Ski passes 2026/27: how much skiing in the Alps costs and how to save

The 2026/27 season starts with new prices, and the first resorts have already published them. In Sölden, a day ticket at the ticket office in top season costs €86.50 (as of 09/2026, Bergbahnen Sölden price list for winter 2026/27). In St. Anton am Arlberg, an adult day pass at peak will cost €85 (as of 09/2026, Ski Arlberg rates). And in Zermatt, the day price is now dynamic and starts from CHF 89.

Planning a winter trip and want to understand the budget in advance? We have collected the official 2026/27 rates where they have already been published. For the remaining resorts, we provide the latest comparable prices from the 2025/26 season from ADAC's large comparison of 30 resorts (as of 2025/26 season, ADAC). Many resorts publish 2026/27 rates in the fall, so each figure is marked with the season and source.

Ad: this article contains affiliate links, we earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you.

Ski passes 2026/27: key points

💡 In short:

• Sölden for 2026/27: day ticket at the ticket office €84.50 in the main season and €86.50 in top season, cheaper online in advance (as of 09/2026, Bergbahnen Sölden).
• Ski Arlberg for 2026/27: adult day pass at peak €85, child €51, prices are preliminary for now (as of 09/2026, Ski Arlberg).
• Zermatt for 2026/27: day ticket from CHF 89, on Saturdays children under 15 ski free (as of 09/2026, Matterhorn Paradise).
• The cheapest day in last season's comparison was in Feldberg, €42, the most expensive in Zermatt, over €106 (as of 2025/26 season, ADAC price comparison).
• Magic Pass for 2026/27 currently costs CHF 524 for an adult, price guaranteed until October 6, 2026 (as of 09/2026, Magic Pass).

What has changed for the 2026/27 season

The main change in recent years is that the ticket office less and less often has one price for the whole winter. Major resorts are switching to dynamic pricing. The day price depends on the skiing date, demand, and how far in advance you buy the ticket. In Sölden, this is explicitly stated in the price list: the earlier you buy online, the cheaper it is, and the price increases up to five days before the first day of skiing (as of 09/2026, Sölden online sales terms).

Four days before the start, the ticket office rate already applies there, meaning the maximum. For you, this means a simple thing: the price in the table below for such resorts is a ceiling, not the only option. By buying a ticket in September or October, you often pay less.

The second change concerns the data. ADAC's large comparison for the 2025/26 season covered 30 resorts in seven countries: eight in Germany, eleven in Austria, three each in Switzerland, Italy, and France, one in Czechia, and one in Poland (as of: 2025/26 season, ADAC comparison lineup). Prices there were collected on 15.10.2025 for the Christmas holidays. The new comparison for 2026/27 usually comes out in the fall, so for now we cross-check rates on the resorts' own websites.

How much a day on the slopes costs

If we look at the already published 2026/27 rates, Austria's top resorts are holding at around €85 for an adult day ticket. In Sölden, a walk-up day ticket costs €84.50 in the main season and €86.50 in the top season from 19.12.2026 to 06.01.2027 and from 30.01 to 26.02.2027 (as of: 09/2026, Sölden price list). In the pre-season from 12.11 to 04.12.2026, the same ticket costs €81.

In Ski Arlberg, an adult day ticket in the high season from 19.12.2026 to 02.04.2027 costs €85, a youth ticket €78, and a child ticket €51 (as of: 09/2026, Ski Arlberg 2026/27 price list). The operator notes that this is based on August 2026 and prices may be adjusted.

For comparison, in the 2025/26 season the spread across 30 resorts ranged from €42 in Feldberg to over €106 in Zermatt. In 14 of the 30 resorts, a day cost more than €70 (as of: 2025/26 season, ADAC day rates). A child pass in most places was under €40, with the best deal in Balderschwang at €21.50. Kronplatz, Seiser Alm, and La Plagne-Les Arcs charged €56 per child.

Three days of skiing and a family budget

A three-day ticket in Sölden for 2026/27 costs €246.50 for an adult at the ticket office in the main season and €251.50 in the top season (as of: 09/2026, Sölden multi-day tickets). From 19.11.2026, tickets for three days or more are valid across all Ötztal areas, including Obergurgl-Hochgurgl and Hochötz-Kühtai. That is a real plus if you want to switch slopes.

