Mountain towns, ranked
Where to base yourself for the good stuff — scored on skiing, hiking, vibe, value and how much of a faff they are to reach. No sponsored fluff, just where we'd actually go.
10 towns · scored on skiing, hiking, vibe, value and how easy they are to reach.
Chamonix
“The mountaineering capital of the world. It knows it.”
Zermatt
“Car-free, Matterhorn-front, wallet-flattening.”
Queenstown
“The adventure capital of the world, and it never lets you forget.”
Banff
“Rockies grandeur, inside a national park.”
Cortina d'Ampezzo
“The Dolomites' glamorous heart, dressed to impress.”
Innsbruck
“A proper city with ski lifts out of the tram.”
Fort William
“Ben Nevis out the window, rain in the forecast.”
Keswick
“The Lake District's perfect hiking basecamp.”
Aviemore
“Scotland's ski town, when the snow shows up.”
Betws-y-Coed
“Eryri's stone-built gateway, waterfalls included.”
Know where to go?
Browse the actual routes — ranked by epicness, wildness and effort.
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