18 best places to ski in Switzerland
Did you know that Switzerland is the birthplace for winter sports? Yes, Switzerland is one of the best places to have your skiing/snowboarding holiday.
It’s full of picture-perfect villages and mountain sceneries to enjoy. Other sceneries melt away in comparison to what Switzerland has to offer. In addition to this, Swiss hospitality is the best there is. The terrain is first class and the mountain cuisine is more than delicious – your taste buds will thank you.
But before you up and leave for the snowy Swiss mountains, it’s important that you get all your facts right. For planning purposes, you should know how you’ll get there, where you’ll stay, the best ski resorts to visit for the best experience and how much the entire trip will cost you. Figuring all this out beforehand will ensure you have a great time.
Unfortunately, doing all this research on your own can be hectic and at times even impossible. For this reason, we’ve compiled a guide to help you get the best of everything while skiing in Switzerland.
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Best ski resorts in Switzerland - Quick find navigation
Verbier
Parsenn
St Moritz
Villars
Mürren
Jungfrau
Zermatt
Wengen
Saas-Fee
Adelboden/Lenk
Laax/Flims/Falera
Val d’Anniviers
Engelberg
Crans-Montana
Champéry
Rinderberg Gstaad
Grindelwald
Arosa Lenzerheide
Top 18 best ski resorts in Switzerland
Note: this list of thje best ski resorts in Switzerland is in no particular order. Every ski resort made into the list based on its uniqueness. Your choice of which to choose ultimately boils down to your needs and preference. But that doesn’t mean one is necessarily better than the other (and if one is indeed better than the rest, we’ll let you be the judge of that).
Verbier ski resort
Key stats
- Mountain Top – 3330 m
- Mountain Low – 821 m
- Mountain elevation – 2509 m
- Beginner slopes – 107 km
- Intermediate slopes – 202 km
- Difficult slopes – 103 km
- Night skiing – yes
- Snowpark – yes
- Snow cannons – no
Best known for: Verbier is best known for its awesome nightlife, night skiing, and versatile slopes. The resort has a beginner, intermediate, and expert slopes that cater to everyone regardless of their skiing abilities.
Aprés ski rating - 4/5: Verbier is a party town. It’s apres ski reputation precedes it. And actually, its nightlife comes close to beating its skiing experience. Verbier has 12 bars. These bars have great DJs and music. Speaking of music, you’ll appreciate the fact that it’s not excessively loud. You can always hear each other speak. If you please, you can go all night without getting bored.
Off ski activities: If you are not skiing, Verbier has a lot of activities you can indulge in. Some of these activities include helicopter sightseeing, fitness retreat on the mountains with great views, paragliding, snowshoeing, rock, and ice climbing, sledding and spending your day at the spa.
How to get there: Verbier is located only 167 km from the Geneva International Airport. It takes about 2 1/3 hours to get to Verbier by road and 3 hours by rail. The closest airport to Verbier is Sion Airport which is 61 km away. By road, an airport transfer will take only 1 hour 10 minutes. However, this airport has fewer flights.
Parsenn ski resort
Key stats
- Mountain Top – 2844 m
- Mountain Low – 810 m
- Mountain elevation – 2509 m
- Beginner slopes – 17.3 km
- Intermediate slopes – 60.5 km
- Difficult slopes – 17.7 km
- Ski routes – 6.3 km
- Ski lifts – 18
- Snow Park – No
Best known for: Parsenn is famous for its wide slopes with runs that feature scattered traditionally styled huts. It has slopes for all skiers (beginners, intermediate, and expert). On the mountain are 15 restaurants that will attend to your every culinary wish.
And last but not least, it has the longest run. The run was discovered in 1895 by 4 English tourists.
It’s also perfect for families and persons into cross country skiing.
