Forty family-friendly ski resorts with free lift passes for kids – Updated November 2019.
As skiers and parents we all know how amazing it feels to share sometime as glorious as skiing with your children, laying the foundation for a lifetime of family holidays and precious moments.
Unfortunately, we also know how expensive skiing can be and growing families can sometimes start to put a little bit of strain on ski holiday budgets.
Luckily there are a bunch of top-notch in the Alps that offer free lift passes to the little ones, making it that much easier for us to make ends meet (or, at least leaving extra money in the budget to have a spa day or a big apres-ski…).
Many resorts across the Alps will offer children aged 4 and under a free pass regardless of if their parents are skiing or not, but there are some much better deals out there to be found if you know where to look.
I’ve put together a list below that has some great deals including a way for kids 12 and under to get a free season pass for one of the world’s biggest ski areas!
Jump to resorts where kids ski free in: Italy | France | Austria | Switzerland
Places Kids Ski for Free in Italy
If you have kids older than 5 but younger than 8, Italy is probably the best place for you to help your money go further.
Cervinia
Kids under 8 (born after 31.10.2013) will receive a free skipass of the same validity as that purchased by an accompanying adult
at the same time in Cervinia.
Cortina d’Ampezzo
Children under 8 years old (born after 27/11/2013) get a free ski pass in Cortina for the same period as the ski pass purchased by their parent or guardian.
Courmayeur
Children under 8 years old (born after 31/10/2013) get a free ski pass in Courmayeur for the same period as the ski pass purchased by their parent or guardian.
La Villa
Children under 8 years old (born after 27/11/20113) get a free ski pass in La Villa for the same period as the ski pass purchased by their parent or guardian.
Madonna di Campiglio
Get a free Madonna di Campiglio ski pass valid from 1 to 14 days for children born after 30/11/2013 if accompanied by a paying family adult. The child gets a skipass of the same type and duration of the adult. (with photos from 8 days).
Sauze d’Oulx
Children born in 2014 or later can ski for free in Sauze d’Oulx. Passport proof required. At least 1 adult must buy a full ski pass.
Sestriere
Children born in 2014 or later can ski for free in Sestriere. Passport proof required. At least 1 adult must buy a full ski pass.
Resorts Kids Ski for Free in Austria
There’s a lot of variety in the offers available in Austria, trying somewhere new could nab you a great deal, especially in off-peak weeks!
Gstaad
Children aged 5 and under ski for free in Gstaad.
Ischgl
Children aged 8 and under ski for free in Ishgl when accompanied by a parent with a valid Silvretta ski pass.
Jungfrau
Kids aged 5 and under ski for free everyday in Jungfrau.
In addition, up to three children aged 6 to 15 years years old receive a complimentary day ticket on Saturdays, when an adult buys a day or afternoon ticket for the list price.
Kitzbuhel
Kitzbuhel offers full area lift passes absolutely free of charge for any children in 2006 and later on their special ‘Kids Go Free Ski Days’. For the 2019/20 winter those days are:
- SAT, 18.12.2021
- SUN, 16.01.2022 (World Snow Day)
- SAT, 05.03.2022
- SAT, 26.03.2022
- SAT, 16.04.2022
Mayrhofen
Children born on or after the 1st of January 2016 enjoy free use of the ski lifts in Mayrhofen when accompanied by an adult.
Saalbach
In Saalbach, children born in 2016 and later can use the miniAlpini Card for free on every lift.
Children born between 2006 and 2015 only pay about half of the adult prices.
SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Bixental
SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental does justice to its reputation as a family ski resort once again. In the 2019/20 winter season, children under 15 years of age ski free of charge from 11.12-17.12.2021 & 19.03. – 03.04.2022 when one parent from the same family purchases a ski pass valid for 3 or more days.
St Anton
It’s not quite free but children born 2014 and later can get a full-season pass in St Anton for just €10!
Stubai Glacier
Children ages 10 and under ski for free in Stubai’s Family Ski Area when accompanied by a paying adult.
Zurs
Like neighbouring St Anton, t’s not quite free but children born 2012 and later can get a full-season pass in Zurs for just €10!
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Resorts Kids Ski for Free in France
Most resorts in France offer a free lift pass for young children regardless of whether or not the parents have purchased one but there are some other interesting deals as well!
Avoriaz
Children under 5 years old always ski for free in Avoriaz and at the end of the season, from the start of April 2022, you can get a free ski pass for children under 12 years old when an adult purchases a 5 day+ Portes du Soleil adult pass.
Chatel
Children under 5 years old always ski for free in Chatel and at the end of the season, from 8th April 2022, you can get a free ski pass for children under 12 years old when an adult purchases a 5 day+ Portes du Soleil adult pass.
Courchevel
Children under 5 years old can ski for free in Courchevel.
Flaine and the Grand Massif
Children under 5 years old can ski for free in Flaine.
La Clusaz
Children under 5 years old can ski for free in La Clusaz.
La Plagne
Children under 5 years old can ski for free in La Plagne.
La Rosiere
Children under 5 years old can ski for free in La Rosiere.
Les Arcs
Children under 5 years old can ski for free in Les Arcs.
Les Gets
Children under 5 years old always ski for free in Les Gets.
Megeve
Children under 5 years old can ski for free in Megeve.
Meribel
Children under 5 years old can ski for free in Meribel.
Morzine
Children under 5 years old always ski for free in Morzine.
Parents can also get one free full-season pass for a child under 12 years old with the purchase of their own full-price season lift pass.
Sainte Foy
Children under 5 years old can ski for free in Sainte Foy.
Samoens
Children under 5 years old can ski for free in Samoens.
Serre Chevallier
In Serre Chevallier, children under 6 years old can enjoy a free ski pass – from a day to a season – when an adult pass for the same ski area and period is bought at the same time.
Tignes
Children under 5 years old can ski for free in Tignes.
Val Thorens
Children under 5 years old can ski for free in Val Thorens.
Val d’Isere
Children under 5 years old can ski for free in Val d’Isere.
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Resorts Kids Ski for Free in Switzerland
Switzerland isn’t known for being the most economical of destinations but the deal on offer in Zermatt flies in the face of that stereotype!
St Moritz
Children 5 years old and under ski for free in St Moritz.
Verbier
Children under 5 years old can ski for free in Verbier but the free passes must be collected in person at the lift pass office.
Zell am Zee – Kaprun
Children born in 2016 or later ski for free in Zell am Zee.
Zermatt
Zermatt-Matterhorn has received a special “Families Welcome” designation. Because children up to age 9 can use all of the ski lifts free of charge all year round!
Hopefully this list gave you a bit of inspiration 🙂
To help kids start off their ski adventure on the right foot and to help you save a little more money we’re offering 20€/CHF off of kids group or private ski lessons with the code ‘KIDS20’. This code will be valid for the 2019/20 season.