Zermatt
Zermatt is located at the foot of the Matterhorn. As a result of its proximity to what is probably the world’s most famous mountain, the town’s tourism development is closely linked. Vacationers can enjoy a car-free area that has preserved its original character and is abound in opportunities for excursions.
Zermatt’s location at the foot of the Matterhorn and in the middle of an extensive hiking and skiing area makes it one of the world’s most attractive vacation resorts. There are 54 lifts and mountain railways as well as 360 kilometers of ski trails in the ski region.
Europe’s largest and highest summer skiing region, known as “Matterhorn glacier paradise”, hosts many national ski teams during the summer months.
The Matter Valley is well known among mountaineers: the challenging Haute Route, which takes several days to complete, connects Mont Blanc with Zermatt. Over 400 kilometers of hiking trails surround this region.
With 360 km of pistes and three varied ski areas, the snow-sure ski region is a skier’s paradise throughout the year: Sunnegga-Rothorn, Gornergrat-Stockhorn, Schwarzsee and Matterhorn glacier paradise. The Snowpark Zermatt is a training facility for freestylers and snowboarders. Olympic hopefuls train there as well.
It is Europe’s highest point reachable by cableway at 3883 metres in altitude, where you can also enjoy panoramic views of the Matterhorn (4478 metres) and the Alps of Switzerland, Italy, and France.
St. Moritz
Besides being a holiday resort, St. Moritz is also the birthplace of Alpine winter tourism (in 1864) and twice hosted the Winter Olympics. However, St. Moritz first gained fame through its mineral springs, which were found 3,000 years ago and made the town a summer spa resort.
St. Moritz, located in the Upper Engadine at an elevation of 1,856 m, experiences plenty of sunny days, which is why the sun was legalized as the emblem of the town in 1930. Guests from around the world enjoy the modern Alpine lifestyle, which features gourmet restaurants on the slopes as well as hotels that set standards in every category and international events.
A state-of-the-art infrastructure and 350 kilometers of pistes are available in the surrounding area for winter sports enthusiasts. The Corviglia, St. Moritz’s house mountain, has the steepest start slope in Switzerland, with the 100 per cent drop of the Piz Nair Wall. There is a natural ice running run which is one of the oldest in the world for tobogganing. For hikers, there are 150 km of winter walking trails, while for cross-country skiers, there are about 200 kilometers of tracks.
The resort also offers sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, tennis, minigolf, and horseback riding, in addition to traditional hiking and mountain biking. During the summer, skaters can enjoy the Ludains Ice Arena, while golfers can find four courses in the area.
Davos
At 1560 meters, Davos is the highest town in the Alps and the highest resort in the Swiss Alps: an international holiday destination with an international flair, it is the largest ski resort and a traditional high-altitude health resort.
In the long stretch of the Landwasser valley, this long-drawn out town is ideally suited as a conference centre, but it is also a major winter and summer sports centre with an international flavour and a broad variety of activities on offer. The city’s pride and joy is its modern Conference Center, where the World Economic Forum takes place almost every year.
Thousands of ski and snowboard fans from around the world visit Davos every winter. Visitors can enjoy 58 ski lifts, 300 km of slopes, 100 km of cross-country ski tracks, over 150 km of snowshoe and winter hiking trails, two artificial ice rinks with ice hockey, ice skating, and curling fields between 1124 m and 2844 m above sea level.
Skiing fans should head to Parsenn, which connects Davos to the neighboring resort of Klosters. On the other hand, the Jakobshorn is the perfect spot for freestylers and partygoers with its half-pipes and cosy après-ski huts.
In addition to the cable-cars on the Jakobshorn (2590 m), Parsenn including the Weissfluhjoch (2844 m), Rinerhorn (2490 m) and Schatzalp/Strela, there are also hiking areas providing access to a total of 700 km of marked footpaths.
Arosa
Arosa, a traditional Grisons holiday resort located at the end of the scenic Schanfigg Valley at about 1800 metres above sea level, is home to several tourist attractions. In the winter, Arosa Lenzerheide offers a variety of snow sport activities as well as extended hiking tours in the summer, with an impressive range of mountain peaks all around.
Arosa is situated in the bottom of a wide valley, which means it is very sunny and sheltered from strong winds to a great extent. From Chur, you can reach Arosa by rail or by road over 365 serpentines and through several tunnels, passing the smaller holiday resort of Langwies along the way.Arosa Lenzerheide provides skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts with 225 km of slopes featuring guaranteed snow, making it Graubünden’s largest ski area.
In summer, the holiday region of Arosa offers just as much variety as it does in winter. The hiking trails in Arosa alone are more than 200 km long. An especially recommended hiking tour is the 10-Lake hike, an excursion of 15 km that connects a series of crystal-clear mountain lakes. Furthermore, there is the Schanfigg circuit, which runs from Chur to Arosa and back, and offers many traditional mountain cabins, nicely cultivated areas, and alpine pastures.
Grindelwald
With the Eiger north face and the Wetterhorn surrounding the village, the Eiger village of Grindelwald is set in a pleasant and green valley in the Bernese Oberland. A spectacular mountainscape and the many lookout points and activities make Grindelwald a favorite destination for holidays and excursions in the Jungfrau region of Switzerland.
It is the site of the first cable car in the Alps – the Wetterhorn cable car – and a railroad – the Kleine Scheidegg railway – that reached the Jungfraujoch in 1912.
