As ski costs continue to rise, travellers are searching for cheap ski destinations that still deliver good snow and decent value. Looking at a range of cost factors across ski resorts accessible from the UK, easyJet have created a Cheap Ski Index with the goal of highlighting where to find glittering mountain scenery, fresh pine scents, and enticing après for the best price.

Top 10 Cheap Ski Resorts in Europe (Full Ranking)

Source: easyJet plc

Après Appreciation: Best Ski Resorts for Friends and Students

For those seeking a ski by day, party by night culture set against a lively and social atmosphere, the following destinations are worth some consideration. A mix of people requires a good mix of slopes, and these cater to all. With a range of apartments, chalets and rentals, there’s space to split and save.

• Les Deux Alpes, France

A favourite among student groups and young adults for free-spirited ski trips, Les Deux Alpes offers reliable snow across a huge terrain of 410 hectares. Known for being one of the most affordable major French resorts for mixed groups, the range of budget-friendly bars and shared lodgings also help to keep the costs down and fun up – an excellent last minute alternative compared to neighbouring resorts. It doesn’t stop there – skiing continues into the night on the Lutins piste for those who just can’t get enough.

• Sauze d’Oulx, Italy

Recognised for its energetic mountain buzz and one of the best-value après scenes in the Alpes, Sauze offers the idealistic vision of dancing to DJ sets in the sun amidst lively crowds and Aperol Spritz. With long red runs for groups who wish to ski together and a walkable nightlife network, travellers can also indulge in soaking up the day with a hearty pizza.

• Białka Tatrzańska, Poland

Kraków has established itself as a go-to for British friendship groups – why not head 100 km south? Accessible even for a day trip from the city, Białka Tatrzańska is a perfectly affordable option for friends to take the slopes together. With enough variety for mixed groups, a lively but friendly après-ski scene around the Kotelnica base, and even thermal baths, this Polish resort is relaxed - on both culture and cost.

Best Ski Resorts for Families

The list is endless; juggling transfers, equipment, lessons, snow conditions, mealtimes and most of all, keeping the kids happy. Some resorts, however, make it easier. From gentle terrain to great-value lift passes and compact villages, these four destinations stand out as ideal for families travelling on a budget.

• Bansko, Bulgaria

Bankso offers the Alpine experience for a fraction of the price with affordable lessons and English-speaking instructors, as well as lengthy green and blue runs for kids finding their feet. With tobogganing, ice-skating, and floodlit night skiing on offer, there’s no boredom in Bansko.

• Borovets, Bulgaria

This compact resort village brags convenience from Sofia, where you can land in the morning and hit the slopes by lunchtime. With a compact village and breadth of nursery slopes, the resort positions itself as the ultimate confidence builder. Blending the calm and storm, family friendly activities include indoor pools and spas, night skiing, family snowmobile rides and sledging.

• Bardonecchia, Italy

Void of the crowds that may overwhelm little skiers, visitors of Bardonecchia can expect a relaxed environment layered in warm Italian hospitality. Accompanying the perfectly groomed green and blue slopes are rows of mountain huts where the family can stop off for a quick hot chocolate mid-run. Catering to family members of all ages, the Bardonecchia Snowpark provides teenage entertainment whilst Campo Smith offers areas for sledging.

• La Molina, Spain

A resort designed to get the young into skiing, La Molina offers creche facilities, beginner areas and a welcoming learning environment where the manageable terrain wards off fatigue. Offering a range of non-skiing activities such as sledging and tubing, this destination is all about family fun and relaxation rather than lively nightlife.

Best Ski Resorts for Couples

Couples that ski together, stay together. But these getaways don’t come with a one-size-fits-all approach, with the option to end a day on the slopes with a candlelit dinner, spa treatment or an après ski boogie. Whether you want to cruise on blues together or compete on along black and red runs, these resorts have you covered.

