Why Norway Is Europe’s Best-Kept Skiing Secret

It’s easy to see Norway’s appeal as a ski destination, with its endless empty slopes, serene birch forests and long, snow-sure seasons. There are direct flights from the UK and many major European cities – and you can stay in a luxurious cabin too. 

Though Norway is not the first destination that springs to mind when planning a winter-sports break, word is getting out about this Nordic hotspot. The number of skiers there has doubled since the pandemic, according to the Ski Club of Great Britain – helped by increasing activity by tour operators such as Crystal Ski. The depreciation of the Norwegian krone against sterling over the past five years has made the country significantly more affordable for British skiers – with passes now better value than in the big Alpine resorts. And several emerging Norwegian ski stations are seeing increased investment in infrastructure.

Those familiar with the Norwegian scene will know about Geilo, a resort 222km northwest of Oslo that’s a year-round playground for local skiers. Some of the most appealing cabins in Norway are to be found in this historic town, which has been attracting families since the railway arrived here in 1909. Many are passed down through the generations, and those available to rent often come with private chefs and saunas. 

The 2023-24 ski season in Norway was the best for many years, according to local instructors, and Geilo is placed 20th out of 64 global resorts in the latest Savills Ski Resilience Index. Plans are afoot to improve the facilities, with new lifts, base areas, restaurants and accommodation to serve growing demand. 

Another option is Kvitfjell, a resort developed for the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, with some of the best-quality slopes in Europe. Just a 2½–hour train ride from Oslo, it hosts FIS Ski World Cup races every year, and its 34km of slopes offer plenty of opportunities for adventure. As well as the fearsomely steep Olympiabakken run, Kvitfjell has two gentler slopes that are ideal for families, two terrain parks, cross-country trails and a freeride skiing area, the Powder Wood.

A well-kept secret among Norwegians – the double Olympic ski gold medallist Aksel Lund Svindal owns a large cabin there – Kvitfjell is now being appreciated by a wider audience, with the number of ski visitors rising by 43% over the past two seasons. In the summer, too, it’s a joy to behold: the meadows, lakes and waterfalls are a haven for hikers, bikers, fishermen and kayakers. The green-turf roofs of the cabins blend seamlessly with the wildflower meadows and the slopes are dotted with sheep. 

It’s no longer easy to find a new-build ski-in, ski-out property in the Alps – especially in Switzerland, where there has been a moratorium on the construction of new second homes in most resorts since 2016. In Kvitfjell, however, you can buy a luxury apartment with double-height ceilings and custom-made furniture on a coveted sunny slope. Constructed by LHM Group, which builds traditionally crafted cabins across Norway and the US, Svartskard comprises 16 open-plan apartments with underground parking, making them the ideal lock-and-go mountain home. Prices start at £602,451 for a three-bedroom property.

For those who dream of a cosy cabin, standalone hytte in the exclusive Laftestølen area start at £733,000. With space for a hot tub on the deck, bespoke fireplaces and staircases, parquet flooring and elegant contemporary light fittings, the four- and five-bedroom homes offer every modern comfort. Under the eaves are roomy sleeping nooks with pocket shelves and reading lights – ideal for children.

Prices per square metre here are considerably lower than in top-tier ski resorts, so it’s perhaps no surprise that foreign buyers have accounted for 38% of LHM Group’s sales in 2024. “As additional facilities, restaurants, bars and lifts are installed in Kvitfjell, an increasing number of overseas buyers are discovering the pure beauty of the region,” says Jeremy Rollason, head of Savills Ski. “We believe it offers medium- to long-term investment potential for lovers of winter sports and the natural environment.” Since 2017 there has been about £55m of investment in Kvitfjell, with a further £30m expected by 2030.

All of this makes Kvitfjell one of the most desirable resorts in Norway for overseas buyers, according to Hallvard Klingen, a licensed real-estate broker in Oslo. “As well as the favourable currency rate, you have some of Norway’s best alpine slopes in a resort with essentially no queues,” he says. “Kvitfjell is exceptionally well planned, with pistes on three sides of the valley and its abundance of ski-in, ski-out tracks. And there are authentic restaurants dotted around the resort, so you are never short of a scenic spot to stop for lunch or a hot chocolate – much like the vibe you have in the Alps.”

For mountain lovers and winter-sports enthusiasts, it really does seem like the perfect time to visit Norway.

This article features in Portfolio: The Ski Edition, you can request a digital and printed copy of the magazine here.

JEREMY ROLLASON, HEAD OF SAVILLS SKI
JRollason@savills.com