Prodinger: Ski pass prices 2027 compared - skiing costs around 16 euros per hour
10/November/2026
The “Leisure Activities Price Comparison 2027” compares the costs of different sports and leisure activities on an hourly basis.
The debate about rising ski pass prices continues as we head into the 2026/27 winter season. Day tickets costing over 80 euros regularly make headlines. However, a recent analysis by the Prodinger tourism consultancy shows that when considering not just the daily price but the actual duration of use, the picture becomes much clearer.
The "Leisure Activities Price Comparison 2027" compares the costs of various sports and leisure activities on an hourly basis. An average of five hours of active use is assumed for a day of skiing. With a ski pass price of 81 euros, this results in approximately 16 euros per hour.
For comparison: According to the survey, an hour of bowling costs around 25 euros, golf around 31 euros, horseback riding about 50 euros, and a visit to a thermal spa around 15 euros per hour. Climbing costs between 6 and 14 euros per hour, depending on the specific facility, and tobogganing with a mountain ascent costs around 18 euros per hour.
Even with current day ticket prices in some ski resorts exceeding 80 euros, the calculated price for five hours of slope use is less than 20 euros per hour.
The high absolute daily price is therefore only partially comparable to the price of shorter leisure activities. The duration of use is also crucial. While some leisure activities are designed for one to three hours, a ski pass grants access to an entire ski area for a large part of the day.
“Of course, 80 euros or more for a day ticket seems like a high price at first glance. However, for a fair discussion, it’s important to consider how many hours of experience, infrastructure, and services are included. Compared to other leisure activities, skiing on an hourly basis is by no means exceptionally expensive,” says Thomas Reisenzahn, Managing Director of Prodinger Tourism Consulting.
In addition, the ski pass represents a particularly capital- and personnel-intensive infrastructure: cable cars and lifts, snowmaking, slope preparation, safety, energy, personnel and ongoing investments must be financed over a comparatively short winter season.
The absolute price of a day pass is rising – however, a look at the price per hour of skiing paints a more nuanced picture. In comparison to other leisure activities, skiing, at around €16 per hour, is in the middle range and sometimes significantly cheaper than other sports and leisure options.
