Easter moves, and so does the quality of an Easter ski holiday. In 2027 it is early (28 March), so the English Easter holidays run from about Saturday 27 March to Sunday 11 April and the two ski weeks start on 27 March and 3 April. Some councils, mainly in the north, take the two weeks starting 3 April instead. Operators price both as Easter, about 1.4 times a January week, which is cheaper than half term and busy without being frantic. The sun is up until seven, the lift queues are short after lunch, and the mountain restaurants have their terraces out. The question is the snow.
What spring does to the snow
By late March the base is at its deepest, so the problem is not whether there is snow but what it is like. South-facing slopes below about 2,000 m soften by late morning and turn heavy by two; north-facing slopes and anything high stay wintry for most of the day; the runs back to a low village may be thin, slushy or closed. The finder's snow score takes a late-season penalty that grows with each week and falls hardest on low villages, and a glacier halves it. Between 27 March and 3 April the scores drop a few points; by 10 April the low resorts have mostly fallen under 50, and many of them close for the season around then.
The rule for Easter is simple: ski high and north-facing, ski in the morning, and treat the afternoon as part of the holiday rather than lost skiing.
First Easter week: Saturday 27 March
Two intermediate adults and two children of 7 and 10 who have never skied, flying from Gatwick, with the package, lift passes, hire and the children's lessons.
| Resort | Country | A head | Family of four | Snow score | Door to door from London Gatwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bansko | Bulgaria | £1,037 | £4,147 | 57 · Usually fine | 8 h via Sofia |
| Bardonecchia | Italy | £1,042 | £4,166 | 63 · Usually fine | 5.5 h via Turin |
| Sauze d'Oulx | Italy | £1,079 | £4,314 | 55 · Usually fine | 5.5 h via Turin |
| Passo Tonale | Italy | £1,118 | £4,472 | 91 · Very likely | 7 h via Milan Bergamo |
| Alpbach | Austria | £1,215 | £4,861 | 40 · A gamble | 5.5 h via Innsbruck |
| Söll | Austria | £1,235 | £4,941 | 30 · A gamble | 5.5 h via Innsbruck |
| Cervinia | Italy | £1,263 | £5,052 | 91 · Very likely | 6.5 h via Turin |
| Soldeu | Andorra | £1,301 | £5,204 | 64 · Usually fine | 7.5 h via Toulouse |
| Flaine | France | £1,348 | £5,390 | 73 · Usually fine | 5.5 h via Geneva |
| Les Deux Alpes | France | £1,382 | £5,528 | 81 · Very likely | 6 h via Grenoble |
| Morzine | France | £1,400 | £5,598 | 43 · A gamble | 5.5 h via Geneva |
| Alpe d'Huez | France | £1,426 | £5,705 | 73 · Usually fine | 6 h via Grenoble |
| Mayrhofen | Austria | £1,447 | £5,786 | 52 · Usually fine | 5.5 h via Innsbruck |
| La Plagne | France | £1,496 | £5,982 | 79 · Very likely | 6.5 h via Chambéry |
| Les Arcs | France | £1,520 | £6,080 | 72 · Usually fine | 6.5 h via Chambéry |
| Sölden | Austria | £1,525 | £6,101 | 86 · Very likely | 5.5 h via Innsbruck |
| St Anton | Austria | £1,594 | £6,376 | 76 · Very likely | 5.5 h via Innsbruck |
| Val Thorens | France | £1,609 | £6,435 | 100 · Very likely | 6.5 h via Chambéry |
| Tignes | France | £1,641 | £6,562 | 100 · Very likely | 7 h via Chambéry |
| Méribel | France | £1,731 | £6,925 | 61 · Usually fine | 6 h via Chambéry |
| Val d'Isère | France | £1,849 | £7,395 | 100 · Very likely | 7 h via Chambéry |
| Zermatt | Switzerland | £2,108 | £8,433 | 90 · Very likely | 7.5 h via Milan Malpensa |
Two adults (intermediate) and children of 7 and 10 (first week, group lessons), flying from London Gatwick on 27 March. Covers the package (flights, transfers, half board or catered chalet), 6-day lift passes, hire and the children's lessons. Not food. Estimates from 2026/27 brochure bands and published prices; get a live quote.
Second Easter week: Saturday 3 April
Same family, same cover, same price band. Only the snow scores move.
