Munich
Capital of Bavaria, Munich is Germany’s gateway to the Alps. It offers a wide choice of resorts:

Garmisch-Partenkirchen, just over an hour by train from Munich, is the access point to the towering Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain (2964m). Rated Germany’s number one ski resort by the country’s biggest winter-sports magazine, “DSV Aktiv”, the resort offers an enormous range of ski options in both Germany and neighbouring Austria. Special offers also abound: for example, the “Super-Happy-Ski” package gives you the chance of 3, 7 or 14 days’ skiing, with access to the entire area, starting at only EUR 165. More information at www.zugspitz-region.de.

Kitzbuhel: Across the border in Austria, but only two hours from Munich by road, Kitzbuhel is one of the world’s most famous resorts. Snow is guaranteed right down into the valley (800m) from December through to April, and the combination of smooth slopes and precipitous off-piste areas makes it a magnet for skiers from across the world. Kitzbuhel offers 168 km of prepared pistes, off-piste and snowboard activities, 56 lifts and free ski shuttlebuses from one area to the next. Again, an enormous range of special offers and different passes are available for all levels of skier. For example, a six-day pass for the whole area costs EUR 190 for adults (EUR 95 for children). More information at www.kitzbuehel.com.

Spitzingsee is a small resort, but it’s only 70km from Munich and accessible  by road, making it a realistic day-trip from the city. It lies between 1100 and 1700 metres and is reckoned among Germany’s most reliable resorts for snow. The resort offers 16 lifts and runs, 25km of alpine piste and trails for crosscountry skiers. With day lift passes costing EUR 24 (EUR 13 for children), it is one of the best-priced  resorts in the Alps; and uniquely it offers the chance of a day-return bus trip from Munich. Organised by the Upper Bavarian bus service, it departs daily from Munich Central Station, and the EUR 29 ticket includes lift passes, transport and a snack. More information at www.spitzingsee.de/spitzing.

Milan
Italy’s northern capital lies within striking distance of the sunny southern slopes of the Italian, Swiss and French Alps.

The Aosta Valley: Facing France’s legendary resort of Chamonix across the imposing bulk of Mont Blanc, the Val d’Aosta is rated as one of the most beautiful ski areas in Italy. Stretching between the resorts of Breuil-Cervinia, Courmayeur, La Thuile, Pila and Valtournenche, the valley offers access to 135 lifts ranging from 1000m to 3470m, and pistes to suit the most cautious and the most experienced skier. Six-day lift passes range from EUR 170 (Pila) to EUR 211 (Breuil-Cervinia). And with all the resorts less than two and a half hours from Milan (three and a half, by bus via Turin), it’s practically on Riga’s doorstep. More information at www.courmayeur.net, www.cervinia.it, www.lathuile.net, www.pila.it.

Sestriere: Home to many of the skiing competitions at the 2006 Winter Olympics, Sestriere has put itself firmly on the map of world-class ski centres. Its high-level lifts (1840m to 2840m) practically guarantee season-long snow, while its 146 slopes, 92 lifts and 400km of piste offer something for every level of skill. If Olympic champions enjoy it, how could you not? Lift passes start at a surprisingly modest EUR 149 for six days. At two and a half hours by car, or four hours by bus, from Milan, it’s one of the further resorts, but for those who want to follow in the footsteps of the world’s finest skiers, it’s too good a chance to miss. More information at www.sestriere.it.

Bardonnechia: Just over two hours’ drive from Milan, in the corner where the French and Italian Alps meet, this large town offers access to 140km of lifts, and as one of the region’s less well-known resorts, it is particularly recommended for its tranquillity during the week. The range of its lifts is from 1312m to 2750m, with 49 pistes to choose from, and the town has 60 snow cannons to ensure the maximum coverage even in the days of global warming. More information at www.montagnedoc.it.

Zurich
Switzerland’s business and night-life capital, Zurich also lies within easy distance of some of the country’s premier resorts.

St. Moritz: Host of one of the world’s first Winter Olympics, way back in 1928, St Moritz has a winter-sports pedigree that many resorts would envy. A threehour drive from Zurich (three and a half by bus), its lifts run from 1730m to 3303m and it offers 350km of piste. This high in the Alps, the snow reliability is high, but it also boasts no fewer than 260 snow cannons to keep things moving. As one of the world’s most
exclusive resorts, it is not cheap: CHF 314 (EUR 197) for a six-day pass. But with 56 lifts, 88 slopes and 180km of cross-country trails, it’s money well spent. More information at www.stmoritz.ch.

Zermatt: Sheltered below the legendary Matterhorn, Zermatt is rated by some experts as the ultimate ski resort. Four hours from both Zurich and
Milan, it’s not the most accessible of the Alpine resorts, but its quality makes it worth the trip, especially for intermediate and advanced skiers. Its lifts range from 1620m to 3900m, and it offers almost 400km of piste. A six-day adult lift pass costs CHF 326 (EUR 206), and the season runs from November to May. More information at www.zermatt.ch.

Davos: One of Switzerland’s first true resorts, and now best-known for its annual gathering of the world’s movers and shakers, Davos lies under two hours’ drive from Zurich (two and a half by train). Linked to the “royal resort” of Klosters, it offers lifts from 1110m to 2844m, with 110 slopes and 320km of pistes. Lift passes are reasonably priced, at CHF 279 (EUR 175) for six days, and if you’re lucky, you could even bump into a world leader while you’re skiing. More information at www.davos.ch.

Note: All prices are indicative and are based on web resources. airBaltic cannot guarantee prices for a given date or location.