Top Budget-Friendly Ski Resorts in Europe to Explore

When you didn’t grow up learning how to ski, getting into the sport can come at a price. Even if you have friends willing to lend you some snow pants and gloves to complete your mountain fit, factors like lessons, rentals, and short-term ski passes can add up quickly.

As a bona fide beginner on a budget with infrequent access to the snowy slopes, hitting up posh ski destinations first seems like a pricey mistake. Crowded slopes can also be discouraging, especially with advanced skiers constantly whizzing past. With only a few ski days under my belt, I knew I would need some time to get the hang of it again and was cautious about the costs of this admittedly bulky hobby that’s not very well-suited to my nomadic lifestyle. So, when the opportunity presented itself to strap into a pair of skis during a trip to the Eastern European country of Georgia, I was pleased to find that I was traveling through a country with some of the cheapest ski passes in Europe.

2. Bakuriani Bunny

On a Thursday morning in February, the ski lift had just opened, and there was no line. Bakuriani is a ski area that sits on the 1,700-meter-high northern Caucasus mountain slope. I tapped my card, and the lift scooped me up to the first station, where I cautiously trudged to the slope, trying to remember how I did it last time. I assumed the pizza shape and descended very slowly on a freshly groomed hill.

Staying at a modern ski-in ski-out resort, it didn’t take me long to get ready either. The Rooms Hotel Kokhta is a sleek, beautiful property located so close to the lift that I could connect to the Wi-Fi and video call my more ski-savvy friends to show off the views. I went up and down a few times, building my confidence without ever feeling crowded or rushed.

For a luxury hotel within close proximity to the slopes, the rooms are surprisingly affordable, starting at $150 per night. For those who stay longer, a seven-day ski pass is just 312 GEL (about $117 USD) for an adult and 156 GEL (about $59 USD) for a child. The hotel doesn’t offer skis, but you can rent equipment at Bakuriani Intersport for 30 GEL (about $11 USD) per day and store it for the duration of your trip. Whether you’re learning to ski at age three or 33, a trip to Georgia poses a unique opportunity to get in your hours on the mountain with some of the most affordable tickets and some of the best après-ski meals you can imagine.

With spacious slopes and challenges to please more experienced skiers in your travel group, this historically fascinating and culturally rich country is worth exploring — whether it be on the mountain, in the vineyards, or around the dinner table while digging into a steaming hot and cheesy khachapuri.

3. Where to Ski in Georgia

In Georgia, the opportunities to ski in majestic mountains are the cherry on top of a destination filled with unique cultural experiences, incredible food, and unrivaled hospitality.

As the 2023 host of the Snowboard, Freestyle, and Freeski World Championships, Georgia has built up its ski infrastructure over the past few years, elevating its two main resorts — Bakuriani and Gudauri — to international standards. While the affordability of traveling and skiing in Georgia is attractive to newbies, more experienced skiers will also appreciate that resorts like Bakuriani are split into three areas of varying difficulty, featuring more than six miles of intermediate to expert-level pistes. With the Caucasus Mountains running from the Black to the Caspian Sea, Bakuriani is far from being the only ski area this expansive country has to offer.

Two hours north of Tbilisi, Gudauri is a favorite for freestyle skiers, but bigger adventures can be found in Svaneti. This region has been recognized by UNESCO as home to one of Europe’s highest continuously inhabited settlements, Ushguli. From the town of Mestia, skiers can enjoy the slopes at either Hatsvali or Tetnuldi ski resorts or take to the skies for a dream day of heli-skiing.

4. Getting There

This Eastern European country has been on the rise, with more visitors arriving to experience its rich history and delectable supras — feast-sized spreads of classic Georgian dishes. For a trip to Gudauri or Bakuriani, plan to arrive in the capital and make the two- to three-hour drive from Tbilisi, respectively. Alternatively, if your preference is to go straight to Mestia, you can fly into Kutaisi, Georgia’s second-largest city.