Recent events have changed the paradigms of travel.

MORE than ever travellers are looking for clean and safe destinations they can trust.

For almost 10 years millions have voted for their favourite ski resorts in Europe but also the most beautiful ski resorts in France, the best ski resorts in Italy or the best ski resorts for families, for luxury holidays, the best ski resorts for New Year's Eve and the cheapest ski resorts in Europe on www.europeanbestdestinations.com the most visited website dedicated to tourism and culture in Europe.

More than ever, after months of confinement travellers need to go out in nature. They are ready to travel less this year but favour unique trips to places recognized for their special tourist offers. They want to ski in the best ski resorts in Europe because this sport is part of their DNA and contributes to their well- being. Here is a list of their favourite resorts, those popular with travellers from all over the world (the most visited and booked ski resorts on www.europeanbestdestinations.com during the last 12 months).

They have been more than 640,000 travellers from 172 countries to select their favourite ski resorts in Europe. Europe is the leading ski holiday destination in the world and these 10 ski resorts are the best in their respective countries.

Every winter, Val Thorens and its teams of professional and passionate people, do their utmost to provide holiday-makers with magical experiences. By sharing these moments they transmit their values, passions and their know-how. A common vision, "LIVE UNITED" which has been written for almost 50 years, and which has only one goal: create together unique, festive, gourmet or sporting experiences. At 2300 metres above sea level, Val Thorens innovates and creates experiences.

Constantly evolving since 1971, Val Thorens is on the cusp of its 50th anniversary and has never stopped questioning and renewing itself. The highest point of the 3 Valleys, the largest ski area in the world, Val Thorens benefits from a location which 48 years ago was qualified as “hostile”, but reveals all its beauty and its ability to offer a unique ski experience today. Val Thorens owes this exceptional reputation above all to its location:

"Val Thorens has achieved the impossible by becoming the highest ski resort in Europe. Since the 1970s, sportsmen and mountain dwellers, who helped build this project, have given it exceptional fame to Val Thorens such as the Goitschel sisters"

"This award recognizes imagination, a taste for risk, a pioneering spirit and teamwork, based on a common philosophy, LIVE UNITED. However, this is a great responsibility and an obligation of excellence that always drives us to work for the improvement and satisfaction of our customers". Vincent Lalanne, director of Val Thorens.

Val Thorens is a pioneer station in terms of technological transformation such as the drone of the piste service, which assists the daily missions of ski patrollers, Val Thorens relies on excellence in all sectors.

All types of holiday-makers will find a stay in their image. Thrill-seekers also get their kicks in Val Thorens! Between ski trips at sunset, double zipline, ice diving, dog sledding, ice climbing, freeride on glaciers, fat bike or even paragliding and paramotor, there really is something for everyone.

The goal is clear: to simplify and enhance everyone's stay! Val Thorens is committed to creating unique memories and lasting bonds between its customers and its inhabitants.

5 times awarded the title of best ski resort in Europe, Val Thorens has also been awarded several times with the title of best ski resort in the world. The most awarded ski resort awaits you this winter for a safe and fun holiday in Europe's best ski resort.

Maximilien Lejeune – CEO European Best Destinations – André Plaisance – Former Mayor of Saint Martin de Belleville.

Maximilien Lejeune – CEO European Best Destinations / André Plaisance – Former Mayor of Saint Martin de Belleville / Bruno Gabet – President Val Thorens Tourist Office Online ranking: https://www.europeanbestdestinations.com/ski/

Download the official logos

Safety Measures / Covid 19

Like Val Thorens and its "Clean United Label", all professionals listed in this ranking are committed to welcoming you in a friendly and safe environment this winter.

Discover all the health measures taken by the awarded ski resorts as well as the rules to be respected and the travel conditions according to your country of origin.

Testimonials :

Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne – State Secretary of Tourism – Ministry of Foreign Affairs – France.

Mr. Mayor - Claude Jay, The President of the Tourist Office - Brunot Gabet, Mr. Director - Vincent Lalanne,

Congratulations to you, to your teams, to your commitment, which places you at the top of the podium in this ranking of the best ski resorts in Europe.

With this distinction, you participate in the influence of our country and consolidate the unique position of the destination France.

You are among the driving forces of blue-white-red tourism. France is proud of Val-Thorens!

Wilma Himmelfreundpointner - Marketing director / St Anton Am Arlberg.

« As Vincent Lalanne is a personal friend of mine, I am really happy to express our sincere congratulations to Val Thorens, we are proud to be as well one of the Best Ski Resorts in Europe along with you.

We do hope that you are ready in your region to welcome back guests, congratulations to your team from St Anton am Arlberg and we wish you a great winter season! »

Dr. Viktoria Veider-Walser / Director Kitzbühel

“We are proud that Kitzbühel ranks in the top three European Ski resorts and honoured to share the podium with Val Thorens, with whom we share the same passion for a high-end skiing experience.”

Paul Kubalek / Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn.

« We are very proud to be chosen as one of the Best Ski Resorts again and we would like to send special congratulations to our colleagues from Val Thorens! We wish you all a safe and fun winter season in this challenging times and hope to see you on the slopes of the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn soon! »

Chiara Costa / Communication Manager / Cortina d'Ampezzo

Congratulations to Val Thorens, we are proud to be part of the Best Ski Resorts with such ski resorts as Val Thorens and are all looking forward to welcome back travellers to ski in our beautiful resorts.

EBD IN THE MEDIA

ABOUT US

European Best Destinations has been promoting tourism to millions of travellers, media and tourism professionals since 2009 on the most visited website dedicated to tourism in Europe.

