With direct routes to some of Europe’s most popular ski destinations, hitting the slopes has never been easier, thanks to Newcastle International Airport.
With ski season now in full swing, there’s no better time than the present to start thinking about nabbing a last-minute trip to one of Europe’s best-loved ski resorts.
Ski season runs from early December to late April, during which time families, couples and friends can enjoy easy access to some of Europe’s big name ski hotspots, as well as more affordable and less populated areas.
Whether you’re visiting as part of a snowy weekend getaway or during the school holidays, Newcastle International offers a wide choice of flight times and destinations to choose from.
Countries such as France, Switzerland and Italy receive a large amount of winter sports-lovers each year, but lesser-known resorts – including those in Norway, Bulgaria and Austria – shouldn’t be overlooked.
Here, the team at Newcastle International Airport share their top places to fly to for a trip of a lifetime up in the mountains…
Austria
Innsbruck
Up to one flight a week with TUI and Crystal Ski (December – March). Nearest ski resort is Olympia SkiWorld – a collection of nine ski resorts around the city of Innsbruck that have joined together to form one “super resort.”
Salzburg
Up to two flights a week with Jet2.com, TUI and Crystal Ski (December – April). Popular ski resorts include Zell am See, Saalbach and Obertauern. A Salzburg Super Ski Card grants you access to ski resorts around Salzburg.
Bulgaria
Sofia
Weekly flights with Balkan Holidays (December – March). Bankso is the most popular resort in Bulgaria – just 90 minutes from Sofia Airport.
France
Grenoble
Weekly flights with Jet2.com (December – March). A flight to Grenoble means you can choose to ski at a variety of resorts around the French Alps, including the popular Alpe d’Huez, Chevalier and Megeve.
Norway
Stavanger
Up to four flights a week during winter with Loganair. Western Norway is home to 36 ski resorts, including Voss Resort, Myrkdalen and Strandafjellet. With good value for money ski schools and a notably quieter destination, Norway is ideal for families learning to ski.
Spain
Barcelona
Up to two flights a week during winter with Ryanair. With the Pyrenees mountains just a short drive away from the sun of Barcelona, a ski holiday on the French-Spanish border can be reached within two short hours. Masella is popular for night-time skiing, due to its powerful lighting system. The mountain has 65 slopes and nine black runs for skiers looking for a challenge.
Switzerland
Geneva
Up to four flights a week with Jet2.com, TUI and easyJet (December – April). In the heart of the French-Swiss Alps, Geneva is a gateway airport for hundreds of ski resorts. Morzine is just an 85-minute drive from Geneva Airport and offers 650km of slopes to enjoy. Champery is a short journey away, providing snow-sure conditions at an altitude of 2,466m.
Italy
Milan Bergamo
Up to two flights a week during winter with Ryanair. Milan sits within a mountainous valley, meaning the city is surrounded by ski resorts. Chiesa, in Valmalenco is a small village, just two hours away from Milan by car.
Thanks to Italy’s new Snow Train initiative, securing a special Train+Shuttle+Skipass allows you to reach the slops and leave your car at home. The Snow Eagle, one of the largest cable cars in Europe, provides access to the slopes of Alpe Palu, with more than 50km of ski slopes and a snowboard park, which frequently hosts World Cup competitions.
