While France might steal the snow-sports show thanks to its sprawling mega-resorts, Switzerland has carved a name for itself as one of Europe’s premier skiing destinations.
Sharing the famed Alps with France, Italy and Austria, among others, Switzerland boasts some of the highest peaks in the range, including the Matterhorn (which straddles the Swiss-Italian border) and Dufourspitze.
These mountains and valleys are home to some of the most highly acclaimed ski resorts on the continent. From Zermatt to St Moritz, Switzerland has resorts and slopes catering to all ability levels, from complete beginners to the most experienced of off-piste skiers.
Towering peaks, well-groomed runs, abundant snowfall and charming Alpine towns: Switzerland has it all. However, with over 300 ski resorts to choose from, it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best to help narrow it down ahead of the 2023/24 winter season.
St Moritz
A view of St Moritz from the lake
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St Moritz sits in the Engadin Valley around the lake of the same name, and is known as the birthplace of Alpine winter tourism. It played host to the Winter Olympics in 1928 and 1948. There are four main ski areas covered by the lift pass: Corviglia/Piz Nair, Corvatsch/Furtschellas, Diavolezza and Lagalb.
Some of the slopes here are higher than 3,000m, with over 300km of pistes served by 42 lifts and plenty of off-piste opportunities, plus gentle beginner areas.
Away from the slopes, St Moritz is known for being the glitziest Swiss resort (with prices to match), with elegant hotels and spendy restaurants set in a glamorous, chocolate-box village.
Verbier
A view of the mountains over Verbier
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A resort famed for its challenging terrain, Verbier is one of the best resorts for expert skiers and snowboarders. Named as the country’s best resort in 2021 and 2022 by the World Ski Awards, Verbier boasts over 410km of slopes spread across the ‘4 Vallees’ area, with Mont Fort at the heart of the region, standing at 3,330m.
There’s also a respected ski school for beginners, but the real draw is Verbier’s red and black runs plus off piste for more experienced snowsports enthusiasts to test their mettle on. The resort’s most famous routes include the 900-metre vertical from Col des…
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