What is the best ski resort to stay in Switzerland?

Zermatt suits the most skiers: high slopes, a long season, the Matterhorn and a car-free village with hotels at every level. St. Moritz is the classic alternative for sun and grand hotels, and Grindelwald and Wengen suit mixed groups with non-skiers.

When does the Swiss ski season start?

It depends on the resort. For 2026–27, Zermatt's lift passes are valid from 1 November, the Jungfrau Winter Pass from 1 December, and many resort hotels open in early to mid-December.

Can you get to Swiss ski resorts without a car?

Yes. Every resort on this page is reached by train, with a bus or gondola for the last stretch to Saas-Fee and Verbier. Zermatt and Wengen are car-free, so the train is the only way in.

Which Swiss ski resort is best for families?

Grindelwald and Wengen have sledging runs, winter walks and family hotels, and the Kulm in St. Moritz and Mont Cervin Palace in Zermatt have kids' clubs. For a budget family trip, the wellnessHostel4000 in Saas-Fee has family rooms.

Where should non-skiers stay in winter?

Grindelwald or Wengen, for winter walking trails, sledging and the Jungfraujoch. St. Moritz also works, with winter walks, spas and cross-country trails.

Where to Stay in Switzerland in Winter (2026): Ski Bases

By the Where to Stay in Switzerland editorial team · Updated November 5, 2026

The Short Answer

For most skiers, Zermatt is the best all-round base: high slopes under the Matterhorn, a long season (lift passes for 2026–27 are valid from 1 November to 2 May) and a car-free village with plenty of hotels at every level. Our pick is CERVO Mountain Resort, at the bottom of the Sunnegga piste.

St. Moritz for sunny slopes, cross-country skiing and grand hotels.
Grindelwald or Wengen for skiing under the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, plus sledging and winter walks for non-skiers.
Verbier for off-piste and nightlife, about 2.5 hours from Geneva by train and gondola.
Andermatt or Engelberg for a short trip: about 2 hours from Zurich and about 45 minutes from Lucerne, respectively.

Zermatt under snow at dusk, with the Matterhorn behind — Zermatt's lifts reach 3,883 m at the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, which makes it the surest base for snow early and late in the winter. Photo: Roy Egloff, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Ski Bases Compared

Base	Best for	By train	Downsides
Zermatt	High slopes, Matterhorn views, long season	About 3¼ hrs from Zurich	Expensive; long trip from the airports
St. Moritz	Sunny slopes, cross-country, grand hotels	About 3¼ hrs from Zurich	Many hotels open only from early December
Grindelwald & Wengen	Scenery, sledging, mixed groups	About 2¾ hrs from Zurich	Lower slopes than Zermatt
Verbier	Off-piste, après-ski	About 2.5 hrs from Geneva	Late-night noise in the center
Saas-Fee	Budget families, wellness	About 3¼ hrs from Zurich	Bus from Visp for the last stretch
Andermatt	A short trip, modern luxury	About 2 hrs from Zurich	Smaller village, fewer hotels
Engelberg	Titlis, quick escapes from Lucerne	About 45 min from Lucerne	Busy with day-trippers

Where to Stay in Zermatt

Ski-in/ski-out at the splurge end and a simple house by the station at the budget end.

CERVO Mountain Resort

Riedweg, at the foot of the Sunnegga piste, Zermatt

Our top pick: chalets at the foot of the Sunnegga piste in Zermatt, so you ski back to the door, with a station pick-up and an onsen-style spa.

Best for: Skiers who want style

Ski-in/ski-out
Station pick-up by the CERVO-Mobil
Onsen-style spa

More about this hotel

Chalets and lodges on the slope above the station, at the bottom of the Sunnegga piste, so you can ski back to the door. The spa has an onsen-style bath, yurts and a hot-stone herbal bath, and the CERVO-Mobil picks you up at the station.

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Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates

Photo: Andrew Bossi, CC BY-SA 2.5

Riffelalp Resort 2222m

Riffelalp, on the Gornergrat railway, Zermatt

Zermatt: ski-in/ski-out at 2,222 meters, with an outdoor pool facing the Matterhorn.

