Must-knows about Swiss winter towns

  • The Upper Engadine is Switzerland’s best winter region.
  • Resorts at 1500 m (4921 ft) or higher have the best chances of snow.
  • Famous ski resorts such as Zermatt, St. Moritz and Davos provide a wide offer of snow activities. They can be crowded during Swiss school holidays.
  • Choose small quaint towns if you prefer peace and quiet.
  • Most Swiss cities don’t have snow in winter. But many are perfect for a Christmas break and provide doable access to several ski areas.

Swiss winter destination finder

Matterhorn and Zermatt at dusk
Zermatt
ValaisTrain stationAltitude: 1605 m (5266 ft)Winter sports resortThis is a car-free town
Zermatt is a car-free, luxurious alpine village at the foot of the Matterhorn. Zermatt is somewhat secluded, but you can enjoy many wonderful mountain excursions …
View of Eiger and Mönch from the outskirts of Mürren
Mürren
Jungfrau RegionTrain stationAltitude: 1650 m (5413 ft)Winter sports resortThis is a car-free town
The car-free alpine village of Mürren is perched on a cliff high above the Lauterbrunnen Valley in the Bernese Oberland. This town at the slopes …
View over Wengen and tops of western Lauterbrunnen Valley
Wengen
Jungfrau RegionTrain stationAltitude: 1276 m (4186 ft)Winter sports resortThis is a car-free town
Wengen is a car-free alpine village in the Jungfrau Region, surrounded by hiking trails in summer and ski slopes in winter. It’s a perfect base …
Street in Grindelwald center with Wetterhorn view
Grindelwald
Jungfrau RegionTrain stationAltitude: 1034 m (3392 ft)Winter sports resort
Grindelwald in the Jungfrau Region has all tourist facilities you can wish for, and is at a very scenic spot on the foot of the …
St. Moritz in the Upper Engadine, Graubünden
St. Moritz
EngadineTrain stationAltitude: 1775 m (5823 ft)Winter sports resortOn a lake
St. Moritz is an upper-class alpine town. Located in the magnificent Upper Engadine valley in Graubünden, the town is a perfect base for hiking and …
Main street of Gstaad in winter
Gstaad
Bernese OberlandTrain stationAltitude: 1050 m (3445 ft)Winter sports resort
Gstaad is a scenic village in the west of the Bernese Oberland, directly on the GoldenPass train line. It’s mainly known as an upper-class ski …
Aerial view of Saas-Fee and mountains
Saas-Fee
ValaisAltitude: 1792 m (5879 ft)Winter sports resortThis is a car-free town
Saas-Fee is a car-free village in the Valais, surrounded by some of Switzerland’s highest peaks. Enjoy mountain rides, skiing, hiking and biking here.
Davos with the Jakobshorn and Rinerhorn in summer
Davos
GraubündenTrain stationAltitude: 1559 m (5115 ft)Winter sports resort
Davos is known as a classy winter sports resort in Graubünden. The surrounding mountains are appealing for summer activities such as hiking and biking too.
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The very best place for a winter holiday in Switzerland

Arno and I would nominate the Upper Engadine as Switzerland’s best overall winter destination. This sunny valley is located at high altitude: about 1800 m (5900 ft). This means that the snow season lasts long.

There’s usually snow in the towns from December until late March. The surrounding mountains can be snow-capped from November until May or June.

The Upper Engadine is very diverse. There are classy resorts such as St. Moritz and Pontresina, but also authentic villages such as Zuoz and Sils.

The region offers snow activities for everyone. The wide valley floor has easy hiking paths. Some are even suitable for pushchairs. You can enjoy snowshoe hikes, skate at the frozen lake of St. Moritz or have fun at the sled runs. Horse-sleigh rides can be made in several side valleys.

The 3 large ski areas at Corviglia-Piz Nair, Corvatsch and Diavolezza-Lagalb have 350 km of pistes. There are several more small ski areas. The varied runs are suitable for experienced skiers, but also for children and beginners.

