Atop most people’s lists of activities in Switzerland during winter is skiing. And if you wish to experience skiing in Switzerland, this country is the perfect choice. Ideally, the ski resort you would like to visit would have snow on the slopes. Suppose you flew from somewhere far away and landed in Switzerland to see green grass instead of powdery snow? Such a situation is not ideal. Avoiding this situation is the best thing to do. In this article, we will present a list of the Top 10 Snow Sure Resorts in Switzerland precisely to avoid this situation. The list is based on Savills Word Research’s Ski Resilience Index report.
Using the Savills Ski Resilience Index can help you gauge the quality of the conditions at a particular resort. Ski resorts were evaluated based on snowfall, reliability, season length, altitude, and temperature. The report analyzed and compared 50 ski resorts across the globe. Out of the worldwide list, we now describe and analyze the top ten ski resorts in Switzerland.
Switzerland’s highest mountains are located in the canton of Valais. In this list, more than half of the ten snow-sure destinations are in Valais. Other mountainous regions like the Bernese Oberland and Graubünden also have high mountains. However, they are not as high as those in Valais.
So without further ado, let’s get to the top 10 of the Snow Sure Resorts in Switzerland:
Top 10 Snow Sure Ski Resorts in Switzerland
Zermatt
Zermatt in Valais, Switzerland, is a world-class and snow-sure mountain paradise.
In Zermatt, Matterhorn Ski Paradise allows you to enjoy runs on endless pistes (around 360 km) against a spectacular mountain backdrop. Matterhorn Ski Paradise is located at a height of 3,883 meters above sea level, making it the highest winter sports area in the Alps. A total of 38 peaks over 4,000 meters can be seen. 14 glaciers are visible as well. This region, along with guaranteed snow conditions, is one of the best-developed (if not the best) and most extensive ski resorts in any part of the world.
Snowboarding and skiing all year round – a unique feature of this resort. Swiss and Italian mountains converge in Matterhorn Ski Paradise. Breuil Cervinia, on Italy’s side, is another world-class ski resort. A trip to Zermatt is an unforgettable experience all year round, but especially during the winter months.
If you would like to spend a day in Zermatt, you can check out our article How to Spend 1 Day in Zermatt, Switzerland.
Saas-Fee
Saas-Fee is located in Saas Valley, Switzerland. Like Zermatt, it is part of the canton of Valais. As a snow-sure mountain resort, it has consistently been rated among the best for snow coverage. There are 18 four-thousand-meter peaks surrounding this region. There is also a glacier landscape there. If necessary, a snow-making system is available for the lower parts of the slopes.
Up to 3,600 meters above sea level, there are groomed ski slopes in an area of 150 kilometers. Snowshoe trails, winter hiking, ice stock sports, sledding, ice climbing, and cross-country skiing are some of the winter sports available there. No matter your level of winter sports expertise, Saas-Fee is the perfect destination for everyone.
Andermatt
Andermatt is a town in Switzerland’s Ursern Valley. The resort is at a height of 1,444 meters above sea level and attracts people 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.
The location of Andermatt in comparison to other snow-sure resorts in the Swiss Alps is quite central. From the valley, three pass routes connect Graubünden, Ticino, and Valais via Oberalp, Gotthard, and Furka.
The Andermatt Ski Arena consists of Andermatt, Sedrun, and Disentis. It is Central Switzerland’s largest ski area featuring 180 kilometers of pistes. This snow-sure ski resort has slopes with varying degrees of difficulty for everyone.
St. Moritz
The world-famous Engadin St. Moritz is one of the largest winter sports regions in Switzerland. Located in Graubünden, Switzerland, the snow-sure area of St. Moritz has been synonymous with luxury and beauty. A great many hotels and big buildings are here instead of the small wooden chalets.
St. Moritz was one of the first winter sports resorts in the world. The area surrounds Lake St. Moritz (St. Moritzersee in German), which turns into ice in the winter months.
The ski resort of St. Moritz has three locations:
- Corviglia
- Corvatsch – Furtschellas
- Diavolezza – Lagalb
The Corvatsch mountain is Graubünden’s highest. Diavolezza – Lagalb, on the other hand, has the most freestyle slopes and is best suited for night skiing.