For ten years now, we have been working with demanding and prestigious destinations such as Athens, Florence Turismo, San Sebastian, Roma Turismo, Budapest.info, Visit Milano, Porto Turismo, Bordeaux tourism, Bratislava, Visit Zagreb, Malaga, Kotor, Hvar, Vienna, Basel to name but a few of over 300 European tourist offices as well as the European Commission’s EDEN network.

EDEN GENERAL ASSEMBLY with Ms Anna Athanasopoulou Head of Tourism, Emerging and Creative Industries at the European Commission.

Reviews

Mr Rui Moreira, the Mayor of Porto:

European Best Destinations is an incredible way to boost the tourist inflow in cities. We have data to assert that European Best Destinations is one of the main reasons for the growth of popularity of Porto among travellers from all over the world. The number of flight travellers has nearly doubled from 6.9 M to 12 M!” Mr Nicolas Martin, Executive Director Bordeaux Tourism:

”The year was exceptional in terms of tourism growth with an increase of 10.7% in international arrivals in Bordeaux Merignac Airport (source GDS / Forward Keys) or of 12.26% in hotels progression of Revenue per room (RevPar) for all categories (source MKG). Most nationalities are increasing, especially this year European travellers (British, Spanish, German, Swiss, Belgian, Italian ...). It is undeniable that the fact of being elected European Best Destination 2015 has contributed to this result, press fallouts after winning this title have been global and massive“.

Mrs Darja Jurbazic, Zagreb Tourism Board:

“The promotion of Zagreb with EBD team has given us a great opportunity to increase appeal of Zagreb as Croatia's capital and foster its visibility. The emphasis which EBD puts on city marketing and promotion is very valuable to us”.

Mr Ante Galic – Zadar Tourist Board:

"The year that we have been awarded "European Best Destination" we have had a record growth of +13% in overnight stays, when our yearly growth for many decades was of 6%. During this special year we reached a new administrative record of 447,925 arrivals and 1,721,928 overnight stays".

Mrs Isabella Menichini – Dirretore Area Turismo - Milano Turismo:

"Since 2009, Milan is promoted on EuropeanBestDestinations.com and this give us the opportunity to reach millions of travellers but also the media"".

Mr Emmanuel Fromm, Colmar Tourist Board:

"Our collaboration with European Best Destinations has undeniably brought us an excellent complement of visibility and notoriety. EBD is one of the few organizations whose credibility is systematically repeated many times by the media as soon as our destination is quoted.. We hope to be able to count on their support for a long time!".

Mr Xavier Lechien – President EDEN

“For 6 years we have been in partnership with EBD which has enabled us to increase the visibility of sustainable tourism destinations by + 340%. EDEN labeled destinations are promoted on the first site dedicated to tourism in Europe and benefit from personalized advice for their online communications. EBD is our main partner."

Bordeaux, Colmar, Lisbon, Budapest,… (European Best Destinations winners during the past 10 years) but also Strasbourg, Zagreb, Tallinn, Advent Feast at the Basilica (European Best Christmas Markets winners) or Val Thorens, Livigno, Avoriaz, SkiWelt, Alpe d’Huez (European Best Ski Resorts since 2010) have integrated the logo into their website, videos, paper communications (city maps, brochures, flags…) and communicated it to tourism professionals (hotels, airports, airlines) who all proudly display the logo on their websites.

The victorious destinations are allowed to use the title and display the "European Best Destinations” logo on all their communications, adverts, website and photos and allow its own public and private partners to use the logo.

European Best Destinations is a travel website based in Brussels and developed to promote culture and tourism in Europe. In partnership with the participating tourism offices and the EDEN Network we promote a better understanding of the wealth, diversity and quality of European destinations.

Thanks to an excellent communication with an audience of e-citizens, European Best Destinations plays an important role in promoting Europe as the number one destination in the world. It has become the meeting place for tourism offices and world travellers, a main gateway to the discovery of Europe

Since 2009 EBD has been working with major tourism offices in Europe to reward and highlight the most visited destinations via its website and social networks (+5.5 million visitors and thousands of followers on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ Pinterest and 80,000,000 euros of media coverage).

We carry out the main tourism competitions in Europe and have been working with the European Commission for the promotion of sustainable tourism for 5 years. 90 EDEN-labelled destinations are promoted on the EBD website and we manage their communications. SUBSTANTIAL

MEDIA COVERAGE

Our events, contents, receive substantial coverage right across all the various media in Europe. The main national newspapers, specialist press, blogs, specialized sites, television and social networks etc… ensure that the winning city and the other top destinations are fully covered (1,120 press articles for the competition “European Best Destination 2020” and + 80 million media coverage for our European destinations since 2009).

EBD generates a great deal of interest for various reasons. First of all it gives European travellers a voice by casting their vote. Secondly, it is organized by an independent organization.

THE AWARD "EUROPEAN BEST DESTINATION" ESTIMATED AT 10 MILLION EUROS ACCORDING TO AN INDEPENDENT STUDY OF THE MULTINATIONAL "CISION" (IN TERMS OF MEDIA COVERAGE).

Press:

Alix OSTYN Coordinatrice presse internationale

Office de Tourisme de Val Thorens Maison de Val Thorens F-73440 VAL THORENS Tel : +33 (0)4 79 00 08 08 Mob : +33 (0)6 28 45 58 13

Perrine Bertrand Media Dept - European Best Destinations 1000 Brussels [email protected] www.europeanbestdestinations.com