Ever dreamed of visiting Swiss ski resorts? This country, most of which is covered with mountains, is literally made for skiers and snowboarders. Tourists from all over the world flock to the homeland of mountaineering all year round. Some are eager to learn the basics of skiing, while others want to practice and improve their sports skills. For many, the desire to visit the ski resorts in Switzerland remains unrealistic, as the fear of exorbitant prices quickly cools the flare-up ardor. In this article we will talk about the features of recreation in this country and give examples of reviews from Russian tourists.
Ski idyll
Why do ski resorts in Switzerland attract tourists from all over the world? First of all, here you can enjoy the ideal tracks, which are the benchmark for the entire sports world. A high level of service, comfortable hotels, excellent infrastructure and mild climate create all the conditions for outdoor activities in the mountains.
Popular resorts
However, some come here for other purposes as well. It is no secret that Switzerland often hosts famous guests: crown princes, millionaires, movie actors, pop stars and top models often stroll along the alpine slopes. The desire to join high society and sit in a cafe "at the same table" often becomes a decisive factor when choosing a particular resort. One way or another, you have to pay for a prestigious vacation. Prices for the best ski resorts in Switzerland are not always affordable for ordinary Russian citizens, however, they can also find the best option for themselves in more affordable hotels. In addition, an interesting excursion program and local nature are worth seeing for every avid tourist.
Grindelwald
This popular resort famous for being accessible to fans of winter sports almost all year round. Located in the very center of the country, the Village of Glaciers welcomes not only skiers and climbers, but also just lovers of walking along hiking trails. If you wish, you can stay in a wonderful five-star hotel that will satisfy even the most demanding visitor. You can also choose to stay in one of four or three star hotels at standard Swiss prices. Budget options are presented by simpler hotels, where for a relatively small fee you will get a cozy room with a shared shower.
The largest number of tourists come to Grindelwald from November to April. At their disposal there are more than 50 ski slopes of varying difficulty, trails for and many hiking trails. You can dine in one of local restaurants in the evening go to night club or to a disco, and in your free time go shopping. If the weather turns bad, then you will have the opportunity to swim in the indoor pool, go ice skating, play bowling or squash with friends.
Verbier
Alpine winter resort in Switzerland is located in the center of one of the largest areas for skiing. Visitors are provided with 400 km of trails along the most beautiful routes, more than a hundred ski lifts and all the conditions for lovers of cross-country skiing and hiking. You can stay in one of the many hotels or rent a guest house. Tourist service, as in the whole country, is at the highest level - in this place you will feel at home.
If you are interested in Swiss resorts for advanced skiers, then you can safely go to Verbier. These places are famous for off-piste skiing and boundless fields that are not processed by machinery. Under the guidance of a guide, you can make a descent through the virgin lands into the valley and get vivid sensations that will be remembered for a lifetime. However, in order to participate in this exciting adventure, participants must have excellent riding skills. For beginners and intermediate skiers, there are many easy trails here, which you can ride almost without any risk.
Saas Fee
The resort is famous for the fact that teams of skiers and snowboarders from different countries train here in the summer. It is located high in the mountains and consists of four areas for skiing. Difficult trails are more suitable for professionals than for beginners in winter sports. There are few steep slopes here, but all of them are interesting for their relief. Intermediate skiers will enjoy the long and easy pistes, some of which stretch for 14 km. Arriving here in October, you can become a spectator of the Snowboard World Cup. In December, freeride competitions are held here and an international ice sculpture festival is held. At the end of winter in Saas-Fee you can watch the fight for the Ice Climbing World Cup, and in March you can watch the Allalin races.
Zermatt
This fashionable resort in the Swiss mountains is located near the famous Matterhorn peak. Its ski slopes, snowboarding and freestyle trails are considered among the best in the country. It is here that international and European curling competitions are held every year. Professionals who prefer resorts in Switzerland for advanced skiers appreciate the local virgin pistes and steep slopes. It will be quite difficult for beginners to find a suitable route here, since the conditions are basically created for expert skiing.
Zermatt is a very popular but rather expensive resort. Among 600 hotels you will hardly find a budget option accommodation. The best hotels are Zermatterhof or Omnia. You can find shelter in a private house, rent a chalet or live in an apartment. Despite the high prices, bars and entertainment venues are always full of people. In your free time, you can swim in the pool, play billiards and bowling, visit the fitness center or relax in the sauna. Excursions around the resort and its surroundings will not let those who come here for company or just for a relaxing holiday get bored.
Crans Montana
This resort often hosts prestigious and major international congresses. Both beginners and intermediate skiers will feel great here. Ski resorts Switzerland rarely provides its guests with such wide and uncomplicated pistes. There are not so many slopes for professionals in this place, and they do not arouse much interest among extreme sportsmen.
Guests of Crans-Montana can have fun at the outdoor skating rink, where discos are held on ice from time to time. Guests of some hotels have the opportunity to swim in the pool, visit a beauty salon or play curling. Thrill-seekers can take a helicopter and hot air balloon ride.
Davos
Some ski resorts in Switzerland offer unusual services to their guests. For example, Davos is also a treatment center where all the efforts of the staff are aimed at maintaining your health and high-quality treatment. Prestigious world-famous clinics accept patients with respiratory diseases, allergies and skin diseases. This resort has a large selection of hotels of all categories, but they all have a high level of service. Pensions, chalets and guest houses are not inferior to five-star hotels, and the cuisine in each of them is beyond praise.
Davos has 6 separate ski areas and 99 slopes that stretch over 300 km. The slopes of high mountains will not let even experienced athletes get bored, for whom steep descents and risky sections have been specially designed. This resort is also called the capital of snowboarding, as six fan parks were built here. Lovers of luge and freestyle feel great here, as the best conditions have been created for them at this resort.
St. Moritz
This is one of the oldest and prestigious resorts country, which is a symbol of luxury and a role model. Prices here are quite high even for Switzerland, but its popularity has not suffered from this at all. Thousands of tourists come here every year to enjoy the unique climate and clear sunny weather. Among the guests of honor of this resort, the faces of famous politicians, show business stars, millionaires and even members of royal families often flicker.
In St. Moritz there is something for an athlete of any level. Three sectors for skiing will satisfy all available requests. Beginners and intermediate skiers will be fascinated by the long and comfortable pistes. Thrill-seekers will find here icy slopes, descents on virgin lands and rather difficult “black” segments. Corvatsch has two snowboard parks equipped to the best standard. The Snow Night Party is held here once a week. The participants of this peculiar party ride until two in the morning along the illuminated tracks, and then relax and maintain their tone with strong cocktails.
Gstaad
Some ski resorts in Switzerland still look like mountain villages built at the beginning of the last century. Vehicles are prohibited in Gstaad, and guests settle not only in hotels, but also in chalets. This resort cannot be called very popular, but the creative elite fell in love with it.
Six ski areas linked bus routes and regular trains. 62 lifts rush to the Hornflu massif every day, and you can go down to several towns along the “blue” track. Thanks to this, the slopes have gained great popularity among inexperienced skiers and families with children. But this place will also be interesting for more experienced athletes, for whom there are specially allocated areas for freeride, freestyle and carving. Anyone who wishes, under the guidance of an instructor, can try out such sports equipment as extreme carving skis or snowblades. The Glacier Glacier has the longest run. Fan parks are located on the slopes of Eggli, and fans of luge will find entertainment at the upper stations.
Ski resorts in Switzerland. Reviews of tourists
Despite the unstable political situation and the crisis in the tourism business, our fellow citizens boldly continue to travel abroad and share their feelings from their vacation with pleasure. The Russians, who were lucky enough to visit the ski resorts of Switzerland in 2014, unanimously admire the beauties of nature and unforgettable experience. Everyone who came here for the first time remembered for a long time the exemplary famous punctuality and friendly attitude of the local population. Tourists note that prices in this country are quite consistent with quality. And this means that you should carefully calculate the possible costs before the trip. Returning home, our compatriots warmly recall the ski resorts in Switzerland. Photos of the most beautiful landscapes take pride of place on the pages in in social networks and already there is talk of how good it would be to return to that country next winter.
The best ski resorts in Switzerland are among the most comfortable and well-equipped in Europe, they are ideal for winter holidays in the mountains. To these undoubted advantages, we must also add impressive mountain landscapes, fast-paced ski slopes climbing unimaginable heights, and exciting local attractions - from old alpine villages scattered everywhere to respectable mountain restaurants that meet guests in the most unforeseen places.
Another undoubtedly valuable feature of the Swiss ski resorts is their proximity to their neighbors - the popular high-altitude ski resorts of France (on the left along the border line) and Austria (on the right). In the south, the best ski areas in Switzerland are framed by the famous Italian ski resorts in the Dolomites, they are within easy reach...
The only drawback, in our opinion, of the best Swiss ski resorts is that even the cheapest of them will be more expensive than, for example, a resort of the same level in France, Austria or Italy. However, if possible, each of Switzerland's top ski resorts is worth a visit - if only to indulge in local landscapes, drink a cup of afternoon tea with a slice of Swiss cheese and breathe in a breath of pure Alpine air.
The best ski resorts in Switzerland - TOP 7 in the Swiss Alps
Wengen
Wengen is Switzerland's best ski resort for families. This is, in fact, an authentic Swiss ski resort where cars are not allowed. In the very center of the resort there is a large playground covered with a thick layer of snow for fun children's games and learning to ski. Further into the mountains, a cog railway line leads, thanks to which you can get to the neighboring Swiss ski village of Lauterbrunnen and further down into mountain valley.
Wengen shares a ski area with Grindelwald, most of the ski slopes just hang over its neighbor, these are the most beautiful "red" and "blue" slopes under the northern mountain walls of the Eiger. The lifts, laid in the Jungfrau ski area, cover the slopes of neighboring ski resorts - Mürren, Wengen and Grindelwald.
Wengen hotels are mostly designed to accommodate couples - there is a lot of entertainment for just such a segment of vacationers. In the center of the town there is an indoor ice skating rink where people play curling and ice skating. Of the fun skiing opportunities, Wengen has several toboggan runs to offer.
