A Guide To Snowboarding In Switzerland

Snowboarding in the Swiss Alps offers you the opportunity to ski at some of the worlds best ski resorts within sight of the worlds most iconic mountains. Whether it is the Eiger or the Matterhorn there are resorts to suit all abilities. Welcoming of skiers and snowboarders alike, Swiss ski resorts have invested heavily in infrastructure to ensure they have not only some of the best lifts and terrain parks but also ease of access and resort accommodation is high quality as well.

Switzerland offers the convenience and grandeur of well-run mega-resorts alongside the charm of traditional chalets that throwback to simpler times. Of course, all of this comes at a cost with Switzerland being renowned for being an expensive place to ski. The luxury resorts of Verbier and Crans Montana are far from my comfort zone or my budget but visits to them have left me astounded as to the quality of snowboarding available in Switzerland.

Switzerland is home to some pretty impressive mountains. World-renowned Matterhorn and the Eiger particular highlights but with a large number of 4000m peaks, there is plenty of choices. With mountains running throughout central Switzerland the Swiss Alps also comes with a large choice of ski resorts.

Switzerland can offer a variety of ski experiences from small resorts in local villages up to the large Aprés towns with mega facilities. Here are some of my favourites that offer the best snowboarding in Switzerland.

THE 4 VALLEES

Combining together the resorts of Thyon, Veysonnaz, Nendaz, La Tzoumaz and of course Verbier the 4 Vallees is a sizeable ski area! Over 400km of pistes make the 4 Vallees the largest combined ski area in Switzerland and one of the largest European ski areas, behind the Three Valleys across the border in France. The 4 Vallees has some of Switzerland’s best freeride terrain and hosts the Freeride World Tour. The 4 Vallees is considered amongst the best snowboarding in the world.

GRINDELWALD

Grindelwald has to be amongst the most scenic mountain villages in the world. Its location in the shadow of the Eiger is awe-inspiring and taking the train to the resort adds a really cool element. Part of the linked Jungrau ski region Mürren, Grindelwald and Wenger are all included on one ski pass.

TRAVELLING TO SWISS SKI RESORTS

Travel to Swiss ski resorts is generally quite simple. Switzerland as a country is efficient and the transport is no exception. Most visitors will enter via the international airport in Geneva although flying to Zurich, Basel or Sion are also possible options. From Geneva, you will have your choice of options from; luxury private or shared transfers, self-drive or the world-famous rail network. Not only a sustainable choice but incredibly well run, the Swiss rail network will get you to resort quickly but also allow you to take in some of the worlds most scenic train journeys. You can search for train tickets at Rail Europe.

Geneva airport is conveniently located with easy access to; Verbier, Grimentz, Anzere, Leysin, Crans Montana, Grindelwald and many more.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is snowboarding allowed in Switzerland?

Switzerland welcomes all disciplines to its ski resorts so whether you are skiing, snowboarding, telemarking or yes… snowblading you will be welcome in Switzerland. Come on… this isn’t Deer Valley or Alta!

Is skiing in Switzerland Expensive?

Switzerland is an expensive country to visit in my experience but that doesn’t mean that you can not plan an affordable Swiss ski trip. When considering how much snowboarding in Switzerland costs you should keep an open mind to your ski destination. If planning your Swiss ski trip on a budget consider which resort you will visit carefully. Some of the mega-resorts will have higher prices for lift passes and accommodation but deals can be found when avoiding these larger ski areas. You can also save money on lift passes by booking them pre-season for discounts or using the Magic Pass which offers incredible value.

Can you ski year-round in Switzerland?

Switzerland is home to many high-altitude ski resorts that offer skiing and snowboarding in pristine conditions throughout the winter. Luckily though the fun doesn't need to stop when the winter ends as Switzerland is home to glacier skiing at some of its best-known ski resorts. Zermatt’s glacier is open 365 days a year and Saas-Fee operates from July right through until April.

Where should I ski in Switzerland?

Switzerland has plenty of choice when it comes to ski resorts. The big players in terms of name are of course Zermatt, St Moritz, Davos-Klosters, Verbier, Grindelwald, Wengen, Saas-Fee, Andermatt, Grimentz and many more! Why not check out some of the resort reviews below to find your perfect resort.

RESORT REVIEWS

WHY SKI OR SNOWBOARD IN SWITZERLAND

Switzerland is high on most skiers list of destinations they would like to ski but what is it that makes Switzerland such a fabulous winter destination.

Switzerland is an incredibly organised country and this means fewer headaches when it comes to exploring the country by public transport. From arrival airports, the transport links are great with efficient trains being a fantastic way to see the country.
The ski resorts themselves are abundant with beautiful mountain villages that maintain their rustic charm despite being modernised for lift infrastructure.
Swiss ski resorts have world-class facilities and encourage athletes to train year-round in their mountains. You too can have access to the fast lifts, the huge terrain parks but best of all some incredible mountain scenery.

SWISS SKI RESORT SNOW RECORD

Switzerland has enough snow for you to be able to ski year-round but that is more due to the altitude of the resorts than the magnitude of the snow. Verbier receives an annual average of 5.5m whereas Zermatt receives 3m according to sno.co.uk. When you compare these snow statistics to the resorts of Japan or even the likes of Kirkwood in the US there is no comparison. The Swiss resorts however do have altitude on their side which protects and maintains the quality of the snow for longer periods.

MULTI RESORT PASSES

Making a Swiss snowboard trip affordable can be helped massively by finding a good deal on a ski pass. Here are some of the best multi-resort passes to get you access to some of Switzerland’s best ski resorts.

MAGIC PASS
Not many ski passes have got me as excited to purchase them as the Magic Pass. Available on the early bird deal for as little as 399CHF the Magic pass provides access to 40 Swiss ski areas. Saas-Fee, Grimentz and Les Diablerets are a few on offer with this expansive pass. The Magic Pass does have some interesting add ons as well with Crans Montana, Glacier 3000 and a Spa Pools pass available to order.

SNOWPASS GRAUBÜNDEN

Laax, Davos and St Moritz are big pulls on the Snowpass Graubünden but with 40 resorts across Switzerland, there are plenty more that could pull your attention. Sadly, this pass fails to come in at anywhere near the same value as Magic Pass with a cost of over 1000CHF. Some may feel this is good value with resorts such as Ischgl also listed.

TOP 4 SKI PASS

Also available at a reasonable early bird price the Top 4 Ski Pass offers the best skiing in the Bernese Oberland. Ski and snowboard at the famous Jungfrau ski region, Gstaad and more with over 600km of slopes all for under 700CHF early bird price.

THE SWISS SKI SEASON

It is possible to have lift-assisted skiing 365 days a year in Switzerland but the main season runs alongside other European resorts. If you discount the glacier access at resorts like Zermatt and Saas-Fee the Swiss alps snowboarding season runs between November and April. The peak periods are as you would expect in the school holidays especially around Christmas and New Years weeks. February is also a busy time to ski in Switzerland.