These best ski towns in Switzerland allow you to combine the thrill of skiing and snowboarding with the amenities and cultural offerings of an urban environment. There are many ski resorts in Switzerland, but we have listed below the best ski cities in Switzerland that provide a well-connected transportation network, cultural offerings, and ample modern facilities such as hotels, restaurants, cafes, and shops.
Without further ado, here are the 10 best ski towns or cities in Switzerland:
1. Zermatt
Zermatt, a world-class ski resort in Valais, Switzerland is one of Switzerland’s best ski towns. Not only is it a hub for winter sports, but it also offers a range of modern facilities such as modern hotels, top-rated restaurants, après-ski bars, cafes, and shops.
With endless runs and a spectacular backdrop, it’s also the highest winter sports area in the Alps. Zermatt has 360 kilometers of ski slopes with varying levels of difficulty. Its highest peak, Matterhorn Ski Paradise, is located at a height of 3,883 meters above sea level. There’s skiing here all year long.
On Zermatt’s main street Bahnhofstrasse, you will find shops selling athletic gear, souvenirs, and more. On this street is also the Matterhorn Museum – Zermatlantis, which you can visit when not skiing.
If you would like to spend a day in Zermatt, you can check out this article: How to Spend 1 Day in Zermatt, Switzerland.
One of the best-developed ski resorts in the world, Zermatt is also easy to reach by train. The Glacier Express Train starts from Zermatt as well.
| Zermatt in a Nutshell |
| • Iconic Matterhorn views • Extensive ski terrain and year-round skiing on glaciers • Charming car-free village • Glacier Express Train |
2. Verbier
Verbier is a fantastic ski town in Valais, Switzerland. For those who want a lively town, it is the best location to access Switzerland’s largest ski resort, 4 Vallées, which encompasses Verbier, Bruson, La Tzoumaz, Nendaz, Veysonnaz, and Thyon.
4 Vallées is the third biggest ski resort in Europe after France’s Les 3 Valleys and Italy’s Sella Ronda.
The large ski resort of 4 Vallées is home to 410 kilometers of slopes and 92 lifts, so there’s something for everyone. Mont-Fort, which towers at 3,330 meters, is the highest with breathtaking panoramic views of the Swiss and French Alps. From Mont-Fort, you can take in the breathtaking views of the ski resort, including Matterhorn and Mont Blanc.
You will find charming chalets, restaurants, and après-ski bars in Verbier. Sporting goods stores like Patagonia, The North Face, Peak Performance, Arc’teryx, Moncler, and Bogner are scattered throughout the town. Additionally, the area has many boutiques with goods such as clothing (mostly high-end), fashion accessories, and food.
In Verbier, you can also visit museums like the Musée de Bagnes (Le Châble) and the Alpine Museum. Several art galleries can be found in Verbier as well.
Verbier is easy to reach from Geneva and Lausanne by public transportation. Walking around the village is easy and pleasant.
In case you were wondering how expensive Verbier is, you can check out this article: Is Verbier Expensive? A Close Look at Its Price and Value.
| Verbier in a Nutshell |
| • Switzerland’s largest ski resort • Charming chalets, fantastic restaurants, lively après-ski bars • Numerous sporting goods stores • Stunning views of the surrounding peaks |
3. St. Moritz
Engadin St. Moritz is the most elegant ski town and one of the largest winter sports regions in Switzerland. Luxury and beauty are synonymous with this ski town, which has many grand hotels catering to the world’s elite.
As one of the oldest winter sports resorts in the world, it’s also famous for hosting the Winter Olympics twice. When winter comes, Lake St. Moritz (St. Moritzersee in German, Lej da San Murezzan in Romansh) becomes ice-covered.
Although there are several ski resorts in Engadin, the largest one is Corviglia with 163 kilometers of slopes. Corviglia is the home mountain of St. Moritz. Piz Nair, the highest point, rises 3,057 meters above sea level. The resort offers enough for all levels, including 8 kilometers of freeride slopes.
In St. Moritz, you will find many fantastic restaurants and shops. Some popular shops to be found on Via Serlas are Asprey London, Bvlgari, Cartier, Giorgio Armani, Gübelin, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Rossignol, and Miu Miu. Some popular shops to be found on Via Maistra are Bally, Bogner, Bucherer, Cashmere House Lamm, Etro, KJUS, Prada, and Moncler.
For those who love art, I can highly recommend the Segantini Museum. Other museums include the Engadiner Museum and Berry Museum. Several art galleries can be found in St. Moritz as well.