At a distance of 4.5 km is Wengernalp - an alpine high-mountain valley, from which there are long well-groomed ski slopes leading to Grindelwald. The easiest way to get to this ski area is by mountain train coming from the railway. station Wengen, or even on foot along railway track. Interesting historical facts are connected with the Wengernalp recreation area - famous composers often rested here: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Felix Mendelssohn, Richard Wagner, the sixteenth US President Abraham Lincoln also visited here.
Wengen alternatives
Competitors of Wengen may well be Saas-Fee (Saas Fee), or rather, its southern part, right under the mountain, on which the best slopes are located. For children, Saas-Fee will offer traditional sleigh rides, fun descents from ice slides, and a large water entertainment center. At the end of the winter season, there are a lot of sunny days, the kids can even sunbathe.
Adelboden, with traditional chalet dwellings and low slopes that even children can descend from, is also close by. There is a recreation center in Adelboden, known for a wide variety of entertainment - skating, rock climbing, bowling, several rail toboggan runs with turns (toboggan).
Wengen characteristics
- Elevation difference (Jungfrau ski area): 943 - 2970 m
- Length of slopes: 213 km
- Season: 18.11 - 15.04
Wengen how to get
The nearest airports to the Wengen ski resort are in Swiss Bern (Bern-Belp Airport, distance 46.9 km), and the capital, Zurich, the nearest railway. station - Interlaken Ost Train Station, distance 10 km.
When you reach Interlaken Ost, then take the train to Lauterbrunnen, from here there is a railway line to the Wengernalp recreation area to Wengen. Travel time is about 45 minutes.
There are also regular Skibus ski buses from Interlaken to the resort. There are also trains from Zurich Airport to Interlaken.
Andermatt
Andermatt is the best ski resort in Switzerland in terms of snow cover. It is located in a very convenient geographical location regarding exposure to sunlight, the skiing valleys and ski slopes of the resort are located closer to the northern side of the Alps. The height of the resort's main ski arena, the steep and shady Gemsstock mountain, made it possible to lay the best slopes for skiing in the range between 2000 and 3000 m.
There is almost always excellent snow cover here, while on other ski slopes of the Valais region Switzerland "s", where most of the ski resorts in Switzerland are concentrated, the conditions for skiing are not always favorable.
Andermatt alternatives
In terms of natural snow supply, Andermatt can only compete with Verbier, whose slopes start at an altitude of 1500 m, and the highest slopes start at 3230 m, or Engelberg, which is loved by skiers from the Swiss capital, Zurich. Engelberg is located near Andermatt, but a little further north, so it is also rich in snow and northern ski runs and ski slopes (3030 m).
Andermatt characteristics
- Elevation difference: 1444 - 2961 m
- Length of slopes: 120 km
- Opening hours of lifts: 8.30 - 16.30
- Season: 04.11- 28.05
Andermatt how to get there
The nearest airports to Andermatt are Zurich (90 km), Bern (90 km) and Lugano (74 km). Andermatt Train Station is next to the Chedi Andermatt. Well-known high-speed train The Glacier Express, which runs on the St. Moritz - Zermatt route, stops at Andermatt many times a day. From Zurich the trip to Andermatt takes two hours, from Milan three and a half hours.
Davos
Davos is a ski resort in Switzerland for skiers with some skiing experience. Davos has an extensive list of medium-difficulty pistes spread across six separate ski areas on mountain slopes low altitude in the vicinity of the mountain village of Klosters, about 10 km from Davos.
By the way, Klosters has another name - "Hollywood on the Rocks", because of its popularity among representatives of show business and cinema. Representatives of the British royal family love to ski on the ski slopes in Klosters, they usually come to the resort in the third decade of December. On the track in Klosters, Prince Harry and Prince William learned to ski.
Ski Davos, photo
Davos' main skiing sector, Parsenn, links the two resorts. Parsenn is famous for its wide, well-viewed ski slopes, most of the pistes on which are "red" for advanced skiers. There are also long "red" running distances in the valleys in the forest - in particular, from mountain top Weissfluhjoch (2660 m) over Davos to the mountain villages of Küblis, Serneus and Klosters. The length of the route is about 12 km, the elevation difference is about 1800 m.
The city of Davos is divided into two parts: the Parsenn ski area starts from Davos Dorf and reaches the Parsenn funicular; the second ski area starts from Davos Platz (Davos Platz), from here the lift runs to the small autonomous ski area Schtazalp (Schtazalp area), it is located a little far from Davos.
On the other side of the valley there are three more separate sections of skiing, there are only "red" and "blue" ski runs going through the forested area down into the valleys.
The highest local skiing points can be reached using different modes of transport: the Jakobshorn ski area is lifted from Davos by lift, the other two resort ski areas are Pischa peak (2483 m, ski slope opening hours - 8:20 - 16:20) and the Rinerhorn ski sector (Rinerhorn, 2582 m) are accessible by bus or train.
The ski area in Klosters has its own ski resort and ski arena Madrisa (Madrisa, 2600 m). In Klosters there are comfortable hotels equipped with modern communication systems and Internet access, restaurants and shops, ice rinks and water pools.
Davos alternatives
Davos competitors: St. Moritz, famous for its excellent ski transport infrastructure (special trains and buses for skiers provide ideal skiing opportunities in four ski areas, the territory of which exceeds 3000 m in length; Laax (Laax), famous for its slopes for advanced skiers and neighboring Flims, which, together with Lax, has a total length of more than 200 km of slopes!
Davos characteristics
- Elevation difference: 810- 2845 m
- Length of trails: 320 km
- Opening hours of lifts: 8:15-16:30, some work until 17:00.
- Season: Parsenn -17.11-08.04; Klosters - 25.12 - 08.04; Jakobshorn 24.11 -15.04; Pisha - 26.12 - 25.03
Davos how to get there
Zurich Airport is located at a distance of 150 km from Davos. From Zurich, from the international airport, and from the railway. train station (Zurich Hauptbahnhof) trains leave for Davos regularly, every hour, on the way you need to change at Landquart. The train also stops at Klosters. Trains stop at Davos Dorf and Davos Platz, so check where you would like to get off before boarding. If you are traveling in the south of Germany, it is also easy to get to Davos by train from Munich.
Verbier
Verbier is one of the Swiss luxury ski resorts for those who consider themselves an extra-class skier. Everything looks luxurious here - chalets and hotels, vibrant après-ski entertainment, service and transport services. But the main luxury of the Swiss Verbier is its amazing coolness, which maintains the snow cover in perfect condition, and the difficult high-altitude terrain that not every skier will be able to handle.
Verbier - the best Swiss resort, photo
If you can master the snowy ski slopes of Verbier, you can consider yourself a high-class skier. The most difficult slopes of the Swiss ski resort of Verbier are the longest ski distance in Europe from Col des Gentianes (Col des Gentianes) to Tortin (Tortin) with a length of 90 km and a vertical ski slope from Vallon d "Arby" to La Trumaz (La Tzoumaz), offering the skier to literally fly 1000 m along the very edge of the ski area.
From Verbier's other starting point, Mont Gélé at 3,022 m, even steeper routes and challenging off-piste skiing areas, and Mont Fort (3,328 m), surrounded by several glaciers, offers adventurous "black" ski runs and equally adventurous off-piste skiing opportunities that end in Siviez.
Of noteworthy service, Verbier has in its arsenal numerous offers for renting chalets and hotels, some of which have turned into real ski resorts, an excellent après ski center Place Centrale.
Verbier alternatives
As for alternatives, competition ski slopes Verbier can only be a ski area on the slopes of Mount Gemsstock (Gemsstock), in Andermatt. It is here that there are difficult, "black" tracks and off-piste skiing areas. Zermatt can also be considered as a competitor, it offers both difficult marked skiing routes and extreme helicopter outings to untouched snowy oases - heli-skiing.
Verbier characteristics
- Elevation difference: 1500- 3330 m
- Length of slopes: 412 km
- Opening hours of lifts: 8.40-17.00, spring skiing (17.02-29.04) - 8.40-19.30
- Season: 04.12 - 29.04
Verbier how to get there
Verbier is easy to get to: international Airport Geneva is located just 160 km from the resort, right at the airport there is a train station from where trains leave for Verbier. Some routes from the railway Geneva train station road suggest a change in Martigny.
villars
Villars is the best ski resort in Switzerland for beginners and families with children. It has excellent conditions for skiing children. Life in Villars flows very slowly and calmly. Near the mountain village there is a children's ski school, but as soon as beginners master the first tricks and the first turns, they are already waiting for small ski runs in the local surroundings, and then there is a wonderful track for honing skills, to the top of which you can climb along a specially laid cog railway line by train. Here, in Villars, there is a branch of a prestigious British ski school, which has a high reputation for effective teaching.
The Villars ski resort is located on a sunny southern slope, offering a beautiful view of the Rhone Valley and the skiing French-Swiss ski area Portes du Soleil (Portes du Soleil).
Another ski resort - Gryon in the Alps of the French-speaking canton of Vaudois (Vaudois Alps) has joined the ski slopes of Villars, thus forming a wonderful ski area. The whole family seeks here for a ski vacation, the resort offers mountain hiking, Sledging, cross-country skiing and other entertainment.
From Villars and Gryon there is direct access to the slopes of the Les Diablerets mountain peak, which are connected by as many as five! alpine skiing areas, the total length of the tracks on them exceeds 100 km, the territory is served by 34 lifts!
Villars has a decidedly urban charm that attracts vacationers, there are many quality shops, and in 2017 a magnificent new recreation center opened here with swimming pools, a sauna and a steam room.
Villar alternatives
Among Villar's competitors are Saas Fee with long and smooth ski runs (near the main street of the town) and high-altitude but easy ones for beginners, as well as Laax, which is also known for its excellent offer of long and light "blue skis". trails descending from low mountain slopes to the village.
