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Crans Montana Ski Holidays

At a glance

  • Sunny ski area
  • Quiet intermediate skiing

Great for

  • Foodies
  • Families
  • Scenery

Ski Holidays in Crans Montana

With 140km of sunny slopes, heaps of history, posh shops and mouth-watering local cheese and wine, Crans Montana has a lot going for it... and if that wasn’t enough, it’s often said to have some of the best views in Europe.

  • Flight Time
  • 1.5 hours
  • From London
  • Nearest Airports
  • Geneva, Zurich
  • Time zone
  • GMT + 1 hour
  • Language
  • German, French, Italian, Romansh
  • Currency
  • Swiss Franc
  • Ski Season
  • Dec - April

Crans Montana Stats

Top Altitude
3000m
Bottom Altitude
1500m
Resort Altitude
1500m
Total Piste
140km
Longest Run
Barzettes, 12km
Slope Orientation
S
Vertical Drop
1500m
Skiable Vertical
1500m
Night Skiing
Yes
Glacier Skiing
Yes - Plaine Morte, 3000m

Crans Montana is formed of two towns - Crans-sur-Sierre and Montana - which were merged in the 60s to form the ski resort we know today. Crans is the more fashionable, with shops like Cartier and Gucci lining the streets while with a more down-to-earth vibe, Montana has livelier après ski and cheaper places to eat.

The resort itself is less Swiss chocolate box and more a mix of different architecture but once you’re out on the mountain you’ll enjoy some incredible scenery: high up on a sun-drenched plateau in the Valais region, you have a 200km vista stretching from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc and up the Rhône Valley.

Staying here means you get all the advantages of a small resort combined with the cultural activities, shopping, gastronomic variety and international events of a big ski town. Highlights on the calendar include the Caprices Festival (one of the largest music festivals in Switzerland), the Omega European Masters and World Cup events.

Yes, Bond-legend Roger Moore had a house here but there’s a lot more to this place than its famous frequenters, including some fascinating history.

Had you been a patient of Dr Theodore Stephani in the 1890s, your road to recovery would have started here for the healing powers of the fresh mountain air, which is how the area started attracting tourists. Golf also has an important role to play, with the first Swiss Open hosted here in 1939.

This is one of the oldest Alpine resorts and has a longstanding place in the history of skiing. The famous Lunn family (who founded the Kandahar Ski Club) organised races here as far back as 1911. Today the resort hosts a roster of World Cup and European Championship events, and has become a centre for important downhill events.

It’s also super sunny – the southern facing orientation means on average it sees more than 300 days of sunshine each year.

If you’re not tempted by the skiing, shopping or sunshine, visit for the food. Thanks to the warm climate and fertile earth, agriculture is a big thing here and everything starts with local produce. Traditional delicacies still account for much of the cuisine like Raclette, traditional fondues and Valais wine.

Winter Sports Ratings

Beginners

Intermediate

Advanced

Snowboarding

Crans Montana Transfer Times

Geneva 2h10
Basel 2h47
Zurich 3h20

The nearest airport to Crans Montana is Geneva / Geneve at 180 km or about 2 hours by car

What's the ski area like in Crans Montana?

The four main lifts that take you up to the different parts of the mountain are accessible via the local ski bus.

This is probably one of the best places in Switzerland for cross country (or Nordic) skiing. As it is based on a plateau there are plenty of flat sections, and there are several lakes surrounding the resort to circumnavigate such as Lac Moubra. The scenery from the track on the Piste Briesses is stunning, and this circuit links up with the one on the golf course.

Which other ski resorts are near to Crans Montana?

The nearest ski resorts to Crans Montana include Anzere, Grimentz.

Ski Area Facts

LocationSwitzerland, Valais
Established1911
Downhill140km
Lift PassCHF 326 (Adult 6 days)

Beginner Slopes

17km41%

Intermediate Skiing

20km49%

Advance & Expert Terrain

4km10%

Snowboarding Trails

140km100%

What is Crans Montana like for Beginner skiers?

Children and complete novices will learn the basics in the ‘Snow Island’ area – which serves as the golf course in the summer months and has some lovely gentle nursery slopes. The magic carpet here is perfect for little children, and much easier to use than a drag lift if you are a total novice. The Discovery area has a beginners only ‘Secure’ run near the Verdets lift, and there’s also a fun area by the Merignou lift that has small jumps and an easy ski cross.

