By James Whitfield · Last updated: October 2026 · 12 min read
In This Guide
- Quick Facts: Epic and Ikon Pass Resorts in Europe (2026/27)
- Which European resorts are on the Epic Pass for 2026/27?
- Which European resorts are on the Ikon Pass for 2026/27?
- Is the Epic or the Ikon Pass better for Europe?
- Which airport should you fly into?
- How do you get to Zermatt on an Ikon Pass?
- Ischgl and Kitzbühel: Munich or Innsbruck?
- How far are Verbier, Crans-Montana and Andermatt from the airport?
- How do you reach the Austrian Epic resorts?
- Dolomites, Aosta Valley and Andorra
- Do you need to pick up a lift card in Europe?
- How do consecutive days change your arrival plan?
- Book your transfer to an Epic or Ikon resort
- Frequently Asked Questions
Ten European destinations are on the Epic Pass for 2026/27 and nine are on the Ikon Pass, and every one of them is reached by road from a European airport. The shortest transfers are Mayrhofen on Epic, about 1h 05min from Innsbruck Airport, and Chamonix on Ikon, about 1h 15min from Geneva Airport. Most of the rest sit between about 1h 15min and 3h from the nearest big airport.
This guide lists every European Epic and Ikon destination for 2026/27 with its day allowance, the airport to fly into, the drive and the private transfer price. The pass rules come from the two official pass sites, read in October 2026. The drive times and prices come from our own route pages.
Quick Facts: Epic and Ikon Pass Resorts in Europe (2026/27)
| Question | Short Answer |
|---|---|
| How many European destinations are on the Epic Pass? | Ten: two owned by Vail Resorts in Switzerland, eight partners |
| How many are on the Ikon Pass? | Nine, each with 7 days on the Ikon Pass and 5 on the Ikon Base Pass |
| Which Epic resorts are unlimited? | Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis and Crans-Montana |
| What is new on Epic for 2026/27? | Zillertal Arena, Hochzillertal, Hochfügen and Spieljoch join Mayrhofen and Hintertux |
| Shortest transfer on either pass? | Mayrhofen, about 1h 05min from Innsbruck Airport |
| Which transfers run over 3 hours? | Zermatt from Zurich Airport (~3h 45min), Val Gardena from Munich Airport (~3h 50min), Verbier from Zurich (~3h 15min) |
| Do Ikon days in Europe need a reservation? | No. For 2026/27, Ikon reservations apply only at three North American resorts |
| Can you use the Epic mobile pass at a partner lift? | No. It works only as proof of your pass at the ticket window |
Sources: epicpass.com Europe and Zillertal pages, ikonpass.com destinations, access details and how-to-use pages, all read October 2026; TransferBnB route pages, October 2026.
Which European resorts are on the Epic Pass for 2026/27?
Ten destinations, and Austria has half of them.
Vail Resorts owns two Swiss resorts, Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis and Crans-Montana, and the Epic Pass gives unlimited days at both. The other eight are partners, each with a fixed number of days and, at most of them, a rule that the days run back to back. Here is each one with the airport we would fly into and the drive from it:
| Epic destination | Days on the Epic Pass | Nearest big airport | Drive | Private transfer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis, Switzerland | Unlimited (5 on Epic Local) | Zurich | 124 km, 1h32 | Quote on request |
| Crans-Montana, Switzerland | Unlimited (5 on Epic Local) | Geneva | ~181 km, ~2h 15min | From €225 per vehicle |
| Verbier 4 Vallées, Switzerland | 5 consecutive | Geneva | ~160-171 km, ~1h 50min | From €210 |
| Les 3 Vallées, France | 7 consecutive | Geneva or Lyon | ~179 km, ~2h 15min to Courchevel from Geneva | From €225 |
| Skirama Dolomiti, Italy | 7 consecutive | Verona | 176 km, 2h10 to Madonna di Campiglio | Quote on request |
| Zillertal, Austria | 5 consecutive across six areas | Innsbruck | ~75 km, ~1h 05min to Mayrhofen | From €125 |
| Sölden, Austria | 5 | Innsbruck | ~83 km, ~1h 20min | From €180 |
| Saalbach and Zell am See-Kaprun, Austria | 5 across the area | Salzburg | ~90 km, ~1h 30min to Saalbach | From €160 |
| Silvretta Montafon, Austria | 5 | Innsbruck or Zurich | 140 km, about 1h 30min from Innsbruck | Quote on request |
| Ski Arlberg, Austria | 3 consecutive, partner lodging required | Innsbruck | ~100 km, ~1h 20min to St Anton | From €190 |
Sources: epicpass.com Europe and Zillertal pages (days, October 2026); TransferBnB route pages (drive and price, October 2026); resort and Montafon tourist office pages (Andermatt, Madonna di Campiglio, Montafon).