Villar characteristics
- Elevation difference: 1200 -2100 m
- Length of trails: 100 km
- Opening hours of lifts: 8.45-16.30
- Season: 25.11-15.04
Villars how to get there
The nearest airports to Villars are Geneva (73 km) and Bern (76 km). It is also easy to get here by train: the mountain railway line BVB (Bex-Villars-Bretaye) connects Villars with Bex (a municipality in the canton of Vaud), located in the valley. Trains run approximately every hour, the trip takes 40 minutes. Bex is easily accessible by train from St. Moritz or Montreux.
Zermatt
Zermatt is the best ski resort in Switzerland for those who love to party, besides, there is almost always natural snow here - the degree of snow cover reaches 70%. Apres-ski, rest after skiing, begins here already in the middle of the day, which is quite unusual for Swiss resorts. But if you have been to Austrian or French ski stations, this is quite appropriate and quite well-known feature of the winter ski resorts in Austria and France.
Swiss Zermatt, photo
The cute little restaurants that dot the lower Matterhorn slopes open up in the early afternoon for eccentric outdoor parties. The initiators and organizers of such fun are companies operating under the "Folie Douce" franchise, they are represented here in almost every mountain restaurant.
Sounds on the slopes of Zermatt and live music - local bars often invite famous pop and rock bands to perform to compete with the fun in Saint-Anton (St. Anton).
Of the well-known features of recreation and skiing in Zermatt - the possibility of going to the ski areas belonging to the famous ski resort of Cervinia in Italy, extreme heli-skiing on the slopes of the Matterhorn (you are dropped from a helicopter on deserted snowy fields and offered to ride alone), cozy mountain restaurants with the highest level of service; lack of cars on the roads and, of course, beautiful views to the Matterhorn.
Zermatt alternatives
First of all, you need to look at Verbier, where there is a full range of après-ski entertainment and heli-ski opportunities. Another competitor of Zermatt, Laax is known as a popular youth ski resort that attracts the attention of snowboarders. Daredevils and merry fellows fill the bars early in the morning and don’t leave until late at night. Restaurants based on the Lac ski lifts are especially popular among snowboard fans.
Zermatt characteristics
- Elevation difference: 15620 -3899 m
- Length of slopes: 322 km
- Opening hours of lifts: 8.00 (8.30) -16.50
- Season: 16.12 -14.04 (may be extended until April 22, depending on weather conditions)
Zermatt how to get there
The nearest airports to Zermatt are located in Zurich (Zurich-Kloten International Airport with three terminals) and Geneva (Geneva-Cointrin International Airport). Directly from the airports run suburban trains to Zermatt, travel time from Zurich - 3.5 hours, from Geneva - 4 hours. On the way you need to change at Visp.
Murren
Mürren is the best ski resort in Switzerland for the charm of the Swiss Alps. Those who dream of a perfect alpine vacation come here, who want to get lost in a small quiet Swiss village, settle in a cozy chalet in the mountains, next to snow-covered and deserted ski slopes. If you want a high-altitude extreme, it is convenient to organize it using the local cable car, and then reseeding to the most reliable view land transport- mountain train.
Swiss ski resort Murren, photo
Mürren's famous mountain peaks are the Swiss "trio" of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, which can be seen directly across the valley from the village.
Mürren has cross-country skiing at an altitude of 1300 m, and at a distance of about 1 km is the Schilthorn, one of the greatest peaks of the Bernese Alps. Schilthorn is the starting point of the Inferno downhill skiing competition. A cable car has been laid to the top, which has four transfers, one of which is in Mürren.
There are 54 km of slopes on the territory of the ski area in Mürren, from here it is easy to get by mountain train and using a cable car to the mountain valley, where the town of Lauterbrunnen is located, and then, after making another change, using the railway connection, you will find yourself in the ski area in Wengen (Wengen) to evaluate the possibilities of the resort, and then continue the journey to Grindelwald (Grindelwald). Both resorts - both Wengen and Grindelwald, as well as Mürren, are accessible on lifts in the Jungfrau area.
Murren alternatives
Wengen is more respectable, large hotels in the architectural style of the Victorian era were built here, you should get to Wengen by train, car traffic is limited here, in order to maintain environmental cleanliness. Saas Fee is a traditional alpine mountain resort surrounded by massive glaciers on the horizon. Car traffic is also prohibited on the territory of the town, preference is given to electric vehicles and taxis.
Murren characteristics
- Elevation difference (Jungfrau region): 1034 - 2970 m
- Length of slopes: 206 km (Jungfrau)
- Opening hours of lifts: 9.10-17.55
- Season: 9.12-22.04
Murren how to get there
You can get to Mürren along the same route as to Wengen (see above). By train, get off at Lauterbrunnen station, then you can take the cable car to Gruchalp. Then take the narrow gauge train to Mürren BLM, the railway station in the north of the village.
This is a tour of the best ski resorts in Switzerland.
By the way, Russian winter skiers vacationing in the Swiss Alps often tell their friends from other countries a funny anecdote about a strange chicken, which, due to strong gusts of wind, was able to lay an egg only on the third attempt ... However, in our opinion, it is quite relevant - V Swiss Alps such heights and winds that it is just right to go skiing under sails!
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A wide selection of Swiss ski resorts simply cannot leave indifferent all connoisseurs of winter holidays surrounded by beautiful landscapes. To date, tourists are presented with many options for tours at a variety of prices. We would like to list the largest, The best ski resorts in Switzerland and talk about their features.
1. Zermatt
Zermatt is located at the foot of the eminent Matterhon (a peak with a height of 4478 meters). This is one of the best ski resorts not only in Switzerland, but throughout the world. There are first-class slopes and amazing snow cover. Although Zermatt cannot boast affordable prices, there is no end to customers all year round. And the fame of the restaurants of the resort has spread far beyond the borders of Switzerland. This place is best suited for experienced skiers who have learned all the basics. Beginners will find it difficult here.
The total length of pistes in Cerremat is 320 km. There are 69 blue runs, 188 red runs and 56 black runs for skiers. From the lifts: 24 rope tows, 17 chairlifts, 14 cabins and 4 funiculars. The skiing season is November-May.
2. Verbier
The main attraction of the resort of Verbier is virgin fields and a luxurious track that extends to Le Chable, a picturesque valley with a length of fifteen kilometers. All pistes of Verbier are distinguished by their wide variety and amazing beauty. It will be comfortable for both novice skiers and professionals to relax here. Verbier has 410 km of pistes with 77 blues, 106 reds and 22 blacks. Lifts: 34 rope tows, 20 chairlifts, 13 cabins and 5 funiculars. The season runs from November to April.
3. St. Moritz
St. Moritz is one of the oldest Swiss ski resorts. It is located in the Engadine (a valley with an amazing climate). Its peculiarity lies in the fact that the number of sunny days here is as much as 321, and the skiing season lasts from November to April. The resort itself is divided into two parts: St. Moritz-Bad, which was founded in the eighteenth century, and St. Moritz-Dorf, founded a little less than two hundred years ago. The main public of the resort: the aristocracy, the world's billionaires, stars and politicians.
Skiers in St. Moritz are waiting for 8 blue, 16 red and 5 black slopes with a total length of 163 km. As well as 22 lifts: 5 ski lifts, 2 chairlifts, 1 cabin and 4 funiculars.
4. Davos
Davos belongs to the high-altitude ski resorts, it is located at an altitude of about one and a half thousand meters and is divided into two parts: western and eastern. The quality of Davos slopes will appeal to both beginners and experienced skiers. In addition, all over the world the resort is valued as a place for recuperation, relaxation and treatment. There are many specialized medical centers that specialize in diseases of the skin and respiratory system. But the main advantage of Davos is the free ski bus, and there are also six fan parks.
There are 31 red, 39 blue and 12 black slopes available for skiing with a total length of 260 km. As well as 42 lifts. The season runs from November to April.
5. Crans-Montana
ski resort Crans-Montana managed to win an excellent reputation and worldwide fame. It is here that international symposiums, conferences and congresses, as well as the most prestigious international competitions, are usually held. Namely, the FIS World Cup is held here every year. The structure of Crans-Montana includes two small villages. This is Montana and Crane, of which the name consists. They are located in the valley of the Rhone River, about a kilometer apart. Further along the river, about 5 kilometers from Crans and Montana, there is another village with incredibly nice people, this is Aminona. All three objects together form a single ski area. To make it as convenient as possible for tourists to move from one settlement to another, a ski bus operates on the territory of the resort.
The resort of Crans-Montana is open for recreation from November to May. Skiers here will enjoy 160 km of slopes, including 20 blue, 28 red and 2 black. The number of lifts is 23.
6. Grindelwald
Ski resort Grindelwald in Switzerland among local residents, and among foreign tourists better known as "Glacier Village". This is the most beautiful Swiss resort in the Alps, which is open from November to April. It is located in the heart of the country. WITH majestic mountains The Jungfrau here glaciers descend to the settlement. This unique resort attracts the attention of not only experienced skiers, but also people who love mountain air, walks and the wonderful landscapes of the Alps. Here, funiculars, shuttle buses and cable cars are presented in great abundance. Thus, all conditions are created for maximum comfort and convenience of connoisseurs active winter recreation. And skiers expect 7 blue, 6 red and 4 black slopes with a total length of 50 km.
7. Gstaad
This is a unique resort for ski holidays, which is located at the junction of four mountain slopes. If we consider Gstaad as official resort, then this is an association of six regions, including the Glacier Glacier, which is located at an altitude of three thousand meters. Thanks to this glacier, great skiing is guaranteed in Gstaad from November to April, even in snowless winters. Gstaad cannot be called a fashionable resort or a place for privileged groups. This is a quiet, peaceful corner with interesting chalet-style houses and architecture from the end of the last century.
For professional skiers and beginners, there are 220 km of slopes for skiing, which include 4 green, 50 blue, 35 red and 11 black. And 52 lifts of various types are ready to deliver you to the peaks.
