12 superb Ski Areas in Switzerland
Updated: Aug 18, 2021
Well known worldwide to be home to splendid ski resorts, Switzerland is a snow paradise. When I started writing this article I was initially aiming for a Top 10 best ski areas in Switzerland, but I couldn't strike even one of the resorts below from my list - and it is hard to bring them in order as well. So I decided to just make a list of 12 superb ski regions in Switzerland.
There are skiing resorts for all levels - so if you plan to spend a day or a week on the slopes, you can easily find an area that suits you. In this article, you will find the most popular skiing resorts in Switzerland as well as others that are not quite as known. Some resorts provide the best nightlife, others who are more suited to families, and resorts where you can ski across international borders. No matter what kind of skiing experience you are looking for, you are sure to find something in here.
Zermatt
Situated at the foot of the popular Matterhorn, it is called Glacier City. It’s a winter training base for several ski teams from some Europe and abroad. Additionally, you can ski here almost 365 days a year. How? Because some areas are directly on the glacier - so in the summer why not ski in the morning and relax in shorts in the afternoon. Zermatt has 3 main ski areas: Zermatt-Gornergrat-Stockhorn, Zermatt-Sunnegga-Rothorn, and Zermatt-Schwarzsee-Klein Matterhorn. The snowfields extend over the national borders from Klein Matterhorn to Italy.
• highest mountain lift station in Europe
• epic mountain scenery
• an extensive selection of food and accommodation
St. Moritz
No list about ski resorts in Switzerland would be complete without mentioning St. Moritz. It is more than just a luxury holiday resort - birthplace of Alpine winter tourism in 1864 it has hosted the Winter Olympics twice. Countless stories of sports and other legends were written here. And even if you might think of St. Moritz as a fancy, snobbish ski central for the rich and famous of the world, it has to offer so much more! Sure, you find also boutiques with no price indications in the window, but there are bars, shops and accommodation for every budget. For skiers or snowboarders there are 350 kilometers of slopes with great infrastructure. When you plan to visit St. Moritz make sure to get there by train via the Albulapass - its spectacular train ride is part of the world heritage.
• luxury ski resort with all kinds of shops and boutiques
• for all levels
• great nightlife and après-ski
Verbier
Verbier is housing some of the most technical freeriding terrains on the planet. It is another one of the big Swiss ski regions. Its four valleys mean that you will have more than 250 miles of skiing or snowboarding to tire yourself out.
Fun fact: At the beginning of every ski season Verbier is opening its slopes for only CHF 5 for everyone who shows up as a Santa. This year (2020) the Santa ski was set on hold according to Corona but we keep some great memories from last year and are looking forward to returning soon.
• snow guarantee due to its high altitude and the possibility to ski on the glacier
• great views over the frozen lake and mountains
• famous for its advanced and off-piste skiing
Davos & Klosters
Heading to eastern Switzerland - the village of Davos is located on a beautiful plateau at 1'560m. Davos is famous because of the WEF (world economic forum), but it also offers great conditions for skiing and snowboarding. High in Switzerland's mountains, Davos is very well known, but the small neighbour Klosters shouldn't be forgotten either. Klosters is beautiful, traditional and convinces with its alpine charm. Intermediates get fantastic skiing, with many beautiful long blue and red slopes. Above the tree line, the routes become noticeably steeper. Experts will find lots of black runs, as well as great off-piste possibility.
• six separate ski sectors with 300km of slopes and good terrain parks
• lively après-ski and nightlife
• nice backcountry to explore
Crans Montana
Located in the Swiss canton of Valais you’ll discover Crans Montana. It is probably one of the best ski resorts for beginners - but intermediates don't come short either. Skiing at Crans Montana is unique for those who would like to improve their technique and are ready for bigger challenges. The resort consists of blue and red runs so it may be not suitable for the expert skier looking for the thrill of black runs and off-piste opportunities. Crans Montana is a family-friendly resort with a big area for children, a ski kindergarten, and a ski school.