Best for: Skiers and splurges

Ski-in/ski-out
Outdoor pool facing the Matterhorn
Apartments and a family suite

Good for families

More about this hotel

A 65-room resort at 2,222 meters above Zermatt, reached only by the Gornergrat railway, with an outdoor pool facing the Matterhorn and ski-in/ski-out access in winter. In summer a small tram takes you from the station to the door; in winter you walk about eight minutes while your bags go by skidoo.

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Photo: Riffelalp Resort, CC BY-SA 4.0

Hotel Bahnhof

Opposite the station, Zermatt

Zermatt on a budget: dorms and doubles, a ski room and a guest kitchen.

Best for: Budget skiers

Opposite the station
Guest kitchen and ski room
Dorms and private rooms

Good for families

More about this hotel

A simple house run since 1902 opposite the station and next to the Gornergrat railway, with dorms, private doubles, a family room and a shared guest kitchen. There is no lift and no breakfast, but there is a ski room and free luggage storage.

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Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates

Photo: Andrew Bossi, CC BY-SA 2.5

Where to Stay in St. Moritz and the Jungfrau Region

A palace with a ski pass included, and three hotels close to the Jungfrau lifts.

Kulm Hotel St. Moritz

Top of St. Moritz Dorf, above the lake, St. Moritz

St. Moritz: a free ski pass for every night, plus indoor and outdoor pools.

Best for: Ski families

Free ski and mountain pass for each night
Indoor and outdoor pools
Kids' club and own ice rink

Good for families

More about this hotel

The hotel where St. Moritz winter tourism began in 1864, above the lake, with a 2,000 m² spa, an indoor pool and an outdoor pool heated to 34°C. Guests get a free ski and mountain pass for every night booked, and children have the Wunderwald kids' club.

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Photo: Leonhard Lenz, CC0

Sunstar Hotel Grindelwald

Dorfstrasse, opposite the First gondola, Grindelwald

Grindelwald: opposite the First gondola, with an indoor pool facing the Eiger.

Best for: Skiers and hikers

Opposite the First gondola
Indoor pool with Eiger view
Open all year

Good for families

More about this hotel

A big, year-round hotel directly opposite the First gondola, with an indoor pool facing the Eiger and a 1,200 m² wellness area. Half board offers a choice of meat, fish or vegetarian dishes.

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Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates

Photo: W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0

Eiger Lodge

Grindelwald Grund, at the Eiger Express, Grindelwald

Grindelwald on a budget: next to the Eiger Express, with breakfast included.

Best for: Budget skiers

Next to the Eiger Express
Breakfast included
Four- and six-bed rooms

Good for families

More about this hotel

The former Mountain Hostel, right by the Eiger Express gondola in Grindelwald Grund, with simple doubles and four- and six-bed rooms plus "Chic" rooms with their own bathroom. Breakfast is included, and there is a grill restaurant, bar and roof terrace.

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Photo: Blanky75, CC BY-SA 4.0

Beausite Park Hotel & Spa

Upper Wengen, Wengen

Wengen: a car-free village on the Lauberhorn slopes, with an indoor pool.

Best for: Families and couples

Station pick-up on arrival and departure
Indoor pool and saunas
Family rooms and kids' playroom

Good for families

More about this hotel

A 44-room hotel in upper Wengen, in business since 1898, where 30 south-facing rooms have balconies looking straight at the Jungfrau. It has an indoor pool, saunas and a summer swimming pond, and staff collect you from Wengen station.

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Photo: W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0

Where to Stay in the Other Resorts

One hotel or hostel in each of Verbier, Saas-Fee and Andermatt, and two in Engelberg.

Experimental Chalet Verbier

Route de Verbier Station, central Verbier, Verbier

Verbier: a boutique hotel for the après-ski crowd, with a spa and cocktail bar.

Best for: The après-ski crowd

Spa with hammam and sauna
Cocktail bar with fireside lounge
Suite for up to 4

More about this hotel

A 39-room boutique hotel in central Verbier, facing the Grand Combin at the front and the slopes at the back, with a spa, a terrace hot tub and the Experimental Cocktail Club. The group's Farm Club nightclub nearby runs late.