There are 160 kilometres of pistes available in First and Kleine Scheidegg – Männlichen – Wengen, with around 30 lifts reaching up to an altitude of 2500 m. The Schilthorn near Mürren, also within the Jungfrau region, is the highest peak in the region at 2971 meters. The most spectacular piste in the region is without a doubt the Lauberhorn piste near Wengen made famous by the World Cup circus.
A walk along the Bachalpsee from Grindelwald-First to the mountain hotel Faulhorn and then further along the Schynige Platte runs 300 km around Grindelwald.
Saas-Fee
From the 11th century until the 14th century, only one community existed in the Saas Valley: Saas. From Saas, four villages grew – Saas Fee, also known as “The Pearl of the Alps,” is the most renowned. 13 peaks above four thousand meters surround the glacier village, It is located at an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level.
Saas-Grund, located in the center of the valley, is an ideal starting point for hiking in the high altitudes. The Pearl of the Alps is located on the highest plateau of the Saas Valley, above the other three Saas communities. Mattmark, a natural dam in Saas Almagell, is the village’s most notable attraction, while Saas Balen is famous for its Late Baroque circular church and roaring Fell Brook.
The Saas Valley boasts 350 kilometers of themed and hiking trails, and family-friendly ski slopes of all levels. There are 150 kilometers of pistes in the ski region, all of which are snow-guaranteed.
Saas Fee forms the heart of the whole ski region with its 22 lifts and 100 km of prepared pistes.
Engelberg
Located in central Switzerland, Engelberg-Titlis is one of the most popular winter and summer holiday destinations. Guests of the village with its famous monastery will enjoy the many exciting options available to them. The picturesque village with its famous monastery will delight families, newcomers, and those who are already familiar with the area.
Located around 1000 meters above sea level, Engelberg is located 25 km south of Lake Lucerne in a broad mountain valley. The Titlis mountain with its glacier and Hahnen mountain with its 2,600 meters tower over the surrounding peaks, making cross-country skiing in Engelberg a wonderful experience.
With one of the top 10 ski areas in Switzerland, Engelberg is also known for its diverse skiing and freeriding opportunities. In the summer, hikers, mountaineers, climbers, bikers, and golfers can enjoy hiking, mountaineering, climbing, biking, and golfing.
Engelberg is appealing for its distinctive character and rustic atmosphere. Founded in 1120, the monastery has a very large impact on the village’s life even today. Monks still live, study, and work there.
Engelberg is an ideal family destination. It has the right infrastructure to make everyone feel at home. Easily accessible and one of the biggest mountain resorts in Switzerland, Engelberg-Titlis is one of Switzerland’s most popular summer and winter destinations.
Crans-Montana
Located at an altitude of 1500 meters on a sun-drenched plateau atop the Rhone Valley, the neighboring resorts of Crans and Montana comprise one of the largest holiday destinations in the Valais.
There are many things to do in these twin towns, including a particularly impressive view of the chain of mountain peaks from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc and a particularly broad range of activities throughout the year. As one of the largest alpine shopping destinations in the world, Crans-Montana also features a renowned cultural and congress centre, and wide-ranging accommodations. Known around the world as a golfing Mecca and as a host to major sporting events, Crans-Montana attracts visitors from all around the world.
The ski slopes stretch from the high plateau up to the Plaine Morte Glacier at 3400 m. Beyond the edge of the forest, the pistes are wide and open, making them ideal for beginners and deep-snow skiers alike.
Other than hiking, tennis, and squash, Crans-Montana offers a range of sports, including canyoning, mountain climbing, water skiing, and paragliding.
Verbier
Verbier, one of the most cosmopolitan resorts in the Valais, is situated on a sunny plateau with panoramic views of the Mont Blanc and Combins mountains.
There are numerous marked trails for mountain bikers and hikers to enjoy during summer as well. In winter, skiers from all over the world enjoy the extraordinary ski region. In summer, mountain bikers and hikers are able to explore numerous marked trails. Alpine villages offer a variety of activities for families, senior citizens, and young people alike: paragliding, heliski, sledding, golf, museums, and local produce.
Winter sports enthusiasts find Verbier a haven as soon as the first snow falls. The “4 Valleys” ski area – with over 410 km of runs and 89 ski lifts – encompasses five resorts: Verbier, Nendaz, Veysonnaz, Thyon, and La Tzoumaz. Skiers climb the cable car to the summit of Mont-Fort (3330 m), from where they descend one of the finest “black runs” in the Alps.
The Verbier heights and the Val de Bagnes are home to over 500 km of signposted hiking trails. Experienced hikers can test their abilities on classic paths such as the Tour du Val de Bagnes and Tour des Combins.
Mont-Fort’s climb to the summit is not to be missed; it offers stunning views of the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc.
Leukerbad
It was the Romans who first discovered that Leukerbad’s hot springs had therapeutic properties. Today, this thermal spa resort sits in a Valais side valley and has become a popular wellness and sports destination.
At the Leukerbad mountain spa resort, 65 thermal springs gushes out 3.9 million liters of hot water every day. The thermal springs in Leukerbad have spurred the development of tourism and made the city one of the biggest spa resorts in Switzerland. It boasts a medical rehabilitation centre in addition to a number of public thermal baths.
There are about 50 km of ski pistes, 30 km of cross-country ski trails, and a huge sports arena with a climbing wall, an indoor ice rink and curling rink, indoor tennis courts, squash courts, and a gym in Leukerbad. Hikers are able to hike the 9 km, 2.5 hour trail from Gemmi Pass to Sunnbüel in winter, weather permitting.
