The Swiss resorts are among the most picturesque in the world, boasting plenty of Alpine character and lots of charm. Experience state-of-the-art lift systems, impeccable pistes, and snow-sure skiing when you visit the Swiss Alps. Our ski expert Mark spent 10 years living in the Alps and has used his experience to answer the question: what are the prettiest ski resorts in Switzerland?
Switzerland ski holidays have several spectacular resorts that showcase top-class luxury and world-class skiing. To many Brits, Switzerland is the home of skiing: it was here that Henry Lunn organised the world’s first package ski holiday to the Wengen ski resort. His son, Arnold, then went on to organise the world’s first-ever ski slalom race across the valley in Mürren.
Prettiest Ski Resorts In Switzerland At A Glance
| Prettiest for… | Resorts |
| Architecture | Wengen, Mürren, Gstaad |
| Views | Crans-Montana, Verbier, Grindelwald |
| Charm | Adelboden, St Moritz, Davos |
Switzerland ski holidays have several spectacular resorts that showcase top-class luxury and world-class skiing. To many Brits, Switzerland is the home of skiing: it was here that Henry Lunn organised the world’s first package ski holiday to the Wengen ski resort. His son, Arnold, then went on to organise the world’s first-ever ski slalom race across the valley in Mürren. See below for the prettiest ski resorts in Switzerland.
Adelboden
Village Size: Medium | Highlight: Traditional Swiss charm
Adelboden is a chocolate box ski resort in the heart of Bernese Oberland. The sweet village has a cluster of idyllic wooden chalets surrounded by beautiful pine forests, it really is a winter wonderland. The traditional ski resort is on a sunny mountainside, offering panoramic views of the scenic valley. The peaceful resort is ideal for families seeking a relaxed ski holiday.
Adelboden is the first ski resort in Switzerland to receive the Alpine Wellness Holiday Resort certificate and has hosted the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships on several occasions. The resort offers a wide range of accommodations, perfect for all types of holidaymakers. The charming town has a variety of family-friendly leisure activities, and many hotels provide in-house childcare services. The ski resort is relatively unknown by Brits, making it a great choice for February Half Term.
Stay At:
The Cambrian is an excellent, contemporary yet cosy retreat in Adelboden. Unwind in the superb wellness area, featuring a heated indoor/outdoor pool.
Wengen
Village Size: Small | Highlight: Car free and sunny
Wengen is a magical car-free village in the Jungfrau ski area of the Swiss Alps. The picturesque setting retains its traditional roots, with the Wengernalpbahn cog railway serving the ski resort as one of the main forms of transport.
Wengen neighbours Mürren on the other side of the Lauterbrunnen Valley and has excellent views of the surrounding mountains. The Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau Mountains all add to the remarkable scenery. The views aren’t the only reason to visit; the skiing is great as well. The ski area covers a total of 224 kilometres of piste, with the majority of runs catering towards beginners and intermediates. The ski resort is famous for the Lauberhorn Men’s Downhill World Cup race, which happens every year. Visitors flock in January to spectate the challenging descent and marvel at the high-speed turns.
Stay At:
Hotel Beausite Park is a stunning hotel situated moments away from the nursery slopes. The nearest lift is just a five-minute walk away, ideal for those wanting to maximise their time on the slopes.
Crans-Montana
Village Size: Large | Highlight: Sunny views
Crans-Montana is one of the prettiest and largest ski resorts in Switzerland. The sun-drenched location is found on the north side of the Rhone Valley and has breathtaking panoramic views. From the west, you can see the impressive Mont Blanc, and from the east, the Matterhorn dominates the skyline. The unique location is truly memorable.
Crans-Montana is located in the Valais canton and is a favourite amongst locals, which is always a good sign. The journey from Geneva is two hours, making the ski resort a great choice for a weekend getaway. The twin towns of Crans and Montana encompass a ski area of 140 kilometres, served by 40 lifts. The ski resort is south-facing, meaning you can expect plenty of bluebird days during your visit. The ski terrain has several runs for all abilities. The nursery slopes are lovely and wide, served by a magic carpet. The cat tracks are tree-lined, perfect for low-visibility days. For a thrilling descent, take the Plaine Morte gondola to the glacier, the long, steep red is 11 kilometres and one of the most dramatic in the Alps.
Stay At:
Six Senses is an exceptional five-star hotel in Crans-Montana. The luxurious ski-in ski-out hotel is in the heart of the resort, just moments away from the lifts, boutiques, restaurants and bars.
Gstaad
Village Size: Medium/large | Highlight: Elegant chalet architecture
Gstaad is the epitome of a truly luxurious ski holiday. The ski resort exudes glamour and sophistication, making it a great choice for those who enjoy the finer things. The town has traditional chalets, luxurious shops, and award-winning restaurants. A prominent feature in the skyline is the resort’s picturesque castle, which is above the village.
This exclusive hot spot is in the Bernese Oberland, surrounded by well-groomed slopes and tree-lined mountains. Gstaad has influences from both the French and German-speaking parts of Switzerland, as it is located at the intersection of two Bernese valleys.
The ski terrain is in six sectors, with more than 200 kilometres of pistes to explore. 40 lifts serve the region, and the ski altitude reaches almost 3,000 metres. The high altitude ensures excellent snow throughout the season, and the piste bashers do a great job of keeping it intact for the warmer days. There is a great variety of terrain, from gentle tree-lined runs to advanced, challenging steep slopes like ‘The Tiger’ – the steepest ski slope in the Wasserngrat.