The best Swiss winter cities with nearby ski resorts

I’d recommend Bern, Brig, Chur, Interlaken, or Lucerne for your Swiss winter holiday if you prefer a larger town, with doable travel distances to nearby ski resorts.

Although they’re not in the mountains, snow fun is just a train ride away. These towns also offer shopping and cultural facilities. They’re located centrally, so you can make varied day trips: by scenic train for example.

Bern

Bern is a cosy city in winter. You can make day trips by train and bus to several ski resorts:

Brig

Brig is located on the floor of the Upper Rhone valley. It provides easy access by public transportation to these snow destinations:

  • Riederalp: 0h35
  • Bettmeralp: 0h45
  • Oberwald: 1h25
  • Crans-Montana: 1h00
  • Saas-Fee: 1h05
  • Zermatt: 1h20
  • Verbier: 1h45

Chur

Chur is the charming capital of Graubünden. You can ski and sledge from the nearby mountain Brambrüesch and make beautiful train journeys, such as the Glacier Express and Bernina Express. Several ski areas can be visited by train:

  • Flims-Laax-Falera: 0h40
  • Lenzerheide: 0h45
  • Arosa: 1h00
  • Savognin: 1h05
  • Bergün: 1h15
  • Disentis: 1h15
  • Davos: 1h30

Interlaken

Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland has a perfect central location for winter holidays. Public transport quickly brings you to these snow resorts:

Lucerne

Lucerne is a beautiful city. You can enjoy the old town and make day trips by train and bus to snow destinations, for example:

  • Kriens (valley station of Pilatus): 0h30
  • Engelberg (at the foot of Titlis): 0h35
  • Weggis (at the foot of Rigi): 0h50
  • Klewenalp-Stockhütte: 1h10
  • Melchsee-Frutt: 1h30
  • Hoch Ybrig (valley station Laucheren: 1h55)

The best Swiss cities in Christmas time

Basel, Montreux and Zurich are our favorite cities for a Christmas holiday in Switzerland.

They have attractive Christmas markets and lots of shops in illuminated town centers. They also provide good access to other Christmas towns. Visit these Swiss cities between mid-November and late December for the best holiday experience.

Basel

Basel is home to a large Christmas market, considered to be the prettiest one of Switzerland by many visitors. The illuminated streets are inviting for Christmas shopping.

More towns with Christmas atmosphere can be reached by train in 1 hour: Zurich, Bern and Lucerne.

Montreux

Montreux is the perfect destination for a Christmas holiday on Lake Geneva. The romantic Christmas market is held along the lake boulevard.

The town offers Advent and Christmas activities. Many of them are great for children. Directly from town, you can visit Rochers-de-Naye where Santa’s house is located.

Other Christmas markets can be found in nearby Lausanne (0h25 by train), Yverdon-Les-Bains (0h50), Gruyères (1h15) and Saanen (1h30).

Zurich

Zurich has no less than 3 Christmas markets: in the old town, at the Sechseläutenplatz near the lake and at the main railway station. The old town with its many shops is beautifully illuminated.

Romantic villages can be visited, such as Rapperswil on Lake Zurich. Larger towns with Christmas markets are close by: Lucerne (0h45 by train), Bern (1h00) and Basel (1h00).

Other Christmas towns

Other atmospheric towns at Christmas time are Geneva, Lausanne, Lucerne and Bern.

Recommended snow and ski resorts in Switzerland

We’d choose Davos, Grindelwald, Saas-Fee, Samnaun, St. Moritz, Verbier, and Zermatt as Switzerland’s best destinations for winter sports and snow activities.

All of these towns are located at high altitudes, so snow is more or less guaranteed. The resorts can be well reached by public transportation. They have easy access to several ski and snow areas. And last but not least, they provide all facilities for your winter holidays: ski and winter gear rental, supermarkets, restaurants, and accommodation in all price ranges.