Aprés ski rating - 4/5: Before you hit the adrenaline filled valley run, you should pop into the Scheebar Total to relax under the palm trees. Once you’ve had enough of the palm trees, you can take the party down to the valley in Davos and Klosters. In Davos, the bar options are so many. You can keep partying all night. In Klosters, try the Gotschnabar and Gaudy’s Grastroechni umbrella bar.
Off ski activites: The off ski activities in Parsenn include ice hockey, ice skating, speed skating, winter walking, curling, wall climbing, indoor tennis, hang gliding and swimming.
How to get there: The nearest airport to this resort is St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport. The two are only 116 km apart. By road, it will take 1 hour and 37 minutes and by train, it will take 2 hours 30 minutes depending on the departure times.
St Moritz ski resort
Key stats
- Mountain Top – 3022 m
- Mountain Low – 1720 m
- Mountain elevation – 1302 m
- Beginner slopes – 42 km
- Intermediate slopes – 79 km
- Difficult slopes – 34 km
- Ski routes – 8 km
- Ski lifts – 24
- Snow park – yes
Best known for: St Moritz has diverse ski slopes. The slopes cater to beginners, intermediate and experts. And with so many restaurants, it’s perfect for families and kids. Last but not least, the trail journey from Zermatt is breathtaking.
Aprés ski rating - 3/5: The apres ski starts on the snowy slopes. The best spots include Alpina Hutte and Schirm Bar. In the town below, there are other lively bars including the Pitz De Tsechna. This bar has live music. The nightlife is good given the wide selection of nightclubs, casino, and cozy bars.
Off ski activities: If you are not on the slopes skiing or snowboarding, you can go snowshoeing, curling, ice skating, playing squash or indoor tennis. In addition to these activities, you could also go sight-seeing on helicopter rides, paragliding or sleigh rides.
How to get there: St. Moritz is only a few hours away by train or car from Milan and Zurich. Zurich airport is 229 km away while the Milan Malpensa Airport is 251 km away which translates to.
Villars ski resort
Key stats
- Mountain Top – 2120 m
- Mountain Low – 1224 m
- Mountain elevation – 896 m
- Beginner slopes – 43 km
- Intermediate slopes – 38 km
- Difficult slopes – 3 km
- Ski lifts – 25
Best known for: Though it has slopes for all skiers, experts have quite a short slope to run on. For the beginners and intermediates looking to advance their skiing skills, there’s the option of two ski schools. This makes it even great for kids. In addition to the school, there are care centers that offer half day or full day care to kids up to 7 years.
More to this, it has a great view overlooking the Rhone valley.
Aprés ski rating - 3/5: There are a variety of apres ski bars to choose from. These include Murphy’s Le Petit Chalet and L’Arrivée.
Note: the action is in the town and not the mountain.
Off ski activities: Aside from skating, you can enjoy any one of the below off ski activities as you won’t be on the slopes all day:
- Paragliding
- Bowling
- Fitness club
- Museums
- Indoor swimming
- Indoor ice skating
How to get there: You can get to Villars by road or train from Geneva airport which is 120 km away. You can also get to it from Sion airport which is 61 km away.
Mürren
Key stats
- Mountain Top – 2970 m
- Mountain Low – 796 m
- Mountain elevation – 2197 m
- Beginner slopes – 19 km
- Intermediate slopes – 23 km
- Difficult slopes – 9 km
- Ski routes – 3 km
- Ski lifts – 16
Best known for: Murren is right in the middle of the breath-taking scenery. There are slopes for experts, beginners, and intermediate skiers. More to this, the resort is family friendly. Kids between 3 and 5 years can take classes at the informal ski school. Kids can learn how to ski in a fun way.
Aprés ski rating - 2/5: You can bring your day to an end in Gondelbar or one of the mountain huts. The apres ski atmosphere is calm and dignified. However, it’s not the best we’ve seen. We doubt you’ll party all night.
Off ski activities: Other activities aside from skiing and snowboarding include curling, ice skating, fondue evening, wellness, mountain biking, tobogganing, and winter walking.
