Hire a car from Hertz and head to the slopes. Join us on a run through some of the best ski places to visit in Europe. From the mighty Alps to the pistes of the Pyrenees, Europe offers some of the finest winter sports locations to be found. Whether you’re a black-slope adrenaline junkie or prefer the peace of the ski chalet, check out some of our favourite spots for skiing below.
Begin a ski adventure with Herz.
Glenshee
Nestled between Aberdeen and Dundee in Scotland, this ski resort is perfect for British ski enthusiasts. Spread over 2,000 acres, Glenshee extends over four mountains and three valleys. There are 21 ski lifts and tows in total, with 36 runs and 40km of pisted snow.
The longest run is Glas Maol, with two kilometres of rip-roaring ski-action. Snows can be a little temperamental in northern Scotland, so the site has its own artificial snow-producing tools to keep the action going across the winter season. Chairlifts enable you to get from A to B, as well as give you a bird’s eye view of the scenic white vistas. A British delight in the heart of Scotland.
There is parking for approx 1,200 cars near the foot of the Cairnwell Chairlift, so park up your Hertz car hire and hit the slopes.
Zermatt, Switzerland
Experience Europe’s highest ski resort with an altitude of 3.8km. Zermatt is spread over 360 kilometres of varying degrees of difficulty. As well as cable cars, there are lifts too. There are schools here that can teach you how to ski and snowboard. If you fancy a relaxing wind-down after a day on the slopes, there are spas and thermal areas. There are even treasure hunts to keep the kids entertained.
Innsbruck, Austria
Head to Innsbruck for Olympic-class skiing in the heart of the Alps. The winter Olympics have been hosted twice – in 1964 and 1976. There are 13 resorts to explore, each with their own unique runs. An Olympia Ski World Collective pass gives you access to all the slopes. Activities including bobsledding and tobogganing are exciting endeavours we recommend too. Ski the blues away and enjoy Austria’s scenic Tyrol state for a mid-winter getaway.
Val Thorens, France
A solid range of 2.3km to 3.23km spanning 150km of slopes in the soul of France’s Alps. Peak season at Val Thorens is between November and May. It’s a small area, meaning each place in the resort is easy to get to. You can rent an idyllic ski chalet and enjoy a winter wonderland with your loved ones. Get cosy with the fireplace lit, snow outside and a warm cup of hot chocolate.
Best of all, you’ll also get to enjoy the local French cuisine. Val Thorens is a culinary delight and an adrenaline pumped action adventure all in one.
Hire a car from Chambery Airport with Hertz and head to Val Thorens as soon as you land.
Bormio Ski, Italy
The 1.8km descent at Bormio Ski is the longest in the country, as well as being the largest summer skiing area in Europe. With it set to host the 2026 Winter Olympics, there’s certainly a buzz around the slopes. There’s Bormio Ski, Santa Caterina Valfurva, and Cima Piazzi, a total of 110km of slops, with 36 lifts.
One pass gets you entry to all. The Jungle Snowpark is a haven for fans of freestyle. Thermal baths also offer a warm end to the day after a full session on the slopes. A perfect ski getaway in the north of Italy.
Hire a car from Treviso with Hertz and enjoy the drive up to Bormio before unpacking and putting on your skis.
Hemsedal, Norway
With three peaks, a variety of slopes, and a long season, Hemsedal is a worthy ski visit. There are 20 lifts, 51 slopes and 6 kilometres of continuous skiing. Get your ski on in Norway’s skiing haven.
There’s a children’s area, ski cross track, and a giant slalom. Want to educate the young ones on how to ski? The school here will teach them the way of the slopes. You can also rent a small cabin, an apartment, or a large cabin to enjoy some chill time. A bus helps people to get around the resort. Enjoy golden hour photo opportunities at every turn.
There are multiple parking facilities on site including charging stations for your Hertz electric car hire.
Grandvalira, Andorra
Grandvalira is a merging of three resorts: Soldeu, El Tarter and Pas de la Casa. These three came together to form one big ski resort, putting it among the world’s largest. There’s around 200km of runs and 66 lifts. You’ve got 1,550 to 2,640m of snow range.
Andorra is a small country sandwiched between Spain and France, Barcelona and Gerona airports are both over 200 km away. If you’re on a road trip in your Hertz car hire in Europe, it’s easy to drive from both north and south of the border. The biggest vertical drop is 930m, with snow cannons ensuring you can ski way beyond the peak season.