Stay At:
Alpina Hotel boasts remarkable facilities, including two Michelin-starred restaurants, an exceptional wellness centre and is moments away from one of the most beautiful ski resorts in the world.
Mürren
Village Size: Small | Highlight: Beautiful cliffside setting
Mürren is one of the most charming villages in the Alps, with a lovely, peaceful atmosphere. The ski resort neighbours Wengen and is in the Jungfrau region of Bernese Oberland. The traditional Alpine village has been welcoming skiers since 1922, when the world’s first slalom race was introduced by the British ski pioneer, Arnold Lunn. You can see Mürren’s rich history in its classic architecture and local dialect, which the locals still speak.
Mürren is a truly unique location, as the only two ways to access the destination are via gondola or by railway. There are no roads leading to it! James Bond ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ was also filmed here, in the rotating Piz Gloria restaurant. Film buffs will love the interactive adventure exhibition ‘007 Walk of Fame’, which brings the on-screen action to life. Explore the thrilling pistes of Mürren and discover the beautiful slopes that James Bond himself has visited.
Stay At:
Hotel Eiger was first established in 1886 and has been family-run ever since. The home-away-from-home is a beautiful retreat in one of the most authentic ski resorts in the Alps.
St. Moritz
Village Size: Large | Highlight: Breathtaking lake and mountain views
Renowned for its breathtaking panoramic views and classiness, St. Moritz is one of Switzerland’s most stunning resorts. Situated in the heart of the Engadine Valley, the resort consists of three picturesque villages: Dorf, St. Moritz, and Celerina. St. Moritz hosts regular celebrities, drawn by the beautiful scenery, exceptional skiing, and luxurious shopping.
Surrounded by dense forests, towering mountains, and sparkling lakes, St. Moritz exudes a magical, almost fairytale-like charm. Each village offers easy access to the main skiing area, Corviglia, which reaches an impressive altitude of 2,486 metres. Advanced skiers will enjoy the Standard Run in the Corvatsch area, as well as Diavolezza, which goes 10 kilometres down the glacier to Morteratsch. For beginners, you’ll find plenty of nursery slopes and drag lifts in Corviglia.
Stay At:
With only 60 rooms, this is St. Moritz’s most intimate luxury hotel, offering impeccable spaces and attentive staff for every guest.
Verbier
Village Size: Medium | Highlight: Sunny plateau location
Situated at the very centre of the 4 Valleys ski area, Verbier is just two hours away from Geneva. The ski resort is a much-favoured ski weekend destination, and the serene atmosphere of the town invites you to relax. Its picturesque location, a sun-kissed plateau that opens up to an immense ski area, is complemented by hundreds of small wooden chalets.
Verbier is renowned as an idyllic holiday destination, offering accommodation with gorgeous panoramic views across the valley, as well as world-class skiing. Verbier gives you access to over 400 kilometres of runs at a snow-capped altitude of up to 3,330 metres. Beginners and intermediates can choose from nearly 80% of the runs, with stunning views from Les Esserts and versatile slopes at Savoleyres.
Stay At:
Traditionally built in rustic wood, this chalet features a four-bedroom apartment on the first floor and boasts an open-plan with a central fireplace.
Davos
Village Size: Large | Highlight: Surrounding mountain views
Well-connected to both Zurich and Friedrichshafen Airports, Davos is a perfect combination of a small traditional Alpine town with breathtaking mountain scenery. Apart from the natural beauty of the resort, Davos also offers great shopping, high-class hotels and, of course, excellent skiing.
At 1,560 metres, Davos is the highest and one of the largest towns in the Alps. In total, there are 251 kilometres of well-maintained pistes to explore, which is made easy with the Parsenn funicular running from Davos Platz up into the Parsenn ski area. The skiing in Davos has some serene blues and reds, as well as plenty of taxing black runs and an enormous amount of off-piste terrain to be explored.
Stay At:
Featuring floor-to-ceiling glass windows with breathtaking Alpine views, heated floors and other luxurious details, this hotel is sure to make your stay look and feel perfect.
Grindelwald
Village Size: Medium | Highlight: Iconic scenery
Find yourself in a gorgeous, winter fairytale-like Swiss village – Grindelwald, boasting a total of 224-kilometre slopes served by modern lifts. Famous for stunning views of the Eiger, the resort offers a mix of challenging terrain – including two ungroomed routes – as well as beginner and intermediate-friendly ground to explore. Rich in mountaineering history, Grindelwald will give you access to incredible sights of the Swiss Alps.
The well-known neighbouring ski resorts of Wengen and Mürren are directly accessible from Grindelwald, providing heaps of further skiing opportunities. Ideal for a family ski holiday, beginners will enjoy the gentle Bodmi slopes, whilst intermediates can take advantage of the red and blue runs which make up most of Grindelwald’s terrain.
Stay At:
A new Alpine Design Resort, this hotel’s thoughtfully crafted rooms are airy and cosy, providing views of the awe-inspiring landscape.
To find out more about the prettiest ski resorts in Switzerland, call our ski experts today.
For a mix of architecture, views and charm, Wengen is the top contender. It’s also one of the most traditional-looking.
Grindelwald boasts amazing views of the Eiger, one of the most impressive mountains in the region.
Gstaad has elegant traditional architecture, featuring a palace lying beneath the mountain peaks.
Both small and large ski resorts in Switzerland boast charm. The smaller ones like Mürren tend to be more peaceful and traditional, but the larger ones like Davos have more amenities.