What is Crans Montana like for Intermediate skiers?

With 17 blues, there are some pleasant easy cruisers all over the area. From the Cry d’Er area above Crans, you’ll find 3 blues served by drag lifts, the two Mérignou runs and the longer Chetzeron, which has a lovely mountain restaurant at the bottom. More confident skiers/boarders have a network of 20 reds, including a fabulous long one from the Plaine Morte glacier (at 3000m the views are incredible).

What is Crans Montana like for Advanced skiers?

There are 4 blacks, including Col du pochet from Bellalul (2543m). The red Nationale which goes down from the Cry d’Er area is a must ski as it has hosted the World Cup men’s downhill. Torch lit descents and night skiing often take place throughout the season if you want to have some slope time after hours – check with the tourist office or ski schools for specific days and times.

What is Crans Montana like for snowboarding?

Freestylers can while away the week in the ‘Adrenaline’ area (access via the Crans gondola) which has a halfpipe, ski/boarder cross and not one but two snowparks – one for beginners and the other one of the biggest in Switzerland, covering 100,000 square metres.

What is Crans Montana like for off-piste skiing?

There’s also quite a lot of off-piste, including itinerary routes - a guide will be able to take you down some awesome routes on the glacier and around Chetzeron.

What is Crans Montana like for cross country skiing?

there are 15km of prepared cross country ski routes.

Crans Montana Restaurants

The resort has no shortage of restaurants with over 90 offering varied cuisines including Japanese, Chinese, French, Italian, Argentinian and Lebanese.Chef Pierre Crepaud serves some cracking food at Le Mont Blanc Restaurant and if (like us) you can’t resist the idea of Raclette melted over a wood fire, book a table at La Dent Blanche. Located at a heady height of 2112 metres, Chetzeron has a menu of Valaisan food and wine that you can enjoy in the restaurant or out on the 3 level terrace which has some awesome mountain views.Higher up at Cabane des Violettes (2208 meters), Michelin star chef Franck Reynaud has a gourmet menu highlighting regional treasures – try Franck’s famous Rosti de Cabane des Violettes. You can ski to the hut or it’s a 2 minute walk from the top of the Violettes gondola.For a good old plate of pizza, Le Michelangelo has a well-priced menu. Anyone with a sweet tooth should definitely drop in to L'Instant Chocolat in Montana to see Swiss chocolate master David Pasquiet at work.If you are self-catering or fancy grabbing a cheaper bite for lunch there are several supermarkets: a Migros, 2 Co-ops and a PAM.

Non skiers and anyone looking for something to do once the lifts close have over 180 shops to peruse as well as spas, cafes, a cinema, ice rink, bowling alley and a casino to fill the time

Crans Montana Après Ski

The après is laid back and quiet but with over 130 restaurants and bars and 3 nightclubs, there’s still lots to do. Zerodix (at the end of the blue Crans piste by the Cry D’Er lift station) is a hotspot for lively après ski drinks and snacks. New additions include 180 degrees at the Crans Ambassador Hotel (you can ski to it) and the Memphis Bar and Lounge in Crans. For a bit of insider knowledge about the local tipples, visit Ratatouille for wine tastings and Brasserie La Marmotte to sample the local beer. With Crans Montana being split between two distinct villages Crans Montana is a must-visit Swiss après destination. Attracting a crowd of young lively skiers with its more traditional yet upmarket take on après ski. Zerodix is the best place to start on your night out asd they have regular DJS and live music. Located at the top of the gondola, Cry d’Er Club d’Altitude has argubally the best apre ski atmosphere and live music plays daily from 3pm until the pistes close.

Crans Montana Activites for Non-skiers

Clothing Food & Souvenir Shops

With some 120 shops in the Crans Montana resort area, this variety will satisfy the best shopping fans. There are lovely jewellery stores, fashion pieces, home decorative items and many places to buy the latest and greatest ski equipment and clothing. The resort often hosts great sporting events and has a great reputation for great pistes and a wide variety of sporting equipment for all levels.

Crans Montana Package Ski Holidays

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Best Time to Visit Crans Montana

Crans Montana is known for its sunshine, and with most of the slopes being south facing, the best time to ski is earlier in the season throughout January and February. Snow tends to hold out well here, with top heights of 3000m. One third of the slopes have artificial snowmaking, which makes sure there’s good coverage at the beginning of the season if there hasn’t been enough natural snowfall.