In the 2025/26 comparison, a three-day adult ticket ranged from about €111 at Poland's Szrenica Ski Arena to nearly €280 in Zermatt (as of: 2025/26 season, ADAC three-day tickets). A family of two adults and two children aged 10 and 14 paid more than €600 for three days at most resorts. Zermatt and Laax-Flims topped €800.

The cheapest family day was in Balderschwang at about €118, the most expensive in Zermatt at about €320 (as of: 2025/26 season, ADAC family budget). Also keep in mind Zermatt's rule: on Saturdays, children under 15 ski free there, so a trip with a Saturday in the middle is noticeably cheaper for a family.

Table: 2026/27 ski passes and latest prices

In the table, we note the season for each figure. If a resort has already published its 2026/27 price list, that figure is shown. If not, the 2025/26 price from the ADAC comparison is shown, and resorts publish their 2026/27 rates in the fall.

For Sölden, the first figure refers to the main season, the second to the top season. The child rate there applies to those born in 2012-2018, the youth rate to 2007-2011, and toddlers born in 2019-2022 pay €2 per day (as of 09/2026, Sölden age groups). For SuperSkiCard, the first figure refers to the off-season, the second to the high season (as of 09/2026, SuperSkiCard prices).

Germany: the cheapest skiing

German resorts turned out to be the cheapest in the 2025/26 comparison in almost every category. In three of the eight regions, a day cost less than €50, and the lowest rate was at Feldberg in the High Black Forest, €42 (as of the 2025/26 season, German prices in ADAC). The upper limit was held by Zugspitze, €69 per day, but for almost the same money in Oberstdorf-Kleinwalsertal you got more kilometers of slopes.

Feldberg no longer has a fixed daily price on its website. Tickets are sold through an online shop, where the daily price is calculated by date, season, and demand, and the operator explicitly states that buying earlier is cheaper (as of 09/2026, Feldberg Erlebnis rates). The annual pass on the website is still listed at 2025/26 rates: €480 for an adult and €140 for a child.

After Zugspitze, children's tickets were most expensive in Arber, while in Oberstdorf-Kleinwalsertal children's passes went up by about 12 percent for a day and 16 percent for three days (as of the 2025/26 season, Germany children's rates in ADAC). For families, Balderschwang remained the best option in Germany. German resorts publish their 2026/27 rates in the fall, so check them before buying.

Austria: 85 € a day is now normal

The average daily ski pass at Austrian resorts in the 2025/26 comparison cost around 76 €, which is 23 € more than in Germany (as of: 2025/26 season, Austrian prices in ADAC). Only Obertauern (69.50 €) and Silvretta-Montafon (68.50 €) stayed below 70 € back then. St. Anton am Arlberg asked the most at 81.50 €, followed by Sölden at 80.50 €.

For 2026/27, both leaders have already published new prices. At Ski Arlberg an adult day pass in high season costs 85 €, at Sölden a walk-up day pass in top season is 86.50 € (as of: 09/2026, St. Anton rates and Sölden top-season price list). That means an increase of roughly 3.50 € and 6 € at the ticket window compared with last season. At Sölden, buying online in advance partially offsets that increase.

For a family last season, the best value was in Damüls-Mellau, which also has 109 kilometers of slopes. Ischgl raised prices on three-day passes by almost 13 percent for adults and 17 percent for children (as of: 2025/26 season, Austrian multi-day passes in ADAC). Accommodation near the lifts gets booked up early, and hotel prices in Austria are easy to compare on Trip.com.

South Tyrol: expensive for children

Kronplatz and Seiser Alm reached 80 € for an adult day pass in the 2025/26 season, while Brixen let you in for 10 € less (as of: 2025/26 season, South Tyrolean prices in ADAC). Children's tickets in South Tyrol were consistently expensive, from 49 to 56 € per day. A family skiing three days at Kronplatz or Seiser Alm would have paid 782 € at the ticket window, more only in Zermatt and Laax-Flims.

Both resorts are part of Dolomiti Superski, which in the 2026/27 season is also part of the Ikon Pass: 7 days with the Ikon Pass and 5 days with the Ikon Base Pass (as of: 09/2026, Ikon Pass destinations). Check the official 2026/27 prices for individual valleys on the Dolomiti Superski website; 2026/27 rates are published in the fall.

