If you feel like getting away from it all this winter, then an option for you might be right under you knows. Manchester Airport has flights out to over a dozen popular ski resorts around Europe.
The trip could tie in a city break to a famous European city, such as Geneva or Munich, with some fun winter sports. Manchester Airport has a bigger route network than any airport outside London but the number of destinations it serves actually goes up over the winter months to more than 200.
With all of this in mind, here are 13 stunning European spots you can escape to. Details on all including how to book flights can be found through the Manchester Airport website.
1. Salzburg
Salzburg is the closest major airport to Zell-am-See, a picture-perfect ski retreat in the Austrian Alps. Its slopes boast breathtaking views over Lake Zell and the villages that dot its shoreline, while the town itself, a playground for the aristocracy in the Victorian era, offers plenty to keep you busy when you want a break from skiing. Jet2.com, TUI and Ryanair will take you from Manchester to Salzburg.
2. Geneva
This Swiss city on the French border is ideally located for accessing some of Europe’s most prestigious ski resorts. More than a dozen are within an hour’s reach, including the world-renowned Chamonix-Mont Blanc and Morzine, as well as Avoriaz, one of the continent’s most popular spots for snowboarding. For passengers looking to get their trip underway in style, Ethiopian Airlines offers a direct service to Geneva from Manchester complete with award-winning hospitality and a complimentary baggage allowance for ski trips of 23kg in economy and 32kg in business class. Other airlines serving Geneva include easyJet, Jet2.com and TUI.
3. Chambery
Much like Geneva, the city of Chambery in south-eastern France is also a gateway to the resorts of the French Alps, but ski enthusiasts heading here might be looking a little further to the south, at hotspots including Val d’Isère and Le Revard, one of the best cross-country skiing areas in southern Europe. Jet2.com and TUI both serve Chambery from Manchester.
4. Innsbruck
Innsbruck offers perhaps some of the most accessible skiing in all of Europe – a cable car takes you from the city centre itself to the top of Seegrube mountain in under 20 minutes. The nearby resorts of Seefeld and Mayrhofen are very popular with beginners – many of their slopes are open, gentle and uncrowded. easyJet, Jet2.com and TUI fly to Innsbruck from Manchester.