Floodlit slopes at © Nassfeld, Carinthia
Deservedly popular in North America and quickly catching on in Europe’s ski resorts, night skiing is one of my personal favourites. You just can’t beat the drop-dead gorgeous views of the sun setting behind the mountains, the orange and red hues of the sunset as it spreads across the snow, and finally the stars and the moon shining down on you as you glide down the floodlit slopes. These Alpine ski resorts offer night skiing on illuminated slopes, often included with the ski pass – if you haven’t tried it yet, I strongly recommend it! Be aware that night skiing is dependent on weather conditions and may not always be available.
The ski resort of Nassfeld - Pressegger See in Austria’s southern province of Carinthia boasts one of the longest floodlit pistes in the Alps. Night skiing is available on Saturdays in January and February from 6:30pm to 9pm on a 2.2km-long floodlit piste and tickets cost just €8.
The Wipptal ski resort near Innsbruck offers night skiing three times a week (Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays) until 9:30pm at the Bergeralm. Competition-approved lighting and over 9km of illuminated slopes make this one of the best night ski areas in Europe.
From the end of December until the beginning of March, Alpbach ski resort offers night skiing until 9:15pm at the Reitherkogel at Reith im Alpbachtal. Open lifts include the 8-person gondola, the Nord drag lift and the Brandach drag lift, with access to a generous 6km of pistes.
© Alpbach
The largest night skiing area in Europe is found at the tiny Semmering ski resort, where there are a whopping 13km of floodlit slopes – that’s practically the entire ski area! The night skiing area even includes an illuminated freestyle park.
Enjoy night skiing, music and the lively Bar Restaurant des Verdons every Wednesday from the end of December to the end of February on Courchevel's Verdons piste and Family park. Night skiing is available until 8pm.
The Riederalp and the Bettmeralp at Aletsch Arena offer night skiing until 9pm on Tuesdays. There is also night skiing until 8pm at Fieschertal, only in February. Night skiing is included in the price of the Aletsch Arena lift pass.
Kirchberg has night skiing until 9:30pm on Thursdays and Fridays on the slopes of the Gaisberg. Tickets are € 20.50. The mountain restaurant also remains open so no worries about skipping supper.
Night skiing in Kirchberg © KitzSki
Saalbach Hinterglemm offers night skiing on the Unterschwarzach lift from Monday through Saturday until 9:30pm, while the Schantei lift in Leogang also has night skiing until 9:30 on Monday, Tuesday and Saturday.
Alpe d'Huez offers a floodlit slalom piste on most Tuesdays and Thursdays during the school holidays. It’s free for those who already have a ski pass, and otherwise only €11. Alpe d’Huez also offers occasional torchlit descents of the Sarenne, the longest black piste in the world.
Ski passes at Serre-Chevalier entitle the bearer to join in the night skiing fun at this French ski resort, available Tuesdays and Thursdays during the French school holidays and spring half-term. The night skiing sessions also feature child-friendly activities and spectacles.
Ski the 3km floodlit piste on the Hochwurzen at Planai Monday through Saturday until 9:30pm. Lift passes for night skiing are sold separately from day passes, although you will receive a 20% discount if you already have a ski pass.
Floodlit ski slopes at © Planai
Wednesdays and Saturdays, take Kühtai's HochAlter lift to the top of the illuminated night skiing slope and enjoy skiing under the stars. While the lift closes at 9:30pm, the floodlit slopes remain open until 11pm so you can hit up the Berghaus Zum Kaiser Maximilian for a pick-me-up and then ski down after.
At Chamrousse 1650 and 1750, discover skiing under the stars on several floodlit pistes. Night skiing is available on Thursdays during the school holidays and on Saturdays until 8:30pm and costs €19.50 if you don’t have a day ski pass. You can also opt to splurge on a fondue after your night skiing session – divine!
The ski resort of Söll at the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental starts its night skiing program relatively early in mid-December and boasts the largest night skiing area in Austria with 10km of floodlit slopes. Slopes are open until 10:30pm from Wednesday through Saturday; the price is not included in the day ski pass.
Discover night skiing until 10pm on the Königwiese slope at Katschberg, included with the price of your day lift pass. Night skiing at Katschberg is available on some Mondays and Thursdays throughout the season.
© Katschberg
The huge night skiing area at Le Collet d’Allevard offers 2 lifts and 8 illuminated pistes and is open on Fridays until 10:30pm, all season long, as well as Wednesdays during the school holidays. The price of a lift pass is €14, or €9 if you already have a day ski pass, with the option to add raclette or fondue for €20 more. Le Collet d’Allevard is located just an hour from Grenoble or Champery.
Obertauern's Edelweiss lift is open for night skiing every Monday and Thursday until 10pm. You can ski down the 1.5km floodlit slope for free if you’re in possession of a multi-day Obertauern lift pass, or purchase a night skiing ticket on its own.