• offers extensive alpine shopping
• great for beginners and intermediates
• family friendly
Grindelwald and Wengen
Could there be a more epic scenery than the famous Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau? At the foot of the famous Eiger North Face lies Grindelwald - a small alpine village. No doubt, for tourists this is one of the most visited places in Switzerland. Located very close to Interlaken it is easily reachable either by car or train. With the wonderful north face of the Eiger towering above the mountain village, the main ski places that exist here share slopes with Wengen and can be accessed with the same lift ticket. Since December 2020 the old gondola is replaced with the new V-Bahn - a mega construction project which costs about 470 Million Francs. On the other side of the Männlichen (the mountain that splits the valley) you find the total car-free village of Wengen, a unique spot for enjoying a meal.
• lots of lengthy intermediate slopes
• hyper-modern cable cars
• family- and tourist-friendly resort with hiking, sledding, and shopping
Arosa
Arosa Lenzerheide is just beautiful - from the Rothorn you may see 1001 alpine mountains and it offers skiers many perfect aspects from the sunny slopes of Arosa to the steeper Rothorn, as well as Lenzerheide’s west-facing mountainside with plenty of trails.
• impressive mountain scenery
• sunny, snow-secure winter wonderland
• lovely ensemble of nature, ambience and culture with modern infrastructure
Portes du Soleil
Literally translated: Gates to the sun - 12 ski resorts, 1 giant ski area - 307 slopes with around 600! km of fun in 2 countries (Switzerland and France) - and all that with only 1 ski pass. No matter what level you might have, you will find something suitable for you here. Located at the beginning of the Valais when coming from Lausanne or Geneva it is not too difficult to get here for a weekend trip. Housing the steepest slope in the world, a giant fun park and many chalets or better said entire villages to wander around, it is impossible to discover this resort on only one day.
• easily accessible
• for every level due du its huge size
• great snow park
Adelboden
Adelboden is not quite as popular as most of the other mountain villages in the Bernese Oberland, like Wengen, Grindelwald or Mürren, but it should definitely not be forgotten. A great place for families - no matter if for skiing in the winter or other outdoor activities during the summer months. While the scenery is not quite as impressive as the Eiger-dominated landscapes of that trio of the Jungfrau resorts, Adelboden is surrounded by some other impressive 3000-meter peaks. Little fun fact on the side: The mineral water not only quenches your thirst but also is super rich in minerals.
• houses one of the most popular world cup races every year - considered to be the most difficult giant slalom course in the world
• ski slopes quite varied and quiet
• good slopes for early intermediates
Andermatt
To start with we need to mention the Göschenen gorge with its famous Devils bridge - what a magical entrance to your holidays in Andermatt. Years ago the Egyptian-Montenegrin businessman and billionaire Samih Onsi Sawiris started to invest in the region of Andermatt - by now he invested more than a billion Swiss francs in the mountain village of Andermatt and created prospects as a year-round tourist destination. With the opening of a concert hall, he now considers his job to be done. As far as skiing goes, Andermatt is one of the best places to freeride, as well as for intermediate level skiers.
• plenty of ski areas around the village
• very good infrastructure due to the investments
• great variety of off-piste activities
Engelberg
Engelberg is one of the very traditional Swiss villages with 200 acres of slope terrain that has become a modern famous Swiss ski resort over recent years. A great way of reaching Engelberg is by train. From Lucerne many trains are departing regularly to Engelberg. It takes around 45 minutes to reach Engelberg if you travel by car. This snowy heaven is surrounded by spectacular mountain peaks that include the snowcovered 3020-meter tall Mount Titlis. With its relaxing atmosphere, friendly locals as well as magnificient scenery Engelberg provides great mountainsides for powder skiers and snowboarders. This modern ski resort near Lucerne has more than 25 ski lifts with all kinds of ski slopes for beginners, advanced and intermediate skiers.
• quickly reachable due to its central location
• perfect to explore Lucerne's old town on a non-ski day
• all kind of other winter activities
Saas-Fee
We started our Blog with one of the best known ski resorts in Switzerland (Zermatt) and we end it with one as well - Saas-Fee - probably one of the best ski resorts in the world. Just one valley next to Zermatt it is highly scenic, high in elevation and great for every level of skiing or snowboarding. Professionals train here nearly all year long and beginners won't come short either. The car-free village of Saas-Fee is charming and the ski slopes are surrounded by beautiful glaciers. Children will love the legend of the mountain fairies. In summer it is the base camp for many climbers and mountaineers - so if you would like to climb your first 4000m peak - we would be happy to organize a trip for you.
• great snow cover because of its high altitude
• less crowded than Zermatt
• the snow park has a strong reputation among freestylers