Davos

Davos (1560 m / 5118 ft) is the highest larger town in Europe. It’s located in north-eastern Graubünden and surrounded by many ski areas on both sides of the valley. You’ll find long ski runs, a large ice rink and lots of fun snow activities here.

Grindelwald

Grindelwald (1034 m / 3392 ft) is not the highest resort in the Jungfrau Region. It’s still a great winter destination as it’s surrounded by high mountains with a high probability of sufficient snow. Grindelwald has direct access to the ski areas of First and Männlichen.

This lively village with views of the Eiger is suitable for experienced skiers, but also for families.

Saas-Fee

Saas-Fee (1792 m / 5879 ft) in southern Valais is a top snow destination. There’s snow on the high mountain peaks nearly all year round. Multiple snow and ski areas can be reached directly from town. You can easily visit even more areas from the nearby villages.

Saas-Fee also offers adventurous winter activities: guided glacier tours and zip lines for example.

Samnaun

Samnaun (1844 m / 6050 ft) is in a corner of eastern Graubünden, close to the Austrian border. It takes some time to get there: about 4 hours by train and bus from Zurich. You’ll travel via Landquart and Scuol-Tarasp.

From the village, you’ll have direct access to the large international ski area of Samnaun and Ischgl in Austria: the “Silvretta Ski-Arena”. Under normal weather circumstances, the snow season lasts long: from late November to April.

There’s much more than ski pistes: winter and snowshoe hiking trails, cross-country skiing tracks, a sledding run, and an ice rink are all available.

St. Moritz

St. Moritz (1775 m / 5758 ft) is in the Upper Engadine, which is the best area in Switzerland for a winter holiday.

This classy resort has quick access to large ski areas. It’s on a lake that’s frozen during the coldest months. You can enjoy ice skating, curling, and other winter sports on its surface. Day trips to the romantic snowy villages in the valley yet another option.

Verbier

Verbier (1500 m / 4921 m) is located in the Valais, east of Martigny. It’s part of the “Quatre Vallées” (“Four valleys”) ski region. The snow season can last all the way from November to April. There are many ski pistes above Verbier and the nearby resorts.

Spectacular snow activities include heli-skiing and paragliding. Family-friendly options like dog sledding, tobogganing, and pony riding are available too.

Zermatt

Zermatt (1605 m / 5266 ft) in southern Valais is surrounded by high mountains. You can enjoy the winter panorama from Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Gornergrat or Sunnegga-Rothorn. There are lots of ski lifts and pistes, many with views of the famous Matterhorn.

Snow activities are usually available from December to March. At the highest peaks, such as Klein Matterhorn, the snow season can last until late April.

Beautiful snow villages in Switzerland

Bettmeralp-Riederalp, Ftan, Guarda, Grimentz, Mürren, Sils, and Zuoz are among the most charming winter villages of Switzerland.

They’re small to mid-sized, can easily be reached by public transport and provide all facilities you need. But most of all, they’re beautiful and authentic. These villages are located high enough to get snow in winter, especially from January to March. You’ll have amazing views of the snowy scenery!

Bettmeralp and Riederalp

Bettmeralp and Riederalp (over 1900 m / 6234 ft) are car-free villages on a sunny plateau above the Upper Rhone valley. You’ll have amazing views of the peaks of the Valais. The plateau is at very high altitude, so you’ll sometimes be literally above the clouds.

The towns are full of traditional wooden chalets. They both provide access to ski, snowboard, and sledging areas. Winter hikes can be made from town: there are 72 km (45 mi) of prepared paths.

From viewing points Bettmerhorn (above Bettmeralp), Moosfluh, and Hohfluh (above Riederalp) you’ll see the snowy Aletsch Glacier.

Bettmeralp (1970 m / 6463 ft) has a lively town center with shops and bars. The village can be reached by cable car from Betten. Riederalp (1925 m / 6316) is a family-friendly village, to be reached by cable car from Mörel.