8. Villars
Villars is a typical representative of the Swiss ski resorts, which is better known under the big name Diableret-Villars. A nearby glacier makes Villar unique place where you can ski both in winter and summer. There are two seasons here: from June to early September and from October to April. Villars offers tourists 125 kilometers of first-class slopes, which are best suited for beginner skiers, families with small children, and snowboarders. The highlight of the resort is its convenient location, very close to Geneva, Gstaad, Verbier.
9. Andermatt
Andermatt is famous for its fluffy snowy peaks that will amaze even the most demanding tourist with their extraordinary beauty, lightness, and alluring snowy sheen. The weather here is always mild and pleasant. Andermatt is real paradise for freeride lovers, for those who ski confidently and prefer unmarked slopes. If you cannot classify yourself as one of them, then there is a special school for you at the resort, where you will definitely be taught the basics and advanced tricks. For the rest, there are 9 blue, 14 red and 9 black runs, with a total length of 102 kilometers.
10. Murren
Mürren is a small ski resort in Switzerland, located in the Jungfrau highlands at an altitude of more than one and a half thousand meters. After the British organized and held the first World Skiing Championship here in 1931, Murren became considered the birthplace of alpine skiing. It is also widely believed that Mürren is the place where Arnold Lann first held such a competition as slalom.
The slopes for skiing in Mürren have a total length of 50 km and include 2 green, 8 blue, 14 red and 5 black slopes, as well as 17 lifts of various types.
One of the most famous ski resorts not only in Europe but also in the world, Zermatt is located on the northern slopes of the most beautiful European Matterhorn mountain, surrounded by other peaks of the so-called Pienin Alps. By and large, it is precisely the most picturesque landscapes that are one of the reasons for the popularity of Zermatt, although, on the other hand, it is unlikely that anyone will undertake to argue that the tracks here are not very good - quite the contrary. The Zermatt-Matterhorn ski area includes three villages - Zermatt itself, as well as Randa and Täsch. Behind the Teodul pass is the Italian ski village of Cervinia (you can buy a ski pass that allows you to ski there too).
In total, there are about 360 kilometers of pistes of all levels in the Zermatt area. The village itself is located at an altitude of 1620 meters, the highest point of the resort is 3900 meters on the Matterhorn glacier. Actually, thanks to this impressive height, Zermatt remains one of the resorts that operate all year round. There are three major ski areas here: the eastern Sunnega-Rothorn on Mount Unterrothorn; Gornegrat-Stockhorn and Schwarzsee - Klein Matterhorn in the south. Zermatt is also famous for the difficulty of its slopes, for example, experienced skiers are probably familiar with the Triftji Bumps black slope. For snowboarders, a magnificent Gravity Park snowpark has been created with a halfpipe, jumps, rails and kickers. Fans of heli-skiing and freeride will not be offended here, as there are excellent slopes for these types of skiing.
Zermatt is also famous for its après-ski. There are all possibilities for this, for example, in the Schwarzsee-Klein Matterhorn area at the bottom of the Furi slope. Such places as The Papperla pub, The Hotel Post entertainment spot, Pollux disco and other places are popular with tourists.
Champoussin is an excellent Swiss ski resort near the village of Val d'Illier, part of the Portes du Soleil ski region, most of which is in France. Unlike Champery or the same Zermatt, it is quite quiet here, there are no loud parties and mass festivities in bars. The resort offers access to 650 kilometers of Portes du Soleil pistes. Champoussin itself boasts 15 pistes, of which 7 are blue, 6 are red and 3 are black. The village is located at an altitude of 1310 meters, the height difference of the slopes is 1680-2350 meters. All this small resort has seven lifts. You can buy a ski pass for the entire Portes du Soleil region.
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Part of the Portes du Soleil region, the ski resort of Champery is known to many. In addition, getting to it is easy, so those who do not want to climb far into the mountains can easily go here. At the same time, Champery is a very large resort with 165 kilometers of slopes, which are served by 27 lifts. The resort itself is located at an altitude of 1040 meters, the highest point is 2280 meters. There are pistes of all levels, so this resort is suitable even for those who have never skied: 2 simple green pistes, 32 blue pistes, 31 red pistes, 5 difficult black pistes. Snow cover in the resort is provided by 636 snow cannons. In general, it is very easy, riding in Champery, to end up on the slopes of another resort, Portes du Soleil, however, this is not such a problem. For snowboarders, Champéry has, for example, the Superpark snow park, and there are four such parks in total on the Swiss side of the Porte du Soleil. In addition, on such big resort you can't do without a good après-ski. Mitchell's bar, Café du Center and other establishments are suitable for these purposes. You can also relax in the large sports center Champery with a swimming pool, fitness center and other joys of such complexes.
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Verbier is a classic Alpine ski resort, which is surely considered by many to be the best in all the Alps. At least the reputation of Verbier is more than worthy. It is part of the 4 Valleys ski region with 412 kilometers of slopes served by 92 ski lifts. From Verbier there is access to the slopes of such resorts as Vaisonnas, Nanda, Savolaire, Tion and others. Verbier is generally considered a non-beginner resort despite its 19 blue pistes. There are also 20 red runs and 5 black ones, so more or less experienced skiers and snowboarders feel most confident here. With insufficient snow, 52 cannons are used, which are in Verbier. Altitude difference - 1500-3330 meters. In general, Verbier has enough options for lovers of different types of skiing, for example, even for fans of cross-country skiing, not to mention snowboarders, because it is here that one of the most popular competitions in this sport, Xtreme, is held. In addition, in Verbier you can also relax after skiing, as it is also famous for its après-ski. Places such as Le 71 Point Bar, Nelson Pub, Mont Fort Pub and others are responsible for the quality gatherings of the numerous tourists who come to Verbier.
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The resort of Crans-Montana, created in the 60s of the last century and located 30 kilometers from the airport of Sion, consists of several ski villages: Crans-sur-Siere, Montana and Aminona. The height difference of the resort is 1500-3000 meters, in total the resort can please with 140 kilometers of slopes, which are serviced by 27 lifts. There are several freeride trails. In total, the resort has 17 blue slopes, 20 red and 4 black for experienced riders. Situated on the southern slopes of the Bernese Alps, Crans-Montana is considered one of the "sunniest" resorts in Switzerland. This resort is a great place for skiing and snowboarding and at the same time the center of an active nightlife and social life, so it cannot be called a budget resort. On the other hand, après-ski lovers will have something to do here. Rollers will be pleased with the Plein-Morte glacier, the routes of which begin at an altitude of 3 kilometers. The other two ski areas are Bella Louis at an altitude of 2500 meters and Petit Bonvin in the eastern part of the resort.
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Nanda is an excellent small ski resort located 2 kilometers from Sion in the 4 Valleys region, which also includes Verbier, Visonne, Tion, Savolaire and a number of other resorts. So from Nanda you have access to over 400 kilometers of 4 Valleys pistes, and the resort itself, great for beginners and intermediate skiers, has 220 kilometers of slopes (shared with other resorts in the so-called Printze sector) and 50 lifts. The elevation difference is 1400-3300 meters, the highest point of the resort is located on the Mont Fort Glacier. Most of the resort's slopes are red, but there are few black slopes. Due to the impressive heights, the season here lasts until May.
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Veysonnas is one of the most interesting ski resorts in the 4 Valleys and until recently there were very few winter sports enthusiasts here, unlike other resorts in the canton of Valais. In recent years, the resort has been actively developing, but does not lose its Alpine flavor. The ski village itself is located at an altitude of 1350 meters, but from it you can get to all 412 kilometers of slopes of the "4 valleys" and 92 lifts. In addition, here you can buy a ski pass both for all the 4 Valleys resorts, and only for the Printse sector. The height difference in Veysonnay itself is just over 1 kilometer.
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The picturesque ski resort of Saas-Fee is located just a few kilometers from Zermatt and features excellent slopes, some of which are on glaciers and are accessible all year round. Saas-Fee is part of the Saastal ski area, which also includes the resorts of Saas-Grund and Saas-Almagell and Saas-Balen. In total, Saas-Fee has about 100 kilometers of slopes, a fifth of which are open during the summer months. 50 kilometers of slopes are red, 25 are simple blue and another 25 kilometers are black, for real professionals. The height difference of the resort is 1800-3600 meters. For beginners, Saas-Fee has a separate more or less gentle slope right next to the village. This resort has excellent conditions for snowboarders, for example, even in summer there is a fun park with a halfpipe. Despite the fact that Saas-Fee is considered more or less calm resort, at least a dozen bars and four nightclubs are responsible for après-ski.
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Leukerbad has a special place among all ski resorts in Switzerland, because it cannot be called exclusively a winter sports center due to the numerous thermal springs that have turned Leukerbad into a resort for all those who want to become beautiful and improve their health. Leukerbad is located in the picturesque surroundings of the mountains of the Montagne range at an altitude of 1400 meters. However, Leukerbad's wellness orientation does not prevent it from remaining a popular ski resort with 52 kilometers of slopes, 11 ski lifts and a maximum height of 2850 meters. For the needs of snowboarders, a fun park with three kickers has been built in Leukerbad. As for the thermal springs, there are about 30 of them, and every day they “splash out” about 3.9 million liters of water with a temperature of up to +50. With whirlpools, steam baths, swimming pools, various types of massages and other treatments, Leukerbad is always a unique opportunity to combine skiing and snowboarding with the beneficial effects of mineral waters.
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Leysin is located in the canton of Vaud and combines, in fact, into one area three ski villages at once - Leysin itself, as well as Les Mosses and La Lecherette. In total, they offer their guests about 100 kilometers of slopes of different difficulty levels, in Leysin itself - 60, of which 43 kilometers are blue, 15 are red, 2 kilometers are black, so this picture already makes it clear that Lesin is great for beginners fans of skiing, and pros should look for other resorts. There are 16 lifts on the slopes, between which free ski buses run. The resort is located at an altitude of 1263 meters, and its maximum height is 2331 meters. By the way, Lezin has long been considered an excellent spot for snowboarders; it has its own snowpark with a halfpipe and other amenities. In addition, the resort, thanks to its bars, can appeal to lovers of excellent après-ski.