Read the days column before the drive column. Andermatt and Crans-Montana are the only places where the pass doesn't ask you to plan around a count, and Ski Arlberg is the only one that asks you to book a participating lodging first.
Zillertal changed the most this year. The Epic Pass page lists Mayrhofen, Hintertux, Zillertal Arena, Hochzillertal, Hochfügen and Spieljoch for 2026/27, with 5 consecutive days shared across the valley and no lodging requirement. Most lists you'll find still name only Mayrhofen and Hintertux.
Which European resorts are on the Ikon Pass for 2026/27?
Nine destinations, and the rule is the same at every one.
The Ikon Pass gives 7 days at each European destination and the Ikon Base Pass gives 5. The Ikon Session Pass gives none. Several destinations bundle neighbouring ski areas into one allowance: Ischgl shares its days with Samnaun across the Swiss border, and Kitzbühel shares them with Kirchberg and Mittersill. The list, with the airport and the drive:
| Ikon destination | Days (Ikon / Base) | Nearest big airport | Drive | Private transfer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamonix Mont-Blanc Valley, France | 7 / 5 | Geneva | ~88 km, ~1h 15min | From €150 per vehicle |
| Megève, France | 7 / 5 | Geneva | 90 km, about 1h 15min | Quote on request |
| Zermatt Matterhorn, Switzerland | 7 / 5 | Geneva | ~220 km, ~2h 45min to Täsch | From €385 |
| St. Moritz, Switzerland | 7 / 5 | Zurich | ~215 km, ~3h | From €520 |
| Ischgl, Austria | 7 / 5 | Innsbruck | ~100 km, ~1h 30min | From €200 |
| Kitzbühel, Austria | 7 / 5 | Innsbruck or Munich | ~100 km, ~1h 25min from Innsbruck | From €190 |
| Dolomiti Superski, Italy | 7 / 5 | Innsbruck for Val Gardena, Venice for Cortina | 115 km, 1h21 to Val Gardena | Quote on request |
| Valle d'Aosta, Italy | 7 / 5 | Geneva for Courmayeur, Turin for Cervinia | 112 km, about 1h30 to Courmayeur | Quote on request |
| Grandvalira Resorts Andorra | 7 / 5 | Barcelona | ~203 km, ~2h 50min to Andorra la Vella | Quote on request |
Sources: ikonpass.com destinations and access details pages (days and shared areas, 26/27, read October 2026); TransferBnB route pages (drive and price, October 2026); resort pages for Megève, Val Gardena and Courmayeur.
Read it as two groups. Chamonix, Megève, Ischgl and Kitzbühel are all within about 1h 30min of an airport, while Zermatt, St. Moritz and Andorra each cost you most of an afternoon on the road.
Kitzbühel is an Ikon resort, not an Epic one. It's worth saying because the two passes get mixed up for Tyrol, where Epic has Zillertal and Sölden and Ikon has Ischgl and Kitzbühel.
Is the Epic or the Ikon Pass better for Europe?
It depends on where you want to ski.
The Ikon Pass is simpler. Every European destination gets the same 7 or 5 days with no blackout dates, according to Ski Mag's April 2026 breakdown, and that's easy to plan around a holiday week. Its list leans to the famous names: Zermatt, Chamonix, St. Moritz, Kitzbühel, the Dolomites.
The Epic Pass is better if you're going to Austria or want unlimited skiing. Andermatt and Crans-Montana have no day count at all, and five of its ten European destinations are Austrian. The catch is the fine print: consecutive days at most partners, and a lodging booking at Ski Arlberg.
Here's how to decide by trip:
- One week, one famous resort? Either pass works. Pick the one that has your resort and check the transfer from its airport in the tables above.
- Two resorts on one trip? Ikon makes it easier, because every stop gets its own 7 days. Chamonix and Courmayeur sit either side of the Mont Blanc tunnel.