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Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates

Photo: Jérémy Toma, CC BY-SA 4.0

wellnessHostel4000

Next to the Aqua Allalin center, Saas-Fee

Saas-Fee on a budget: family rooms attached to a big wellness center.

Best for: Budget ski families

Attached to the Aqua Allalin wellness area
Family rooms
Restaurant and bistro

Good for families

More about this hotel

A large Swiss Youth Hostels property attached to Saas-Fee's Aqua Allalin leisure center and its 1,900 m² wellness area. It has dorms, doubles, family rooms and an on-site restaurant.

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Photo: SJH8042, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Chedi Andermatt

Gotthardstrasse, near the Gütsch Express, Andermatt

Andermatt: a luxury hotel near the Gütsch Express, a short walk from the station.

Best for: Ski luxury by train

Close to the Gütsch Express
Walk from the station
Pool and spa

More about this hotel

A luxury hotel in Andermatt village close to the Gütsch Express lift and within walking distance of the station, with Japanese restaurants (one up on the mountain), a pool and a spa. Rooms run up to three-bedroom suites.

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Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates

Photo: 100Goblins, CC BY-SA 4.0

Kempinski Palace Engelberg

Dorfstrasse, village center, Engelberg

Engelberg: a Belle Époque hotel with a rooftop pool, for families.

Best for: Families who want a spa

Rooftop pool and spa
Family rooms for 4
Central Engelberg

Good for families

More about this hotel

A restored Belle Époque hotel in the center of Engelberg, with a rooftop pool in its 880 m² top-floor spa and four restaurants and bars. Premier rooms sleep four, and connecting rooms suit larger families.

Check prices & availability

Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates

Photo: Rudolph.A.furtado, Public domain

Ski Lodge Engelberg

Erlenweg, by the station, Engelberg

Engelberg for less: by the station, seven minutes' walk from the Titlis lifts.

Best for: Skiers arriving by train

7 minutes' walk to the Titlis lifts
Open all year
Garden sauna

Good for families

More about this hotel

A lodge founded in 2008 by two skiers, 20 meters from Engelberg station and a seven-minute walk from the Titlis lifts, with bunk rooms, doubles, triples and quads and a garden sauna. Its Brasserie Konrad is a village meeting spot.

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Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates

Photo: Gestumblindi, CC BY 3.0

Winter Hotels at a Glance

Prices change by date and room type, so check your own dates on Booking.com before you decide.

