Even before you get here, the train ride up the mountain is nothing short of spectacular. Once you do reach the resort, tree-lined streets, alpine lakes and hundreds of summits form the landscape. Then for the skiing: Arosa-Lenzerheide is one of Switzerland’s biggest ski areas, with snow sure pistes and terrain so good they hold World Championships here. All in all, you’re in for a treat with Arosa, which is why we’re surprised that Brits don’t ski here more.
Arosa is high in the German-speaking canton of Graubünden, where you’ll also find the resorts of Davos and Klosters. The transfer from Zurich is doable by coach or rail: opt for the latter at least once as it includes the famous mountain train from Chur. It’s the last leg of the journey when you’ll want to avoid dozing off– there are some magnificent views over the Schanfigg Valley.
The town has the Obersee and Untersee lakes on each side, surrounded by that rugged mountain scenery we all hold dear in Switzerland. Hopefully the lift company are still doing early morning trips on the Weisshorn cable – the sunrise over the Mattertal is well worth getting out of bed for.
With trees lining the streets and no through traffic, it’s the refreshingly remote feel we really love about this place. Turns out we’re not the first ones to think a break here does you a world of good – people have been visiting Arosa as an Alpine health resort since the Victorian era.
You can get around town by bus or horse-drawn sleigh ride (we know which we prefer…). Inner-Arosa is the older and prettier sector, with historic buildings like the 15th century chapel that peers over Untersee. Most restaurants, shops and accommodation are housed in newer builds at the Obersee end, as well as the two main ski lifts.
Until recently, the ski area stopped at a small (albeit high) 70km but thanks to a merger with Lenzerheide, we’re now looking at one of the biggest ski areas in Switzerland. The Hörnli-Urdenfürggli cable car opens up Lenzerheide’s 150km of pistes in 5 minutes and the new and improved area is certainly pushing Arosa up in the rankings. Various FIS World Championships have been held here in the past few years and properties are selling like hotcakes - you might even find yourself sharing a chair lift with Roger Federer, who’s just bought a chalet nearby…
The nearest airport to Arosa is Zürich at 170 km or about 3 hours by car
For lunch, try the hearty goulash or macaroni on the panoramic terrace at the Hörnli Hütte at the very top of the Hörnli lift. It’s always worth paying a visit to the Maran cheese dairy to watch how the local Alpine cheese is made (and get the ingredients for a Swiss cheese themed picnic later on). In town, great options for supper include Lamm & Leu, with its new and sophisticated take on the classic meat grill. For good value pizza head for Grottino, where you can snap up a Margherita for around £10. After a gourmet feast at the Vetter Hotel’s Vetterstübli restaurant, pop into to their underground Strumpg Bar for their fine selection of cigars and whiskeys.
Lamm & Leu: Bar and Grill | Lounge | Steakhouse Winner of the 2014 tripadvisor certificate for excellence, Lamm & Leu never fails to impress guests with its unique and modern dining experience. Lamm & Leu uses fresh meat and top secret recipes to create their unique grilled meat selection. Treat yourself to their famous ‘Dry Aged Beef’, expertly matured on the bone for a succulent, intensely flavoured steak. Other delicious options on the menu include their exquisite steak tartare, a selection of tasty tapas, and a Spanish inspired Calamar à la plancha. The small team of knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff are happy to talk you through the menu, and with their simple but well-suited wine list, it’s the perfect place to relax, drink, and enjoy the contemporary yet comfortable ambience. Once you’ve indulged yourself over dinner in the buzzing upstairs restaurant, the Lamm & Leu transforms into a stylish music lounge, with the ground floor cocktail bar and cosy sofas to sit and chat with friends. Open 16.00 – 01.00
Aifach Aifach means simple. We think great dining should be all about sitting with your friends, enjoying good food and a glass of wine. We love cooking like we cook at home for friends, but we also like to do things a bit differently… Every night you’ll find one menu, with four courses – it’s always new, fresh, courageous, and creative. Come and find out more!
Cuculouche - Tavern and Bar Step into our cosy wooden hideaway filled with the tempting smells of all your favourite European and South American foods. We take pride in our use of local and seasonal specialities combined with the best of Mediterranean cuisine and the flair of Mexican and Spanish dishes. Try anything (or everything!) from spare ribs to burritos and tapas, or our much-loved spicy fajitas. Choose one of our refreshing Brazilian capirinhas to add to the merriment of an evening at the Cuculouche. Open daily from 18.00 (in season).
Many of the mountainside huts wake up for après come mid-afternoon; soak up the sunshine on one of the hundreds of loungers at the Sattelhütte, or at the Kuhbar at the Tschuggenhütte (we love their BBQ dishes!). To carry on the party into the early hours, there’s the new but already famous Kursaal with its three lively bars, comfy basement lounge and dance floor. Best for late afternoon sunshine and on-mountain après ski is Tschuggen Hütte and while there’s a reasonable choice of bars for partying on mountain there are no buts for après on the main run back down to Arosa.
