bobos Kinderclub has a nursery and a children's restaurant. In general, most hotels in Schladming offer babysitting services: Pichlmayrgut, family hotels Stegerhof and Bliem’s Familienhotel, Thaler.

Baby entertainment in Schladming

Swimming pool, tennis courts, outdoor ice rink, prize shooting range. Riding on a sledge harnessed by three horses.

Ski resort Morillon (Morillon) in France

Morillon ski resort - also the owner of the distinction Family Plus. Morillon is a traditional French village, where old chapels of the 15th-18th centuries have even been preserved. Children from 6 months to 10 years old can spend time in the children's village. You can learn skiing from the age of 3, and children under 3 can be sent to a nursery. If the kids are older and don't ride, there are Piou Piou (3-4 years old) and Pooh the Beginner (4-8 years old) clubs for them.
Not far from the village there is a children's snow park, where boarders from 5 to 12 years old will be interested. On the Marvel slope, children from the age of 7 can sled. At the end of a trip 5 km long. Kids are treated to hot chocolate.

Morillon's children's entertainment

Dog sledding, ice skating and figure skating lessons on the picturesque Lake Anessi. The village has a cinema and a discotheque. Extreme sports enthusiasts can go paragliding, hang gliding, fly a helicopter or a hot air balloon. In the Morillon sports complex there is a swimming pool and a children's water park.

Ski resort Avoriaz in France (Avoriaz)

Avoriaz is a car-free place; guests of the resort move on foot, on skis, chair lifts or taxis, which are horse teams. For convenience, most of the hotels are accessible to visitors on skis.

For children, the Children's Village (Village Des Enfants) is open - a ski school for children from 3 to 16 years old, which is run by the Olympic champion in skiing Annie Famoz. Children's slopes for skiing. Next to the village there is a kindergarten Les P'tits loups (from 3 months to 5 years).

Children's entertainment Avoriaz

The largest mountain water park in the world: indoor and outdoor pools, a river with a variable current, a water half-pipe, slides, climbing walls, a children's "paddling pool" and much more. Skating rink, sports center. Walks on snowshoes, dog sleds, snowmobiles or snowmobiles.

Ski resort Val d'Isere in France (Val d'Isere)

Val d'Isère is also awarded the "family" seal of excellence Family Plus. The resort has 15 ski schools, among which there are specialized slalom and snowboard schools. For kids from 18 months to 13 years old, the Village des Infants children's village is open. Children spend time with their peers in age groups - under the supervision of professional nannies, animators and ski instructors. Kids can go sledding - there are separate toboggan runs for this, separate areas are reserved for learning to ski.

Children's entertainment Val d'Isere

Sports center with gym and playgrounds, climbing wall and paragliding club, outdoor ice rink and indoor swimming pool, gym and bowling alley. You can also go dog sledding or paragliding.

You will also find the best family hotels in Austria and other European countries in the Travels section of Workingmam.

Bulgarian ski resort Borovets was widely known already in the 19th century, and today it has a modern infrastructure and wonderful trails. Here you can learn many winter sports. Ski schools offer classes with Russian-speaking instructors, which, you see, is especially important when it comes to children. Lessons can be both individual and group. Borovets has slopes for both beginners and experienced skiers - i.e. Parents who have enrolled their child will not be bored either.
Training in the ski schools of Borovets is conducted for 4 hours a day, where the course can be calculated for a period of 3 to 13 days. Snowboarding will also be taught, but the lessons will last only 2 hours a day. True, only those children who have already reached the age of 5 will be admitted to schools - in these places special ski gardens are open for them. And those who are younger will have to be rented to animator teachers for the time of skiing.

In Slovakia in the High Tatras and in Poprad, there are ski schools for children and adults, and you can study here individually or in groups, and even with the whole family (if suddenly none of you have ever skied before). As in many other mountain resorts, it is not at all necessary to bring your own equipment with you - the rental price, although significant, does not seem so high after the introduction of airline tariffs for transporting skis.
A pleasant surprise for beginners (both adults and small) skiers will be a visit to Aqua City - a large thermal complex where you can relax with pleasure and health benefits after a day spent on the slopes of the mountains.

Close to the Finnish ski resort Luosto (in Lapland). It is located on the territory of the Finnish national park Pyhätunturi, at the foot of the Luosto fell. For children, there is a special ski school with a “sparrow” hill, where you can ski and sled.
With children, you can go to another Lapland resort - Levi. Among its well-maintained and well-lit trails, there are also trails for beginner skiers. A ski school with Russian-speaking instructors, some of whom specialize in teaching children, will help the little ones get on their skis. For beginners, 4 free educational lifts are equipped in the center of the mountain resort. For kids 4-6 years old, individual lessons are offered, from 6 years old - group lessons. If the child is not interested in skiing, you can leave the children under supervision in the children's town in the open air or give it to the care of a Russian-speaking nanny.
In addition to ski activities, these Finnish mountain resorts also have water and health centers and other activities for children - from a trip to the Santa Claus village and dog and reindeer sledding to amethyst mining on the Luosto fell.