St. Moritz is easy to reach by public transportation. The Glacier Express Train starts from this town as well. Walking around St. Moritz is easy and pleasant.
| St. Moritz in a Nutshell |
| • Upscale ambiance and glamorous reputation • Prestigious winter sports events • Luxury shopping and fine dining • Cultural attractions and art galleries |
4. Davos
Switzerland’s Davos, the host of the World Economic Forum, is an urban ski town with easy access from Zurich. This is a popular ski destination for people living in the greater Zurich area; it is known for its excellent tourist infrastructure.
The Davos Klosters Mountains can be found in the Graubünden ski towns of Davos and Klosters. This Davos Klosters Mountains has 269 kilometers of varied slopes and 80 different ski runs. Winter days can be enjoyed here by skiers, carvers, snowboarders, freestylers, and free-riders. A total of five snow sports areas are available during the winter – Jakobshorn, Pischa, Schatzalp – Strela, Rinerhorn, and Klosters Parsenn.
Davos is not only a fantastic ski destination but also a great place to stay at a reasonable price. You can also find many restaurants, shops, and supermarkets nearby.
If you enjoy museums, the Kirchner Museum displays the largest collection of art by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner in the world. There is also a museum dedicated to winter sports and a museum dedicated to the heritage.
| Davos in a Nutshell |
| • Venue for the annual World Economic Forum • Extensive ski network • Wide range of tourist infrastructure and recreational activities beyond skiing • Varied dining options |
5. Grindelwald – Wengen
Grindelwald and Wengen are two separate ski towns, but they share the same ski area – the Jungfrau Ski Area. Featuring 160 kilometers of pistes, the Jungfrau Ski Region Grindelwald – Wengen has an incredibly beautiful mountain panorama and is one of the most well-known ski resorts in Switzerland.
Both ski towns offer a wide variety of hotels, apartments, restaurants, and shops to choose from. While Wengen is car-free and located on a sunny terrace, Grindelwald can be reached by car.
The Lauberhorn Ski Race and Mendelssohn Music Week are two of the popular annual events in Wengen. Heimatmuseum Grindelwald (Grindelwald’s history museum) is an enjoyable place to visit.
| Grindelwald – Wengen in a Nutshell |
| • Stunning views of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau mountains • Gateway to the Jungfraujoch “Top of Europe” • Wengen is a charming car-free village • Wide range of winter activities in the region |
6. Arosa
Arosa is a beautiful ski town in Graubünden, Switzerland. Together with neighboring Lenzerheide, it forms one of the biggest ski resorts in Switzerland called the Arosa Lenzerheide Ski Resort. The playgrounds, souvenirs, and children’s activities at places make them great family-friendly ski resorts.
There are 225 kilometers of slopes at the Arosa Lenzerheide Ski Resort. Mountain peaks here include Weisshorn, Parpaner Rothorn, Hörnli, Piz Scalottas, Piz Danis, Lavos, Stätzerhorn, and Windegga. For exceptional mountain experiences, offers for early birds and night owls are also available.
Aside from the fantastic ski opportunities, Arosa has many wellness-focused hotels to choose from. It is also quite easy to reach by train from Zurich by train. Though Arosa does not offer many shopping opportunities, it is only an hour’s drive from Chur, where you will find plenty of shops.
Arosa has a museum called Heimatmuseum Schanfigg-Arosa, and you can easily reach Chur if you wish to see more.
| Arosa in a Nutshell |
| • Family-friendly resort with varied slopes • Easy to access by train from Chur and Zurich • Quiet alpine village atmosphere • Home to the Arosa Bear Sanctuary |
7. Engelberg
Located in Central Switzerland near Lucerne, Engelberg is one of Switzerland’s best ski towns. It has attracted visitors for its natural beauty and serene environment, with visitors in the early 19th century seeking relaxation and rejuvenation.
Klein Titlis, the peak of the resort, begins at 3,028 meters. Skiers of all levels will find something here, whether they’re beginners, intermediates, or experts. To get to Titlis, you will have to take the first revolving cable car in the world – the Rotair.
There are many hotels in Engelberg, some of which have wellness centers and sports facilities. Restaurants are plentiful. A swimming pool, bike school, rope park, and many other activities are available in the ski town. A monastery and museum are also located in Engelberg.
Engelberg is easy to reach from Lucerne and Zurich.
| Engelberg in a Nutshell |
| • Home to Titlis, a popular tourist destination • Diverse skiing and snowboarding terrain • Opportunities for many recreational activities • Multiple hotels, spanning budgets, some featuring wellness centers |
8. Laax
The ski town of Laax is home to one of the biggest and most well-known ski resorts in the Switzerland – the Flims Laax Falera Ski Resort. Laax is one of best ski towns that you can choose in Switzerland.
