Chamonix. Davos. Zermatt. These names are European ski resort royalty.
And while they remain some of the continent's finest spots to play in the powder, there are plenty of lesser-known ski locales in Europe, too.
Some are located in very unexpected places while others are simply tucked away in a corner of a world-famous mountain range:
Bansko, Bulgaria
Skiers have long looked to Eastern Europe for pistes at a portion of the price compared to posh Alpine resorts; Bansko is one of the best.
Located in the heart of Bulgaria's Pirin Mountains, Bansko balances out a romantic cobblestoned village with 14 ski runs that are loaded with all the modern bells-and-whistles. And for those with an appetite for apres ski shenanigans, Bansko is home to a sizzling scene that can compete with any in Europe.
Rauland, Norway
Rauland may only be Norway's fourth largest ski resort, but it is the largest in the country's beloved rustic county of Telemark. Here you will find over 40 slopes for skiers of all abilities and numerous places where you can go off-trail or take to the backcountry.
Rualand goes out of their way to be family-friendly and, while you may not save a ton of cash skiing here (it is Scandinavia, after all), you will get tremendous bang for your buck.
Sainte Foy, France
While this resort may be located in the French Alps-just a snowball's throw from the Italian border-word is just starting to get out about the super skiing here.
Sainte Foy is home to a microclimate that results in winds bringing buckets of snow each year. And if that wasn't enough reason to set off for the slopes, Première Neige-an award-winning British ski vacation operator-focuses exclusively on Sainte Foy.
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