To Austria fly a little further, but there are already real mountains - the Alps, and the level of comfort is completely different. For example, in Bad Hofgastein, beginner skiers will be taken by bus to the Angertal, where ski schools and easier pistes are open. There is a ski kindergarten for kids from 3 years old, where they will not only be educated and entertained, but they will not forget to feed. The ski school accepts children from the age of 4 and asks them almost like adults - 4 hours of training daily, with a course of study of 6 days.
Not far from Salzburg, in Obertauern, children will be taught to ski, with an emphasis on the game component of the technique. In fact, how much can you learn!?! All year round, children are taught at school - so you can relax during the holidays! Here in this mountain resort, learning to ski will turn for children into an exciting journey full of various and pleasant discoveries. Children are collected in small groups - up to 4 people and are taken to classes from the age of 3. There are groups for older children and teenagers, both with a good level of skiing, and for complete beginners.

French ski resorts Traditionally, children are given a lot of attention. So, for example, in the ski school EFS Arc 1600, a children's club located in the La Cachette hotel accepts children from 4 months to 12 years old. This is for those who want to leave the children and ride on their own, but from the age of 4, children go for walks and ski lessons with instructors and there are suitable skis, boots and suits for everyone. For older children, classes become more serious, and the mini-club from 4 to 7 is replaced by a kids club, where children from 7 to 12 years old are taught to ride.

Unlike the French stations, which were built according to plan, the Austrian ski resorts grew spontaneously. Small villages gradually turned into world-class resorts. Some were oriented towards an expensive audience, others - well-skating, some - active youth, some - families with children.

Each resort has its own face and its clientele. We tried to choose from a large list those that are most suitable for a typical Russian family with children.

Austrian resorts, with rare exceptions, are located not on a mountain, but in a valley, and the road from the airport does not take much time. Arrival airports:

Innsbruck, Salzburg, Munich.

Innsbruck is located closest to the resorts of Tyrol, and most of them can be reached in an hour and a half. But Tyrolean hotels mainly receive guests on Saturdays, and there is only one Saturday flight from Moscow - Austrian Airlines. He flies back from Innsbruck at 6:30 am. This means that you will need to leave the hotel no later than 2:30-3:00 am, which is very inconvenient with a child.

There are usually two Saturday flights to Salzburg, and tour operators share most of the seats. Munich is located farther from the main resorts, but whole squadrons fly here every day - up to 12 flights of different airlines. Transfer from Munich to most resorts - within 2-3.5 hours.

For families with children, we primarily recommend hotels with half board. Every evening, having dinner with the whole family in a cafe or restaurant is a troublesome and expensive business. In addition, in many resorts, especially during the peak season, a table must be booked in advance. Hotels with half board are more expensive than those with breakfast, but you will get good savings on a round trip.

Serfaus (Serfaus)

Serfaus is located on a mountain plateau, to which a not too long and winding serpentine leads. The view of the valley is amazing!

Lots of trails for beginners and families. Several black slopes, steepness up to 70%, will please the most notorious pros. It is worth noting that most of the slopes are sunny, and by the end of the day the descent to the resort can turn into a serious test, especially at the end of the season.

For children, a huge territory has been allocated, with a total area of more than 10 hectares. Three children's parks - "Murmli", "Kindershneealm" and "Kinderland", Russian-speaking instructors in schools and teachers in kindergartens, toboggan runs, children's play areas and so on and so forth ...

There are even special children's restaurants for skiers. Nurseries and kindergartens accept children from 3 months to 5 years old, all teachers have a pedagogical education. Special trails have been prepared for walking with children in strollers, and a stroller can be rented. Such a serious approach to holidays with children cannot be found anywhere else in the Alps!

Most hotels offer breakfast and dinner, after which you can walk around the resort or go straight to bed - the nightlife here is quite calm. There are many apartments, but among Russians they are less in demand than hotels with meals. Many hotels have family rooms and the ability to combine several rooms into one large apartment.

Zell am See/Kaprun

One of the most "family" resorts in the land of Salzburg is the town of Zell am See and the neighboring village of Kaprun. The local mountain has only 2 km of "growth", but in the neighborhood there is the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, where two parallel cabins go. Soon they promise to replace them with a new cable car going straight from Kaprun.