Switzerland: dynamic pricing

Skiing in Switzerland is expensive, and the 2025/26 comparison confirmed it. Zermatt charged over €106 per day, Davos Klosters almost €100, Laax-Flims around €95, and in Laax-Flims the year-over-year increase reached 25 percent (as of: 2025/26 season, Swiss prices in ADAC). Kids in Davos Klosters and Laax-Flims skied at a good rate, from €33 to €40 per day.

How dynamic pricing works is best seen in Zermatt. For 2026/27 an adult day starts at 89 CHF, but this minimum price applies only from 01.11 to 27.11.2026 and from 19.04 to 02.05.2027 (as of: 09/2026, Matterhorn Paradise rates). At peak times the price is higher and depends on demand. Kids aged 9-15 get a 50% discount, and on Saturdays all kids up to 15 ski free.

In Laax, day passes, multi-day passes, and day passes after 11:45 are also dynamic: the price is shown by the online shop for the selected date (as of: 09/2026, LAAX rates). In Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis, day tickets are also sold through the online shop, and Epic Pass holders have unrestricted access to the resort, while Epic Local Pass holders get five days (as of: 09/2026, Epic Pass). The rule for all three is the same: the later you buy and the more popular the date, the more expensive the day.

There is a catch for families. In Davos and Laax-Flims the youth rate starts at age 14, at around €70 and €64 per day (as of: 2025/26 season, youth rate in ADAC). At most other resorts the cutoff is age 15. If you want to add some experiences to your skiing, activities in Switzerland can be booked online.

France: good prices for adults

Three French resorts in the 2025/26 comparison offered a good ratio of price to kilometers. A day pass cost from €66 to €70, a three-day pass from €186.50 to €199 (as of: 2025/26 season, French prices in ADAC).

© Radek Kucharski from Warsaw, Poland · CC BYPhoto: Radek Kucharski from Warsaw, Poland, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

For that money, Alpe d'Huez and Les Deux Alpes have about 200 kilometers of slopes open, and La Plagne-Les Arcs has a full 425. With kids the picture is worse: a child pass was only €11-14 cheaper than an adult pass, and 14-year-olds paid almost the adult rate (as of: 2025/26 season, France child rates in ADAC). In La Plagne-Les Arcs, 13-year-olds are counted as adults altogether.

French resorts usually publish their 2026/27 rates closer to when sales open in the fall. The Alps are far from the airport, and renting a car for an Alps trip is often cheaper than a transfer for four people.

Czechia: affordable skiing

Špindlerův Mlýn in the Krkonoše mountains in northern Czechia appeared in the comparison for the first time in the 2025/26 season. An adult day pass cost about €50 and covered 28 kilometers of slopes with a vertical drop of up to 1,235 meters (as of: 2025/26 season, Czech prices in ADAC).

© Roman Boed from The Netherlands · CC BYPhoto: Roman Boed from The Netherlands, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

A child ticket cost about €35 per day, and teenagers aged 14 and up had to pay an extra €5 (as of: 2025/26 season, Špindlerův Mlýn child rate in ADAC). In terms of price, the resort is on par with German ones and noticeably cheaper than Switzerland. 2026/27 rates will be published in the fall.

Poland: a cheap alternative

If 12 kilometers of slopes is enough for you, Poland's Szrenica Ski Arena was one of the cheapest in the comparison in the 2025/26 season. An adult day pass cost about €44, and a child's about €25 (as of: 2025/26 season, Polish prices in ADAC).

© Gorofil · CC BY-SAPhoto: Gorofil, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The resort is also in the Krkonoše mountains, just on the Polish side. A three-day adult ticket was the cheapest in the comparison at roughly €111, and a three-day child ticket cost about €67 (as of: 2025/26 season, Szrenica three-day ticket in ADAC). 2026/27 rates will be published in the fall.

Map: elevation and kilometers of slopes

The ADAC comparison covered only ski pass prices; it did not rank the resorts: they are too different in slope length, number of lifts, and elevation (ADAC methodology). So it always makes sense to divide the daily price by the kilometers. Zermatt, for example, has twelve times more slopes than Feldberg.

You can easily see the elevation and location of the resorts on the Alps map.

An important note on dates. The 2025/26 prices were collected on October 15, 2025; for Arber, Feldberg, Seiser Alm, Špindlerův Mlýn, and Szrenica they were added later, and francs, korunas, and zlotys were converted to euros at the exchange rate on the collection day (as of: 2025/26 season, ADAC price collection terms). We left the CHF prices from Zermatt's price list in francs.