How to get there: The closest airports to Murren ski resort are Zurich and Bern Airport. Getting to Murren from these airports involves traveling by rail or road to Lauterbrunnen and catching a cable car ride to Murren.
Jungfrau
Key stats
This is a ski region consisting of 4 ski resorts. The resorts are:
- Kleine Scheidegg – Grindelwald
- Meiringen – Hasliberg
- Schilthorn – Murren
- First – Grindelwald
- The slopes are 200 km long
- The vertical length of the slopes is 2000 m
- The longest run is 15 km
- Ski lifts – 47
Best known for: This region is known for its panoramic views and versatile slopes perfect for the beginner, expert, and intermediate skiers. The area is great for families and kids as well courtesy of the ski school available. There are also guided custom guided tours available lasting for 8 days.
Aprés ski rating - 4/5: There are many places you can unwind after a long day on the slopes. The party can start at the Tipirama. You can also choose to celebrate in the cozy apres ski huts along the runs to Wengen and Grindelwald.
Off ski activites: Aside from skiing and snowboarding, you can also go Paragliding and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Alps and valleys, go on a romantic trail walk with your loved one or join a ski school
How to get there: You can drive to this region from Bern Airport. It’s only 69 km away and 1 hour and 3 minutes away by road. You can also drive from airport Basel, which is 173 km away.
Zermatt
Key stats
- Mountain Top – 3899 m
- Mountain Low – 1562 m
- Mountain elevation – 2337 m
- Beginner slopes – 75 km
- Intermediate slopes – 220 km
- Difficult slopes – 27 km
- Ski routes – 38 km
- Ski lifts – 53
Best known for: Zermatt has more than 200 km of slopes with sufficient lifts to serve them. These slopes are perfect for intermediates, experts and families. On the slopes, you are treated to breathtaking panoramic views of the Alps.
Aprés ski rating - 4.5/5: You should expect loads of lively and fun Apres and parties in Zermatt. The live music and drinks are more than welcoming. Some of the best Apres to try out include Hennu Stall, Cervo, Pollux bar, Papperla pub, and Harry’s ski bar.
Off ski activities: While in Zermatt, you can also go ice skating, curling, swimming, and winter hiking. Moreover, you can take a helicopter ride and enjoy the view or go and relax at the spa.
How to get there: The nearest airport is Geneva which is only 230 km away (2 hours and 40 minutes away by road. By train, you’ll take about 3 hours and 50m minutes.
Wengen
Key stats
- Mountain Top – 2320 m
- Mountain Low – 944 m
- Mountain elevation – 1376 m
- Beginner slopes – 33 km
- Intermediate slopes – 56 km
- Difficult slopes – 13 km
- Ski lifts – 24
Best known for: This resort is a beautiful, calm and serene village located in one of the scenic areas in the Swiss Alps. The ski area is linked to Grindelwald and has a variety of ski terrains perfect for intermediates, beginners and experts alike. It’s amenities including restaurants and bars reel in middle-aged couples and young families. There are also a couple of ski schools where your kids can learn to take their firsts steps.
Aprés ski rating - 2.5/5: The Apres ski starts on the slopes with several venues which bring life to the slopes with live music and DJs. The nightlife is more of chic lounges and comfy café bars. There are also a couple of nightclubs you can unwind in.
Off ski activities: You could also go curling and ice skating, tobogganing, go swimming or take a steam bath. More to this, you can enjoy winter walking and a movie in the cinema.
How to get there: The closest airports to Wengen are Zurich and Bern. By road, it’ll take you about two hours from Zurich. By train, it’ll take 3 hours.
Saas-Fee
Key stats
- Mountain Top – 3573 m
- Mountain Low – 1800 m
- Mountain elevation – 1773 m
- Beginner slopes – 20 km
- Intermediate slopes – 60 km
- Difficult slopes – 20 km
- Ski routes – 5 km
- Ski lifts – 16
Best known for: Saas-Fee is known as one of the best family-friendly resorts in Switzerland. It has nursery slopes and many flat slopes for beginners to get started on. There are also loads of ski schools that run supervised training and activities for kids. The slopes are also great for intermediate and expert skiers. The slopes are snow sure throughout the winter season and the scenery is impeccable.
