Snowflakes are falling on mountains around the world, signaling the start of the ski and snowboard seasons. The winter is a great time to get out on the slopes and make some turns. Because with all that skiing comes plenty of après action.
In December, Omio, the global travel booking site, released its list of the best ski destinations in Europe for a prime après ski experience. And really, this list is just meeting consumer demand, as the number of people searching Google for the “best places for après-ski” has jumped by 186 percent over the last quarter, Omio reported.
Omio started by creating a seed list with the most popular European ski destinations. It scraped Google’s data to determine how many bars and pubs were in each destination to create its top-of-list. After a bit of digging, the list ranked an Austrian town at the top.
First place is a great accomplishment Sölden, AustriaOmio reported that there were 320 bars in the area where people could enjoy apres skiing. It is not only a place where you can enjoy beer, fondue, or fun with your friends, but it’s also a popular destination for hiking and skiing.
Aside from the bars, this mountain located near the Austrian/Italian Border offers more than 100 miles of slopes, accessible via 31 lifts. This mountain offers “100 percent guaranteed snow” due to its high elevation. You can also find your Goldilocks après experience here, with bars ranging from low-key hangs to all-out nightclubs Where ski boots and goggles are welcomed
Saalbach Hinterglemm, also in Austria, is ranked No. 2 thanks to its 288 bars. Val Gardena is the second-best destination, thanks to 288 bars.
“Despite countries like Austria and Switzerland being known for their ski resorts, Italy actually boasts some world-renowned ones that offer stunning views and lively après-ski scenes,” it shared in the findings. Val Gardena ranked third among the top 10 apres skiing destinations. With 264 bars in this area, there’s something for everyone – from cheese and wine to DJs of world-class quality.
These destinations were joined by Zermatt in Switzerland and Lech & Zurs in Austria, rounding out the top five. They were followed by Chamonix, France; Livigno, Italy; Kitzbühel, Austria; Davos, Switzerland; and Val Thorens, France, all of which ranked in the top 10.
Best of all, you won’t have to shell out a ton for that après experience, as Omio also found that the cost of a pint of beer in Austria and Italy is going for about $5. Purchase a round each for all your friends.