Gstaad
The town of Gstaad is located in Bern, Switzerland. It is a part of the Saanen region. The snow-sure ski resort of Gstaad is known worldwide among the international jet set and high society. In the Bernese Oberland, only Gstaad has glacier skiing from the end of October until the beginning of May.
A variety of ski slopes can be found in Gstaad. Gstaad is adorned by charming chalet villages. Snow-sure ski slopes stretch for 200 kilometers from 1,000 to 3,000 meters above sea level. Those who enjoy skiing will have plenty of options on the Rinderberg, Lengebrand, Saanerslochgrat, Hornberg, and Horneggli. Wasserngrat is famous for its steepest ski slope, the Tiger Run.
Davos-Klosters
The Davos Klosters Mountains can be found in the Graubünden mountain towns of Davos and Klosters. Particularly for people who live in the greater Zurich area, this snow-sure ski resort is extremely popular. Additionally, it is widely known for hosting a variety of events, including the World Economic Forum. The Davos-Klosters tourist infrastructure is one of the best in the Alps.
A total of five snowsports areas are available during the winter – Jakobshorn, Pischa, Schatzalp – Strela, Rinerhorn, and Klosters Parsenn. 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 freeriders.
Verbier
Verbier is a snow-sure ski resort located in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland. It is a charming alpine village situated on a sunny plateau in the heart of the Valais Alps. The snow-sure ski resort in this 4 Vallées ski area is linked to Nendaz and La Tzoumaz. Nearly 100 lifts service this ski area, which has more than 400 kilometers of runs for all levels of skier.
With 410 kilometers of slopes, this is the largest ski resort in Switzerland.
It’s a winter wonderland and a huge adventure playground. In addition to snow-sure skiing, the resort has excellent freeriding opportunities. The resort also offers a variety of activities like cross-country skiing, ski touring, heli-skiing, and more. Skiing is not the only activity you can engage in during the winter months. There are also winter hiking and snowshoe trails.
After skiing, there are many possibilities for après-ski on the various terraces.
Nendaz
Nendaz is part of the 4 Vallées snow-sure mega-resort in Valais, Switzerland. It is, however, more of a quiet, unassuming resort compared to Verbier. Ski enthusiasts flock to this expansive, connected ski area that offers some of the most extensive off-piste in Europe. Slopes of more than 400 kilometers can be explored in the snow-sure resort of Nendaz.
On the whole, Haute Nendaz is one of the cheapest resorts in the 4 Vallées complex, but you may have to take a bus to get to the slopes. Off the slopes at Haute Nendaz, the resort is quite big. However, it is not as well developed as the other ski resorts in the 4 Vallées.
Crans-Montana
Another snow-sure resort is Crans-Montana, located in canton Valais in 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 hosts a number of international ski and snowboard races each year. The skiable terrain is not just for professionals. All levels of skiers can enjoy it. There are peaks above the Plaine-Morte Glacier. On the snow-sure ski resort, they also have a children’s area, dog sleds, and igloos. The result is an unforgettable skiing experience for people of all ages.
Grimentz-Zinal
A ski resort with guaranteed snow in Switzerland, Grimentz-Zinal is situated in Valais. This ski area offers 115 km of slopes between 1500 and 2900 meters altitude surrounded by the Couronne Impériale mountains. During the winter season from November to April, the skiing area enjoys excellent conditions for five months of skiing.
Furthermore, the facilities at Grimentz-Zinal are renowned. Aside from 21 ski lifts, there is also a snow park, a ski-cross course, a freeride area, an avalanche training center, toboggan runs, snow-shoe routes, and cross-country skiing trails. Six restaurants and snack bars are available for dining. Grimentz-Zinal ski passes are also valid for the skiing areas of St-Luc/Chandolin and Vercorin.
Can you imagine yourself spending winter in Switzerland in the same way as this video? Switzerland is an amazing place to spend winter.
One of the best ways to guarantee snow is to choose one of the ten snow-sure resorts listed above.
Resources
- “Savills Ski Resilience Index 2019/20” In World Residential – Winter 2019/2020 The Ski Report, pp. 8-9. Savills World Research, 2020. Accessed on 07 June 2021. https://pdf.euro.savills.co.uk/global-research/the-ski-report—winter-2019-20.pdf
- Bergfex.com
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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.