Better Than The Alps: Top 7 Ski Resorts In Eastern Europe

If you love skiing, but the crowds of tourists in France, Austria and Switzerland scare you away, head to the snowy slopes of Eastern Europe. Here, the quality of world-class skiing facilities is confirmed by the scale of the events that are currently taking place: Jasna in Slovakia, Kranjska Gora in Slovenia and Bansko in Bulgaria are all regular venues for the World Cup Slalom.

In general, Eastern European resorts tend to be smaller, with fewer people and shorter queues than in old Europe. Everything from lift passes to shuttles, from accommodation to restaurants on the slopes is usually much cheaper. So, if you ask what could be better than the Alps, we have seven good answers for you.  

Jasna, Slovakia

Jasna is the largest and most extensive ski area in Slovakia, offering the best all-round slopes in Eastern Europe. This place is perfect for beginners and children, as well as for experienced skiers and snowboarders. There are 13 ski lifts on both sides of the mountain, and hotels, shops, bars and restaurants are located around them. There are trails for evening skiing, which are not included in the ski-pass and are paid additionally. The snow here is quite reliable. The season in Jasna ends on 27 April. The resort is a 45-minute drive from the nearest airport, Poprad, and three hours from the inexpensive centres of Bratislava and Kosice, as well as Krakow in Poland. There is the largest children's snow park in Slovakia, Maxiland.

Drahobrat, Ukraine 

Drahobrat has received the status of the highest mountain resort in Ukraine. It is located at a considerable height in the Svydovets mountain range. The minimum altitude of the mountain starts from 1400 metres and reaches 1707 metres above sea level. There are 20 ski slopes with a total length of over 10 kilometres and 12 ski lifts. The ski resort does not have a single ski pass, due to the fact that the lifts on the mountain belong to different operators and the tariffs vary. The slopes are mainly designed for intermediate and advanced skiers, there are 5 excellent black runs and several children's and training runs. In any weather, you can also count on the help of experienced instructors who will quickly teach you how to ski or snowboard with confidence. Those who want to go extreme will also gain valuable skills in freeride techniques.

Zakopane, Poland

Zakopane is the main ski resort in Poland. It is located at the foot of the Tatra Mountains along the Slovak border. It can be reached quickly by train from Poprad Tatra Airport in Slovakia, which is served by direct flights from Luton Airport. There are five ski areas in Zakopane, all covered by a single ski pass. Zakopane's snow slopes are fairly easy in terms of difficulty and are best suited for beginners and intermediates. With three areas in and around the town, Nosal offers beginners the perfect place to learn, while others can get better before tackling the steeper slopes. Waterfalls, lakes and rivers complement the beautiful landscape.

Kranjska Gora, Slovenia

The mountainous landscapes, Austro-Hungarian chalet-style architecture and cosy atmosphere of Kranjska Gora in Slovenia are very reminiscent of Austria. Kranjska Gora is one of the country's most famous ski resorts, although it is not very big, which is more than compensated for by the availability of winter entertainment. The children's slopes are within walking distance of most hotels. Higher up in the mountains, the pistes offer a nice mix of red and blue runs. There are also plenty of activities to keep children occupied in the compact village, from an ice rink to tobogganing.

Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic

This place is recommended for those who want to combine a skiing or snowboarding holiday with a tourist holiday in Prague or the beautiful city of Brno. It is also the most popular ski resort in the Czech Republic, Krkonose, with buildings dating back to the 1920s that have retained some of the atmosphere of that era. Although Spindleruv has the largest ski area of any resort in the country, it is a fairly conservative place with a reasonable selection of hotels, bars and restaurants. The ski area has a total of 28 km of pistes with 17 lifts. The pistes are mostly red, but there are also blue and black pistes. Other nearby ski areas can be easily reached by ski bus.

Bansko, Bulgaria

Bansko is an ancient resort town in southwestern Bulgaria near the Pirin Mountains at an altitude of 927 m above sea level, 150 km from Sofia. It boasts many high altitude places above 1600 km, so there is often natural snow. The skiing season here breaks all records for duration among other winter resorts in Bulgaria: 5-6 months a year. The total length of the slopes in Bansko is 75 km. There are 17 pistes and 24 lifts. The highest point is 2560 metres.

Poiana Brasov, Romania

Poiana Brasov is perhaps the only resort in Romania with a wide international appeal. It is located in the Carpathians, three hours north of Bucharest, 12 km by bus from the medieval city of Brasov. There is a good selection of hotels at the foot of the slopes. Prices are low, and the level of accommodation and quality of cuisine are high. During the weekly barbecue organised by the resort, flaming bear steaks are served here, accompanied by folk dances. Brasov also has a large selection of inexpensive shops, a 15th-century church and a lively nightlife. Dracula's Castle is 23 km away and well worth a visit.