LAAX has been voted the world’s number one winter resort for all freestylers. With over 90 obstacles across four snow parks and the world’s largest halfpipe at 200 meters in length, it’s no wonder that this resort is extremely popular.1
Laax offers full moon descents, snow groomer rides, DJ sessions, skating tricks, lantern trails, and more. Waldhaus Arena has a curling hall and sports bar. Other activities include ice skating, squash, fitness, swimming, mini-golft, and yoga.
For those looking for cultural attractions, Falera has a history of stargazing in Mirasteilas Observatory. Several classical music concerts are also held in Fidaz in June. Other cultural spaces include the Yellow House in Flims, Laax Local Museum, Cularta Laax, and Sperre Trin.
In Laax, you have a wide array of restaurants to choose from. Asian, gourmet, international, Italian, dining has never been easier with the .
You can choose from a wide variety of restaurants in Laax. Whether you’re looking for Asian, gourmet, international, or Italian cuisine, they’ve got it all. Furthermore, with the INSIDE LAAX App, dining has never been easier.
| Laax in a Nutshell |
| • One of the world’s best winter resort for freestylers • Four snow parks and world’s largest halfpipe • Trendy events, including music festivals • Varied recreational activities beyond skiing |
9. Andermatt
The town of Andermatt is an up-and-coming ski destination in the Ursern Valley in Switzerland. Located at a height of 1,444 meters above sea level, the resort attracts visitors from around the world. The town center still retains its charm and tradition.
Various gourmet restaurants and superb hotels are among the amenities of the new Andermatt Reuss part of the village. As a result of a lot of investment and growth, Andermatt will become one of the most popular ski towns in Switzerland in the future.
Its ski resort, the SkiArena Andermatt-Sedrun is Central Switzerland’s largest ski area combining slopes from Andermatt, Sedrun, and Disentis. Various levels of difficulty can be found on its 180 kilometers of pistes.
After the day of skiing, either you are hell tired to run on skis, you’ll well aboard the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn. The price tag of the train ticket between Disentis and Andermatt-Göschenen is already included in the ski ticket.
For free riders, there are 16.5 kilometers of deep-powder trails. These are trails protected from avalanches that are neither groomed nor patrolled. It has untouched slopes with a lot of powder, natural drops, and jumps for deep-snow fans.
| Andermatt in a Nutshell |
| • Central Switzerland’s largest ski area • Investment in modern ski lifts and facilities • Gourmet restaurants, modern hotels • Central Swiss location close to many Swiss towns |
10. Crans-Montana
Crans-Montana is a popular ski town in Valais, Switzerland. The 140 km of slopes and the excellent infrastructure of the village are highly regarded in the world of sports. The ski tracks in the Crans-Montana area range from 1,500 to 3,000 meters in height.
Crans-Montana’s skiable terrain is not just for professionals. All levels of skiers can enjoy it. There are peaks above the Plaine-Morte Glacier. People of all ages will have an unforgettable skiing experience. There are also dog sleds, igloos, and a children’s area in this town if you do not wish to ski.
There are luxury chalets in Crans-Montana that are available for rental by large or small groups, complete with a sauna and pool. Additionally, they offer a wide range of hotels at competitive prices.
For those who who love cultural attractions, there are several museums in Crans-Montana such as the Grand Lens Museum, Ecomusée de Colombire, the Colombire Hamlet Alpine Farm and Ecomuseum and the Art Museum.
Crans-Montana is easy to reach by public transport from Sierre/Siders and by car.
| Crans-Montana in a Nutshell |
| • Extensive slopes and panoramic views • Luxury chalets and wide range of hotels • Museums and shopping • Family-friendly ski destination |
Resource
- 1 World’s Best Freestyle Resort. Flims Laax Falera Guide, Flims Laax Falera Management, 2021.
Final Thoughts: 10 Best Ski Towns in Switzerland
Switzerland boasts several exceptional ski towns or cities that attract winter enthusiasts from around the world. Each town offers its unique charm, ski slopes, and attractions.
- Those looking for a more upscale experience should consider Zermatt, St. Moritz, Verbier, and Crans-Montana.
- Those seeking modern, urban ski resorts should consider the ski towns of Davos, Grindelwald, Andermatt, and Laax.
- Those with younger children should consider Engelberg, Arosa, Lenzerheide, and Crans-Montana since these are all family-friendly destinations.
- Those seeking ski towns that are more tranquil than the rest should consider Wengen and Arosa.
I hope this list of 10 best ski towns in Switzerland was helpful for you.
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Darla Uhl is the owner of TouringSwitzerland.com. She is based in the Lake Zurich region in Switzerland and has a second home in Grisons. Having lived almost 20 years in Switzerland, she's traveled extensively all over the country.
Darla's favorite regions to visit in Switzerland include Engadin, Lake Geneva, Bernese Oberland, Ticino, and Valais. She loves spending time with her family, hiking, visiting museums, and reading books.