Aprés ski rating -3/5: The party crowd is well catered to by the Saas-Fee ski resort. If you are looking to have a good time with half the noise nightclubs have, the bars in the upmarket hotels are perfect. However, you should prepare to pay a premium for these.
Off ski activites: There’s a lot to do in Saas-Fee aside from skiing and snowboarding. You could opt to go winter walking, snowshoeing, ice climbing, gorge adventure, tobogganing and enjoy a day at one of the spas.
How to get there: The nearest airport to Saas-Fee is Sion airport which is only 78 km away. By road, this is approximately a 1 hour 30 minutes’ drive.
Adelboden/Lenk
Key stats
- Mountain Top – 2200 m
- Mountain Low – 1260m
- Mountain elevation – 1072 m
- Beginner slopes – 46 km
- Intermediate slopes – 34 km
- Difficult slopes – 6 km
- Ski lifts – 23
Best known for: Adelboden ski resort is known as one of the most loved ski resorts. The resort is located amidst beautiful Alpine scenery. The resort has an old and rustic charm to it. It’s popular with families given its many family-oriented facilities including in-house childcare. The slopes are perfect for beginners and intermediate skiers.
Aprés ski rating - 2/5: There are some little joints with occasional DJs and live music. The Arte Lounge and Time Out Pub are the most popular in the area.
But even with these joints, you shouldn’t expect to be partying all night.
Off ski activities: Aside from the slopes, this resort has loads of activities and attractions including wellness and beauty spas, hotel pools and sports centers with wall climbing, bowling, curling and ice skating rinks.
How to get there: The nearest airports are Bern, Basel, and Zurich which are 70 km, 160km, and 180 km away. By road, Bern is only 45 minutes away.
Laax/Flims/Falera
Key stats
- Mountain Top – 3018 m
- Mountain Low – 1100 m
- Mountain elevation – 1918 m
- Beginner slopes – 88 km
- Intermediate slopes – 81 km
- Difficult slopes – 19 km
- Ski routes – 36 km
- Ski lifts – 28
- Snow park – yes
Best known for: The resort has long and extensive slopes perfect for intermediate, beginner and expert skiers. In addition to this, many people love it for its panoramic views from the top slopes. And given it has a ski school, it’s the perfect place for kids to learn ski basics.
Aprés ski rating - 4/5: At Laax/Films/Falera, there is something for everyone looking to unwind after a hard day on the slopes. Some of the Apres ski joints you should try out include crap bar Laax, Legna bar, and Tegia Larnags. You will party till late in the night.
Off ski activities: You can enjoy winter treks which will take about 2 hours. You can also visit the Mirasteilas observatory or visit Parc la Mutta and the Yellow House.
How to get there: The resort is about 13/4 hours from Zurich airport by road. Unfortunately, Laax doesn’t have a train travel option.
Val d’Anniviers
Key stats
In Val d’Anniviers, there are 3 ski resorts. These resorts include Grimentz, Saint Luc, and Vercorin.
- The largest ski resort has 100 km of slope
- The highest slope extends to 3,025 m
- The largest slope has 19 ski lifts
- They all have slopes for beginners, intermediate and expert skiers.
Best known for: It is known for its slope diversity. The slopes can accommodate skiers of all levels. Additionally, there are ski schools to help kids and beginners get a hang of the basics pretty fast. At high altitudes, the view of the valley below and the horizon is breathtaking
Aprés ski rating - 2/5: Unfortunately, the nightlife here isn’t exciting. Val d’Anniviers isn’t a party place. However, to chill and unwind after hitting the slopes, the Chez Florioz at the foot of the slopes is perfect.
