Where to Ski And Snowboard - Summer skiing starts across Europe

Summer skiing starts across Europe

24th May 2021, by Abi Butcher

Europe's largest skiable area on a glacier, in Les 2 Alpes, opens this weekend, 29-30 May

Ski areas in Italy and France are opening for the summer skiing season, for many the first time their lifts have turned in 2021.

On Monday 17 May, Italy’s Council of Ministers cleared ski lifts to begin operating again and on Wednesday (26 May), Breuil-Cervinia will reopen, with the Plan Maison cable car and three Plan Maison, Fornet and Bontadini chairs starting up for skiers on the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise that Cervinia shares with Zermatt.

On Saturday, 29 May, Madesimo will open lifts in the Lei Valley until Wednesday 2 June, then for the weekends of 5-6 June and 12-13 June for “exceptional spring” conditions. Passo Stelvio also opens for the summer on 29 May, but is likely to remain open for six months.

In France, La Clusaz and Les Gets both opened spontaneously last weekend (23-24 May), offering 1,000 skiers free access to a piste or two, to make the most of some fresh spring snow.

Looking forwards, skiing on the biggest skiable glacier in Europe opens this weekend (29-20 May) in Les Deux Alpes and then again 5/6 and 12/13 June and the Grande-Motte Glacier in Tignes/Val d’Isére will reopen for summer skiing on 19 June.

Switzerland’s Crans-Montana has such good conditions it has extended its closing date on the Plaine Morte glacier until 6 June, so long as the snow stays good.

While it’s currently difficult – if not impossible – for British leisure skiers to take a summer ski holiday in the Alpes, all is not lost. Things are changing all the time with the EU Digital COVID Certificate (EUDCC) system coming online in June and coming into force on 1 July.