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Villars-Gryon is a classic Swiss ski resort nestled in the beautiful landscapes of the Rhone Valley. At the same time, the resort has a fairly extensive ski area, which includes about 100 kilometers of slopes. Most of the slopes are red, although there are also blue and black slopes, which, due to a vertical drop of only 900 meters, are not particularly long. The maximum length of the track in Villars-Grion is 5 kilometers. In total, the resort has 34 lifts, as well as one mountain train. One of the pluses is that the resort is united by a single ski pass with Les Diablerets and Leysin. Villars-Grion is not very suitable for freeride lovers, but for those who are not averse to getting on a snowboard, a trip here can do a good job. The resort has several excellent bars and cafes where you can relax after skiing, for example, Alchimiste, Charlies, Harambee Café and others
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The famous year-round Swiss resort, located in the Vadoise Alps, Les Diablerets offers exciting skiing on 125 kilometers of its own pistes, as well as access to neighboring resorts - Leysin and Villard-Grion. In total, Les Diablerets consists of three main ski areas: Izno, covered with simple blue slopes for beginners and students of the local school; Meyer - with tracks of different lengths and terrain, mostly red and blue. The third zone is the main pearl of the resort - it is a small high-mountain area Glacier 3000 with 30 kilometers of slopes stretching in height from 1350 to 3000 meters. These slopes, which include the 7km Olden run, are pure pleasure. There is a snow park in the Izno zone, and the resort's glacier itself is a summer hangout for many snowboarders. From December 24 to April 15, guests of Les Diablerets are transported by a free ski bus. In addition, in this cozy resort, you can relax and warm up in bars and cafes.
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This ski region consists of several small resort villages: Grimentz, Chandolin, Zinal, Saint-Luc and Vercorin. Located in the canton of Valais resort area, united by a single ski pass, boasts 220 kilometers of pistes of different levels and a height difference from 1600 to 2950 meters. Most of the slopes are medium, red, but there are also difficult black and descents for complete beginners - blue and even green. Chandolin and Saint-Luc combine 65 kilometers of slopes, there is one funicular, 3 chairlifts and 11 drag lifts. The main attraction is the snowpark for snowboarding fans. There is also a snow park in Vercorina, and Cinal is considered the best place in this region for freeriding. So there are enough opportunities for excellent skiing in this not very popular resort.
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The Anser ski resort is quite popular among tourists - it is an easy and affordable ski center on the southern slopes of the Wildhorn mountain, which is why its slopes are always flooded with sun. Located at an altitude of 1500-2500 meters, Anzer is considered an excellent place for calm measured skiing, so it is very popular with local residents. The slopes here are practically nowhere covered with forest, so skiers have a lot of space. Of the 52 kilometers of pistes, 34 are red, 12 are blue, and there is also one 6-kilometer black piste. By the way, from here it is quite easy to get to the Villars-Grion-Les Diablerets-Leysin region. The resort has 11 different lifts, and the Flypark funpark has been created for snowboarders. From December to April Anzer has its own ski school.
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Canton of Bern
In the capital canton of Bern, the so-called Bernese Oberland is spread - the Bernese Highlands, which is part of the Bernese Alps, framed from the north by the picturesque lakes Thunersee and Brinzersee. It is in this canton that such ski resorts as Grindelwald, Gstaad, Meiringen, Murren, Wengen, Adelboden and others are located. Beautiful nature can be an excellent accompaniment to both winter and summer holidays. Especially among the landscapes of the canton, the Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger mountains stand out, whose height is approximately around the 4-kilometer mark. Also in the canton is the largest mountain of the Bernese Alps - Finsteraarhorn with a height of 4,272 meters. The Lauterbrunnen valley with its amazing views up to the peaks of the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc and the Thunersee lake is of particular beauty. In winter, in the valley, tourists flock to the local ski resorts - Wengen, Murren and others.
Jungfrau is a famous ski resort in Switzerland, located on the territory of three settlements- Grindelwald, Murren and Wengen. The Jungfrau region, or Jungfrau Top Region, includes three peaks - the eponymous Jungfrau (4158 m), Eiger (Eiger, 3970 m) and Münch (Monch, 4099 m). For lovers of winter recreation, the resort provides excellent skiing opportunities in 7 zones connected by mountain trains, lifts, ski-bus and slopes. Below you will find more information about the ski resorts that make up the Jungfrau (Grindelwald, Mürren and Wengen), as well as other ski resorts in the canton of Bern.
This ski resort is located a couple of tens of kilometers from the city of Interlaken and in the area of the famous chain of mountains Jungfrau, Eiger and Mönch, thanks to the glaciers of which the skiing season here continues all year round. The maximum height of the resort is 2950 meters. Together with the neighboring resorts of Mürren and Wengen, Grindelwahl forms the impressive Jungfrau ski area. The history of this resort dates back to 1947, when the first lift was launched, but in fact skiing began to develop here even earlier. From here you have access to 213 kilometers of pistes in the Jungfrau region, and in Grindelwald itself there are about 60 kilometers of magnificent slopes of various levels of difficulty. There is also a beautiful White Elements snow park with kickers, rails and other joys of life for snowboarders and fans of skiing. And in places like Challie or Plazza Club, you can have a great evening and night time after daytime skiing.
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Located in the region of the mountains Eiger, Jungfrau and Mönch, picturesque resort deprived of automobile traffic, and you can get here by narrow gauge railway, and Wengen station is the highest in Europe. There are 110 kilometers of trails on the slopes of the peaks mentioned above, where the famous Lauberhorn race is held. The village itself is located at an altitude of 1274 meters, and the highest point of the resort is 2340 meters. Despite the fact that the slopes of the resort are not the most outstanding in Switzerland, Wengen consistently leaves a pleasant impression, so vacationers come back here again and again. The main ski area, Kleine Scheidegg, is shared with the Grindelwald resort. Wengen has both red and blue and black slopes, so in general this place is suitable for all lovers of skiing.
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Murren offers all its guests not only the magnificent scenery of the Bernese Alps, but also 54 kilometers of beautiful pistes laid at altitudes from 1650 to 3000 meters. In total there are 22 slopes: 2 green, 8 blue, 11 red and 6 black, which are suitable for skiing until the last weeks of spring. For snowboarders and skiers, an excellent im Rad fun park has been created here, where you can hone your jumping technique with the help of kickers, and work on tricks on slide boxes. As for après-ski, it is quite possible to sit comfortably and in a relaxed atmosphere in local bars after skiing in the mountains.
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Gstaad, located in the southwest of the canton of Bern, is considered one of the most famous and prestigious Swiss resorts. Gstaad is a very old mountain resort, which is, on the one hand, a small cozy medieval village, and on the other hand, a whole ski region, which, in addition to the completely pedestrian Gstaad, includes several other villages: Saanen, Schönried, Saanenmöser, Zweisimmen, Launen, Turbach, Voitersoy, Gsteig and Ablenschen. As a result, a huge united skiing region is formed, on the slopes of mountains such as Shtand, Horntauben, Giferhorn and others, where 220 kilometers of tracks for skiers of different levels are laid. 58% of the slopes are blue, 27% are red, 15% are black, so the resort is perfect place for not very sophisticated skiers or in general "dummies" who can take skiing courses in one of the ten schools in Gstaad. The opportunity to buy a ski pass that unites the region of Gstaad and the Vaudois Alps with such resorts as Leysin, Les Diablerets, Villars-Grion and Chateau d'Eu gives a special chic to the rest here.
The villages themselves are located at an altitude of about a kilometer, and the height difference of the resort is 2000-3000 meters, the highest point is on the famous Glacier 3000 glacier, which is part of the Vaudois Alps region. In total, the tracks are equipped with 57 lifts, of which 27 are rope tows, 17 chairlifts, 10 gondolas and 4 funiculars. For the needs of snowboarders in the Gstaad region, 4 snowparks are open at once, one of which is located in Zweisimmen (Snowpark Rindenberg), one in Saanenmöser (Vanillaz Playground), one of the same name, on the Glacier 3000 glacier, and the fourth, Highland Park, in Chateau d'Eu, located in the Vaudois Alps. Other leisure options include heli-skiing, ice skating, night skiing, cross-country skiing, airboarding and more. As for après-ski, Gstaad has a popular Greengo nightclub, as well as great bars like Roaster, Rialto, Dorfli Piano bar and others.
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A wonderful resort consisting of two ski villages - Adelboden and Lenka, located in the south of the Bernese Highlands. In total, here at an altitude of 1070 to 2350 meters there are about 210 kilometers of trails, where they try to provide the highest quality snow cover. In addition, the slopes of this resort are famous for their width and relative simplicity, which makes Aldenboden an attractive place for families. Most of the trails are blue and red, well suited for beginners. 72 lifts deliver tourists to the tops of the slopes. It is also not very noisy, and there is a rather peaceful atmosphere. The Engstligenalp area has a natural snowpark with a natural halfpipe. Also, snowboarders should definitely look into the Hahnenmoos ski area, which also has an excellent snow park suitable for freestyle lovers.
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Meiringen-Hasliberg is an interesting ski area just to the east of Lake Britzen. Classical alpine flavor and modern design are intricately combined here, and the resort itself can be called relatively young. The skiing area here unites 60 kilometers of slopes, of which 37 kilometers are red, 20 are simple blue and 3 kilometers are black slopes. There are 17 lifts installed on the slopes. The resort village of Meiringen itself is located quite low - 600 meters above sea level, and the highest point of the resort is 2430 meters, so the elevation difference here is impressive. It is often noted that Meiringen-Hasliberg is great for snowboarders, thanks in large part to the beautiful Freestyle Park with four jumps (7, 12, 12 and 20 meters), a slidebox, a quarter pipe, which every snowboarder will appreciate.