Ftan

Ftan (1648 m / 5407 ft) in Graubünden is all about Swiss tradition. It’s at a sunny location on a south-facing slope above the Lower Engadine. The village can be reached in a 10-minute bus ride from Scuol-Tarasp, which in turn is at 1h20 by train from St. Moritz.

Ftan has a picturesque church and beautiful houses. It’s also home to a 400-year-old flour mill, a cheese dairy, and shops with local crafts and products.

The views of the Lower Engadine valley, the Tarasp Castle and the snow-capped peaks are magnificent. With the chair lift to Prui you’ll reach a winter sports area. There’s a winter toboggan run from Prui down to Ftan. Winter hiking is possible too.

Guarda

Guarda (1653 m / 5423 ft) is one of the prettiest villages of the Lower Engadine. It’s a 1h15 to 1h55 journey from St. Moritz. Take a train to the rail station of Guarda, which is down in the valley, and switch to the bus. You’ll reach the village in a 10-minute uphill bus ride.

Guarda has a well-preserved small town center which is mostly car-free. You’ll find century-old traditional houses here. A supermarket, several restaurants, hotels, and holiday homes are available.

Guarda is great for a family winter holiday. There’s a ski lift for children, an ice rink and a toboggan run. You can enjoy quiet winter hikes and cross-country tracks as well.

Grimentz

Grimentz (1553 m / 5096 ft) is a picturesque gem in the Val d’Anniviers in the Valais. You’ll get there in 1h30 from Brig: by train to Sierre and then by bus to Vissoie and Grimentz.

Grimentz is full of traditional wooden houses in the typical Valais style. There are splendid small alleys and an old flour mill. You’ll find several restaurants and hotels.

You’ll have direct access to 2 cable cars from the village. The one to Sorebois gets you to a skiing area above Grimentz and the nearby village of Zinal. Tobogganing, winter hiking, and ice skating on the natural ice rink are possible too.

Mürren

Mürren (1638 m / 5374 ft) is the highest town in the Jungfrau Region, so snow is most likely here. The village is located on a plateau high above the Lauterbrunnen Valley, amidst splendid scenery. Many hotels and apartments have rooms with mountain views.

Mürren is ideal for pedestrians as it’s car-free. Lots of traditional chalets and hotels can be found along the main street and the side streets. It’s lively in winter, but the town is still charming.

There are several ski lifts on the slopes between Mürren and Schilthorn. Winter hiking trails are available too. I’d strongly recommend the easy panorama route to Grütschalp! In addition, you can enjoy snowshoe hiking, sledding, and riding the cable car to Schilthorn for an amazing winter panorama.

Sils

Sils (1803 m / 5915 ft) is located in the Upper Engadine. It’s an idyllic village with about 250 inhabitants. You’ll see authentic buildings with painted facades here.

Sils is on the wide valley floor between Lake Silvaplana and Lake Sils. During the coldest winter months, the lakes are frozen and snow-covered. The views of the white peaks surrounding the valley are beautiful.

You can make winter hikes directly from town. Some routes cross the frozen lakes. Hiking or making a horse-sleigh ride in the nearby Fex valley is an option too. You can skate on the ice rink, ski or enjoy other snow activities on the slopes of Furtschellas-Corvatsch.

Zuoz

Zuoz (1716 m / 5630 ft) is in the Upper Engadine, away from the busier resort St. Moritz. It’s known as the prettiest village in the area, and Arno and I agree (although the are many more gems in the Engadine). Zuoz has traditional plastered houses and a beautiful historic town square.

You can make easy winter hikes on the wide floor of the Engadine Valley. There are ski schools and easy pistes for children and beginners. A short toboggan run starts from the Chastlatsch ski lift. More snow activities are available near St. Moritz, at only 20 minutes by train.

