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Indoor skiing sounds like an oxymoron to U.S. skiers—including this writer—but it’s surprisingly popular around the world. Each year sees the debut of more indoor slopes, and the numbers continue to grow. According to the 2023 International Report on Snow & Mountain Tourism, more than 160 indoor snow centers have been built in 36 countries over the past few decades. SnowBrains estimates that 28 percent are in Europe while an impressive 68 percent are located in Asia, mainly in China.
Also Read: What It’s Really Like to Ski Indoors in New Jersey
While the trend hasn’t really caught on in the U.S., where there is currently just one indoor ski area—N.J.’s Big Snow American Dream—one U.S. company aims to change that. Virginia-based Alpine-X is operating under the notion that skiing should be more inclusive and more accessible to more people. The company is currently working to develop indoor ski areas in Virginia and Texas, and is supported by skiers like Bode Miller, who invested in the company and who is taking an active role in seeing to its success.
While the first Alpine-X facility is still a few years from opening, we thought it would be insightful to take a look at the most successful—and quirky—indoor slopes across the globe where, unlike most of in North America, people are skiing year-round.
6 Places to Ski Indoors Around the World
SnowWorld Landgraaf, The Netherlands
- Getting There: The slopes are over two hours from Amsterdam by car or three hours by train
The tiny country of The Netherlands once housed the largest indoor ski resort in the world—a title that’s since been snagged by new properties in China. Regardless, SnowWorld Landgraaf continues to be The Netherlands’ largest indoor ski area, with an impressive 8.6 acres of skiable terrain. That translates to five slopes of varying difficulty, including an FIS-certified race course and a six-person chairlift. Fun fact: There’s an attached hotel, called Alpine Hotel Landgraf, so you can make it a “ski weekend” without ever going outside.
Taicang Alps Resort, China
- Getting There: The resort is located about an hour from downtown Shanghai by car
This snowglobe-in-a-building is one of over a dozen indoor skiing venues in China, where schussing under a roof has really taken off. When it’s fully completed, the multi-phased Taicang Alps Resort is expected to become the world’s largest indoor ski resort and the ultimate one-stop indoor winter destination. Phase 1 of the project included the creation of the Alps Snow Live Ski Resort, which opened in November of 2023, while Phase 2, which was launched in June 2024, aims to secure the title of longest indoor ski slope in the world. At full build out, the Taicang Alps Resort will offer around 5,500 feet of ski terrain, including the record-breaking slope that’s over 2,200 feet long and has a vertical drop of 390 feet. Fun fact: The “Alpine Time” themed experience features a half-mile boat tour and a nightly show for indoor skiers to enjoy.
The Snow Centre, England
- Getting There: The indoor ski area is located northwest of London in the town of Hemel Hempstead. From the city, it’s a one-hour drive or one-and-a-half- hour train ride.
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The most notable aspect of The Snow Centre—other than its proximity to London—is the fact that every ski session comes with a free gear rental, and there’s a dedicated lesson slope so beginners have a separate area to themselves to get their ski legs under them. The main slope is over 500 feet long and almost 100 feet wide. Fun fact: A tube slide offers a fun diversion during ski breaks.
AlpinCenter Bottrop, Germany
- Getting There: The AlpinCenter Bottrop is 45 minutes from Düsseldorf and just over one hour from Cologne by car
Until Taicang’s China in the Alps hits full build-out, Germany’s AlpinCenter Bottrop hangs onto the title of the world’s longest indoor ski slope, at almost 2,100 feet. The most challenging run features a 24 percent pitch and is accessed by a lone chairlift. Just last month, the AlpinCenter debuted a terrain park featuring boxes, rails, and small kickers. Newbies have their own place to learn on the 290-foot beginner slope. Fun fact: If you’ve always wanted to drive a snowcat, AlpinCenter’s Pistenbully Experience lets you get behind the wheel of a snow groomer for two hours of instruction and operation.
Ski Dubai, U.A.E
- Getting There: Ski Dubai is in the Mall of the Emirates in the heart of Dubai, about 20 minutes from the airport
The fact that there are multiple places to strap on skis and schuss down the indoor slopes of Dubai says something about peoples’ fascination with winter—especially those landlocked in the desert landscape of the Middle East. Ski Dubai was the first indoor ski area in the region, and offers one chairlift serving five runs, the longest of which is 1,300 feet and has a 197-foot vertical drop. It’s worth noting that one of the five runs is rated as a black-diamond. We’d be lying if we said we weren’t curious to see how it stacks up to Corbet’s. Fun fact: Ski Dubai has its own penguin colony with an underwater viewing station Take that, Jackson Hole.
Big Snow American Dream, U.S.
- Getting There: Big Snow is only 10 miles due east of Manhattan
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Big Snow is worth mentioning if only because it is the first and currently the only indoor ski facility in North America. It’s located in East Rutherford, New Jersey and is open year-round. The facility is part of the massive American Dream mall, which boasts a water park, ice-skating rink, mini golf, theme park, and more. The slopes comprise three ski trails—two green and one blue—plus, and a freestyle park, a tubing lanes, and snow play area for kids. Oh, and kids 6 and under ski free. Fun fact: There are Sno-Go snow bike rentals available in two-hour blocks, as well as lessons, if needed.