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Cantons of Central Switzerland
Central Switzerland is not a separate administrative unit, but a region that incorporates several cantons at once, and at the same time a certain number of ski resorts. The cantons included in this conditional region are Uri, Oberwalden, Niederwalden, Lucerne, Zug and Schwitz. They are located on the northern side of the Alps and include some ski areas. For example, in this region there is the resort of Engelberg, the large ski area Gotthard Oberalp Arena with the resort of Andermatt and Ubrig. They are not as well known among Russian tourists as the resorts of Valais, but this can play just a positive role. And there is no doubt that skiing can be accompanied by a wonderful trip to the cities of the region.
Engelberg is an old village next to a 12th-century Benedictine monastery just 30 kilometers from Lucerne, and at the same time is one of the most well-deserved ski resorts in Switzerland. The village itself is located at an altitude of 1050 meters, but the slopes of the resort reach the mark of 3020 meters, so the elevation difference at Engelberg is quite impressive. The center of Engelberg is the largest mountain in central Switzerland, Titlis, with a height of 3239 meters. This resort is not very suitable for beginner skiers, but for more experienced skiers it is a real expanse, besides, Engelberg is famous for its freeride slopes. The skiing season lasts here from October to May. In total, Engelberg has 82 kilometers of pistes, of which 53 kilometers are red, 25 kilometers are blue and 4 are black. Tourists are transported by 26 lifts, including the revolutionary Rotair funicular. Snowboarders in Engelberg will be interested in the Jochpass ski area, as well as the new snowXpark on Trübsee.
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Ubrig (or Hochubrig) is a small ski area in the canton of Schwütz, centered on the resort villages of Oberiberg and Unteriberg. Access to the resort's twelve lifts is located in the village of Oberiberg, from where you can get to 50 kilometers of Ubrig pistes of all difficulty categories. However, Ubrig cannot be called an outstanding resort - the ski area is small, the maximum height of the resort is 1860 meters. For snowboarders, a fun park has been created. All in all, it's pretty quiet resort family orientation.
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By and large, Andermatt is only the most famous name, which is part of the vast Gotthard Oberalp Arena ski area. Located in the central Swiss canton of Uri, the ski resort of Andermatt is known throughout the country and often benefits from its favorable location next to the St. Gotthard Pass and good transport links to the cities of Switzerland. Andermatt is famous for its beautiful landscapes formed by the Gems-Stock, Rosboden-Stokk, Muterlishorn, Svalbard and Stöckli mountains. In total, the Gotthard Oberalp Arena region includes 125 kilometers of slopes, of which 28 kilometers are blue, 57 red and 40 black, so this place is perfect for already quite experienced skiers and snowboarders. The resort's 20 ski lifts are capable of transporting approximately 21,200 people per hour. Andermatt offers an excellent choice of activities for snowboarders - a snow park in the Gems-Stock area, another with a half-pipe at the Tegia Gronda lift in Sedrun. All lovers of freeride and freestyle should go to Gems-Stokk. During the entire ski season, a free ski bus runs around the resort, connecting the villages of Andermatt, Sedrun and other areas of the Gotthard Oberalp Arena.
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Canton of Graubünden
Graubünden is the largest Swiss canton in the southeast of the country with its capital in small town Kur. Most famous place Graubüden is, perhaps, the world-famous resort of Davos, which is also the capital of the economic forum of the same name, although in general this border canton is not very populated and is covered with mountain peaks, a string of which goes east to Austria. This, however, led to the fact that in Grisons there are some of the most famous ski resorts of the Alps - the same Davos, Klosters, St. in a real ski paradise.
Davos-Klosters is the most famous region skiing in Graubünden, and possibly in all of Switzerland. It is formed by two independent resorts - the legendary Davos, which late XIX century was known throughout Europe as a high-altitude resort, and located slightly in the shadow of its famous neighbor Klosters. The towns are located 8 kilometers from each other, and from the point of view of ski tourism, they have long been considered a single ski area, uniting almost 320 kilometers of slopes and 59 lifts. In total, Davos-Klosters is divided into 6 resorts (or simply ski areas): Jakobshorn, Parzenn - Gochna, Pischa, Madrisa, Rinerhorn, Schattsalp - Strela.
Of course, Davos and Klosters are famous not only for their ski holidays, but also for their active entertainment, cultural and commercial life. For example, at nightfall Bolgen Plaza in Davos turns into a huge party area; fans of club culture can take a walk at Casa Antica in Klosters and The Ex-Bar in Davos. There are also many small establishments where after skiing you can perfectly warm up with a glass of mulled wine. Not far from Davos there is a line railway The Rhaetian Railway between Albula and Bernina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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In terms of international fame and history, Davos has a serious competitor in the person of St. Moritz, which began to receive the first tourists as early as 1864, and in 1928 and 1948 was the capital of the Winter Olympic Games. Another thing is that St. Moritz is still known for its impressive prices, so not everyone can afford to stay here. The resort is famous for both its status and the impressive nature around - located at an altitude of 1850 meters, St. Moritz is adjacent to Lake Lei da Sant Murezzan and the more than 3-kilometer Rosach peak.
The ski resort of St. Moritz is part of the Upper Engadine Area, so from here you have access to approximately 350 kilometers of excellent slopes located at an altitude of 1800-3303 meters. This region includes such resorts as Celerina, Silvaplana, Diavolezza, Zuoz, Samedan, Pontresina and others. Most of the slopes in winter are flooded with sun, so skiing is a special pleasure. In total, there are 18 blue pistes with a total length of 70 kilometers, 61 red (245 kilometers) and 9 black (35 kilometers). Moreover, purely geographically, 80 kilometers are located near St. Moritz, the rest of the routes are laid in the Silvaplana zone and the Devil's Glacier. This resort is not the best place to learn the basics of skiing, so it's worth going here with some experience. By the way, despite its elite orientation, St. Moritz is friendly to snowboarders - it was here that the first world championship in this sport was held in 1987. Apres-ski in St. Moritz is diverse - there are places for moneybags in tuxedos like Kings, as well as more democratic establishments - Bobby's Bar, Stübli, Cascade Hemingway, Diamond and Vivai.
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This small resort is part of the Upper Engadine Area ski region, but, of course, it is not as famous as St. Moritz, however, from here you can get to 350 kilometers of slopes of this impressive ski area, which unites several resorts. One of the main attractions of the resort is the majestic Bernina Peak, towering over 4,000 meters. The resort itself has 17 kilometers of black and 12 kilometers of red slopes, as well as several blue slopes, so in general it is more suitable for intermediate skiers.
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A small cozy resort, part of the Upper Engadine Area, which allows vacationers to enjoy 350 kilometers of slopes here. Silvaplana is conveniently located between the lake of the same name and mountain range, so it has quite picturesque surroundings. Mount Corvatsch is also located here, with a height of 3451 meters, so often this skiing area is called Silvaplana - Corvatsch, although in the Engadine region these designations are often conditional. Silvaplana has pistes of varying levels, some of which are high enough to be considered challenging and popular with snowboarders and advanced skiers.
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This small traditional alpine village of 1400 inhabitants is today one of the most remarkable resorts in the Engadine region, as well as the gateway to the Swiss National Park. Zuoz is a very small and quiet resort with five lifts and ten slopes: six blue, two red and two black. The village itself is located at an altitude of 1700 meters, the highest point of the lift is 2590 meters. From here you can get to all 350 kilometers of the slopes of the Engadine region.
See ways to get to the resort, prices for ski passes and hotels.
Sils is a ski resort in the Engadine region and is part of the Corvatsch-Frucella ski area, as if specially created for well-trained skiers and athletes. The village of Sils itself is nestled between two freezing lakes and has inspired such geniuses as Friedrich Nietzsche and David Bowie with its beauty. 70 kilometers of slopes, several ski lifts (including Corvatsch - to a height of 3,303 meters) and excellent opportunities for both skiers and snowboarders.
See ways to get to the resort, prices for ski passes and hotels.
The Savognin ski resort lies in the Geldzha valley, three dozen kilometers from the capital of the canton of Graubünden, the city of Chur, and is not part of any large-scale region like St. Moritz, but at the same time it has its own status in the world of winter sports. At the same time, its ski area is by no means small - about 80 kilometers (110 kilometers, if you take neighboring resort Bivio). The height difference of the resort is 1200-2713 meters. In total, 22 pistes have been laid here, of which 8 are blue, 12 are red and 2 are black, so this resort can suit both beginners and experienced skiers. Especially the resort can please snowboarders, as it is famous for its freeride slopes.
See ways to get to the resort, prices for ski passes and hotels.
A very small and quiet resort, Wals is a tiny medieval village of a thousand people, located in the south of the canton of Graubünden. In total, there are 12 slopes of varying difficulty, which can be accessed by 5 lifts, including a funicular. There is a considerable elevation difference in Vals - the village itself is located at an altitude of 1250 meters, and the lifts reach up to 3000 meters. There are good freeride slopes in Wals, chosen by snowboarders no less than the snowpark created here.
See ways to get to the resort, prices for ski passes and hotels.
This high mountain resort is located on the sunny side of the Alps in the canton of Graubünden and has over a hundred years of history, since the first ski club was founded here in 1903, and the first ski school was launched in 1933. Arosa, located in the Plessur Valley, consists of the old village of Innerarosa and the resort itself - Auserosa. The elevation difference of Arosa is 1740-2650 meters with the highest point on Mount Weisshorn. In total, there are 70 kilometers of prepared trails, as well as 40 kilometers of freeride slopes. For the needs of vacationers, a convenient system of 13 modern lifts has been created, which allows you to avoid queues. In Arosa, skiers of any level can find their own slopes, although the resort is still more intended for the middle peasants. For snowboarders, Arosa has an excellent funpark and one of the best halfpipes in the Alps. The resort is also famous for its rather active evening nightlife- there are over two dozen bars, the Nuts club, etc. A free ski bus Arosa Bus runs around the resort.
See ways to get to the resort, prices for ski passes and hotels.
