Åre

Åre is the beating heart of Swedish alpine skiing, a compact, sociable town strung along the shore of Åresjön lake below the great dome of Åreskutan. The skiing spreads across several linked sectors, from the terrain rising straight out of the village to the neighbouring areas of Duved and Tegefjäll and the gentle family slopes of Åre Björnen. Above the treeline the mountain opens into wide, exposed pistes that host World Cup racing and have staged the Alpine World Ski Championships, while sheltered forest runs lower down keep skiing going on wild days. The mood is unmistakably that of a real mountain town rather than a purpose-built resort, with a walkable centre, an old railway station and a strong social scene. It feels cosmopolitan by Nordic standards yet stays rooted in Jämtland's fell landscape.

Go for the most complete alpine experience in Sweden: the widest spread of terrain, the steepest challenges in the country and a lively town that keeps going after the lifts close. It suits mixed groups and confident skiers who want variety, as well as families drawn to the gentler linked sectors. Few Scandinavian resorts combine this much on-mountain scale with such a genuine, buzzing village life.

This is high-latitude skiing, so the season is long and cold, with short early-winter days lit by a low northern sun and reliable, dry snow through the heart of the season. The upper mountain is open and exposed, and wind or flat light can close the top and push everyone into the excellent tree-lined runs around the village and Tegefjäll. Deep midwinter brings the most dependable cover, while the lengthening days of spring deliver bright, sociable skiing on softening pistes.