What's Crans Montana like at Christmas?

Spend a week of good skiing, good food and good festivities during Christmas in Crans Montana.
Christmas Ski Holidays

What's Crans Montana like in the New Year?

With the traditional firework display at the ice rink and fun for the family on Rue Louis Antille, spending New Year in Crans Montana can make your week of skiing extra exciting.
New Year Ski Holidays

What's Crans Montana like in Half-Term?

Known as one of the quieter resorts but also known for being really family friendly, Half term in Crans Montana is a place where you can enjoy an action packed week on the mountains.
Half Term Ski Holidays

What's Crans Montana like at Easter?

Whether or not there’s good enough snow to ski all day, the spring sunshine makes Easter in Crans Montana spectacular.
Easter Ski Holidays

Crans Montana Snow Conditions

Snow Report, History & Forecast

View our detailed Crans Montana snow report to see skiing confitions now. Our Crans Montana snow history shows you what snow depths have been in recent years month-by-month. If you're visiting soon, use the Crans Montana snow forecast to see predicted snowfall over the coming days.

  • Cloudy skies Today
  • Partly cloudy skies Sunday
  • Sunny skies Monday
  • Moderate or heavy snow with thunder Tuesday
  • Moderate snow Wednesday
  • Sunny skies Thursday
  • Current snow depth at top
    179 cm
  • Alternate Text
  • Current snow depth at base
    89 cm

Ski Accommodation in Crans Montana

We have 4306 ski holidays in Crans Montana. Search all Crans Montana ski deals or pick your preferred accommodation type below:

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Crans Montana's sunny climate, family orientated resort and extensive non-ski offerings make it an excellent place for families.

In winter the infamous golf course transforms into the Snow Island children's area, with snowtubing, sledding, gentle pistes and indoor shelter. The ‘Discovery Space' (accessed by the Grand-Signal gondola from Montana) is tailor made for families - beginners will want to hop off at the area by the Verdets lift, which is split into the snow garden and a secure run while more confident skiers can stay on the lift to reach the top, where you'll find some gentle jumps and a skicross. Teens will love the Adrenaline space which consists of a ski / boardercross, airbag and 2 snowparks, while the wider area is a network of fabulous blues, reds and a few blacks stretching from Crans over to Aminona.

Skiing aside, a fantastic 6km sled run (one of the longest and most scenic in the country) takes you all the way down to Aminona - there's a nice picnic spot at the top for a quick snack before you slide down. The tourist office usually arrange activities like treasure hunts around the resort and for bad weather days, indoor activities for families include bowling on Route du Rawyl and a 3D cinema.

Crans Montana can be a fabulous ski resort for groups, especially if you're a mix of skiers and non-skiers. While the après doesn't yet rival the legendary scene in Verbier, there's plenty for groups after dark. As the lifts start to close, most ski down to the Cry d'Er base station for a drinks and snacks at Zerodix (their nacho, burger and chicken platter is always a group favourite). Later on, Amadeus below the Hotel Olympic have been hosting themed nights and dolling out buckets of Jäger bombs for the past twenty years and Monk'Is is always known to throw a good party.

The ski area is nice and varied for different abilities, from the beginner-only ‘Secure' run to off-piste itinerary routes beneath the Plaine Morte glacier and the World Cup men's downhill from Cry d'Er. Book a private group lesson if you're all learning together, or go all-out with a heliski trip - this area of the world has some astounding terrain to explore.

Activities aren't hard to come by - try snowscooting for something different, experience one of the best sled runs in the Alps above Aminona or head to the bowling alley and engage in a little healthy competition.

One of Crans Montana's best concessions to groups -- it's terrific for non-skiers: from shops (this is the Alps' biggest luxury shopping area) art galleries, museums and a cinema to fabulous spas and swimming pools, winter walks galore and access to the railways at Sion and Sierre.