| Resort | Country | A head | Family of four | Snow score | Door to door from London Gatwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bansko | Bulgaria | £1,037 | £4,147 | 51 · Usually fine | 8 h via Sofia |
| Bardonecchia | Italy | £1,042 | £4,166 | 58 · Usually fine | 5.5 h via Turin |
| Sauze d'Oulx | Italy | £1,079 | £4,314 | 51 · Usually fine | 5.5 h via Turin |
| Passo Tonale | Italy | £1,118 | £4,472 | 88 · Very likely | 7 h via Milan Bergamo |
| Alpbach | Austria | £1,215 | £4,861 | 34 · A gamble | 5.5 h via Innsbruck |
| Söll | Austria | £1,235 | £4,941 | 24 · A gamble | 5.5 h via Innsbruck |
| Cervinia | Italy | £1,263 | £5,052 | 89 · Very likely | 6.5 h via Turin |
| Soldeu | Andorra | £1,301 | £5,204 | 61 · Usually fine | 7.5 h via Toulouse |
| Flaine | France | £1,348 | £5,390 | 68 · Usually fine | 5.5 h via Geneva |
| Les Deux Alpes | France | £1,382 | £5,528 | 78 · Very likely | 6 h via Grenoble |
| Morzine | France | £1,400 | £5,598 | 37 · A gamble | 5.5 h via Geneva |
| Alpe d'Huez | France | £1,426 | £5,705 | 71 · Usually fine | 6 h via Grenoble |
| Mayrhofen | Austria | £1,447 | £5,786 | 46 · A gamble | 5.5 h via Innsbruck |
| La Plagne | France | £1,496 | £5,982 | 77 · Very likely | 6.5 h via Chambéry |
| Les Arcs | France | £1,520 | £6,080 | 68 · Usually fine | 6.5 h via Chambéry |
| Sölden | Austria | £1,525 | £6,101 | 83 · Very likely | 5.5 h via Innsbruck |
| St Anton | Austria | £1,594 | £6,376 | 71 · Usually fine | 5.5 h via Innsbruck |
| Val Thorens | France | £1,609 | £6,435 | 100 · Very likely | 6.5 h via Chambéry |
| Tignes | France | £1,641 | £6,562 | 98 · Very likely | 7 h via Chambéry |
| Méribel | France | £1,731 | £6,925 | 56 · Usually fine | 6 h via Chambéry |
| Val d'Isère | France | £1,849 | £7,395 | 100 · Very likely | 7 h via Chambéry |
| Zermatt | Switzerland | £2,108 | £8,433 | 87 · Very likely | 7.5 h via Milan Malpensa |
Two adults (intermediate) and children of 7 and 10 (first week, group lessons), flying from London Gatwick on 3 April. Covers the package (flights, transfers, half board or catered chalet), 6-day lift passes, hire and the children's lessons. Not food. Estimates from 2026/27 brochure bands and published prices; get a live quote.
Which resorts to pick at Easter
- Passo Tonale and Cervinia again lead on value: 88 to 91 for snow in both weeks at £1,118 and £1,263 a head. Tonale's north-facing pass holds its snow; Cervinia's slopes face south but sit at 2,000 to 3,500 m, so the mornings are wintry and the afternoons are the famous long sunny cruise.
- Val Thorens, Tignes and Val d'Isère are the Easter certainties at 98 to 100, and April is when Val Thorens's altitude is worth the money. Tignes and Val d'Isère stay open into May.
- Les Deux Alpes and Sölden sit in the high 70s and 80s on their glaciers, with Les Deux Alpes under £1,400 a head.
- La Plagne is the family resort that holds up best at Easter (77 to 79), thanks to its high villages and the Bellecôte glacier. Les Arcs and Méribel slip under 75 because more of their skiing is lower.
- Söll, Alpbach and Morzine are a gamble in both weeks, and Mayrhofen in the second. Many low Austrian resorts close their lower lifts in the first week of April. Save them for February.
- Bansko, Bardonecchia and Sauze are cheap and "usually fine" rather than reliable: Bardonecchia's north-facing trees help it, Sauze's exposure hurts it.
Skiing spring snow well
- Be on the first lift. Overnight the slush refreezes; by nine it is firm and fast, by eleven it is perfect spring snow, by two it is heavy. Lunch late and long.
- Follow the sun round. East-facing slopes soften first, west-facing last. Ask the ski school which side of the mountain to ski after lunch.
- Check the run home. In a low village the final run to the lifts can be thin or closed by late March; a gondola down is normal and not a failure of the holiday.
- Sun cream and sunglasses matter more than in January. At altitude in April the UV is fierce and the snow reflects it.
- Pre-booked hire in spring: ask for skis waxed for warm snow if you are renting; most shops do it without being asked.
Price your own Easter week. Pick 27 March or 3 April, your airport and your group. The finder weights snow confidence more heavily in shoulder weeks, so the ranking leans towards resorts that will still be skiing well.
Open the finderCommon questions
When are the Easter school holidays in 2027?
Easter Sunday is 28 March 2027. Most English councils break from about 27 March to 11 April, so the ski weeks start on Saturday 27 March and Saturday 3 April. Some councils take the first two weeks of April instead; check your own school.
Is there still good snow at Easter?
In high resorts, yes, and an early Easter like 2027's helps. Above 2,000 m and on north-facing slopes the base is at its deepest in late March. Low resorts below about 1,500 m are the gamble, and the finder marks them as such.
Is Easter cheaper than half term?
Much. Easter is priced at about 1.4 times a January week against 1.9 for half term, which for a family of four is roughly £350 to £600 a head less in the same resort.
Which resorts close in April?
Most low Austrian and Italian resorts and many French ones close in the week after Easter or by mid-April. Val Thorens, Tignes, Val d'Isère, Cervinia, Zermatt, Sölden and Les Deux Alpes run into late April or beyond. Check the lift company's closing date before you book the second Easter week.