Off ski activities: Activities that don’t involve skiing include taking walks and ice skating at the ice rink (it’s free). You can also go up the slopes at night for some tobogganing.
How to get there: The quickest route is to through Sion Airport. It is only 29 km away (a 30 minutes’ drive). However, there’s also the option of going through Geneva airport. Geneva airport is only 2 hours away through A9 or A1.
Engelberg
Key stats
- Mountain Top – 3020m
- Mountain Low – 1000 m
- Mountain elevation – 2020 m
- Beginner slopes – 19 km
- Intermediate slopes – 37.5 km
- Difficult slopes – 9.5 km
- Ski lifts – 19
Best known for: This is one of the best freeride and top powder destinations. It experiences freak storms which heap fresh snow on the slopes and create perfect runs for beginners, experts, and intermediates. When the sun shines the views from the slopes are exquisite. There are a host of off-ski activities and family-friendly facilities including restaurants and a ski school where kids can be watched and taught ski basics while you cascade down the slopes.
Aprés ski rating - 3/5: In comparison to other Swiss resorts, Apres ski bars are great. On the mountain slopes, there is the Iglu bar which is sensational. The Core Irish and Chalet are excellent options as well.
Off ski activities: If you are not quite into skiing and snowboarding, then you can take a cable car ride over the glaciers, go paragliding, ice walking and walk on a suspension bridge on a cliff.
How to get there: The closest airport to the resort is Zurich. It’s 100km away which is only 2 hours by train and 1 hour 20 minutes by road.
Crans-Montana
Key stats
- Mountain Top – 2927 m
- Mountain Low – 1510 m
- Mountain elevation – 540 m
- Beginner slopes – 55 km
- Intermediate slopes – 70 km
- Difficult slopes – 15 km
- Ski lifts – 19
Best known for: Crans-Montana has many off-slope amenities as well as beautiful sceneries to enjoy. In addition to this, the ski area is sizeable and features slopes perfect for intermediate, beginners and experts. Its snow park adds to its perks and makes it popular with freestylers and snowboarders.
Aprés ski rating - 3/5: Apres ski amenities are sophisticated instead of rocking. This makes them perfect for couples and mature clients who’d want to relax in the tea rooms or cafes. However, for those who would prefer a more upbeat and lively venue, there are loads of apres ski joints with live music and DJs.
Off ski activities: Other fun activities include snow tubing, tobogganing, ice skating, swimming, winter walking, shopping and taking wellness spas sessions.
How to get there: The closest airports to Crans Montana are Sion Airport and Bern Airport which are 14.95 km and 68.43 m away from.
Champéry
Key stats
- Mountain Top – 2254 m
- Mountain Low – 985 m
- Mountain elevation – 1269 m
- Beginner slopes – 310 km
- Intermediate slopes – 210 km
- Difficult slopes – 60 km
- Ski lifts – 172
Best known for: This is by far one of the oldest and prettiest resorts in Switzerland. It is famous for its large ski area – one of the largest in the world. With such a vast ski area, it’s bound to have something for everyone beginner and experts alike.
If you don’t have enough of skiing during the day, you can continue at night on Wednesdays and on Saturdays. It has loads of family-friendly facilities including a ski school and swimming pool for kids.
It also has beautiful scenery.
Aprés ski rating - 3/5: Mitchell’s bar is the main apres ski. It features modern décor and has comfy seats. But generally, it’s Apres ski scene is not busy.
Off ski activities: Though skiing would be your first option. There are several activities you can try out. These include playing darts, pony trekking, farm visits, Snowshoeing and curling.
How to get there: The closest airports are Geneva and Sion. Sion is 62 km away while Geneva is 130 km away. You can travel by road or rail.
Rinderberg Gstaad
Key stats
- Mountain Top – 2011 m
- Mountain Low – 948 m
- Mountain elevation – 1063 m
- Beginner slopes – 64.3 km
- Intermediate slopes – 20.6 km
- Difficult slopes – 4 km
- Ski lifts – 17
Best known for: Gstaad has a great ambiance. It has quite a large ski area with slope options for experts, beginners, and intermediates. It has an excellent sports center with world-class off-slope amenities.
