Sweden Is Home to the World’s Only Ski-Through McDonald’s
At most ski resorts, grabbing lunch means unclipping your skis, stomping through snow in heavy boots, and paying premium prices for cafeteria food. In western Sweden, however, skiers can simply glide straight up to a McDonald’s window, place an order, and ski away with fries in hand.
McSki, located on Lindvallen slopes at the Sälen ski area, is widely recognized as the world’s only ski-through McDonald’s. Instead of a drive-thru lane designed for cars, the restaurant features a service hatch built directly onto the piste.
A McDonald’s Built for the Slopes
McSki is situated at SkiStar Lindvallen, one of four major ski resorts in the Sälen mountains of western Sweden, about 200 miles northwest of Stockholm. The area is known for family-friendly skiing, gentle terrain, and long winter seasons.
The restaurant first opened in 1996 and operates only during ski season. When the snow melts, McSki closes until winter returns.
Instead of parking spaces, ski racks line the exterior. Inside, the design leans more toward a lodge than a chain restaurant, with wood paneling, warm lighting, and large windows overlooking the slopes. The interior dining area can seat roughly 140 people, but many customers prefer to stay outdoors and keep moving.
How the Ski-Thru Works
It’s a simple concept, really; skiers slide up to the outdoor ordering window, place their order in full gear, and collect their food before heading back onto the run.
The menu at this location mirrors that of other McDonald’s locations in Sweden. That includes Big Macs, cheeseburgers, fries, nuggets, and McFlurries, along with McCafé staples like hot chocolate and coffee. Swedish-specific items, such as the McVegan burger, falafel sides, sweet potato fries, and cinnamon buns, also appear seasonally.
Prices are comparable to standard Swedish McDonald’s locations, which often surprises visitors expecting inflated resort food costs.
A Global Curiosity
Image via Canva/Yuganov Konstantin
McSki exists because the setting itself does the work. The brand stayed the same, while the environment changed completely. The contrast has helped McSki thrive long past its novelty phase. Skiers recognize the menu instantly, and the familiarity can feel comforting after hours in freezing temperatures.
In recent years, social media has amplified McSki’s reputation. Videos of skiers ordering burgers while still wearing their skis routinely rack up thousands of views, especially on TikTok and Instagram.
SkiStar officials have noted a sharp rise in international visitors, including a significant increase in English-speaking tourists during recent winter seasons, with McSki frequently cited as one of the reasons people add Sälen to their travel plans.