While Jahorina is still waiting for the first serious snowfall, ski resorts across Europe are already opening their doors thanks to glaciers and special high-altitude conditions. This autumn, among the first to start were Zermatt and Saas-Fee in Switzerland, Passo Stelvio and Val Senales in Italy, as well as Hintertux and Pitztal in Austria – all destinations located at altitudes above 2,800 meters, which allows them reliable snow and a season start much earlier than others.

Austria is additionally opening Stubai, Kaunertal and Soelden this week, while Kitzsteinhorn and Mölltaler Gletscher will start operating as early as October 10. In Scandinavia, Finland relies on a completely different concept – the resorts Ruka and Levi use snow preserved from last winter, which might be interesting to local visitors since such a system has not yet been considered here.

Particularly interesting for our skiers is the trend that altitude is becoming crucial – resorts above 3,000 meters increasingly gain the advantage as climate change brings uncertain winters to lower mountains. In addition, Italy is introducing mandatory helmets for all skiers from next winter, while the popular Madonna di Campiglio will limit the number of people on the slopes during peak times.

Ski pass prices continue to rise, and there is growing talk of so-called “dynamic pricing” – a model where the price depends on dates and demand. This system is already used by some of the largest resorts in the Alps, while in North America the well-known Epic and Ikon pass are entering the European market.

For our skiing enthusiasts, this means that Europe is increasingly diverse in its approach – from glaciers at 3,500 m in Switzerland to resorts in Finland with “recycled snow.” What remains common to all is the fact that the season no longer begins in December, but much earlier, and that altitude, innovation, and regulations are becoming key factors in planning a winter holiday.


European Ski Resorts – Season 2025/26


Resort Country Highest point (asl) Season status
Zermatt Switzerland 3,883 m ✅ Open
Saas-Fee Switzerland 3,600 m ✅ Open
Passo Stelvio Italy 3,450 m ✅ Open
Val Senales Italy 3,200 m ✅ Open
Hintertux Austria 3,250 m ✅ Open (year-round)
Pitztal Austria 3,440 m ✅ Open
Stubai Austria 3,210 m 📅 Opens in October
Kaunertal Austria 3,160 m 📅 Opens in October
Soelden Austria 3,250 m 📅 Opens mid-October
Kitzsteinhorn Austria 3,029 m 📅 Opens October 10
Mölltaler Gletscher Austria 3,122 m 📅 Opens October 10
Ruka Finland 500 m ✅ Open (snow preserved from last winter)
Levi Finland 531 m ✅ Open (snow preserved from last winter)
Madonna di Campiglio Italy 2,600 m ⏳ Opens late November/December