It is family friendly. Kids aged 9 and below can use ski lifts for free. There’s also a ski kindergarten for kids aged 3 and below. Moreover, the resort also features a ski school.
Aprés ski rating - 3.5/5: Gstaad has joints for all kinds of persons. However, you should note that the best night spots aren’t cheap. With that said, you can enjoy the night to the fullest.
Off ski activities: Aside from skiing, you can spend your time bowling, sleigh riding, and tobogganing. You can also visit the casino or the cinema.
How to get there: The closest airport to Gstaad is Bern airport. The airport is only 51.69 km. However, few flights are available. The next best option is Geneva Airport, which is 94.06 km away.
Grindelwald
Key stats
- Mountain Top – 2500 m
- Mountain Low – 1050 m
- Mountain elevation – 1450 m
- Beginner slopes – 30 km
- Intermediate slopes – 11 km
- Difficult slopes – 8 km
- Ski routes – 4 km
- Ski lifts – 10
Best known for: It has a ski school and nursery slopes where kids and beginners will undoubtedly spend their first couple of days learning the basics. In addition to this, the resort has slopes for intermediates and experts as well. While kids are having a blast at the nursery adults will enjoy the scenery from the slopes. There is also a long list of restaurants to choose from. You’ll find Swiss, French, Italian, Japanese and Chinese meals served in these restaurants.
Aprés ski rating - 4/5: With so much happening at night, the bars are pushed to the side. Nonetheless, there are establishments that offer live music and keeps you entertained all night long.
Off ski activities: For the times you’ll be tired of skiing, you can hike in the trails or go tobogganing.
How to get there: You can get to this resort via car or train from Zurich airport. The journey is only 1 hour and 55 minutes.
Note: When arriving by car, there is little information or signs to direct you to the car parks or railway stations. As such, if you are driving yourself, you should contact the resort in advance for travel advice. When traveling by car you’ll take 2.5 hours on the road and by train, you’ll take 3 hours.
Arosa Lenzerheide
Key stats
- Mountain Top – 2865 m
- Mountain Low – 1229 m
- Mountain elevation – 1636 m
- Beginner slopes – 110 km
- Intermediate slopes – 87 km
- Difficult slopes – 28 km
- Ski lifts – 43
Best known for: Arosa has a beautiful setting in the wooden basin that’s surrounded by rugged mountains. It is sizeable and its snow is reliable.
It is great for intermediate, expert and beginner skiers. If you are a free rider, you can enjoy the off-piste routes.
The Arosa Junior Club features many activities suitable for kids in addition to lots o discounts. This alone makes it great for families.
Aprés ski rating - 4/5: Its apres-ski environment is relative. It’s not the best we’ve seen and neither is it the worst. It has loads of great clubs and bars to keep you entertained and having lots of fun. Some of these clubs include Nuts Club and Kitchen Club.
Off ski activities: You can go ice skating on the lakeside or enjoy sleigh rides between Inner Arosa and the resort. In addition to this, you can also opt to spend your day at a spa getting pampered and soothing the sore muscles.
How to get there: Arosa is 160 km from Zurich. You can get to Arosa by road or rail from Zurich airport. However, the final climb to Arosa is laden with bends (365). In addition to this, once you get to the resort, you’ll not need the car a lot. For this reason, many people prefer traveling by train.
From Zurich airport, the journey by road should take about 2 hours and 20 minutes. Other close airports include Friedrichshafen airport and Memmingen airport, which are 155 km and 195 km away respectively.
What now?
Well, now that you know how much it’ll cost you and the best resorts, you should start planning. Lay out everything you need for the ski holiday. Make plane, hotel and resort bookings in preparation for a great time ahead. Don’t forget to pack your ski/snowboarding gear.
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