Small, remote Swiss winter places

Avers, Belalp, Bellwald, Fiescheralp, Gimmelwald, Gspon, Preda, Riffelalp, Rigi Scheidegg and Spinas are my recommendations for remote, tiny Swiss winter destinations.

They’re perfect if you’re looking for peace and quiet in wintry Switzerland. They’re at high altitude and usually receive lots of snow. Most are even car-free.

Avers

Avers (1960 m / 6430 ft) is a municipality in western Graubünden, close to the Italian border. Avers consists of 11 hamlets spread over a remote valley. It gets plenty of snow in winter.

Juf is one of these hamlets. It’s at the end of the valley, at 2126 m (6975 ft) altitude. Juf is the highest all-year-round inhabited settlement of Europe. It’s nearly 2 hours away from Chur. Take the postbus to Andeer and then the postbus to Avers. The bus stop is called “Avers, Juf”.

Groceries can be done in nearby Cresta. There are several holiday homes and a few restaurants and hotels, scattered over the settlements. You can stay in Juf as well: there’s a small-scale hotel with beautiful mountain views.

There’s a small ski area with lifts to be reached from Juppa. Winter hiking and cross-country skiing in the winter landscape are the main activities in Avers.

Belalp

Belalp (2100 m / 6890 ft) is located above the village of Blatten in a side valley of the Rhone Valley. You’ll reach it in a 50-minute journey from Brig. Take the bus to Blatten and the cable car to Belalp.

This car-free village offers a few holiday homes and hotels. For quiet surroundings and breathtaking mountain views, consider Hotel Belalp or the Hamilton Lodge. Both are outside the town center and can be reached on foot. They offer breathtaking views of the mountain peaks.

Belalp is part of the UNESCO Natural World Heritage “Jungfrau – Aletsch – Bietschorn”. You can enjoy the surroundings by winter or snowshoe hikes. For even wider views, take the chair lift to Hohstock. A ski area and toboggan run are available too.

Bellwald

Bellwald (1560 m / 5118 ft) is a family-friendly village with dark wooden chalets. It’s north of Fiesch, on the slopes above the Upper Rhone Valley. It can be reached from Brig in about an hour. Take the train to Fürgangen (a “stop on request”) and the cable car to Bellwald.

The small town has a supermarket, holiday homes, and a couple of hotels. You’ll mainly stay here for the magnificent views over the wintry valley and the Alps of the Valais. There are many options for winter sports and snow fun. The long suspension bridge from Bellwald to Mühlebach is accessible in winter too.

Fiescheralp

Fiescheralp (2122 m / 6962 ft) is located on the sunny slopes of the Upper Rhone Valley and below the Eggishorn. It’s east of the busier villages Bettmeralp and Riederalp. Fiescheralp is 50 minutes away from Brig. Take a train to Fiesch and then the cable car to Fiescheralp.

The small, car-free settlement mainly consists of chalets with views over the Valais mountains. There are a few restaurants and hotels, plus a small shop.

The views are the main reason to visit Fiescheralp. Winter hikes can be made from town. An example is the panorama path to Riederalp. The Eggishorn can be visited for views of the Aletsch Glacier. In addition, there are several chairlifts.

Ski pistes are close by. You can also enjoy paragliding or sledding at the 11 km-long run to Lax.

Gimmelwald

Gimmelwald (1367 m / 4485 ft) is a perfect small settlement in the Jungfrau Region, nearly 1 hour away from Interlaken. It’s a wonderful location for winter views of the Lauterbrunnen Valley and many mountains.

Gimmelwald is located above the valley, on the slopes of the Schilthorn. The village can be reached by cable car from Stechelberg, or by cable car from Mürren in only 5 minutes. Mürren is larger and more lively. You’ll find a supermarket and shops there.

Gimmelwald is car-free and quiet. There are no shops and you can choose from a handful of holiday apartments and hotels.

The beautiful views are the main reason to visit Gimmelwald. Winter hiking and snowshoe trails are accessible directly from the settlement. Toboggan runs, ski pistes and other winter activities can be found near Mürren.

