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Two resorts remain legends in the history of the Winter Olympics; Chamonix hosted the first ever Winter Olympics in 1924 and again in 1949, St.Moritz hosted the first games to be celebrated after World War II (ending a 12 year hiatus since the last Games).
Igls was home to the 1976 Games in Innsbruck - you can still try the Olympic bobsleigh (our very own @SNO_man did, with Brit’ Olympic driver and brakeman!) as well the red Patscherkofel run, where Franz Klammer famously won Gold).
In France, the 16th Winter Olympics took place in Albertville in 1992. Val d’Isere was the site for the men’s downhill race (if you’re good, try skiing the mogulled Face de Bellevarde run for a taste of the action) as well as the men’s giant slalom. Meribel hosted the women’s downhill and the ice hockey events (check out the Olympic centre and La Face piste). La Plagne famously hosted Bobsleigh, which you can still try out today – if you’re brave enough!
For the 2006 games in Turin, Sestriere was the main venue for both the Winter Olympics and Paralympics and was also the site of one of the three Olympic Villages. Sauze d’Olux hosted the aerials and mogul events and Bardonnechia was home to the snowboarding events – ride the boardercross and halfpipe to follow the tracks of gold medallists Seth Wescott and Shaun White.
Over in North America during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, nearly all of the alpine, nordic, luge, skeleton and bobsled events took place in Whistler. Although it hasn’t hosted any events, Steamboat deserves a mention, not for every hosting the event, but for having produced more Olympians than anywhere else than North America (so if you want to share a chairlift with a champion, this is the place to ski). Their local slogan goes “When athletes go to Sochi in 2014, it’s called the Winter Olympics. When Olympians gather in Steamboat, it’s simply called Friday night.”
Holidays in the Top Ten Olympic Ski Resorts
As the global capital of winter sports, Chamonix’s history, skiing and scenery make it a true alpine legend. Every seasoned snow lover should come here at least once; skiing the awesome terrain from a proper mountain town with the Mont Blanc massif as your backdrop will make for a week to remember.
St Moritz is THE original ski town, having seen the start of winter tourism way back in 1864. One of the world’s high society resorts, it’s more exclusive than Zermatt but without the bling of Courchevel. With multiple ski areas and stonkingly pretty sights, it has to be skied at least once.
Set in the stunning Dolomites, this elegant town delivers the perfect Italian ski holiday: good food and a relaxed atmosphere. Crowned ‘Best of the Alps’ along with St. Anton, Zermatt and 9 other big name resorts, it’s easy to see why this beautiful area was so passionately defended during the First World War and why it’s now protected as a World Heritage site.
It’s not a matter of either/or when it comes to choosing between a city and ski break in Innsbruck. Here, you’ve got nine ski resorts within a bus ride of one of the greatest cities in the Alps. It’s the best of both worlds, and it’s brilliant.
Meribel has a special place in many Brit's hearts – not simply because it’s right in the middle of the biggest ski area on Earth. A resort for long ski days, ski-boot-stomping après and cosy chalets, there’s a great deal to do and ski here, which is why many of us have been coming back for decades.
A fabulous all-rounder: ski the Paradiski’s wonderful mix of tree-lined trails, knee-deep off piste and wide open cruisers. La Plagne’s easily one of Europe’s best ski resorts and one we visit again and again.
Ski never-ending pistes and powder, ogle at colossal peaks and cosy Savoie architecture, then end the day with some of the world's most wild and wonderful après ski. Val d'Isere is considered by many to be the best ski resort on earth, and we’re inclined to agree.
With world class skiing, beautiful vistas and a relaxed Italian atmosphere, Sestriere offers amazing, high altitude skiing conditions for all abilities in the heart of the Milky Way. For a stylish ski and apres week and short transfer, look no further.
Located high on the Sunny Balcony of the Italian Alps, with amazing Après and an expanse of scenic tree-lined routes stretching across the Milky Way, Sauze d'Oulx offers the ideal winter retreat to the slopes for every level of skier. Spend your days exploring the blanketed piste and your nights tasting some authentic Italian cuisine or supping a cocktail in a lively bar.
Consistently voted near, if not at the top of almost every skier’s dream destination as well as most official rankings, Whistler has planted its roots very deeply and is there to stay. This monolithic resort has hosted events like the Winter Olympics and continues to draw in athletes, holidaymakers and anyone else who visits with an intense, immeasurable and undiminishing pull.
Best Olympic & Paralympic ski resorts
| Resort | Which Winter Olympics? | Events hosted? |
|---|---|---|
| Chamonix, France | 1924 (I Winter Olympics) | Bobsleigh, Cross country skiing, Curling, Figure & speed skating, Ice hockey, Nordic Combined, Ski Jumping |
| St Moritz, Switzerland | 1928 (II Winter Olympics), 1948 (IV Winter Olympics) | Alpine & cross country skiing, Bobsleigh, Figure & speed skating, Ice hockey, Nordic combined, Skeleton, Ski jumping |
| Cortina, Italy | 1956 (VII Winter Olympics) | Alpine & cross country skiing, Bobsleigh, Figure & speed skating, Ice hockey, Nordic combined, Ski jumping |
| Innsbruck, Austria | 1964 (IX Winter Olympics), 1976 (XII Winter Olympics) | Alpine & cross country skiing, Biathlon, Figure & speed skating, Ice hockey, Luge, Nordic combined, Ski jumping |
| Meribel, France | 1992 (XVI Winter Olympics in Albertville) | Women’s alpine skiing, Ice hockey |
| La Plagne, France | 1992 (XVI Winter Olympics in Albertville) | Bobsleigh, Luge |
| Val d'Isere, France | 1992 (XVI Winter Olympics in Albertville) | Alpine skiing (combined, downhill, giant & super giant slalom) |
| Sestriere, Italy | 2006 (XX Winter Olympics in Turin) | Alpine skiing (men’s combined, downhill, super G & slalom events) |
| Sauze d'Oulx, Italy | 2006 (XX Winter Olympics in Turin) | Freestyle skiing |
| Whistler, Canada | 2010 (XXI Winter Olympics in Vancouver) | Alpine & nordic events, Bobsleigh, Luge, Skeleton, Ski jumping |
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