- A long stay in Switzerland? Epic, for unlimited days at Andermatt or Crans-Montana.
- A Tyrol trip with the family? Epic, for Zillertal and Sölden, both under 1h 30min from Innsbruck Airport.
Which airport should you fly into?
The one closest to your resort, not the one closest to Europe.
Four airports do most of the work. Geneva Airport serves Chamonix, Megève, Verbier, Crans-Montana, Zermatt and Les 3 Vallées. Zurich Airport serves Andermatt and St. Moritz. Innsbruck Airport is the nearest for Ischgl, Kitzbühel, Zillertal, Sölden and St Anton, and Salzburg Airport for Saalbach, Kaprun and Zell am See.
Munich Airport is the big alternative for Tyrol and Salzburgerland, usually half an hour or more further from each resort than Innsbruck. That trade only makes sense when the flight saves you more than the extra drive costs. Our guide to which airport to fly into for the Austrian Alps works through that choice, and the French Alps airport guide does the same for Geneva, Lyon and Chambéry. For any resort not on either pass, our nearest-airport table for every Alpine ski resort has the rest.
A long-haul landing and a mountain road make a poor combination for a hire car.
Land at Geneva at 09:00 after an overnight flight and the drive to Verbier is under two hours, but it ends on hairpins with snow on them. Land at 21:00 after a missed connection and it's the same road in the dark. A private transfer meets you at arrivals in both cases, tracks the flight if it's late, and loads the ski bags once.
How do you get to Zermatt on an Ikon Pass?
By car to Täsch, then by shuttle train.
Zermatt is car-free, and the road ends at Täsch, 6 km below the village. A private transfer from Geneva Airport takes about 2h 45min to Täsch and starts from €385 per vehicle on our Geneva Airport to Zermatt route. From Täsch, the shuttle train takes 12 minutes into Zermatt.
Zurich Airport is the longer option, about 245 km and 3h 45min, from €680 on our Zurich Airport to Zermatt route. Fly to Geneva if the flights are close in price.
Zermatt's Ikon days are valid from 1 November to 30 April, per the Ikon access details. It is also the one Ikon destination where the transfer is as much a part of the plan as the flight.
Ischgl and Kitzbühel: Munich or Innsbruck?
Innsbruck is closer to both.
Ischgl is about 100 km and 1h 30min from Innsbruck Airport, from €200 per vehicle, against about 200 km and 2h 15min from Munich Airport, from €235. Kitzbühel is about 100 km and 1h 25min from Innsbruck, and about 166 km and 1h 55min from Munich Airport, from €190 either way.
Be careful with the Munich figure. Many guides quote 127 km from Munich to Kitzbühel, but that's from the city. Munich Airport sits north of the city, and from the terminal it's about 166 km. Our Munich Airport to Kitzbühel route and Innsbruck Airport to Ischgl route show both drives.
An Ikon Pass holder can ski both on one trip, because each destination has its own 7 days. Ischgl and Kitzbühel are in different valleys, so moving between them is a transfer of its own.
How far are Verbier, Crans-Montana and Andermatt from the airport?
About 2h 15min or less for all three, if you pick the right airport.
Verbier is about 1h 50min from Geneva Airport, from €210 per vehicle on our Geneva Airport to Verbier route. Zurich is about 280 km and 3h 15min, from €720, so it only makes sense if Zurich is the flight you already have.
Crans-Montana is about 181 km and 2h 15min from Geneva Airport, all in Switzerland, from €225 on our Geneva Airport to Crans-Montana route. With unlimited Epic days, it's the resort where a long stay pays off best.
Andermatt is the one to fly into Zurich for: 124 km and 1h32 by road. It's the other unlimited Epic resort, and the shortest Swiss transfer on either pass.
How do you reach the Austrian Epic resorts?
Mostly from Innsbruck, and mostly in under 1h 30min.
Zillertal is the easiest. Mayrhofen is about 75 km and 1h 05min from Innsbruck Airport, from €125 per vehicle on our Innsbruck Airport to Mayrhofen route, and Hintertux is about 1h 25min, from €185. With six areas on the pass this winter, pick your base village by the airport drive and ski the valley from there. Our Hintertux Glacier guide covers the far end of the valley.
Sölden is about 83 km and 1h 20min from Innsbruck, from €180 on our Innsbruck Airport to Sölden route, against 2h 15min to 3h from Munich.
