Before you go · The mountains
Ski essentials
The practical things worth knowing before you go, so you can spend your time on the snow.
Updated October 2026
When the lifts open
Each lift company publishes its own season, and opening days depend on the snow. For 2026/27, for example, Courchevel runs from 4 December 2026 to 18 April 2027 and Val d’Isère from 28 November 2026 to 2 May 2027, while Zermatt’s glacier opens as early as 1 November. Each resort guide gives the official dates and a link.
Lift passes
Buy passes from the lift company or the resort’s own website. Many sell online ahead of time, and prices vary with the period of the season. We print prices only when the resort publishes them, with the season.
Entry rules for Europe
The EU Entry/Exit System is in operation: non-EU visitors are registered with fingerprints and a photo at the Schengen border. ETIAS, the travel authorisation, is not yet in operation; use only the official EU website (travel-europe.europa.eu) and never pay unofficial sellers.
Safety on the mountain
Stay on marked pistes unless you are with a qualified guide, read the resort’s avalanche information, and in the EU call 112 in an emergency.
Season dates, prices and rules change: check with the lift company and official sources before you travel.