• Portes Du Soleil, Morzine, France

Decked out with hospitality, date night in Morzine ranges from chic and intimate wine bars to spirited Irish pubs, perfect for a couple’s getaway. Striking the perfect balance between adventure and scenic escapism, the Pleney Side of the resort offers blues and reds, whilst the Portes du Soleil Circuit offers a full day of cross-border adventure into Switzerland. A cute couple’s activity? Watching the Morzine-Avoriaz Penguins in a local ice hockey match.

• Pal-Arinsal, Andorra

Birds of a feather flock together – if you’re both the type to leave booking to the last minute but and squirm as the price racks up, look no further. This is the resort for those who want the Alps with cheaper après, and a touch of tapas. Tucked away in the Pyrenees, Pal-Arinsal near guarantees sun-fuelled days of skiing alongside one another through the cosy forests, followed by a gondola ride at sunset to catch the pink-lit peaks.

• Sestriere, Italy

What comes quicker to mind when thinking of romance than being whisked away on an Italian dolce vita style getaway? Blending adventure and taste, Sestriere is perfectly positioned in the iconic Via Lattea (Milky Way) offering over 400km of interconnected pistes, from gentle cruisers to reds and blacks for the thrill seekers. Complete with spa retreats and an elegant dining scene, there is ample activity for unwinding after a day of skiing side by side.

The top 10 Best Value Ski Resorts in Full

1. Bankso, Bulgaria

With £1 beers and boot hire at just £15 a day, Bansko’s cobbled lanes and old stone chimneys offer an authentic yet affordable charm, with a UNESCO-protected old town, heartfelt hospitality and a feeling of infinite winter, this Balkan resort boasts wide pistes and family fun for a fraction of the price.

2. Borovets, Bulgaria

In Bulgaria’s oldest resort, skiers can glide through the ancient forests acrossover 58kilometres of slopes. Divided between three main zones of the Rila Mountains – Sitnyajovo, Yastrebets and Markudjik – the well-groomed and broad slopes offer perfect training ground for intermediates.

3. Bardonecchia, Italy

Bardonecchia flies under the radar. It’s panoramic, high-Alpine feel and perfect visibility on mountains like Colomion & Les Arnauds is often taken for granted, despite having played host at the 2006 Winter Olympics.

4. Białka Tatrzańska, Poland

This resort offers views towards some of Central Europe’s most dramatic pistes, as well as cold winters and reliable snowfall due to its proximity to the Slovak border. Known to make the złoty (or pound) stretch, skiers may choose to stay longer at one of Europe’s best-kept ski secrets.

5. Sauze d’Oulx, Italy

Sauze is proudly Italian and has been welcoming Brits into its glittering amphitheatre of slopes for decades. Tucked away in a vibrant corner of Italy’s Via Lattea (the Milky Way), the sun-soaked Sauze d’Oulx is renowned for its energetic mountain buzz and Aperol-après culture.

6. Pal-Arinsal, Andorra

Offering up a tale of two resorts, the Pal side is a welcome sight for beginners with wide slopes and soft gradients, whilst Arinsal offers up more dramatic altitudes and lively red slopes for intermediates seeking a challenge

7. Sestriere, Italy

This chic yet laid-back village in Italy’s Via Lattea (Milky Way) offers sweeping views, piste-side lunches and access to over 400km of varied slopes. This resort offers warm Italian hospitality in the form of cosy trattorias with local wines and rich polenta.

8. La Molina, Spain

This relaxed, sun-soaked Pyrenean ski resort has a friendly and easy-going vibe, perfect for anyone who wants gentle, confidence-boosting slopes rather than hardcore Alpine terrain. Think Spanish Mountain food; tapas, hearty stews and grilled meats.

9. Les Deux Alpes, France

Les Deux Alpes mixes high-altitude, snow-sure skiing with a laid-back, youthful vibe, thanks to its glacier and long, scenic pistes perfect for all abilities. With lively après-ski, great-value eateries and a fun, bustling village, it’s a brilliant all-round resort for groups, couples or anyone wanting big-mountain terrain without big-mountain prices.

10. Morzine, France

With cosy chalets, excellent French food and plenty of family-friendly activities, Morzine delivers classic Alpine magic and a village brimming with cheese shops and cosy wine bars.