Whether you’re a non-skier accompanying your family on a winter sports holiday, or just a skier who likes to shop a bit in their free time – who doesn’t? – choosing a ski resort with attractive shopping options can make your ski holiday even better. Strolling through the snowy village streets, with their cheerful boutiques displaying an array of winter clothes, sports equipment and other knickknacks is a lovely way to spend the evening after a long day on the slopes. Following are some of our favourite ski resort villages for shopping. What’s your go-to ski-shopping town?
Kitzbühel has an authentic and charming village centre with a wide selection of shops in the upper half. Well-known brands such as Moncler, Louis Vuitton and Bogner are recent implants to Kitzbühel, driving up the price point but making for interesting window-shopping. In the many side streets you can also find sports shops such as Hervis, Intersport, Sport2000 and Peak Performance.
Shopping in Kitzbühel's village centre
Livigno is a must-do for anyone who loves combining winter sports and shopping. This tax-free – yes, you read that right! – haven boasts more than 250 shops, with a main shopping street that’s jam-packed with stores such as The North Face, Nike, Chanel, Desigual, Dior, G-star, Gucci, Moncler, Nespresso, Roxy, Timberland and Volcom. In addition to the big brand names, you’ll also find no shortage of sports shops and smaller boutiques with a wide range of brands and products.
Located in the Evasion Mont-Blanc ski area, Megève has access to more than 400km of ski slopes. But the main attraction for some might be the lovely village centre, with tranquil village squares interspersed with streets displaying boutique shops, bakeries, restaurants and stunningly gorgeous art galleries.
The capital of Tyrol and gateway to the Austrian ski scene, Innsbruck's traditional village centre has it all: restaurants, cafes, shops and several attractions. You’ll find well-known retail chains such as H&M, Primark, Zara and Bershka here; as well as higher-class names like COS, Lacoste, Napapijri and Esprit. Nearby ski resorts include the Innsbrucker Nordkette (20 minutes from the centre), the Patscherkofel and the Axamer Lizum. A slightly longer trip takes you to the Stubai valley.
Doing a spot of shopping in Innsbruck © Innsbruck Tourismus, Christian Vorhofer
The German ski resort of Oberstdorf lies on the border with Austria and shares a ski area with the neighbouring Kleinwalsertal. The cosy village centre boasts a peaceful square and a decent shopping street with a large selection of specialty shops and boutiques.
If you’re in search of brand names, look no further. Switzerland’s St. Moritz is well known for catering to the jet-set, and this extends to the shopping offers: Moncler, Bottega Veneta, Hermes, Dsquared and Valentino are just a few of the designers who have graced St. Moritz with their presence. If your budget doesn’t extend to that €600 pair of shoes, window shopping is also a fun option.
What's your favourite place to shop in the Alps?
Whether you’re a non-skier accompanying your family on a winter sports holiday, or just a skier who likes to shop a bit in their free time – who doesn’t? – choosing a ski resort with attractive shopping options can make your ski holiday even better. Strolling through the snowy village streets, with their cheerful boutiques displaying an array of winter clothes, sports equipment and other knickknacks is a lovely way to spend the evening after a long day on the slopes. Following are some of our favourite ski resort villages for shopping. What’s your go-to ski-shopping town?
Kitzbühel has an authentic and charming village centre with a wide selection of shops in the upper half. Well-known brands such as Moncler, Louis Vuitton and Bogner are recent implants to Kitzbühel, driving up the price point but making for interesting window-shopping. In the many side streets you can also find sports shops such as Hervis, Intersport, Sport2000 and Peak Performance.
Shopping in Kitzbühel's village centre
Livigno is a must-do for anyone who loves combining winter sports and shopping. This tax-free – yes, you read that right! – haven boasts more than 250 shops, with a main shopping street that’s jam-packed with stores such as The North Face, Nike, Chanel, Desigual, Dior, G-star, Gucci, Moncler, Nespresso, Roxy, Timberland and Volcom. In addition to the big brand names, you’ll also find no shortage of sports shops and smaller boutiques with a wide range of brands and products.
Located in the Evasion Mont-Blanc ski area, Megève has access to more than 400km of ski slopes. But the main attraction for some might be the lovely village centre, with tranquil village squares interspersed with streets displaying boutique shops, bakeries, restaurants and stunningly gorgeous art galleries.
The capital of Tyrol and gateway to the Austrian ski scene, Innsbruck's traditional village centre has it all: restaurants, cafes, shops and several attractions. You’ll find well-known retail chains such as H&M, Primark, Zara and Bershka here; as well as higher-class names like COS, Lacoste, Napapijri and Esprit. Nearby ski resorts include the Innsbrucker Nordkette (20 minutes from the centre), the Patscherkofel and the Axamer Lizum. A slightly longer trip takes you to the Stubai valley.
Doing a spot of shopping in Innsbruck © Innsbruck Tourismus, Christian Vorhofer
The German ski resort of Oberstdorf lies on the border with Austria and shares a ski area with the neighbouring Kleinwalsertal. The cosy village centre boasts a peaceful square and a decent shopping street with a large selection of specialty shops and boutiques.
If you’re in search of brand names, look no further. Switzerland’s St. Moritz is well known for catering to the jet-set, and this extends to the shopping offers: Moncler, Bottega Veneta, Hermes, Dsquared and Valentino are just a few of the designers who have graced St. Moritz with their presence. If your budget doesn’t extend to that €600 pair of shoes, window shopping is also a fun option.
What's your favourite place to shop in the Alps?
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!