Gspon

Gspon (1893 m / 6211 ft) is a small settlement at a breathtaking location. It’s high on the eastern slopes of the Saas Valley and can be reached in 50 minutes from Brig. Take a train to Stalden. Then board the cable car to Staldenried and to Gspon.

Gspon is car-free. You’ll find charming chalets along quiet streets. Apart from a restaurant, facilities are limited. You’ll mainly visit Gspon for its wide views of the Valais mountains, either directly from the village or during winter hikes. More facilities are available in nearby Staldenried.

There’s a small family-friendly ski area with a bar. Experienced locals can help beginning skiers on request.

Preda

Preda (1789 m / 5869 ft) is a small village directly on the Glacier Express and Bernina Express routes. It’s at the northern end of the Albula tunnel, that connects the Albula Valley with the Upper Engadine. Preda can be reached by train in 1h35 from Chur and in 0h30 from St. Moritz.

Preda is not visited by many tourists. It’s mainly known as the starting point of the sled run to Bergün. There are a few hotel/restaurants. A supermarket is not available. The larger and more popular winter villages of Bergün and Filisur are close by. You can get your groceries there.

Peace and quiet are Preda’s main advantages. Winter and snowshoe hikes can be made from town. One of them leads to the frozen Lake Palpuogna near the village.

Note that the Albula tunnel is being rebuilt. The old tunnel is still used, but you may see work going on at and near the railway station. The new tunnel is scheduled to open in the summer of 2024.

Riffelalp

Riffelalp (2222 m / 7290 ft) is on the slopes of the Gornergrat near Zermatt, just above the tree line. It’s not a village, but a tiny settlement. Its main feature is the 5-star Riffelalp Resort.

The resort can be reached in 20 minutes from Zermatt. Take the cogwheel train to Riffelalp. Then make a 5-minute walk to the resort or use the hotel pick-up service.

The Riffelalp Resort has lots of luxurious amenities. But the main reason to stay here is the mountain scenery, with views of Zermatt and the Matterhorn. You can start skiing, winter hiking, and snowshoe hiking from the hotel. Sledding can be done from nearby Rotenboden.

Rigi Scheidegg

Rigi Scheidegg (1658 m / 5440 ft) is a tiny resort on the slopes of Rigi. It’s located above the towns of Vitznau and Gersau and can be reached in about 1 hour from Lucerne. Take a train to Arth-Goldau and switch to the cogwheel train to Kräbel. Then take the cable car to Rigi Scheidegg.

This car-free resort has a few holiday apartments and one hotel with a restaurant, panorama terrace and basic rooms. You’ll have beautiful views of the snowy Alps in the south.

Winter hikes can be made from town. One of them is the beautiful panorama path to Rigi Kaltbad. The Obermatt ski lift and the toboggan run from Rigi Burggeist to Gschwänd are close by.

Spinas

Spinas (1815 m / 5955 ft) is a tiny hamlet in Val Bever, a side valley of the Upper Engadine. It’s at one end of the Albula rail tunnel. This tunnel connects the Upper Engadine and the Albula valley. Spinas can be reached in 20 minutes from St. Moritz.

Spinas is car-free in winter. If you don’t arrive by train, you can get there from the nearest town Bever. You can either walk or make a horse-sleigh ride.

The settlement consists of one hotel-restaurant (open from mid-December to late March) and a few more buildings. There are no other facilities. You’ll stay here to enjoy the quiet winter nature during hikes or cross-country ski tours.

Until the summer of 2024, construction works are going on at the railway station of Spinas. This is because a new Albula tunnel is being built.

More information for your winter stay

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Page author: AnnikaSince early childhood I've been visiting Switzerland during my holidays and I just fell in love with the country. I spent many summers in the Bernese Oberland, which still feels like my second home, and then started to explore other areas. Traveling, hiking and photographing in the Swiss Alps are my absolute favorite activities.