International (Europe/Japan/Southern Hemisphere) When (not) to ski in Europe in the 2024-2025 season

[Cheizz]

Every year, the Dutch Wintersports Federation publishes this overview of the busiest weeks in the Alps (based on school holiday and travel industry data). Here's the summary overview:



DUI = Germany, OO = Austria

Here's the original article in Dutch: https://www.wintersport.nl/weblog/20/02/2024/drukke-weken-wintersportseizoen-20242025

 

[Bolder]

Here are the French school vacations through 2026...beware Zone C (Paris) weeks!

https://www.vacances-scolaires-education.fr/

 

[Noodler]

That is an absolutely massive drop-off after March 8th. Any idea why?

 

[fatbob]

No schools on holiday. Then by Easter most families don't bother.

 

[James]

Here are the French school vacations through 2026...beware Zone C (Paris) weeks!

https://www.vacances-scolaires-education.fr/

I’ve been maybe 7 times only during the Paris school week in Feb to the French speaking part of Switzerland. It can definitely get crowded. Advanced skiers have more options but still have gauntlets at times.

I’ve taken to downloading if I’m ending during the lunacy time at the end of the day. Very nice.

 

[skiace84]

Mardi Gras explains the peak week of March 1-8. Why are so many Germans out Feb. 1-8? Most years the crunch doesn't start until the next week.

 

[Cheizz]

A few big German regions (13% of all germans) have school holidays then.

Anywhere outside German-speaking places (i.e. France, western Italy, western Switzerland) you'll be fine. Germans rarely go there.