Oldest Ski Resorts in the World 2026

    Ranks resorts by founding year, year of first ski lift and historical milestones. The benchmark for heritage-led ski trips and Olympic-host visits.

    Filter and sort

    ResortCountryRegionFoundedFirst liftAge (yrs)Heritage note
    ChamonixFranceAlps17411924285First Winter Olympics 1924. Cradle of mountaineering since 1741.
    ZermattSwitzerlandAlps18551942171Mountaineering capital since Matterhorn first ascent (1865).
    DavosSwitzerlandAlps18641934162First sled tow 1934 (Bolgen). Davos hosts WEF; ski tourism since 1864 (Brit visitors).
    St. MoritzSwitzerlandAlps18641935162Birthplace of winter tourism. Hosted Winter Olympics 1928 + 1948.
    ÅreSwedenScandinavia18821940144Sweden's first ski resort — first tourists arrived by train 1882. World Cup since 1985.
    Holmenkollen (Oslo)NorwayScandinavia18921916134Holmenkollen Ski Festival since 1892 — world's oldest ski competition.
    WengenSwitzerlandAlps18931893133Wengernalpbahn (1893) — world's first railway built for skiing.
    KitzbühelAustriaAlps18931928133Hahnenkamm Race since 1931 — most prestigious downhill on World Cup.
    St. Anton (Arlberg)AustriaAlps19011937125Hannes Schneider's Arlberg Technique founded modern alpine skiing.
    Cortina d'AmpezzoItalyAlps190319251231956 + 2026 Winter Olympics host. Cortina Star Race since 1932.
    GeiloNorwayScandinavia19091935117Norway's first dedicated ski resort. Bergen-Oslo railway access since 1909.
    MürrenSwitzerlandAlps19101910116First British ski school. Inferno Race since 1928 — world's oldest amateur downhill.
    MegèveFranceAlps19161933110Rothschild family founded as French answer to St. Moritz (1916).
    Nozawa OnsenJapanAsia19241948102Japan's first foreign ski instructor (Hannes Schmidt) arrived 1930.
    La MolinaSpainPyrenees19251943101Spain's oldest ski resort. First chairlift in Spain (1943).
    Val d'IsèreFranceAlps1932193694Killy / Goitschel home resort. Criterium de la Première Neige since 1955.
    StoweUSANorth America1933193793Mount Mansfield single chair — oldest continuously operating ski area in USA.
    SestriereItalyAlps1934193492World's first purpose-built ski resort (Agnelli/Fiat family).
    Banff SunshineCanadaNorth America1934194292First lift at Mount Norquay (1942). Sunshine added 1934 as ski camp.
    Garmisch-PartenkirchenGermanyAlps19361926901936 Winter Olympics + Kandahar Race since 1928.
    Sun ValleyUSANorth America1936193690World's first chairlift (Proctor Mountain, December 1936).
    Akakura OnsenJapanAsia1937193789Japan's first ski lift (1937). Hannes Schneider taught here 1930.
    AltaUSANorth America1939193987Collins lift opened January 1939 — second oldest US ski lift. Skiers only.
    Mont TremblantCanadaNorth America1939193987Joe Ryan's vision — oldest ski resort in Eastern Canada.
    AspenUSANorth America1946194780Lift 1 — world's longest single chair on opening day 1947.
    Mad River GlenUSANorth America1948194878Original 1948 single chair still operates — only one in USA. 'Ski It If You Can'.
    Baqueira-BeretSpainPyrenees1964196462Founded by Luis Arias. Spanish royal family's home resort.
    WhistlerCanadaNorth America1966196660Opened as London Mountain. Hosted 2010 Winter Olympics.
    Sapporo TeineJapanAsia1972197254Built for 1972 Winter Olympics. Japan's first Winter Games.

    The Alps invented ski tourism

    Modern ski tourism is a Swiss invention. British tourists arrived in Davos and St. Moritz in the 1860s seeking tuberculosis cures and stayed for winter sport. Mürren's Inferno Race (founded 1928) is the world's oldest amateur downhill, and the Wengernalpbahn (1893) is the first railway built specifically to carry skiers. Chamonix hosted the inaugural Winter Olympics in 1924, and St. Anton's Hannes Schneider codified the Arlberg Technique that became the foundation of modern alpine skiing.

    America's lift revolution

    The world's first chairlift opened at Sun Valley, Idaho in December 1936 — an Union Pacific Railroad invention by James Curran, who adapted banana-loading cranes from Honduras docks. Alta opened its Collins lift in 1939, Aspen's Lift 1 set the record for longest single chair on opening day 1947, and Mad River Glen's 1948 single chair still operates today — the only original-era single chair lift in commercial use in the USA.

    Italy's purpose-built first

    Sestriere (1934) was the world's first purpose-built ski resort — commissioned by the Agnelli family (Fiat) to create an Italian rival to St. Moritz. Its twin cylindrical hotels became the architectural template for Avoriaz, La Plagne and other post-war French purpose-built resorts. Cortina d'Ampezzo hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics and returns as 2026 host alongside Milan — a 70-year arc unmatched in modern Olympic skiing.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    It depends on definition. As a mountain tourism destination, Chamonix (founded 1741 as a mountaineering village) is oldest. As a documented ski resort with lift infrastructure, Mürren and Wengen (both 1893, Switzerland) are the earliest. The first purpose-built ski resort is Sestriere, Italy (1934). The first chairlift opened at Sun Valley, Idaho in December 1936.

    Sun Valley, Idaho — December 1936. Designed by James Curran (Union Pacific Railroad engineer) by adapting Honduras banana-loading cranes to carry skiers up Proctor Mountain. Sun Valley's original chairlift design was replicated worldwide and became the standard for modern ski-lift infrastructure within 5 years.

    The Holmenkollen Ski Festival in Oslo, Norway has run annually since 1892 — the world's oldest continuously held ski competition (initially Nordic ski jumping). For alpine racing, Mürren's Inferno Race (founded 1928) is the world's oldest amateur downhill race and still draws 1,800+ competitors annually.

    Most original venues remain active resorts. Chamonix (1924), St. Moritz (1928 + 1948), Garmisch-Partenkirchen (1936), Cortina d'Ampezzo (1956 + 2026), Squaw Valley/Palisades Tahoe (1960), Sapporo Teine (1972), Lake Placid (1932 + 1980), Calgary/Nakiska (1988) all continue full operations. Cortina returns as a 2026 Olympic co-host with Milan.

    Mad River Glen in Vermont, USA — its original 1948 single chair lift still operates as the only original-era single chair in commercial USA service. Alta (Utah) still operates the 1939 Collins lift footprint. Mürren's Allmendhubel funicular (1912) is the world's oldest continuously operating ski-resort uphill transport.

    Cross-reference with our mountain restaurants ranking, biggest ski areas and longest ski seasons.