The snowflakes are piling up on mountaintops across the globe, which means we’re in the midst of ski and snowboard season. But carving some turns isn’t the only reason to head to the hills this winter. 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.
To find the best locations for a post-ski party, Omio first started with a seed list of the most popular ski destinations in Europe. It then scraped Google data to determine the number of bars and pubs in each location to create its best-of list. After doing a little digging, it named one Austrian town to the top of its list.
“Coming in at first place is Sölden, Austria, with 320 bars to enjoy apres-ski,” Omio reported. “Despite being renowned for its slopes and hiking trails, it’s also the perfect place to have some beers, fondue, and fun with friends.”
Beyond the bars, the mountain, tucked along the Austrian-Italian border, comes with nearly 100 miles of slopes to explore, which are accessible by 31 lifts. It even offers a “100 percent snow guarantee” thanks to its elevation. You can also find your Goldilocks après experience here, with bars ranging from low-key hangs to all-out nightclubs (where goggles and ski boots are welcome).
Other destinations to make the top of the list include Saalbach-Hinterglemm also in Austria at No. 2 thanks to its 288 bars, followed by Val Gardena in Italy, which Omio called out as extra-special.
“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 was third on the list of top 10 apres-ski destinations, with 264 bars, suggesting there is something for everyone, from delicious cheese and wine to world-class DJs.”
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. So buy a round for everyone.
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