The World´s Best Ski Resorts

The incredible mountain panorama helped Zermatt to climb to first place. The Matterhorn and countless mountains that range up to 4,000 m (13,123 ft) guarantee an experience that no other ski resort in the world can hold a candle to. At the same time, it´s the ski resort with the highest altitude in the Alps. Therefore, it´s not really surprising that the resort is called ´Matterhorn Ski Paradise´. The 360 kilometers (223 miles) of trails stretch all the way from the Swiss Zermatt to the Italian Breuil-Cervinia and promise you will never get close to boredom! ´For us, Zermatt is the world´s best ski resort because of its wide variety of different slopes and by boasting unrivaled mountain adventures. Thanks to the glacier, skiers and snowboarders hardly never have problems finding enough snow during the whole year´, knows ski resort tester Florian.

The alpine skiing pioneer - Ski Arlberg - should not be missing on the best ski resorts list and finished into second place. The local Hannes Schneider revolutionized the ski school with his own skiing technique in the 1920s. Today the 340 kilometers (211 miles) of well-groomed and 200 kilometers (124 miles) off-pistes make every skier´s heart race faster. Since last season, you even have a connection from Lech Zürs to Warth Schröcken. ´During our test we took all factors into account and Ski Arlberg impressed in every category - from morning to night´, tells tester Martin. During the day beginners may explore the whole area with its 112 kilometers (69.5 miles) of blues while experts love Lech Zürs´ world  famous ski tour ´The white ring´. There´s never a shortage of après-ski in the town of St. Anton at night.

Third place goes to Serfaus Fiss Ladis, one among Tyrol´s largest ski resorts: Skiers love the 212 kilometers (131 miles) of trails. Located high above the river Inn, the resort is well-known for family friendliness and the small ski guests feel at home at the Kinderschneealm Serfaus that comes to a total of 45,000 m² (484,375 square feet). They learn skiing the playful way in Bertas kids park. ´Not only families but also experienced athletes truly get their money´s worth, especially in the area around Serfaus´, says ski resorts tester Andrea. ´The wide variety made it pretty clear for us to give Serfaus Fiss Ladis the third place.´ It doesn´t stop here! Excellent service is another plus. This season opens a comfort ski depot at the base station Fiss and the new connection slopes help exploring the ski resort.

The biggest ski resort in the world lands on fourth place in our ranking: Les 3 Vallées. The 600 kilometers (372 miles) seem endless and the possible downhill descends are countless. The area stretches over nothing less than eight ski resorts among them Méribel, Courchevel, Les Menuires and Val Thorens. All of these are connected, so you don´t even have to take off your skis! The resort in the heart of the French Alps won the Ski resorts testers heart by having one of the most spectacular locations. Almost every trail here features a view on the 1000 mountain peaks of the French, Swiss and Italian Alps - including the Mont Blanc that is only 80 kilometers (49 miles) away.

Whistler Blackcomb saves Canada´s honor by making it into our ranking. The size of 3,300 ha and incredible 200 runs make it the absolute front-runner in Canada. Start in the town Whistler from where you have access to the eponymous mountain or to Blackcomb summit. It´s also fairly uncomplicated to switch to the other mountain from the slopes: The impressive Peak2Peak gondola takes you 400 meters (1,312 feet) above the ground to the opposite valley side.

The sixth place combines dolce vita with sportive challenges: Gröden in Southern Tyrol. You can enjoy 500 connected kilometers (310 miles) of trails due to the ideal connection access to other ski resorts around Sellastock. Experience everything that Gröden has to offer on the Sella Ronda: ´The ski tour is simply breathtaking. Every skier should have this one on their bucket list´, advises tester Florian. The Saslong is home to the World Cup race every year and the Seceda is filled with personal challenges. This one is the longest run in the Dolomites.

Legendary après-ski - that´s what the town that made seventh place is famous for: Ischgl – Samnaun has more to offer though. The Silvretta arena with 238 kilometers (147 miles) make sure that even the most courageous skiers and boarders find their heart race faster. The 35 kilometers (21 miles) long Schmuggler´s circuit starts in Tyrol and takes you right to the Swiss Samnaun. Starting this season, all skiers can look forward to the new Pardatschgratbahn. This one brings you, without any unnecessary stops, right to the ski resort.

Engadin St. Moritz, eighth place in the ranking, convinces with a great diversity. The region in Graubünden does not only offer the glamour of St. Moritz and steep runs at Corvatsch and Diavolezza: ´Next to the challenging downhill descends for experts, Engadin St. Moritz scored with the seven little areas, that are ideal for beginners and leisurely skiers far away from the hassle and craziness´, explains ski resorts tester Andrea. 350 kilometer (217 miles) of trails and 300 sun days a year speak for themselves.

Vail isn´t only among the world´s best ski resorts but also welcomes the skiers elite really soon. Together with its neighboring town Beaver Creek it´s the host to the Alpine World Cup in February. The area in the Rocky Mountains covers almost 200 downhill descends on a size of 2,141 ha. The Colorado ski resort is particularly famous for its powder snow that you get to enjoy in the countless back bowls.

Arosa Lenzerheide closes our ranking of the world´s best ski resorts. Thanks to the opening of the connection tram Urdenbahn in January 2014, 225 additional kilometers (139 miles) are accessible what makes it now the biggest ski resort in Graubünden. One of the highlights is the slope from the Rothorn, that tops out at 2,865 meters (9,399 feet).