Saalbach and Zell am See-Kaprun share one 5-day allowance and are Salzburg Airport resorts. Saalbach is about 1h 30min away, from €160 on our Salzburg Airport to Saalbach route; Zell am See is about 1h to 1h 15min, from €150.
Ski Arlberg needs a hotel booking before it needs a transfer. St Anton is about 1h 20min from Innsbruck, from €190, or about 2h from Zurich, from €180; our St Anton airport guide compares them.
Silvretta Montafon is in Vorarlberg, at the western end of Austria. The Montafon tourist office gives Innsbruck Airport as 140 km and about 1h 30min, Zurich as 170 km and about 2h, and Friedrichshafen as 100 km and about 1h.
Dolomites, Aosta Valley and Andorra
These are the Ikon destinations where the airport choice changes by village.
Dolomiti Superski shares its Ikon days across 11 areas, including Cortina d'Ampezzo and Val Gardena, and they're valid from 15 November to 15 April. Val Gardena is 115 km and 1h21 from Innsbruck, or about 3h 50min from Munich Airport on our Munich Airport to Selva di Val Gardena route. Cortina is closer to Venice, at 149 km and 1h57.
Valle d'Aosta covers Courmayeur, Cervinia, La Thuile, Monterosa Ski and Pila, valid from 1 November 2026 to 31 May 2027. Courmayeur is 112 km and about 1h30 from Geneva through the Mont Blanc tunnel, and Cervinia is 120 km and 1h34 from Turin.
Grandvalira in Andorra is about 203 km and 2h 50min from Barcelona Airport by road, on our Barcelona Airport to Andorra route. Andorra has no railway station, so the road is the way in.
On the Epic side, Skirama Dolomiti is the Brenta Dolomites around Madonna di Campiglio, 176 km and 2h10 from Verona.
Do you need to pick up a lift card in Europe?
At Epic partner resorts, yes; at most Ikon resorts, no.
Epic partner resorts don't scan the My Epic mobile pass at the lift. You take your physical Epic Pass card, or the app as proof of your pass, plus photo ID, to a ticket window and get a local lift card. In Zillertal that card carries a €2 refundable deposit, and in Les 3 Vallées you can collect it in Courchevel, Méribel, Les Menuires, Val Thorens and other villages.
Ikon holders can go straight to the lift at Chamonix, Kitzbühel, Zermatt and St. Moritz, per Ski Mag. Grandvalira needs a ticket window exchange, and Dolomiti Superski asks every skier to carry proof of liability insurance. No European Ikon resort needs a reservation for 2026/27.
Ask your driver to drop you near the ticket office if you're collecting a card on day one.
How do consecutive days change your arrival plan?
They make the arrival day matter.
Verbier, Les 3 Vallées, Skirama Dolomiti, Zillertal and Ski Arlberg all give their Epic days as an unbroken run. A run that starts on a half day after a long flight loses you most of a day, so plan the first full ski day as the day you start it. A transfer that lands you at the resort in the early afternoon leaves the rest of that day for boot fitting and the ticket window.
The Alps also move on a weekly rhythm. Across much of the range, rentals turn over on Saturday, and the roads are at their busiest then. Our guide to changeover Saturday in the Alps shows how to time the flight around it.
Book your transfer to an Epic or Ikon resort
The pass gets you on the lift; the transfer gets you to it. Post your trip on TransferBnB and verified local carriers send you offers for your dates, your group and your ski bags, and you choose the one you want. Start from the Geneva Airport transfer page for Chamonix, Verbier, Crans-Montana, Zermatt and Les 3 Vallées, or the Innsbruck Airport transfer page for Ischgl, Kitzbühel, Zillertal, Sölden and St Anton. For the full picture of skiing from each airport, read our complete guide to ski transfers in Europe.
AI-generated images.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which European resorts are on the Epic Pass for 2026/27?
Ten. Vail Resorts owns Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis and Crans-Montana in Switzerland, with unlimited days on the Epic Pass. The partners are Verbier 4 Vallées, Les 3 Vallées, Skirama Dolomiti, Zillertal, Sölden, Saalbach and Zell am See-Kaprun, Silvretta Montafon and Ski Arlberg, each with a fixed number of days, from 3 at Ski Arlberg to 7 at Les 3 Vallées and Skirama Dolomiti.
Which European resorts are on the Ikon Pass for 2026/27?
