In the ski industry, the arrival of the month of May marks the end of the ski season: even high-altitude resorts close their doors and say goodbye until the following season. In this bleak scenario where ski resorts shut down and temperatures rise day by day, die-hard skiers risk being left high and dry…
But there is no need to worry, because despite the mass closures there are several ski areas that hold out until the very end, offering open lifts and slopes even during this late-spring month.
In this article we point out the best ski destinations for skiing in May:
Skiing in Austria
Austria is the homeland of skiing and could not fail to be our top choice among the best destinations for skiing in May, with as many as 7 resorts open in May. This extensive ski offering is due to the presence of numerous glaciers on Austrian territory which, thanks to perennial snow, allow great skiing throughout spring and beyond.
Sölden
The World Cup glacier will be open until May 8, 2016, the last available day for skiing; thanks to recent snowfalls, skiing will be possible in excellent conditions.
> official website
Pitztal Glacier
A lesser-known but very fascinating glacier, it is the highest in Tyrol and together with Kaunertal forms the Tyrolean Glacier Park; here the ski season will continue until May 8, 2016.
> official website
Mölltaler Glacier (Carinthia)
Located in the Hohe Tauern National Park, the Mölltaler Glacier is the last ski area in the Carinthia region to close its doors; it is not far from the Italian border and offers skiing in excellent snow conditions until May 8.
> official website
Stubai (May 29)
Stubai has always been one of the premier spring ski destinations; here the snow lasts until late in the season and you can ski in winter conditions even in May, with the lift closing date set for May 29.
> official website
Kaunertal Glacier (May 29)
This Austrian glacier offers about 21 km of slopes with a maximum altitude of 3100 meters. The slopes of the Kaunertal Glacier will be open until the end of May, more precisely with the last day of skiing set for May 29, 2016.
> official website
Kitzsteinhorn (Salzburg) (July 24)
It is the most important glacier in the Salzburg region and one of the main glaciers in Austria; here the ski season will continue non-stop until the end of July, more precisely July 24, 2016. Snow conditions are excellent and will allow great skiing throughout the entire month of May.
> official website
Hintertux (always open)
The Hintertux Glacier never closes and is the only ski resort where you can ski 365 days a year without ever stopping. The Austrian glacier will not only allow enthusiasts to ski all spring long, but will also be one of the few ski areas open in summer.
> official website
Skiing in Switzerland
Like Austria, Switzerland can also count on glaciers and high-altitude resorts, although here the number of ski destinations open in May drops to 4; it is worth noting the significant absence from the list of Saas-Fee, which closes during the spring months to let the glacier rest before resuming ski operations ahead of summer.
Zermatt – Cervinia
The ski season in Zermatt never stops and you can ski without problems throughout the month of May thanks to the slopes of Plateau Rosà. Moreover, recent snowfalls have allowed Cervinia to extend its lift operations, making it possible to ski on the Italian side as well during the weekends of May 7-8, 14-15, and 21-22.
> official website
Titlis (May 22)
The fantastic Titlis glacier is another ski destination you can rely on for skiing in May, with lifts open until the 22nd.
> official website
Diavolezza (May 22)
The ski season in the Engadine keeps going thanks to the Diavolezza Glacier, where you can ski without problems until May 22.
> official website
Glacier 3000
Famous for its suspension bridge connecting the two peaks of the glacier, this ski area offers about 20 km of skiable slopes until May 8.
> official website
Skiing in France
France can count on two glaciers where you can also ski in summer, Tignes and Les 2 Alpes; for the month of May, only Tignes will be open.
Tignes
The Tignes ski area will remain open until May 8, after which the glacier will close ahead of its summer reopening scheduled for mid-June. As always, snow conditions are excellent at this time of year.
> official website
Les 3 Vallées
The vast Les 3 Vallées ski area will remain open until May 8, when the season will officially come to a close. Recent snowfalls have breathed new life into the ski area, which can still count on over 120 km of open slopes.
> official website
Skiing in Italy
Unlike Austria and Switzerland, in the month of May you can ski in only two Italian ski resorts; among these is Val Senales, open until May 8, a ski destination that until a few years ago was also open during the summer months.
Cervinia
Thanks to recent snowfalls, the Cervinia lift company has decided to extend the season beyond the official closing date; skiing will be possible on the Italian side of the Matterhorn during the May weekends of 7-8, 14-15, and 21-22.
> official website
> official website
Val Senales
The Val Senales glacier will be the last South Tyrolean ski resort to close its doors, with lifts and slopes open until May 8 in good snow conditions.
> official website
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