Brigels is often called not only a separate resort village, but also the whole Brigels-Waltensburg-Andiast skiing region, located a few tens of kilometers west of Chur in the Lag de Breuil region and, in turn, part of the huge Surselva zone in the northwest of Graubünden at the head of the Rhine. In total, Brigels, with a vertical drop of 1100-2418 meters, boasts 75 kilometers of slopes, the longest of which is an excellent 7-kilometer descent. There are pistes for all levels, from greens to blacks, although the resort is best for beginners and intermediate skiers. Snowboarders will surely enjoy the Surselva snow park, where you can learn many tricks on jumps, kickers, etc. In addition, Brigels is connected by a single ski pass to the Obersaxen-Val Lumentia-Mundauen region, as well as the resorts of Sedrun, Vals, Disentis and Laax / Films . This is the so-called Surselva Safari Ski Pass, with which you can get to almost 535 kilometers of slopes of all the above resorts.
See ways to get to the resort, prices for ski passes and hotels.
Obersachsen usually means a vast skiing region that combines the resorts of Obersachsen, Val Lumentia and Mundauen, which is included in the Surselva ski pass area, which also provides access to the slopes of Brigels, Sedrun, Disentis, Vals and Laax, so that in the end the guest Obersachsen, there is an opportunity to master 535 kilometers of slopes in the north-west of the canton of Graubünden. You can also buy a ski pass exclusively for Obersachsen - 120 kilometers of local slopes are unlikely to leave you indifferent. The resort is located at an altitude of 1300 meters, the total elevation difference is 1200-2300 meters. Obersaxen is perfect for inexperienced skiers, as 60 kilometers of pistes are blue, 40 are red, and only 20 kilometers are black slopes for experienced riders.
See ways to get to the resort, prices for ski passes and hotels.
The two resort alpine villages of Disentis and Zedrun, six kilometers apart, attract not only the general skiing area included in the Surselva ski pass, but also in themselves - the most beautiful medieval chapels, a Benedictine monastery with a 1300-year history, a magnificent Rhine valley . So skiing here has its own aesthetic appeal. At the same time, Zedrun is also included in the Gotthard Oberalp Arena region. In Disentes, you can enjoy 60 kilometers of slopes, 30 of which are red, 20 are black, and only 10 are plain blue. The resort itself is located at an altitude of 1150 meters, and the lift rises to a maximum of 2850 meters. Zedrun is located higher (1450 meters), but its elevation difference is small - only 450 meters. However, Zedrun can easily attract snowboarders thanks to its Obstacle Park fan park and halfpipe, where even other Gotthard Oberalp Arena resorts come.
See ways to get to the resort, prices for ski passes and hotels.
I recently read an article about winter recreation, and interesting statistics caught my eye: a crisis is a crisis, and demand for expensive resorts fell just the least. And those who rode them did not change their addictions.
So I thought: I still had no time to write something about ski resorts in switzerland , which, fortunately, had a chance to ride. I'm sorry, I'm fixing it. Winter is coming, you can no longer be silent.
Just a warning: there will be a lot of photos. Because one photo sometimes tells better than a hundred words about a particular place. And I will only talk about those ski resorts where I myself have been.
So, if for some reason you have not yet reached the cherished Swiss resorts, but do not lose hope, read this article. In it, I will try to give a brief overview: where it is better to go skiing in Switzerland and which of the resorts you will be at ease with.
Ride with Paris Hilton and Prince William
Why tourists choose Switzerland
Switzerland… What associations do you have? Banks. Chocolate and cheese. Ski resorts.
This country seems to be specially created for those who love outdoor activities in the mountains. After all two-thirds of its territory is occupied by these very mountains. And the ski infrastructure here is one of the best in the world. Because if the Swiss take on something, they do it not just well, but in the best possible way.
That is why many world celebrities prefer Swiss ski resorts. You can be 200% sure of any type of service here.
First class hotels. The healthiest and best cooked food. Immaculately smoothed slopes. The shade of the tablecloth on your table in the restaurant will match the shade of the mountainside outside the restaurant window. A spoon for shoes in the room will certainly be made of environmentally friendly materials.
Many Russian tourists as a star status - Maxim Galkin, Victoria Bonya, etc., and ordinary citizens - modest owners of car dealerships, restaurateurs, hairdressers - also managed to fall in love with the Swiss mountains. So what? At such resorts it is pleasant to look at others and show yourself.
However, ordinary inhabitants of office prairies from the middle level and above, or, say, the owners of a modest online store, can also afford a fairy tale called the Swiss Alps.
Ski resorts in Switzerland: skiing like in a fairy tale
Once, about 200 years ago, all modern ski resorts in Switzerland were ordinary villages or even just sheds in the mountains, where shepherds grazing cattle in alpine meadows stayed for the night ... But when, in the middle of the 19th century, doctors said that the panacea for tuberculosis is mountain air, Swiss villages began to turn into healing resorts for the nobility. At first they came here only in the summer. And only by the end of the 19th century did the fashion for winter sports in the mountains begin to emerge.
Löchental valley
My acquaintance with ski resorts in Switzerland began back in 2002. It was the resort of Lauchernalp in the Löchental valley, where the Swiss themselves mostly skied. So the Russian word could only be heard from ourselves). The picturesque Swiss Löchental valley is tightly squeezed by steep slopes and powerful three-thousanders, like the Breithorn.
Today there is a railway tunnel. We went there by car. And right on it we drove into the railway train. When all the carriages of the train were filled with cars, the train started moving. Having passed the tunnel, we also unproblematically left the train and drove further along the highway. Which led us to a small village
In the valley there is a small (by Alpine standards) skiing area with a center in the villages of Kippel and Wheeler.
But then it seemed to us just huge! Like the Alps themselves, which won my heart once and for all. It was incomprehensible to the mind - how could all this infrastructure be built on these steep slopes? Small hotels and cozy restaurants, uninterrupted cable cars, well-groomed slopes - all this was so strikingly different from our Russian ski resorts ...
By the way, it was there that I first got an idea about the work of ski instructors. Our friend Nadezhda then had almost no experience in skiing, like her five-year-old daughter. But her Swiss husband - Robert - skated perfectly. But it never occurred to him to teach them both himself! On the very first day of our arrival, he took a personal instructor for Nadezhda for 5 days, and sent their daughter to a children's ski school. After 5 days, both rode quite cheerfully.
Why it is better to start skiing with an instructor, I explained in the article
However, it is worth going to the Löchental valley not only for the sake of skiing. Winters here are beautiful, snowy, lingering, and the atmosphere of mountain life literally captures in the old Kippel. Narrow village streets, log chalets are comfortably buried in snowdrifts, and stone buildings darkened from time to time stand like huts on chicken legs.
The only thing missing is goblin and other fabulous evil spirits. Although if you visit Kipell in February-March, you can see not such devilry. The Chaggatta holiday walks through the streets: people in wooden masks and sheepskins try to scare the winter with all their appearance.
So, if you want to spend a week in the mountains of Switzerland and never meet our "Russo tourist", then the Löchental valley is crying for you. The only thing that can upset you there is the almost complete absence of Apres-ski here. No, there are several cozy restaurants in the resort. But no more.
villars
Another place where there are not so many of our compatriots yet is the village of Villar. Perhaps it cannot be attributed to the most luxury resorts Switzerland, but still it is so cozy here that many people visit it several times. This is a traditional ski resort ideal for beginners, For holidays with children and for those who want to combine skiing and excursions.
Children are especially taken care of at this resort: there are several excellent ski schools , kindergarten Jardin des Neiges in Villars (children 3-8 years old are accepted), nursery and kindergarten Trottinette in Villars (from 3 months to 6 years) is open from 8.00 to 18.00. So crazy moms, like me, who don’t want to miss the season, but are worried that there is no one to leave the baby with, urgently pay attention to this village! By the way, there are also toboggan runs for non-skiers.
You can get to the ski area from Villars in eight-seater cabins or take a train to Bretaye, although this is a little longer. On both sides of the shallow hollow there are simple "red" and "blue" trails, many training grounds. It is generally very comfortable skiing over Villar, there are few truly extreme slopes.
One of the most interesting routes leads from Chaux Ronde to the bottom of the gorge, to La Rasse; from here, pulling up on the ski lift, you can move to the Gryon sector, on the slopes of Chaux (2020). For beginners in this area there is a long calm “blue” track, along which you can slide down to the village itself.
The town is half an hour away from the resort. Lave-les-Bains where to spend a lazy morning enjoying spa treatments. And forty minutes away - winery Bernard Cavet, which delivers wines to the best restaurants in Switzerland.
The resort made a very positive impression on me. And it is located very well in terms of sightseeing opportunities: a 20-minute drive from Montreux and Veviers, 40 minutes from Lausanne or Gruyères, and a little over an hour from Geneva and Bern, famous for their historical monuments.
Apres-ski here is quite decent: 45 restaurants, 4 bars. For lovers of shopping - shops, fairs and sales.
Nenda-Verbier
The next skiing region will surely appeal to those who are used to getting maximum pleasure for their money. It's called 4 Valleys and includes such resorts as Verbier (VERBIER), Nendaz (NENDAZ), Veyzon (VEYZONNAS) and Thion (THYON). Buy a ski pass and ride in any of the 4 valleys. The main thing is not to get confused in the grid of 100 lifts and 420 kilometers of slopes.
In order for us to have time to explore this region with the greatest efficiency, our group was given a guide - an agile Swiss instructor girl. Following her non-stop, we rushed along the tracks of varying difficulty for more than five hours. And by the end of the skiing, even the most persistent of us gave way to the legs from fatigue. But I really liked the region. Although its picturesque landscapes (and by the way - where are they different in Switzerland?) We managed to look at it only when we got up on the cable car ...
The first two resorts are most popular with our skiers - Nenda and Verbier . They come here to make new skiing trips through the passes, peaks and glaciers of the Four Valleys.
Verbier These are great opportunities for snowboarding. Here you will find several snowboard parks: 1 fun park, 2 halfpipes. There are trails for cross-country skiing of varying difficulty, both short and easy for beginners, and difficult for professionals.