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Crans Montana
Reviews
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0
Good
5
Okay
1
Meh
0
Poor
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3.8
out of 5
The variety of possibility for all levels was good and we’d definitely visit again. I was juggling a 2 year old and two other sons, and it all worked with ease, even getting the buggy up the mountain. I would definitely recommend this resort as it’s very good for families. If you’ve got very young skiers I w... + more
Family party, Gloucestershire
4 out of 5
We had a lovely week overall. We’re all good skiers who like to ski all day every day and did find the ski area a wee bit limiting. The teenagers in particular (who are used to skiing in places like Courchevel) thought that the ski area was very small. They did advanced classes and got to see parts of the moun... + more
Anon,
4 out of 5
The 1960’s became a literal landmark for two mountain villages. Charismatically perched amongst the sunniest peaks in Switzerland, fondue and family met with upmarket chic as Crans and Montana unified into what has now become a vivacious wintry retreat. Stretching above the Rhone Valley, the views verge on pan... + more
Intern, Sno Intern
3 out of 5
Beginners can be comfortably introduced to the slopes on three nursery runs. 200 instructors are spread across 5 ski schools from both the Crans and Montana side that welcome both first time snowboarders and skiers. Grand Signal is a suitable area for beginners with easy access from the Gondola. The wide expans... + more
Charlotte, London
4 out of 5
On the mountain you have 18 choices of where to enjoy lunch, a hot chocolate or a much-craved mulled wine. Lunch and a sun lounge at Chetzeron will cover the basics with a relaxed atmosphere. For a more Michelan starred approach, Les Violettes mountain restaurant will certainly provide you with a memorable meal... + more
Charlotte, London
4 out of 5
Christmas Period: If you are in Crans Montana for Christmas then I recommend the Winter Festival - when I was last there it opened on 21st with the lighting of an extremely sizeable Christmas tree. It is an excessively child-friendly atmosphere with the opportunity to meet both Santa Clause as well as Bibi La M... + more
Anon, Surrey
4 out of 5
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Ski Extras

How much is a ski pass in Crans Montana

Maximum and minimum adult Crans Montana lift pass prices ranged from CHF349 to CHF349 for 6 days access to the Crans Montana ski lift system at the start of the 2025 winter season. Our lift passes are part of a packaged Crans Montana holiday with accommodation, so prices vary depending on chalet or hotel suppliers. Confirm price for the lift ticket before booking your holiday.

Lift Tickets Child Adult Senior
1 Day Price CHF39 - CHF39 CHF69 - CHF69 N / A
6 Day Price CHF197 - CHF197 CHF349 - CHF349 N / A
Age Range 6 - 15 N / A N / A
Crans Montana Packages + Extras

Getting to Crans Montana

Most of our ski holidays to Crans Montana packaged with flights include airport transfers. We can also arrange private transfers to Crans Montana from nearby airports

How long does it take to fly to Crans Montana from the UK?

Flights from London take about 1.5 hours to Geneva, Zurich. This table shows approximate transfer times to Crans Montana from the nearest airports, smaller airports can be more prone to delays.

Airport Distance Transfer Time
Geneva / Geneve 180 km 2 hours
Zürich 300 km 4 hours
Sion 25 km 40 minutes
Packages with Plane Train or Car

How long does it take to drive to Crans Montana from the UK?

Browse our self-drive ski holidays which include your car channel crossing, or go choose accom-only and book your car ferry or tunnel later.

Self-Drive Ski Holidays
↑ INCL CAR ↑↓ WITHOUT ↓
Accommodation-Only

How long is the transfer from nearest Switzerland train station to Crans Montana?

The transfer time from alpine train stations are generally shorter than from airports, Call us for details of Crans Montana transfers.

Station Distance Transfer Time
Sierre 15 km 15 minutes
Ski Train Holidays

Crans Montana Maps

Crans Montana piste map
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Regional map
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Town Map
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Going to Crans Montana under your own steam

For independant travel to Switzerland, compare accommodation only with Crans Montana self-drive packages which include Eurotunnel or ferry.

Accomm-Only & Self-Drive

See driving directions to and from Crans Montana in Switzerland.

Enter your start location and click "Get Directions" to view the route:

Crans Montana Ski Holiday Resources

Need help choose your Crans Montana ski holiday? Call us on 020 7770 6888 or click Enquire - we love to help!

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Similar Ski Resorts to Crans Montana in Switzerland

Switzerland Ski Holiday Resorts

Every Sno holiday packaged with flights is ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. All our suppliers are ATOL bonded, so your money is safe. In addition to this, payments for your holiday are held in trust, by NatWest bank and the Travel Trust, who insure every booking against supplier failure.

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