Nine: Chamonix Mont-Blanc Valley, Megève, Zermatt Matterhorn, St. Moritz, Ischgl, Kitzbühel, Dolomiti Superski, Valle d'Aosta and Grandvalira Resorts Andorra. Each gives 7 days on the Ikon Pass and 5 on the Ikon Base Pass, and none is on the Ikon Session Pass.
Is the Epic or Ikon Pass better for skiing in Europe?
Ikon is simpler: the same 7 or 5 days at every European destination with no blackout dates, and the famous names, including Zermatt, Chamonix and St. Moritz. Epic is better for Austria and for long stays, with unlimited days at Andermatt and Crans-Montana, but most of its partners require consecutive days and Ski Arlberg requires a partner hotel booking.
What is the closest airport to an Epic or Ikon resort in Europe?
Innsbruck Airport to Mayrhofen in the Zillertal is the shortest, about 75 km and 1h 05min, and Mayrhofen is on the Epic Pass. On the Ikon Pass, Chamonix is about 88 km and 1h 15min from Geneva Airport. A private transfer on either route starts from about €125 and €150 per vehicle.
How do I get from the airport to Zermatt?
Zermatt is car-free, so a private transfer from Geneva Airport drives about 2h 45min to Täsch, 6 km below the village, and the shuttle train takes 12 minutes from there. From Zurich Airport the trip is about 3h 45min. Transfers start from €385 per vehicle from Geneva and €680 from Zurich.
Is Kitzbühel on the Epic Pass?
No. Kitzbühel is on the Ikon Pass, with 7 days on the Ikon Pass and 5 on the Ikon Base, shared with Kirchberg and Mittersill. In Tyrol, the Epic Pass has Zillertal and Sölden instead. Kitzbühel is about 1h 25min from Innsbruck Airport and about 1h 55min from Munich Airport.
Do I need to pick up a lift ticket to use my Epic Pass in Europe?
Yes, at the partner resorts. The My Epic mobile pass cannot be scanned at their lifts, so you take your physical Epic Pass card or the app as proof, plus photo ID, to a ticket window and get a local card. In Zillertal that card carries a €2 refundable deposit. Plan the first morning around the ticket office.
Which Zillertal resorts are on the Epic Pass?
Six for 2026/27: Mayrhofen, Hintertux, Zillertal Arena, Hochzillertal, Hochfügen and Spieljoch. Epic Pass holders get 5 consecutive days in total across them, valid from 1 October 2026 to 15 May 2027, with no lodging requirement. Mayrhofen is about 1h 05min from Innsbruck Airport.
Sources and Data
- Epic Pass, Europe: European destinations and day allowances on each pass, 2026/27.
- Epic Pass, Europe is Epic: partner conditions, Ski Arlberg lodging and the mobile pass rule, 2026/27.
- Epic Pass, Zillertal: the six areas, 5 consecutive days, the deposit and the validity dates, 2026/27.
- Epic Pass, Les 3 Vallées: 7 consecutive days and the ticket offices, 2026/27.
- Ikon Pass, destinations: the nine European destinations and the days on each pass, 26/27.
- Ikon Pass, access details: shared areas and access dates, 26/27.
- Ikon Pass, how to use your pass: the 26/27 reservation resorts, 2026.
- Ski Mag, Which Season Pass Offers the Best Alps Access?: direct-to-lift resorts, Grandvalira and the Dolomiti Superski insurance rule, April 2026.
- Montafon tourist office: airport distances and drive times, 2026.
- TransferBnB route pages for Zermatt, Chamonix, St. Moritz, Ischgl, Kitzbühel, Verbier, Courchevel, Mayrhofen, Sölden, Saalbach and St Anton: distance, drive time and starting price, October 2026.
- TransferBnB, every Alpine ski resort by nearest airport: Andermatt, Megève, Val Gardena, Cortina, Courmayeur, Cervinia and Madonna di Campiglio road distances, from resort pages, 2026.
Related Articles
- Airport Transfers to Ski Resorts: Complete 2026/27 Guide - every Alpine gateway airport.
- Every Alpine Ski Resort by Nearest Airport - the resorts not on either pass.
- Which Airport for the Austrian Alps? - Munich, Salzburg or Innsbruck.
- Airline Ski Bag Fees for Winter 2026/27, Ranked - what the flight charges for your skis.
