Updated April 10, 2026 11:00AM
There are some ski trips that can be pulled off last minute, but a big trip to the Alps is rarely one of them. Skiing in Europe is the type of bucket-list experience that you want to start planning up to a year in advance, giving yourself plenty of time to track the best prices on airfare and choose the multipass with the most resorts on your itinerary.
Know Before You Buy: Read SKI’s Complete Season Pass Buyer’s Guide
Most ski resorts across the pond join the U.S. multipasses as partner resorts, so the access rules differ from at an owned hill. There may be additional restrictions that we’re not used to here in the States, including needing to book specific lodging properties to unlock your lift access, using your days consecutively, and stopping at the ticket off to show your pass and get a local card to use on lifts. That’s why it’s imperative to take the time to understand all the rules around skiing in Europe with your pass. You don’t want to get turned away in the lift line because you didn’t read the fine print.
Here’s a breakdown of the European skiing on tap this coming season on all of the major multipasses.
Ikon Pass
Ikon Pass features some of the heaviest hitters in European skiing, including Zermatt, Chamonix, St. Moritz, Ischgl, and Italy’s Aosta Valley. It also has the most straightforward access at its Alps partners, with five days on the Ikon Base or seven days on the Ikon Pass with no limitations or blackout dates at any of the resorts. So if you’re traveling over the holidays or trying to coordinate with your kids’ spring break dates, you don’t have to worry about not being able to use your days.
Ikon Pass holders can go straight to the lifts at Chamonix. (Photo: Ikon Pass)
Ikon Pass European Resorts
Chamonix Mont Blanc, France
Dolomiti Superski, Italy
Grandvalira Resorts, Andorra
Kitzbühel, Austria
Zermatt Matterhorn, Switzerland
St. Moritz, Switzerland
Ischgl, Austria
Aosta Valley, Italy
Megève, France
As is common in Europe, these larger resorts are composed of several smaller ski areas, and your Ikon Pass gets you five or seven days to split between all of them. For example, St. Moritz comprises three main resorts, with another six smaller ski areas rounding out the offerings. You get five days on the Ikon Base and seven on the Ikon Pass to use in total at all of the ski areas under the larger St. Moritz umbrella.
The Fine Print
You can go straight to the lifts at Chamonix, Kitzbühel, Zermatt, and St. Moritz. At Grandvalira, Ikon Pass holders need to visit the ticket window and show their pass in exchange for a local lift ticket. And while your Ikon Pass is direct-to-lift at Dolomiti Superski, all skiers need to have proof of liability insurance to ski there. Go without, and risk a fine and possible pass confiscation. More info on that here.
Finally, the Friends & Family discount is not applicable at any of the European resorts on the Ikon Pass. The resorts are also not accessible on the Ikon Session Passes.
Epic Pass
Unlike the Ikon Pass, Vail Resorts owns two Swiss resorts—Andermatt-Sedrun and Crans Montana. That means that Epic Pass holders wanting to ski in Europe get unlimited, blackout-free access to both of these resorts for the 2026-’27 ski season, and Epic Local pass holders get five days at each with no blackout dates.
Andermatt’s high-alpine skiing comes with classic Alps vistas. Add on Matterhorn access while you’re there. (Photo: Sierra Shafer)
On top of that, Epic Pass also has partnerships with eight additional European resorts. (They count it as 32 ski areas on the website, but as noted above, the larger resorts each encompass a number of smaller slopes, and the designated number of days you get with your pass includes all of the ski areas that comprise each resort.)
The only partner resort available on the Epic Local is Switzerland’s Verbier 4 Vallées, with five days for Epic Local passholders; note that blackout days apply. The rest of the Alps partner resorts listed below are not on the Epic Local.
Epic Pass European Resorts
Owned By Vail Resorts
Andermatt-Sedrun
Crans-Montana
Epic Pass Partner Resorts
Verbier 4 Vallées, Switzerland (now on Epic Local)
Skirama Dolomiti, Italy
Les 3 Vallées, France
Ski Arlberg, Austria
Saalbach Hinterglemm, Austria
Mayrhofen and Hintertux, Austria
Silvretta Montafon, Austria
Sölden, Austria
The Fine Print
Access varies at each of the Epic Pass Alps resorts, so don’t make any assumptions when making your plans. There are lots of hoops to jump through, especially if you want to use your Epic Pass at the partner resorts, to read carefully. Also, Buddy Tickets and Ski With a Friend discounts can’t be used at the Alps partner resorts.
Andermatt: Unlimited access with no blackouts on the Epic Pass, and five days with no blackouts on the Epic Local. You have to visit a ticket office to show your pass and get a local access card. At that time, pass holders will have the option to add seven-day Matterhorn access via the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn train for $50 CHF ($55 at press time).
