Where To Ski & City Break in 2019
By Gee Marling
When it comes to winter sports, peaceful powdery mountain tops and the bright lights of the big city are not mutually exclusive. So if snow covered peaks are calling you in one direction, and galleries and great shopping in the other, fear not, you can tailor your holiday to fulfill both needs. We’ve picked 5 Ski & City combinations spanning Asia, North America and Europe to inspire you.
ASIA
Hakuba hosted the Winter Olympics in 1998
Hakuba & Tokyo
The town of Hakuba is located on the island of Honshu (the main island of Japan), about 270 km northwest of Tokyo. Hakuba Valley itself encompasses 11 ski resorts and various villages and was host to the Winter Olympics in 1998. You can get to Hakuba by bus or train from Tokyo’s main airport, Narita, though the quickest and most convenient option is probably by car at just under 4 hours journey time. Happo One is the resort we suggest you head to as it provides plenty of options for great skiing and nightlife. Once you’ve dusted off your ski boots for the final time head back to Tokyo for a few days to soak up all the Japanese capital has to offer.
NORTH AMERICA
HLuxury lodgings are the order of the day in Northstar, Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe & San Francisco
Lake Tahoe - about a 3 hour drive from downtown San Francisco - straddles the states of both California and Nevada and is home to 15 downhill resorts. If you’re looking for luxury then head to Northstar where eateries, hotels and the groomed slopes themselves all fall into the category of upscale. Make the most of your trip to the Golden State and schedule a stop off in Frisco for a few days to enjoy the culture, world-famous restaurants and architectural landmarks that America’s most liberal city has to offer.
Fireworks in Whistler, North America’s largest ski resort
Whistler & Vancouver
Whistler is considered by many to be one of the finest resorts in North America, and one things for sure, it’s certainly the biggest. It's location in British Columbia gives it the added advantage of being situated in what is probably the world’s snowiest ski terrain. Those who seek a lively aprés scene are in for a treat, but if you’re not satisfied by the great bars restaurants on offer in Whistler you could and in fact should - it’s just 2 hours away by car - stop for a few days in Vancouver on your way home to soak up all the treats on offer in this cosmopolitan city.
EUROPE
Picture perfect Kitzbühel, Austria
Kitzbühel & Salzburg
Kitzbühel is one of the prettiest villages in the Tyrol region and offers a decent skiing area with 170 km of piste. The resort is about an 80 km car journey from the beautiful city of Salzburg, though if navigating mountain roads doesn’t appeal there are alternative transport options including a handy snow shuttle that takes just over an hour. Familiar to fans of legendary musical The Sound of Music, Salzburg is spectacularly quaint, refined and has much to offer by way of culture (Mozart’s house is worth a visit), restaurants and shopping.
The sun sets over Granada in the foreground and the peaks of the Sierra Nevada behind
Sierra Nevada & Granada
The dramatic Sierra Nevada (snowy mountain in Spanish) is home to some of Europe’s biggest peaks including Mulhacén, the highest mountain in the Iberian peninsula. Covering approximately 100 km the ski terrain isn’t huge but would keep a decent skier happy enough for a week. Once your appetite for snow has been satiated, you can take an hour-long bus ride to Granada to marvel at its ancient moorish architecture, visit the famous Alhambra palace, or simply sit and admire the stunning views of the surrounding landscape over a plate of tapas and a glass of Rioja.