Switzerland evokes images of soaring peaks, chocolate-box chalets, and luxury mountain resorts. With so many world-renowned ski areas to choose from, it can be overwhelming to select a destination for your luxury ski holiday. To help you plan, the experts from Firefly Collection have hand-picked a selection of the best ski resorts in Switzerland.
Zermatt
Snow-sure slopes, a charming town centre, and the iconic peak of the Matterhorn gracing the skyline: Zermatt has all the ingredients of the best ski resort in Switzerland. Well-heeled visitors come to stroll its car-free streets, browse designer boutiques, and ski the 360km of pistes that make up the extensive Matterhorn Ski Paradise domain. Ascending to a lofty altitude of 3,883m, it’s the highest ski area in Europe, with accordingly excellent snow conditions.
Non-skiers can appreciate the astounding views by taking the Matterhorn Glacier Ride cable car to the top, or by taking Europe’s highest open-air cog railway to Gornergrat, where breathtaking panoramas await. There’s no shortage of exciting yearly events in Zermatt, from the famed ski mountaineering race ‘La Patrouille des Glaciers’, to the Zermatt Unplugged acoustic music festival which takes place each April.
Zermatt is a contender for the most foodie of Switzerland’s ski resorts, with an impressive four Michelin-starred establishments to its name. It’s also renowned for its buzzing après-ski centring around several long-standing institutions, such as Hennu Stall on the slopes, and the ever-popular Harry’s Bar in the centre of Zermatt.
Quick Facts About Zermatt
- Ski Area: Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
- Total Pistes: 360km
- No. of Lifts: 53
- Resort Altitude: 1,620m
- Top lift Altitude: 3,899m
Verbier
Renowned for its luxury accommodation and upmarket party scene, sought-after Verbier is a place to see and be seen, attracting a glamorous crowd of jet-setters who are allured by its graceful chalet-lined streets and beautiful views. Yet it’s also arguably the best ski resort in Switzerland for off-piste skiing, with backcountry enthusiasts flocking to its challenging and varied terrain to make the most of its superb snow conditions. In fact, every March Verbier hosts the final stage of the Freeride World Tour ski and snowboard competition.
With 410km of slopes making Les 4 Vallées the largest ski area to lie fully within Switzerland, the on-piste skiing won’t disappoint either. It’s complemented by a hedonistic après-ski offering, with plenty of places to party once the sun disappears behind the summits, such as the notorious Le Farinet Après and its unbeatable schedule of live music. If fine dining is more your thing, Verbier has many wonderful restaurants including the Michelin-starred La Table d’Adrien.
Quick Facts About Verbier
- Ski Area: Les 4 Vallées
- Total Pistes: 410km
- No. of Lifts: 92
- Resort Altitude: 1,500m
- Top lift Altitude: 3,330m
Crans-Montana
Lesser known than some of the other great Swiss resorts but no less charming, Crans-Montana offers a luxury experience without the crowds. It’s the result of two villages merging together, perched on a sunny south-facing plateau that’s perfect for exploring on foot. Non-skiers could spend a week simply browsing the 120 or so boutiques gathered around Rue du Prado, where designer brands jostle for space. With its low-key atmosphere, ample sunshine, and restorative mountain air, Crans-Montana is also a fabulous resort for wellness, with an excellent choice of spas and spa hotels.
Blessed with a respectable 140km of pistes, the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana has more than enough slopes to keep even the most avid skiers occupied for a week. It’s one of the best Swiss ski resorts for intermediates, characterised by wide, sweeping red and blue runs. Don’t miss the Piste Nationale, a 7km former World Cup men’s speed ski course which drops 620 metres in altitude over its length.
Crans-Montana has a surprisingly rich après-ski scene for its size, boasting three bars on the piste, including the much-loved Zerodix and Cry d’Er Club d’Altitude, and ten late-night spots. It counts no less than 130 dining establishments, notably two Michelin-starred restaurants, L’Ours and LeMontBlanc.
Quick Facts About Crans Montana
- Ski Area: Crans Montana
- Total Pistes: 140km
- No. of Lifts: 34
- Resort Altitude: 1,495m
- Top lift Altitude: 3,000m
St Moritz
When it comes to spectacular natural settings, St Moritz is surely the best ski resort in Switzerland. Situated on a lovely lake and bathed in winter sunshine for much of the season, it’s no surprise that it began life as a spa town. It’s touted as the birthplace of winter tourism and has hosted the Winter Olympics twice, leaving behind a strong winter sports legacy for visitors to enjoy, such as the outdoor Olympic ice rink. Don’t miss the incredible Cresta Run, a 1.2km natural ice toboggan track that even beginners can ride, the annual ‘White Turf’ horse racing event in February or the snow polo tournament in January, which takes place on the frozen lake.
St Moritz benefits from access to three unlinked ski areas comprising 350km of pistes. As a result, the variety of skiing is hard to beat with everything from beginners’ slopes to steep mogul runs. When you tire of the slopes, St Moritz is also nothing short of a culinary destination, with five Michelin-starred restaurants for you to sample during your stay.
Quick Facts About St Moritz
- Ski Area: St Moritz – Corviglia
- Total Pistes: 155km
- No. of Lifts: 24
- Resort Altitude: 1,846m
- Top lift Altitude: 3,057m
Grindelwald
When you imagine a Swiss mountain village, you’re probably picturing the beautiful ski resort of Grindelwald. Composed of a cluster of picture-postcard wooden chalets nestled in a gentle valley as the great peaks of the Eiger and Jungfrau soar to dizzying heights above, it’s hard to think of a more romantic sight. The atmosphere here is peaceful and the pace more relaxed than the larger resorts, ideal for those looking to escape the stresses of everyday life.
Grindelwald offers plenty of varied ski terrain, with over 100km of pistes in the interconnected Grindelwald-Wengen ski area alone, and a further 100km in the remainder of the Jungfrau domain. Armed with a new, state-of-the-art lift system, Grindelwald is better connected to the summits than ever; it takes just 15 minutes to reach the Eiger Glacier from the resort centre.
Yet arguably the most delightful way to scale the summits is by taking the train up to the highest railway station in Europe (3,454m) at Jungfraujoch. From here, you’ll have unrivalled views of some of Switzerland’s most famous peaks. Thrill seekers will also love the First Cliff Walk, a circular walk above Grindelwald with a panoramic walkway jutting out from the cliff face, offering spectacular mountain vistas.
Certainly one of the best ski resorts in Switzerland for cuisine, Grindelwald is home to several Michelin-recognised establishments including the starred 1910 Gourmet by Hausers. It also hosts the World Snow Festival each January, in which artists create an array of incredible giant ice sculptures for you to admire.
Quick Facts About Grindelwald
- Ski Area: Jungfrau Ski Area
- Total Pistes: 215km
- No. of Lifts: 41
- Resort Altitude: 1034m
- Top lift Altitude: 2970m
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If you are unsure where to go for your next skiing adventure, call the experts at Firefly Collection for some friendly, unbiased advice. And if you are looking for a luxury chalet in Switzerland (or anywhere else!) Firefly Collection can match you to the best chalets based on your requirements.
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