Top 10 European Ideas for Winter Destination Dupes

From skis to snowboards to sleigh bells—there are trending winter getaways that cost 70 percent less than iconic European destinations.

For example, a weekend of skiing in Bulgaria costs just over $200, about 70% less than in Switzerland, according to a November 2026 report on winter travel savings. This newly released study by the online luggage shop Eminent reveals the top 10 winter bucket-list experiences that cost far less at a lesser-known destination.

The research examined popular winter experiences to identify where travelers can save the most by choosing a cheaper destination over a famous one. Each activity was priced in both places for a two-day trip for one adult, covering the experience itself, a hotel night, meals, and round-trip local transport, with international flights excluded. Google reviews were used to confirm that the cheaper options offered a comparable experience. The costs were then compared to see how much less each lesser-known destination charges, revealing which winter bucket list items are worth swapping for a lower price.

Here’s a look at the 10 winter experiences where a cheaper destination saves the most:

1. Winter mountain cable car ride

• Weekend cost at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise: $712
• Weekend cost at Kasprowy Wierch: $188
• Cable car ticket: $128 compared with $33
• Hotel night: $290 compared with $103
• Round-trip transport: $237 compared with $29

Riding a cable car up a snowy mountain doesn’t have to be an expensive experience. A weekend at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in Switzerland costs a traveler more than $700, but the same vacation at Poland’s Kasprowy Wierch comes to roughly $188, which is 74% less. Ratings are close too, with 4.7 on Google for the Swiss mountain and 4.5 for the Polish one, each backed by more than 2K reviews. For anyone chasing a snowy summit view, Poland offers it for about a quarter of the cost.

2. Horse-drawn sleigh ride

Horse-drawn sleigh rides come next, with a weekend in Zakopane, Poland, costing 71% less than one in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The Polish trip comes to about $177, against $606 in the Swiss resort. The ride itself costs $33 instead of $90, but the bigger savings show up at the hotel, where a night runs $92 compared with $25. Both places hold the same 4.6 rating on Google, so the cheaper sleigh ride is no step down.

3. Skiing

Skiing is another winter bucket list item, and Bulgaria’s Bansko turns out to be the budget answer to Zermatt. A ski weekend in Bansko comes to about $215 compared with $734 in Switzerland, more than 70% in savings. The lift pass costs $63, whereas Zermatt asks $150, and the hotel night is $78 instead of $290, the biggest savings of the whole trip. Quality doesn’t look like a trade-off either. Bansko has gathered more than 7K Google reviews and holds a 4.6 rating, close to the 4.8 Zermatt has earned from 520 reviews.

4. Snowboarding and snowmobiling

Snowboarding comes fourth, with a weekend in Georgia’s Gudauri costing 69% less than one in Aspen, Colorado. The whole trip comes to about $184 in Gudauri, while Aspen’s bill reaches $602. The biggest saving comes from the day on the slopes, which costs $250 in Aspen, more than five times the $45 charged in Gudauri. Hotels are way cheaper too, with a night at $90 against $277. Gudauri also earns a 4.6 rating from nearly 4.7K Google reviews, right alongside Aspen’s 4.7.

5. Winter hiking

Winter hiking is another activity where Zakopane wins, this time costing 67% less than Grindelwald in Switzerland. A hiking weekend in the Polish town comes to about $184, compared with $553 at the Swiss destination. The activity itself is priced at $40 instead of $90, and a hotel night is $92 rather than $240. Getting to Grindelwald and back also costs $165, whereas Zakopane takes about $29. Hikers seem happy with the swap, as Zakopane holds a 4.8 rating on Google, a little above Grindelwald’s 4.7.

A travel consultant from Eminent commented on the study: “Winter trips in the Alps cost more because the whole country is expensive, not just the lift ticket. According to Eurostat, a standard restaurant and hotel basket costs about 71% more in Switzerland than the EU average. Bulgaria sits at the other end, with prices nearly half the EU average.

“That’s why the same winter day can feel like two different trips, even when the snow and the views are similar. Hotels, restaurants, and taxis in lower-cost countries charge what local wages and rents allow, and visitors benefit from that.”