How to save on ski passes

• Buy online and early. With dynamic pricing, this is the main tactic. In Sölden, the price rises up to five days before the first ski day, then the ticket-office rate applies (as of 09/2026, Sölden online prices).
• Get a season pass before the price goes up. Magic Pass launched on 10.03.2026 at 419 CHF, currently costs 524 CHF until October 6, and the official final price is 944 CHF. The pass is valid in 103 winter areas (as of 09/2026, Magic Pass prices).
• Compare Epic and Ikon. Epic Pass gives unlimited access in Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis, Ikon Pass gives 7 days each in Zermatt, Ischgl, Kitzbühel, Dolomiti Superski and Chamonix (as of 09/2026, Epic Pass terms, Ikon Pass).
• Look at regional cards. SuperSkiCard in Austria and Bavaria costs 80 € per day in the off-season and 86 € in high season and is valid for as many consecutive days as you choose (as of 09/2026, SuperSkiCard rates).
• Choose days of the week and dates. Ski on weekdays and outside school holidays. In Zermatt, the lowest price applies in November and at the end of the season.
• Check age rules. The child rate usually starts at age 6, sometimes at 8 or 9. In Davos Klosters and Laax-Flims, the youth rate starts at 14, while in La Plagne-Les Arcs the adult rate already applies from age 13 (as of the 2025/26 season, age limits according to ADAC).
• Family and combined tickets. Many German resorts and Damüls-Mellau offer family rates. For three days, a single ticket for a linked area, such as the TopSnowCard in the Zugspitze region or the Ötztal Superskipass, is often cheaper.

You can also reach the resort without a car: by train to ski resorts on Trip.com you can get there without paid parking, and it is convenient to buy your ticket in advance.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does a day ski pass cost in the Alps in the 2026/27 season?

Based on already published prices, major Austrian resorts charge around €85 for an adult day at peak times (as of 09/2026, preliminary Arlberg price, Sölden walk-up prices). In Zermatt, a day starts at CHF 89. Many resorts in Germany, Italy, and France publish their 2026/27 rates in the fall.

Where is the cheapest place to ski as a family?

In the latest full comparison, Balderschwang in Germany was the best deal: a child pass at €21.50, a family day around €118 (as of the 2025/26 season, family rates according to ADAC). German resorts, Czechia, Poland, and Austria's Damüls-Mellau keep prices low. In Zermatt, a trip that includes a Saturday works well for families.

What is dynamic pricing for a ski pass?

It is a price that changes depending on the date, demand, and when you buy. In Zermatt, the CHF 89 minimum applies only in November and at the end of the season; in Laax, the online shop shows the price for the selected date (as of 09/2026, Zermatt Bergbahnen prices, LAAX). That is why buying a ticket in advance is almost always cheaper.

At what age does a child pay the adult rate?

Usually the child rate applies from age 6, and the youth rate from 15. In Davos Klosters and Laax-Flims, the youth rate starts at 14; in La Plagne-Les Arcs, 13-year-olds pay the adult rate (as of the 2025/26 season, child rate age according to ADAC). In Sölden for 2026/27, the child rate applies to those born in 2012-2018, and the youth rate to those born in 2007-2011.

Is the Magic Pass, Epic, or Ikon worth it?

If you ski more than a week per season, almost always yes. Until October 6, 2026, the Magic Pass is noticeably cheaper than the final price (as of 09/2026, Magic Pass 2026/27 rates). The Ikon Pass gives you 7 days each in Zermatt and Dolomiti Superski; the Epic Pass gives unlimited access in Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis. For one short trip, it is simpler to buy the resort's online ticket.

In short: what to book

A ski pass covers only part of the winter budget. Accommodation near the lifts, on-slope experiences, and winter sports insurance are better booked in advance.

• If you are traveling as a family, look at Balderschwang, Damüls-Mellau, or Zermatt with a Saturday included in your trip.
• If you want to ski for less, choose Feldberg, Szrenica Ski Arena, or Špindlerův Mlýn.
• If you need a large resort, buy your ticket for Sölden, St. Anton, or Zermatt online as early as possible.

The first step is obvious: accommodation near the lifts on Trip.com.

On-slope activities are easier to book in advance: tours and tickets on GetYourGuide.

And before your trip, it is worth comparing insurance options.