Ski holidays
Best ski resorts in Switzerland: 9 resorts ranked, and where to stay
Switzerland is expensive, but few countries have as many car-free mountain villages, and the train takes you right to the slopes. These are the nine resorts we would choose.
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In short
The best ski resort in Switzerland is Zermatt, beneath the Matterhorn, with CERVO Mountain Resort as our first-choice hotel. St. Moritz is the pick for luxury and sunshine, and Verbier for experienced skiers. For views of the Eiger, Wengen and Grindelwald are best. We have ranked 9 resorts in total.
Our first choice: CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt. Check availability and prices
The train from Visp pulls into Zermatt, and from there it is electric taxis and horse-drawn sleighs. Above the station roof stands the Matterhorn. Half an hour later you are heading up on the rack railway, your skis in a rack beside you.
Switzerland costs more than its neighbours but gives plenty back: high resorts and public transport that makes a car unnecessary. We have ranked the resorts on terrain and snow, and chosen one hotel we would stay at in each.
1. Zermatt: beneath the Matterhorn
Zermatt is car-free and sits right under the Matterhorn. Its ski area climbs onto the glacier and over the border to Cervinia in Italy, so you can ski two countries in one day. The glacier means skiing for much of the year, and the season is among the longest in the Alps.
Where to stay: CERVO Mountain Resort sits just above the centre, with ski-in ski-out access.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at CERVO Mountain Resort
Read the full guide: Zermatt: Maybe the world's most spectacular ski destination
2. St. Moritz: sunshine and luxury
St. Moritz has hosted the Winter Olympics twice, in 1928 and 1948, and is known for its many sunny days and dry climate. In winter, horse racing and polo take place on the frozen lake. The ski areas are large and varied, and the hotels are among the best known in the Alps.
Where to stay: Badrutt’s Palace Hotel is in the centre, looking out over the lake.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Badrutt’s Palace Hotel
Read the full guide: St. Moritz: luxury skiing in the Engadin and the hotels that made it famous
3. Verbier: for experienced skiers
Verbier is part of the 4 Vallées, Switzerland’s largest ski area, and is famous for off-piste and steep terrain beneath Mont Fort. The Freeride World Tour final is held here every year. The après-ski is lively, and the resort draws a younger, international crowd.
Where to stay: W Verbier is in the centre, by the lift up to Médran.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at W Verbier
Read the full guide: Verbier: freeriding, après-ski and where to stay in the 4 Vallées
Verbier
Chalets and hotels among snowy trees in Verbier.
4. Wengen: car-free with Eiger views
Wengen is car-free and reached only by train from Lauterbrunnen. It hosts the Lauberhorn race, the longest downhill on the World Cup circuit, every January. The view of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau is among the most famous in the Alps, and the pistes suit intermediate skiers well.
Where to stay: Hotel Regina Wengen sits just above the centre, with mountain views.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Regina Wengen
Read the full guide: Wengen: car-free skiing above Lauterbrunnen and where to stay
5. Grindelwald: under the Eiger north face
Grindelwald sits right beneath the Eiger north face and shares its ski area with Wengen. The Eiger Express gondola takes you up into the ski area quickly. The village is bigger and livelier than Wengen and makes a good base for both skiing and walks in the Jungfrau region.
Where to stay: Bergwelt Grindelwald is in the centre, facing the Eiger.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Bergwelt Grindelwald
Read the full guide: Grindelwald: skiing beneath the Eiger and where to stay
Grindelwald
Grindelwald under snow, with the Eiger right above the village.
6. Saas-Fee: the glacier and the car-free village
Saas-Fee is a car-free village ringed by peaks over 4,000 metres. The ski area climbs onto the glacier, and at the top is the Allalin, a revolving restaurant. The resort is quiet and compact, and suits families and anyone who wants reliable snow without the crowds.
Where to stay: The Capra is in the village and is a small boutique hotel with a spa.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Capra Saas-Fee
Read the full guide: Saas-Fee: skiing among the Alps’ four-thousanders
7. Andermatt: a mountain village reborn
Andermatt is an old mountain village given new life by new hotels and a ski area extended towards Sedrun. The Gemsstock has some of the steepest terrain in central Switzerland. The Glacier Express stops here, so Andermatt fits neatly into a rail journey across the country.
Where to stay: The Chedi Andermatt is in the village and has a large spa.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Chedi Andermatt
Read the full guide: Andermatt: skiing in the heart of the Swiss Alps
Andermatt
A dining room with big windows facing the snowy mountains in Andermatt.
8. Crans-Montana: the sunny side of the Rhône
Crans-Montana sits on a sunny plateau high above the Rhône valley, with views from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc. The pistes are wide and sunny, and the resort is just as known for golf in summer. It suits anyone after sunshine and calm days.
Where to stay: Six Senses Crans-Montana sits by the pistes, with a spa and ski-in ski-out access.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Six Senses Crans-Montana
Read the full guide: Crans-Montana: sunny skiing in Valais and where to stay
9. Arosa: family-friendly in Graubünden
Arosa sits at the head of a valley in Graubünden, and its ski area links with Lenzerheide. The pistes are easy to read and suit families well, and the village has a calm, traditional feel. It is a good alternative to the better-known names.
Where to stay: Tschuggen Grand Hotel has a spa designed by the architect Mario Botta.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Tschuggen Grand Hotel
Read the full guide: Arosa: skiing at the end of the valley and where to stay
Which resort suits you?
Experienced skiers: Verbier or Zermatt.
Luxury and sunshine: St. Moritz or Crans-Montana.
Views of the Eiger: Wengen or Grindelwald.
Families: Arosa or Saas-Fee.
By train: Zermatt, Wengen or Andermatt.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best ski resort in Switzerland?
Zermatt is the best ski resort in Switzerland for most people, with the Matterhorn and skiing all the way into Italy. St. Moritz is the pick for luxury and sunshine, and Verbier is best for experienced skiers who want off-piste. Families get more calm and space in Arosa or Saas-Fee.
Can you get to Swiss ski resorts by train?
Yes. Most major Swiss resorts can be reached by train from Zurich or Geneva. Zermatt and Wengen are car-free and reached only by rail, and St. Moritz has its own railway line. Luggage can often be sent straight from the airport to your hotel, which makes the train the easiest way to travel.
Is skiing in Switzerland expensive?
Switzerland is among the most expensive countries in the Alps for hotels and lift passes. Many lift passes are cheaper if you buy early, because several resorts now use dynamic pricing. Smaller resorts such as Arosa and Saas-Fee are often cheaper than Zermatt and St. Moritz, especially outside the school holidays.
Which Swiss ski resort has the most reliable snow?
Zermatt and Saas-Fee have the most reliable snow in Switzerland, because both have ski areas on glaciers high up. That means good snow from early in the season to late spring. Verbier and St. Moritz also sit high and often have stable conditions through the whole winter, from December to April.
Which airport do you fly to for skiing in Switzerland?
Zurich and Geneva are the most common airports for Swiss ski holidays. Geneva is closest to Verbier, Crans-Montana and Zermatt, while Zurich suits St. Moritz, Arosa, Andermatt and the Jungfrau region. Trains run on from both airports, and the journey usually takes two to four hours.