Top Swiss Ski Resorts – The List with a Twist

TEXT: CORNELIA BRELOWSKI

In times of climate change and economic shortages, the annual joy of skiing is admittedly under threat. However, thanks to the multitude of enthusiasts, the skiing culture remains in full parallel swing – some tweaks of holiday planning implied.

An acquaintance recently commented on booking their family winter holiday using new parameters of late: The deal-maker is now the included ski pass. Another mentioned the saddening sight of the rapidly receding snowline at her usual ski resort, where she (still) goes for her traditional group trip. So, in planning your holiday you may want to cut the cost here and there, as well as check for Eco-conscience tourist management before booking. To make things a little easier for you, here is a – slightly adjusted – list of Top Swiss Ski Resorts:

Top Swiss Ski Resorts – Verbier

Quoting the website sno.co.uk: “Anyone in pursuit of powder snow and smashing parties simply has to ski Verbier.” It is, after all, the main resort of Switzerland’s biggest ski area, the ‘4 Valleys’. There is a multitude of gentle slopes available, while the ungroomed slopes around Tortin are legendary for experienced skiers. Cliffy ‘Bec des Rosses’ forms the famous end point of the Freeride World Tour Extreme. For apres-ski enthusiasts, venues like Le Farinet and Farm Club throw wild parties for royals, oligarchs and mere mortals alike. Last but not least, Verbier also strives to protect the climate with a CO2-friendly transport system you will find out more about in the ECO Champions section below.

Saving tip: At Verbier, many second-home owners rent their apartments or chalets out in their absence, providing affordable deals at times. Also, some French property agencies offer economically priced locations. They may not always have the most modern of furnishings, but can be an ideal base when travelling on a tight budget.

Top Swiss Ski Resorts – The List with a Twist

Verbier. Photo: Unsplash

Top Swiss Ski Resorts – Zermatt

With its five-star hotels, gourmet restaurants and picturesque chalets, Zermatt remains undeniably classy. Glorious views of the Matterhorn and its surrounding peaks literally top the experience. The spectacular ski area stretching all the way to Italian Cervinia features 360km of pistes, including the highest slopes in Europe on the Theodul Glacier, is snow sure and even skiable in the summertime. The continent’s highest freestyle terrain at the Gravity Park directly faces the Matterhorn, while 36km of ungroomed but marked terrain flows down the Stockhorn and Rothorn peaks. Heli-skiing is available, but keep in mind that the associated emissions have sparked environmental concerns.

Saving tip: A Swiss Travel Pass gives you unlimited access to train rides across Switzerland. It also takes 50% off the ticket price for the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Ride, Gornergrat Cog Train and Sunnegga Funicular. The tickets are complimentary with a valid ski pass.

Zermatt. Photo: Rich Martello / Unsplash

St. Moritzsee. Photo: Alberto Bianchini / Unsplash

Top Swiss Ski Resorts – St. Moritz

Johann Badrutt, famous founder of the Badrutt’s Palace Hotel in 1896, once bet his British summer guests that snowy St Moritz would blow their minds – thus setting a trend for skiing vacations which has never stopped since. Huddled on the shores of an expansive lake and surrounded by forest, the resort feels worlds away from everyday life. It therefore had a massive appeal to Hollywood stars such as Audrey Hepburn and Charlie Chaplin in the past, who both ended up living in Switzerland for good. The 100 km Corviglia area can be reached straight from the resort and features all kinds of slopes, including some of World Cup fame.

Saving tip: Skiers and snowboarders have plenty of reasonably priced lodging options to choose from, ensuring that a St. Moritz ski vacation and the spectacular Engadin Valley ski areas can be enjoyed by just about anyone.

Destination Davos Klosters. Photo: Stefan Schlumpf / swiss-image.ch

Top Swiss Ski Resorts – Klosters

Klosters is a resort of royal fame with King Charles as a regular, and a lift named after him. Consequently, there is an air of sophistication without the usual hullabaloo of partying resorts – which is exactly what the place is valued for. In addition to the high-quality hotels, spas and restaurants, guests enjoy direct access to a multitude of slopes on the Parsenn, or the children’s area on the Madrisa respectively. The local pistes are known to garner some of the best snowfall in the country, with 300km of corduroy and plenty of powder terrain spanning six spectacular mountains. Speed runs and the enormous Freestyle JatzPark serve to boost adrenaline levels all the way.

Saving tip: Royal visitors do not necessarily mean skyrocketing prices – for budget travellers, the website TripAdvisor features an updated list of the 5 most affordable hotels in Klosters.

Destination Davos Klosters. Photo: Marcel Giger / swiss-image.ch

Top Swiss Ski Resorts – The ECO Champions

Karma-polish, anyone? Here is a list of Top Swiss Ski Resorts that put environmental protection front and center:

In Engelberg, all mountain railways are powered entirely by hydroelectric energy and are therefore carbon-neutral. The snow groomers for the Titlis mountain railway meanwhile are powered by biofuel. In the family-friendly Brunni ski resort, sustainability is even considered a strategy: throughout Switzerland, the Brunni ski resort is the only certified climate-neutral ski area! Since 2016, there has been a solar power plant at the Ristis middle station, which produces roughly the amount of electricity needed for making artificial snow on the slopes between Ristis and Brunnihütte. In addition, the Berglodge Restaurant Ristis has had a solar roof since 2019, which produces more electricity than is needed. And the Brunni ski resort is even the first ski area in Switzerland to light up its pistes for night-time skiing with economical LED lamps!

The Flims Laax Falera ski area now features Greenstyle– a sustainability initiative which is both ambitious and economically justifiable. It addresses building technology and mobility, in those areas where ski resorts have the greatest leverage. With a seven-point plan, the modern ski area has a clear vision: to become the world’s first self-sustaining alpine destination. This means that all energy required is to be covered by regional, 100% renewable sources. With the renovation of the Crap Sogn Gion upper station, the ski area even wants to create a beacon for sustainability in tourism. The building is not only to be transformed from a consumer into a producer but is intended to create an entirely new guest experience at the same time.

Verbier. Photo: Simon Gill / Unsplash

Back to Verbier – this time as number 3 of the ECO Champions list: As a member of the ‘Protect Our Winters’ organization, and knowing that the journey to the ski area accounts for a significant proportion of each guest’s CO2 emissions, Verbier4Vallées has been promoting the use of public transport for years. Getting to the ski area in a climate-friendly manner has never been easier: On weekends and holidays, the Verbier Express and the VosAlpes Express take snow enthusiasts from Geneva and Fribourg to Switzerland’s largest ski area with no need to change trains or leave Swiss soil. In addition, there are attractive discounts for the Ski Combi Ticket, as well as the fact that the La Châble-Verbier feeder cable car has been part of the public transport system since 2021.

Hopefully, this article helps with planning your next ski holiday at one of the Top Swiss Ski Resorts – with a healthy side glance at both economic and environmental factors. The Mountain Calls!