Skiing In Scandinavia: Look North For Your Next Ski Trip

17.02.2024 - 16:13 / forbes.com / Winter Olympics

Despite Norway’s dominance at the Winter Olympics, Scandinavia isn’t the first place you might think of for a skiing vacation in Europe. Iconic destinations such as the Alps in France, Switzerland, and Austria often overshadow the Nordic countries when it comes to winter sport getaways.

However, with some European resorts suffering from a mild winter, keen skiers are starting to consider Scandinavia.

Norwegian Air CEO Geir Karlsen said that increased demand from Europeans looking for snow in Scandinavia was part of the reason for the airline’s better than expected quarterly results.

Despite the reputation of Scandinavia as an expensive travel destination, ski resort costs are on a par with, or even cheaper than, leading European resorts.

Direct flights to the relatively new Scandinavian Mountains Airport that straddles the Norway-Sweden border from Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and occasionally London, provide easy access to two of the region’s biggest ski areas: Trysil and Sälen.

If you’re planning a ski trip, looking north will reveal some of the most enjoyable, challenging, less crowded, and unique skiing experiences the continent has to offer.

With cheaper prices than Norway and a wide variety of travel options, Sweden is a good place to begin the search for a suitable ski vacation. Here are some of the different options available in Sweden.

Åre: For all-round experience. Considered Sweden’s premier ski resort, Åre offers a vast range of slopes suitable for all levels, from beginners to advanced, across several resort areas. A long ski season and the longest skiable vertical in Sweden are among the benefits of choosing Åre.

The Åre ski area boasts modern facilities, including high-speed lifts and well-maintained pistes, alongside a vibrant alpine village atmosphere with excellent accommodation, restaurants, shops, and après-ski options.

Sälen: For families. One of Sweden’s most popular ski areas, Sälen—a set of four interconnected resorts—is best suited for beginners and families. A wide variety of easy to moderate slopes make it the perfect place for first-timers or those looking to improve their skills in a less intimidating environment. Sälen also offers extensive cross-country skiing tracks and fun activities for children.

Sälen is often pitched as being handy for those staying in Gothenburg, but it’s still a six-hour drive from Sweden’s second biggest city. It’s close to Scandinavian Mountains Airport, and less than three hours drive from Oslo Airport, across the border.

Flottsbro: For Stockholm visitors. Just half an hour from the Swedish capital city, Flottsbro is ideal for those looking to combine a ski trip with a winter stay in Stockholm. The slopes at the small ski center are on the easier