Apres-ski: Verbier boasts a vibrant nightlife with over 100 bars, nightclubs and discos. The resort has a sports center with swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath, fitness and jacuzzi. indoor ice rink. Also in Verbier is Cultural Center Museum of the Alps with exhibits telling about the history of the region, and a church with a unique organ.
Optimal accommodation in Verbier:
- Hotel Bristol Verbier
- Hotel Montpelier
- Chalet Luxe Terrier
- Apartment Le Mandarin 2*
- Apartment La Toura 2*
- Apartment Stemm-2 3*
- Residence Emeraude 3*
Nenda has 10 tennis courts and a fitness center. Excursions in the mountains with professional guides, descents from the glacier are organized. Many hiking trails (with a total length of 70 km) are laid both in the resort itself and not far from it. There is an artificial ice rink where curling matches and discos are often held. In general, you will definitely not be bored here. Too bad we only had one day to explore this ski area…
Accommodation in Nende:
- Chalet Le Ruisseau
- Chalet Tsamandon 7
- Chalet Les Etoiles
- Chalet Chocolat - Nendaz 4 Vallées
As you can see, the main types of accommodation in this resort are chalets and suites. If you have never had a rest in this option, choosing hotels with meals, try it, because chalets and apartments in Switzerland, like everything else, are of a very good level.
But in general, 4 valleys is the optimal combination of price-quality parameters.
Zermatt
Any skier has ever heard of Zermatt. This resort is considered to be one of the most prestigious ski resorts in the world. His majestic symbol Matterhorn peak , which has the shape of a regular pyramid, on which the glacier is located.
It is thanks to this glacier that skiing in Zermatt can be done all year round. The resort is located at an altitude of 1620 m above sea level in the upper reaches of the Visp valley. It is surrounded by 36 peaks of the Main Alpine Range with a height of more than 4000 meters.
About the resort itself, one can speak only in superlatives. The most fashionable. the most prestigious. The most environmentally friendly. Car traffic is completely prohibited here, and you can only move on electric mini-cars and horse-drawn carriages.
With our large group, we walked to our hotel, leaving our suitcases at the railway station, from where they were picked up by hotel employees (apparently, in an electric car). And even this first walk around the resort put everything in its place. It's great here, friends! This was the general summary of our expert group.
ABOUT
Zermatt is in the top 10 for the quality of pistes. the best resorts peace. Here is the highest lift station - Klein Matterhorn - 3885 m. The mountains in the Zermatt region are quite steep, but there are also suitable slopes for beginners.
The whole territory is divided into 3 different districts: Sunnega, Gornergrat and Klein Matterhorn.
Well, a bonus to this magnificence is the opportunity to make a ski-safari for the pass - to Italy, on the slopes of the popular ski resort of Cervinia . In fact, only topographers and border guards know exactly where exactly the conditional line separating the two countries passes. On skis it can be crossed without any formalities.
What we did on one of the days when it was very frosty in Zermatt in the morning. It will be warmer in Cervinia, our Swiss guides told us. And we went to the "pasta", to test their tracks. Our path lay past the majestic pyramid of the Matterhorn.
We also visited the glacier. More precisely - in the glacier. After all, inside it is a museum of ice figures.
Hotels in Zermatt There are different, the most popular of them: ALEX 4* Super , GRAND HOTEL ZERMATTERHOF 5* Deluxe, MONT CERVIN PALACE 5*.
In addition to these hotels, Zermatt is full of many hotels and apartments: find accommodation in Zermatt.
However, one cannot count on cheap accommodation in Zermatt.
A characteristic feature of Zermatt is the preservation of old buildings, protected as museum exhibits.
Evening Zermatt will please both gourmets and music lovers. Grampi's - the main street of the resort - the concentration of the most popular pubs and bars. These are Gitan, Hexenbar, Elsie's; closer to the river are the trendy Papperla Pub, Ascot, Ex-Bar, Le Mazot.
And I will always remember mine trip to the SPA-center of our hotel which was a culture shock for me. All 5* hotels and most 4* hotels in Zermatt have their own wellness centers. So I decided one day to pamper my tired body from conquering the slopes and go warm up and swim in the pool ...
A polite girl at the counter of the SPA center specified which branch I intended to go to. And there were two of them: one is purely for women, but there are only a couple of saunas in it, the other is common for both men and women, and there are about 15 bathrooms and all sorts of salt rooms and something else, judging by her description - a lot of things. And the second cost twice as much as the first. That is, you generally advise me to visit, I asked her. Yes, mademoiselle, she replies, you are not an "Arabian wife." While I was going down the elevator to the minus first floor, to the general department, I was still trying to understand what she meant ...
But when I got out of the elevator, and two completely naked men were parading towards me, it began to dawn on me ... While I was making my way to my locker past other naked people, I had to painfully decide whether to leave right away or try these wonderful saunas after all. . There must be women in them, even purely theoretically, since this is a general separation. Yes, I got a couple of women, and I persuaded myself to stay. Well, in general, I’ll tell you this: the SPA center is gorgeous, of course, there are no words. Yes, and I don’t seem to be a hypocrite. But I still felt uncomfortable. The rule is that you can not go to these saunas and steam rooms in swimsuits. So, decide for yourself whether you are weak or not weak.
And I also remember shopping in Zermatt . Clothes there, of course, are not cheap. And the choice is not particularly great - either skiing and sports, or purely traditional Swiss. But watch shops are just a dime a dozen! You won't leave Zermatt without a watch! I left with two. And I wear them, satisfied and happy, to this day.
So Zermatt is a resort that suits everyone. Perhaps the only limitation is the size of the wallet. Here and guaranteed snow, and best hotels, quality piste and off-piste, activities for non-skiers and programs for families with children, great restaurants and great shopping.
Now let's move on to the next resort.
Crans Montana
And the last on the list, but not the most important Swiss ski resort, where I had a chance to ride, is Crans-Montana. Thinking about this resort, the first word that comes to my mind is BEAUTIFUL! As I said, there are no ugly resorts in Switzerland (I didn’t come across, at least). But Crans-Montana somehow overshadowed them with its postcard views and inexplicable attraction ...
By Swiss standards, Crans-Montana is a fairly young resort, just over 100 years old. Today there are more than 50 hotels and hundreds of large chalets with apartments.
- Residences Kandahar
- Apartments Nationale
- Le Mayen de Colombire
- Hôtel de la Forêt
- Hotel Splendid
- Sport Palace
- Hotel La Prairie
7,000 people permanently live in Crans-Montana, but at the peak of the season, the population rises to 40,000! This is an ideal place for lovers of leisurely walks along the picturesque shores of frozen lakes (there are seven of them on the plateau), a fabulous winter forest, and snow-covered golf courses. And also from Cran to Montana or from Montana to Cran (between them a quarter of an hour walk) - shopping and boutiques, which abound in both parts of the resort. Huge shopping opportunities: fashionable clothes and shoes of the world's leading brands, watches, cosmetics, sports equipment.
The total length of the slopes over Crans-Montana is 140 km. Red slopes of medium difficulty prevail, although some of them are quite steep, requiring certain skills. A distinctive feature of the region is a comfortable combination of wide open trails at the top and a large number of duplicating each other, picturesque, winding forest paths at the bottom. Almost all slopes are oriented to the south and are well lit throughout the day. This is also their main drawback: the sun mercilessly scans them with its direct rays, and already in March in many areas in the mornings ice mixed with stones, and in the afternoon - "porridge".
We were lucky: the weather that January was sunny, but quite frosty. Therefore, the slopes were in perfect condition. We just rode until we dropped...
A few years ago, a large snow park of 25,000 sq. meters. Now, throughout the season, it constantly hosts various fashionable hangouts, which may soon change our idea of Crans Montana as a resort for serious middle-aged people.
There are no problems with apres-ski in Crans-Montana either. Bars and pubs are everywhere. Aprés-ski is perhaps even more valued here than the skis themselves. Crans-Montana is the perfect place to sunbathe on hotel loungers, enjoy spa treatments, dine at restaurants (there are over eighty!) and shop for the latest gear (and more): the resort claims to be the best shopping destination in Alps.
Only now, after such a crazy ride, I didn’t have any more strength left for all this. Only cuddling with the polar bears at the entrance of the hotel, who seemed to quite share my passion for snow adventures…
Ski insurance
Tour operators usually include in their package tours to ski resorts in Switzerland medical insurance. But if you organize your vacation on your own, or like to ride in powder, off-piste, all the risks of traveling are your responsibility. Therefore, I recommend to think about buying ski insurance .
You can see how much it will cost and apply for it here: ski insurance. To do this, follow the link, enter your data (country of trip, your age), select the item "Alpine skiing and snowboarding" in the tab "Other types of recreation and sports" - and the system will calculate the cost of your policy. You can also add insurance for cases such as trip cancellation, luggage loss and so on.
Conclusions: the pros and cons of Swiss ski resorts
So, today I tried to persuade you not to deny yourself the pleasure of riding at least once on ideal tracks in the fabulously beautiful country of Switzerland. After all, it's not that expensive. Okay, it's expensive. But trust me - it's worth it! You will enjoy every moment spent there and every euro spent, sorry, Swiss franc (yes, they still have their own currency, and no euros).
So, the advantages of skiing in Switzerland include:
- Very beautiful resorts and mountains
- Long tradition of hospitality, high level hotels, chalets, restaurants, trail preparation.
- Possibility to combine ski vacation with excursions and/or treatment.
- Guaranteed snow cover at high and glacial resorts.
Swiss mountain resorts, equipped with high-tech funiculars, electric cars and other devices, retain the sweet charm and comfort of antiquity. In short, Switzerland is a fairy tale, guys!
There are not so many minuses in this "fairy tale" - but they are:
- Expensive prices for everything: for ski passes (especially for large ski areas), in hotels, restaurants and shops.
- There are very few Russian-speaking staff and instructors in Switzerland.
The choice, as always, is yours. If you have any questions for me about Switzerland - ask in the comments.
See you on the blog!
