Après ski is one of the best euphemisms currently in use in the English language. By borrowing a phrase from French, we've somehow managed to elevate the concept of slopeside beers into something slightly more elegant-sounding. More recherché.
Of course, après can be classy. But at the other end of the scale it also doesn't have to stop at just a few slopeside beers. These days, you can have a full-blown rave and call it après—as anyone who's visited the Folie Douce bars in Val d'Isère, Val Thorens, or anywhere else in the French Alps can testify.
"Ironically, given that they borrow the word from their alpine cousins, it's the Austrians who generally do après the best"
The French chain takes the concept après to its illogical conclusion—complete with spandex-clad saxophonists, go-go dancers and regular spraying of the crowd with champagne. But ironically (given that they also borrow the word from their alpine cousins) it's the Austrians who generally do après the best.
There's something about the combination of lethally-strong schnapps, massive steins of beer, and schlager music (the kind of accordion-powered Austrian folk that sits perfectly over a thumping house beat) that's just intoxicating. Even in normally-quiet Austrian resorts, it's not uncommon to see locals stripped to the waist and dancing on the tables in ski boots from about 3PM onwards.
Of course, there are cheaper places to embrace après—Andorra and the Pyrenees are often a good bet, and the best resorts in Eastern Europe will almost always beat Austria on price. But if you're looking for the loosest, most entertaining experience, we reckon places like St. Anton, Ischgl and Mayrhofen are still the best resorts for après ski. After all, if you've not sung yourself hoarse to the oompah remix of Country Roads, have you really even been to après?
The Best Resorts for Après Ski
St. Anton, Austria
If après ski were an Olympic sport, St. Anton would have a cabinet full of gold medals. This is the resort that arguably defined the modern Alpine party scene—and it shows no signs of slowing down. The action kicks off early, often before the lifts have even stopped spinning. Slopeside institutions like the MooserWirt and Krazy Kanguruh fill up fast, with skiers dancing on tables in ski boots while Euro-pop blares across sun-soaked terraces. It’s chaotic, unapologetic, and incredibly good fun.
What makes St. Anton special is the seamless transition from mountain to village. You can ski straight into the heart of the party, and from there it’s a short stumble to a seemingly endless selection of bars and clubs. Nights here tend to be long—and mornings occasionally regretful.
Crucially, the skiing backs it up. Part of the vast Arlberg area, it offers serious terrain for advanced skiers, meaning you can justify the excess. Most of the time.
Read our full resort review of St. Anton for the lowdown.
Mayrhofen, Austria
Mayrhofen has always had a slightly rebellious edge—and nowhere is that more evident than in its après scene. It’s loud, lively, and just a little bit chaotic in the best possible way.
The legendary Ice Bar sits right at the base of the Penken lifts, making it almost impossible to avoid. By mid-afternoon, it’s heaving—pints sloshing, music pumping, and crowds spilling out onto the snow. From there, the party moves into town, where places like Brück’n Stadl keep things going well into the early hours.
There’s a youthful energy here, fuelled in part by events like Snowbombing, which transforms the resort into a full-blown music festival each spring. Even outside festival weeks, that same anything-goes vibe lingers.
The skiing is varied, with everything from cruisy blues to the infamous Harakiri—Austria’s steepest piste. It’s a resort that caters to a broad crowd, but après is the common denominator.
Read our Mayrhofen resort review for more details.
Val Thorens, France
At 2,300 metres, Val Thorens is the highest resort in Europe—and quite possibly one of the most relentless when it comes to après ski. The altitude doesn’t just guarantee snow; it seems to amplify the party.
The local branch of the Folie Douce is the obvious focal point. Perched high on the mountain, it combines live music, DJs, and theatrical performances with a crowd that’s more Ibiza than Alps. By the time you ski down, the party is already in full swing—and it rarely slows from there.
Back in the resort, places like the subterranean club Malaysia—which boasts a genuinely world class soundsystem—keep the energy high, drawing an international crowd that’s here as much for nightlife as for skiing. The purpose-built nature of Val Thorens helps too—everything is close, and nowhere feels too far when you’re hopping between venues.
As part of the vast Three Valleys, the skiing is exceptional, with near-endless terrain to explore. The resort prides itself on its freeriding too, hosting a stop on the Freeride World Tour. But at the same time, plenty of people come here with the après uppermost in mind. And Val Thorens doesn't disappoint.
Read our resort review of Val Thorens for more info.
Alpe d’Huez, France
Alpe d’Huez might be best known for its sunshine—300 days a year, if you believe the marketing—but it’s what happens after skiing in that sunshine that really counts.
The Folie Douce here is one of the liveliest in the Alps, drawing crowds onto its terrace for high-energy performances and late-afternoon dancing. Down in resort, the après scene is equally strong, with venues like Smithy’s Tavern offering a more international, pub-style take on the party. And for the past few years, Alpe d'Huez has played host to the biggest rave in the Alps: Tomorrowland Winter, which attracts an incredible 22,000 ticket-holders each March.
Outside of Tomorrowland time, there a slightly more laid-back feel compared to Val Thorens—still lively, but less relentless. It’s the kind of place where you can go big if you want to, or keep things relatively civilised with a few drinks in the sun.
The skiing is expansive too, with 250km of pistes and the legendary Sarenne run—a 16km descent that’s as much a journey as a ski run. But if that sounds too long, don't worry, there's a bar where you can stop for beers half way down.
Read our full review of Alpe d'Huez for more info.
Kronplatz, Italy
Kronplatz is one of the most Austrian resorts in Italy—and for good reason. It sits in the German-speaking Süd-Tirol region, which was once part of the the country to the north. As well as the language, this resort seems to have absorbed a healthy dose of Austrian après culture, albeit with an Italian twist.
The mountain itself is perfectly shaped for large gatherings on the slopes. It's basically a single dome, with almost all the lifts taking you back to the top, where the best of the action happens. Places like the LUMEN rooftop terrace offer panoramic views alongside well-crafted cocktails—hardly your standard plastic-cup experience.
Down at the bottom, Kronplatz is just a stone's through away from Bruneck—a decent sized town that has proper venues. It's maybe not quite as mad as some of the biggest Austrian resorts, but if you like to alternate your schnapps shots with the occasional spritz in the sun, this is a great place to come. 
Ischgl, Austria
Ischgl doesn’t do things by halves. This is a resort that has built its brand on big skiing and even bigger parties—and it delivers both with unapologetic flair. The après scene here is slick, high-energy, and often surprisingly upscale. The Trofana Alm is a standout, drawing crowds straight off the slopes for dancing that quickly escalates from lively to full-blown mayhem. Later, places like Pacha (yes, that Pacha) keep the party going into the early hours.
What really sets Ischgl apart, though, are its Top of the Mountain concerts. These huge open-air events have hosted global superstars, turning the resort into something closer to a festival than a ski destination. The skiing is equally impressive, with a large, high-altitude area that links into Switzerland. It’s snow-sure, well-connected, and perfectly set up for long days on the mountain.
In Ischgl, the line between skiing and partying is blurred almost beyond recognition—and that’s exactly the point.
Read our full resort review of Ischgl for more info.