At the top of the Schmittenhöhe in the children's park, the dragon Schmidolin “lives” all year round, who will teach the kids to ski and not let them get bored.

There are three parks on the Kitzsteinhorn for lovers of jumps, railings and tables: glacial, where there are both easy and complex figures, central for more experienced riders and easy for beginners. Another park is located on a mountain above Zell am See.

The special pride of the Kitzsteinhorn is the superpipe. On a small skiing area Maiskögel is equipped with a children's "Fantasy Park" - Maisi Phantasie Park. There is also a rail toboggan run open all year round. On the Schmittenhöhe, the world's longest Fun Slope XXL, and on the Kitzsteinhorn, the Eagle Line. These are adventurous trails, the descent along which will bring pleasure to both children and parents.

Located on the shore of the lake, Zell am See is full of holidaymakers all year round, and, as a result, the prices here are very affordable. A wide choice of both hotels and apartments, a close road from Salzburg, accommodation at a comfortable height - everything you need for a comfortable family vacation.

In Zell am See there is a water center, and in Kaprun there is a thermal complex "Tauern Spa".

Older children, and their parents, will enjoy free Wi-Fi throughout the resorts and on the mountain.

The resort constantly hosts various festivals, one of the most spectacular is Balloon Week in February. You can not only watch dozens of huge balloons rising into the air, but also take a flight on one of them. Particularly impressive is the spectacle of the night flight of balloons, illuminated by multi-colored spotlights.

Seefeld

The resort is not so much a ski resort as a winter one. Here is a paradise for flat skiing - it was in Seefeld that the competitions of two Olympics were held. Two local small ski areas will please only beginners or older skiers. However, a single ski pass, which includes six villages, has a total of more than 200 km of slopes and allows you to have a good time for those for whom 20 minutes on the ski bus is not a problem.

There are sledding and horse-drawn sleigh rides, night trails, skating rinks, a sports center with a swimming pool, and tennis.

Hotels in Seefeld are for every taste and budget, but 4 * hotels with half board are especially in demand among Russians. First of all, people come here not to surf the snowy expanses, but to relax in a comfortable environment. A large percentage of vacationers are older tourists with grandchildren.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Neighboring Neuschwanstein is one of the most visited and beautiful castles in the world.

You can get to Munich by train faster than by metro from end to end of Moscow.

The resort has a large selection of apartments, but Russians mostly prefer hotels. Due to the fact that the resort is open all year round, the price policy of hotels here is very humane, and the difference in the price of staying in a hotel with half board and apartments without meals is small.

Winter activities, in addition to skiing and snowboarding, can be listed for a very long time. You can go down the mountain on a sled in almost any resort, but where else can you find winter segway riding?

The Olympic Center has a skating rink where you can not only skate, but also try your hand at curling - both classical and its Bavarian variety.

Alpspitz Wellenbad has two pools where you can both swim and ride the waves, a jacuzzi, saunas and a wellness center, a diving tower and, of course, an almost 100-meter waterslide! For the little ones - a separate pool and playground.

In children's schools, training for beginners is carried out in a playful way and always ends with competitions with medals and certificates.

Speaking about the Austrian Alps, let's also remember the three most popular resorts among Russians. It cannot be said that they are designed for families. Rather, they are generalists suitable for almost any traveler. Each of them has its own attractions for family holidays.

Ischgl

One of the most popular Austrian resorts. The ski area, which also includes neighboring Galtür, Kappl and See, is more than 200 km of slopes. Some of them are located in Switzerland. You can go down to nearby Samnaun and go shopping duty-free.

There are practically no apartments in Ischgl itself. Families with older children will enjoy the resort the most - perhaps the most fun party in Austria. In the Silvretta Center there is an aqua park, saunas, a bowling alley. Every week there is a bright show of instructors, accompanied by fireworks.

For family accommodation, it is better to choose neighboring Kappl or Galtür, located 10-15 minutes drive from Ischgl. There are many apartments and cheap hotels with half board. Both resorts have small, 40–45 km ski areas, ideal for beginners and family tourists.

In Galtyur there is an entertainment complex with a water park, bowling alley, billiards, slot machines.

At both resorts, supervision of non-skating children is organized - only 6 euros for half a day or 3 euros per hour, there are children's schools from three years old. A whole children's town Sunny Mountain for beginner skiers has been built in Kappl.

Sölden

The two cabins coming from the valley are among the most modern and fastest in the Alps.

Surprisingly, few people get to the neighboring Obergurgl, which is included in the general ski pass, where there are another 110 km of excellent slopes and a virgin sea. It is very comfortable family skiing here - the tracks are much freer than in Sölden. A great option for families with different levels of experience riding together. And in local schools you can take lessons with a Russian-speaking instructor.