Crans Montana: Unlimited access with no blackouts on the Epic Pass, and five days with no blackouts on the Epic Local. More details will be shared after the sale closes.
Verbier 4 Vallées: Epic Pass and Epic Local pass holders both get five days at the region’s six linked ski areas. You no longer have to book qualifying lodging to get your five days. Read the fine print here.
Skirama Dolomiti: Epic Pass holders get seven consecutive days of skiing at the eight resorts that comprise Skirama Dolomiti. They must be booked in a row, with no rest days, to get all of them. Stop at a ticket office to show your Epic Pass and get a local access card. Expect to pay a $5 deposit, which will be refunded when you return the card.
Les 3 Vallées: Epic Pass holders get seven consecutive days of skiing at the seven ski areas that comprise the largest ski resort on the planet. Like in Italy, they must be skied in a row to use all seven. Also, you have to book at least 10 days in advance, then stop a ticket window to show your Epic Pass in exchange for a local pass.
Ski Arlberg: Stay at least three nights at an approved accommodation and get three days of skiing with your Epic Pass. Some hotels might require a longer minimum stay, but still only offer three free lift tickets, which must be used on consecutive days. Stop by a ticket window with your Epic Pass for a local lift card. You can find the list of 20-plus hotels here.
Sölden: Epic Pass Holders have to present their physical Epic Pass card or mobile pass on the My Epic app and photo ID in exchange for a magnetic key card and a small deposit. The deposit will be refunded when you return the key card.
Mountain Collective
The ski touring in the massive peaks around Chamonix is world-class. (Photo: Getty Images)
There are two European resorts on the Mountain Collective: Chamonix and Megève. Mountain Collective pass holders get two days at each resort, plus 50 percent off additional days, AND can add on one bonus day (at Cham, Megève, or any of the other MC destinations) if they purchase by the spring deadline. Chamonix, known as the extreme-skiing capital of the Alps, is a place steeped in authentic mountain culture. It’s also a true bucket-list destination that all skiers should visit during their lifetime, whether it’s to ski the famed Haute Route, ride the L’Aiguille du Midi, or just take in the vibe in the town that hosted the first-ever Winter Olympics in 1924. Megève, 40 minutes from Cham, boasts eight peaks with varied terrain in view of Mont Blanc.
The Fine Print
You can’t go straight to the lifts at Chamonix or Megève; stop by a ticket office with your ID to redeem your two days, and make sure you have access to your Mountain Collective proof-of-purchase email.
Indy Pass
Austria’s Ski Welt is one of 28 Alps resorts on the Indy Pass. (Photo: Courtesy of Ski Welt)
The Indy Pass added a gaggle of new resorts in Europe for the 2026-’27 season. Most are smaller ski areas, but the more recognizable names include Spain’s Baqueira/Beret, Austria’s Innsbruck, and Portes du Soleil, on the French/Swiss border. That brings the total on the Indy Pass to around 20. Pass holders get the usual two days at each. Here’s the full list of European resorts on the Indy Pass for winter 2026-’27:
Ski Welt, Austria
Innsbruck, Austria
Baqueira/Beret, Spain
Erciyes Ski Resort, Turkey
Glencoe Mountain Resort, Scotland
Malá Úpa, Czechia
Rauriser -Hochalmbahnen, Austria
Pila, Italy
Glenshee Ski Centre, Scotland
Hochzeiger Pitztal, Austria
Krvavec Ski Resort, Slovenia
Leukerbad Torrent Ski Resort, Switzerland
Norefjell Ski and Spa, Norway
OK Bergbahnen, Germany
Palandoken Ski Resort, Turkey
Pitztaler Gletscherbahn, Austria
Portes du Soleil, France/Switzerland (12 ski areas)
Riksgränsen and Björkliden, Sweden
Steinplatte Tyrol, Austria
Valmorel Ski Resort, France
Stranda Ski Resort, Norway
Stöten I Sälen, Sweden
Oberstdorf Kleinwalsertal, Austria
Levi, Finland
Les 7 Laux, France
Kaunertal Glacier. Austria
Kaya Palazzo Kartalkaya Ski & Mountain Resort, Turkey
Bergbahnen Hohsaas, Switzerland
It’s worth noting that day tickets in Europe are usually far less expensive than in the States. A one-day Ski Welt ticket is only around $66, so adding on a couple extra days isn’t a big expense.
Bottom Line
Both Ikon and Epic include some of the most coveted European ski resorts among their ranks. That said, the Ikon Pass is easier to use across the pond, and has fewer requirements. If you have your heart set on any specific destination, just be sure to do your research before you lock in any travel plans.
The Indy Pass is also worth considering if European ski travel is on your itinerary and you prefer the smaller, lesser-known resorts. Now with an impressive ski areas with two days apiece, that over almost a month’s worth of skiing.