CERVO Mountain Resort

Riedweg, at the foot of the Sunnegga piste, Zermatt · Splurge

Skiers who want style
Check prices
Riffelalp Resort 2222m

Riffelalp, on the Gornergrat railway, Zermatt · Splurge

Skiers and splurges
Check prices
Hotel Bahnhof

Opposite the station, Zermatt · Budget

Budget skiers
Check prices
Kulm Hotel St. Moritz

Top of St. Moritz Dorf, above the lake, St. Moritz · Splurge

Ski families
Check prices
Sunstar Hotel Grindelwald

Dorfstrasse, opposite the First gondola, Grindelwald · Mid-range

Skiers and hikers
Check prices
Eiger Lodge

Grindelwald Grund, at the Eiger Express, Grindelwald · Budget

Budget skiers
Check prices
Beausite Park Hotel & Spa

Upper Wengen, Wengen · Splurge

Families and couples
Check prices
Experimental Chalet Verbier

Route de Verbier Station, central Verbier, Verbier · Mid-range

The après-ski crowd
Check prices
wellnessHostel4000

Next to the Aqua Allalin center, Saas-Fee · Budget

Budget ski families
Check prices
The Chedi Andermatt

Gotthardstrasse, near the Gütsch Express, Andermatt · Splurge

Ski luxury by train
Check prices
Kempinski Palace Engelberg

Dorfstrasse, village center, Engelberg · Splurge

Families who want a spa
Check prices
Ski Lodge Engelberg

Erlenweg, by the station, Engelberg · Mid-range

Skiers arriving by train
Check prices

	Location	Price level	Best for	Prices
CERVO Mountain Resort Ski-in/ski-out resort	Riedweg, at the foot of the Sunnegga piste, Zermatt	Splurge	Skiers who want style	Check prices
Riffelalp Resort 2222m Mountain resort	Riffelalp, on the Gornergrat railway, Zermatt	Splurge	Skiers and splurges	Check prices
Hotel Bahnhof Hostel-style hotel	Opposite the station, Zermatt	Budget	Budget skiers	Check prices
Kulm Hotel St. Moritz Grand hotel	Top of St. Moritz Dorf, above the lake, St. Moritz	Splurge	Ski families	Check prices
Sunstar Hotel Grindelwald Large resort hotel	Dorfstrasse, opposite the First gondola, Grindelwald	Mid-range	Skiers and hikers	Check prices
Eiger Lodge Lodge and hostel	Grindelwald Grund, at the Eiger Express, Grindelwald	Budget	Budget skiers	Check prices
Beausite Park Hotel & Spa Spa hotel	Upper Wengen, Wengen	Splurge	Families and couples	Check prices
Experimental Chalet Verbier Boutique ski hotel	Route de Verbier Station, central Verbier, Verbier	Mid-range	The après-ski crowd	Check prices
wellnessHostel4000 Hostel	Next to the Aqua Allalin center, Saas-Fee	Budget	Budget ski families	Check prices
The Chedi Andermatt Luxury ski hotel	Gotthardstrasse, near the Gütsch Express, Andermatt	Splurge	Ski luxury by train	Check prices
Kempinski Palace Engelberg Belle Époque hotel	Dorfstrasse, village center, Engelberg	Splurge	Families who want a spa	Check prices
Ski Lodge Engelberg Ski lodge	Erlenweg, by the station, Engelberg	Mid-range	Skiers arriving by train	Check prices

Hotel details checked on November 5, 2026.

Winter 2026–27 Dates to Know

Zermatt: Matterhorn ski passes are valid from 1 November 2026 to 2 May 2027. CERVO opens for winter on 27 November and Riffelalp on 11 December.
Jungfrau region: the Jungfrau Winter Pass is valid from 1 December 2026 to 30 April 2027, and the Winter Hiking and Sledging Pass from 21 November 2026 to 25 April 2027. The Eiger Express is closed for maintenance from 9 to 20 November 2026, and the First gondola until 27 November. Wengen hosts the Lauberhorn World Cup races from 15 to 17 January 2027.
St. Moritz: the Kulm is open from 4 December 2026 to 29 March 2027.
Saas-Fee: the Kreuzboden area opens for the season on 19 December 2026.
Glacier Express: the winter timetable between Zermatt and St. Moritz starts on 5 December 2026.

St. Moritz Dorf seen across the frozen lake in winter — Lake St. Moritz freezes hard enough for horse races and polo in winter, and the hotels of St. Moritz Dorf look straight down on it. Photo: Frédéric de Goldschmidt, CC BY 3.0

Getting to the Slopes by Train

Zermatt: about 3¼ hours from Zurich HB, changing in Visp. Cars stop at Täsch, 12 minutes away by shuttle train.
Verbier: about 2.5 hours from Geneva by train to Martigny and Le Châble, then the gondola up.
Saas-Fee: about 3¼ hours from Zurich HB: train to Visp, then PostBus 511, which runs every 30 minutes.
Andermatt: about 2 hours from Zurich HB. The Chedi is a short walk from the station.
Engelberg: about 45 minutes from Lucerne by train. See where to stay in Lucerne.
Skis and luggage: SBB's luggage service can send bags ahead by rail, which helps most in car-free Zermatt and Wengen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to help you choose where to stay.

Where to Stay in Switzerland in Winter

The Short Answer

The Ski Bases Compared

Where to Stay in Zermatt

CERVO Mountain Resort

Riffelalp Resort 2222m

Hotel Bahnhof

Where to Stay in St. Moritz and the Jungfrau Region

Kulm Hotel St. Moritz

Sunstar Hotel Grindelwald

Eiger Lodge

Beausite Park Hotel & Spa

Where to Stay in the Other Resorts

Experimental Chalet Verbier

wellnessHostel4000

The Chedi Andermatt

Kempinski Palace Engelberg

Ski Lodge Engelberg

Winter Hotels at a Glance

Winter 2026–27 Dates to Know

Getting to the Slopes by Train

Frequently Asked Questions

Know where you are staying?

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