Floodlit slopes at © Nassfeld, Carinthia
Deservedly popular in North America and quickly catching on in Europe’s ski resorts, night skiing is one of my personal favourites. You just can’t beat the drop-dead gorgeous views of the sun setting behind the mountains, the orange and red hues of the sunset as it spreads across the snow, and finally the stars and the moon shining down on you as you glide down the floodlit slopes. These Alpine ski resorts offer night skiing on illuminated slopes, often included with the ski pass – if you haven’t tried it yet, I strongly recommend it! Be aware that night skiing is dependent on weather conditions and may not always be available.
The ski resort of Nassfeld - Pressegger See in Austria’s southern province of Carinthia boasts one of the longest floodlit pistes in the Alps. Night skiing is available on Saturdays in January and February from 6:30pm to 9pm on a 2.2km-long floodlit piste and tickets cost just €8.
The Wipptal ski resort near Innsbruck offers night skiing three times a week (Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays) until 9:30pm at the Bergeralm. Competition-approved lighting and over 9km of illuminated slopes make this one of the best night ski areas in Europe.
From the end of December until the beginning of March, Alpbach ski resort offers night skiing until 9:15pm at the Reitherkogel at Reith im Alpbachtal. Open lifts include the 8-person gondola, the Nord drag lift and the Brandach drag lift, with access to a generous 6km of pistes.
© Alpbach
The largest night skiing area in Europe is found at the tiny Semmering ski resort, where there are a whopping 13km of floodlit slopes – that’s practically the entire ski area! The night skiing area even includes an illuminated freestyle park.
Enjoy night skiing, music and the lively Bar Restaurant des Verdons every Wednesday from the end of December to the end of February on Courchevel's Verdons piste and Family park. Night skiing is available until 8pm.
The Riederalp and the Bettmeralp at Aletsch Arena offer night skiing until 9pm on Tuesdays. There is also night skiing until 8pm at Fieschertal, only in February. Night skiing is included in the price of the Aletsch Arena lift pass.
Kirchberg has night skiing until 9:30pm on Thursdays and Fridays on the slopes of the Gaisberg. Tickets are € 20.50. The mountain restaurant also remains open so no worries about skipping supper.
Night skiing in Kirchberg © KitzSki
Saalbach Hinterglemm offers night skiing on the Unterschwarzach lift from Monday through Saturday until 9:30pm, while the Schantei lift in Leogang also has night skiing until 9:30 on Monday, Tuesday and Saturday.
Alpe d'Huez offers a floodlit slalom piste on most Tuesdays and Thursdays during the school holidays. It’s free for those who already have a ski pass, and otherwise only €11. Alpe d’Huez also offers occasional torchlit descents of the Sarenne, the longest black piste in the world.
Ski passes at Serre-Chevalier entitle the bearer to join in the night skiing fun at this French ski resort, available Tuesdays and Thursdays during the French school holidays and spring half-term. The night skiing sessions also feature child-friendly activities and spectacles.
Ski the 3km floodlit piste on the Hochwurzen at Planai Monday through Saturday until 9:30pm. Lift passes for night skiing are sold separately from day passes, although you will receive a 20% discount if you already have a ski pass.
Floodlit ski slopes at © Planai
Wednesdays and Saturdays, take Kühtai's HochAlter lift to the top of the illuminated night skiing slope and enjoy skiing under the stars. While the lift closes at 9:30pm, the floodlit slopes remain open until 11pm so you can hit up the Berghaus Zum Kaiser Maximilian for a pick-me-up and then ski down after.
At Chamrousse 1650 and 1750, discover skiing under the stars on several floodlit pistes. Night skiing is available on Thursdays during the school holidays and on Saturdays until 8:30pm and costs €19.50 if you don’t have a day ski pass. You can also opt to splurge on a fondue after your night skiing session – divine!
The ski resort of Söll at the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental starts its night skiing program relatively early in mid-December and boasts the largest night skiing area in Austria with 10km of floodlit slopes. Slopes are open until 10:30pm from Wednesday through Saturday; the price is not included in the day ski pass.
Discover night skiing until 10pm on the Königwiese slope at Katschberg, included with the price of your day lift pass. Night skiing at Katschberg is available on some Mondays and Thursdays throughout the season.
© Katschberg
The huge night skiing area at Le Collet d’Allevard offers 2 lifts and 8 illuminated pistes and is open on Fridays until 10:30pm, all season long, as well as Wednesdays during the school holidays. The price of a lift pass is €14, or €9 if you already have a day ski pass, with the option to add raclette or fondue for €20 more. Le Collet d’Allevard is located just an hour from Grenoble or Champery.
Obertauern's Edelweiss lift is open for night skiing every Monday and Thursday until 10pm. You can ski down the 1.5km floodlit slope for free if you’re in possession of a multi-day Obertauern lift pass, or purchase a night skiing ticket on its own.
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