Los Café-Bar Never go thirsty again at Los Café-Bar and its impressive selection of drinks, for the experienced to the experimental: beers, shots, and cocktails made on demand at the bar by their fun enthusiastic team. Somewhere for ‘the young and the young at heart’, there’s always something going on. The chilled out vibe lets you kick back and relax after a day on the slopes, or play their table football, darts, video games and board games, with old and new friends. If you decide you’re having too much fun to leave, the bar stays open from the afternoon into the night, with DJs and party anthems playing until the early hours. Open from 16:00 on weekdays 14:00 on Saturdays and Sundays
There are 4.5km of sledging trails to race down; the one from Pratischli to the town is illuminated after dark so you don’t have to miss out on precious ski time. The lakes are central to the off-slope entertainment, with curling, ice-skating, and ice-hockey all ready to enjoy, and events such as the IceSnowFootball World Cup. Arosa has some of the best networks of Nordic walking and winter hiking trails in the Alps and the gradual winding footpaths alongside the pistes mean non-skiers can meet up with family and friends by the slopes. All three summit restaurants can be reached on foot, including the Hörnlihütte and the 2653m high Weisshorngipfel. If weather stops play, there’s plenty to pass the time; whether it’s a visit to the 15th Century Bergkirchli chapel or discovering local history at the Schanfigg museum. There’s always the option of a rejuvenating trip to the Tschuggen Bergoase spa – one of the best in the Swiss Alps. Experience true luxury with a sauna, steam bath and relaxation rooms fit for royalty (rumour has it Wills and Kate are among previous guests here…).
Langlauf Geeser Arosa Arosa’s snow-sure and sheltered setting is perfect for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. There are almost 30km of prepared tracks around Maran, varying from gentle woodland trails to higher more challenging courses. To explore this exciting off-piste potential, contact Langlauf Geeser Arosa for a safe and highly experienced service. With Langlauf Geeser you can hire or buy equipment, including skiis, sticks, and snowshoes, and they offer both private lessons and courses in cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. All their guides are personable and passionate who know the local area like the back of their hand, leading groups on fun snow-shoe hikes. To join one of these group hikes will cost around CHF 55.00, including equipment. Don’t miss their unforgettable moonlight snowshoe hike and walk amongst the stars with warming mulled wine at the end of the night, no experience necessary.
ArosaBike Found in the boat house right on Obersee Lake, ArosaBike are the local experts for selling, renting, and repairing bikes. The terrain in Arosa is great for mountain biking, with few trees on the open pistes for some exhilarating fast runs through the valleys, and loads of routes linking up with nearby resorts. If you want a full day out exploring the mountains, bikes can be rented from 40 CHF, but if you’re only thinking about a taster session bikes are also available for just half-day sessions (09.00 - 13.00 or 14.00 - 18.00). For the more extreme downhill biking, rates are from 100 CHF for one day including safety gear.
Arosa is a great and beautifully scenic. The shopping in Arosa is great for all the bits and bobs you may need for your holiday. It is not a very large shopping area but it has convenient stores, great restaurants, delicatessen's, several ski and sports shops. It is a lovely town to walk around in with plenty photo opportunities.
Luzi Sport Luzi Sport is Arosa’s largest ski shop with over 1000 ski lockers, free if you rent equipment with them. Their rental service is quick and simple, and they prepare your chosen skis and snowboards overnight with their modern and reliable equipment. You can purchase ski passes directly in store, and also online up to 21 days before your trip. For the ultimate convenience their shop is located right next to the slopes by the Tschuggen ski lift so once you’ve got your skis you can get straight out to the slopes without wasting any time. Opening hours: 08:00-18:00
View our detailed Arosa snow report to see skiing confitions now. Our Arosa snow history shows you what snow depths have been in recent years month-by-month. If you're visiting soon, use the Arosa snow forecast to see predicted snowfall over the coming days.
We have 535 ski holidays in Arosa. Search all Arosa ski deals or pick your preferred accommodation type below:
Maximum and minimum adult Arosa lift pass prices ranged from CHF340 to CHF340 for 6 days access to the Arosa ski lift system at the start of the 2025 winter season. Our lift passes are part of a packaged Arosa 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 |
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1 Day Price | CHF25 - CHF25 | CHF75 - CHF75 | CHF64 - CHF64 |
6 Day Price | CHF95 - CHF95 | CHF340 - CHF340 | CHF290 - CHF290 |
Age Range | 6 - 12 | 18 - 64 | 65+ |
Most of our ski holidays to Arosa packaged with flights include airport transfers. We can also arrange private transfers to Arosa from nearby airports
Flights from London take about 1.5 hours to Geneva, Zurich. This table shows approximate transfer times to Arosa from the nearest airports, smaller airports can be more prone to delays.
Airport | Distance | Transfer Time |
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Zürich | 170 km | 3 hours |
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.
The transfer time from alpine train stations are generally shorter than from airports, Call us for details of Arosa transfers.
Station | Distance | Transfer Time |
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Arosa | 0 km | 0 minute |
Arosa Tourist Office Arosa’s tourist office is where to go for information and booking for most of the exciting activities taking place in the resort, such as curling, ice-skating, and ice-hockey on the village lakes. From the main office you can also purchase the Arosa Loipenpass, which grants use of all cross-country trails in Arosa, free use of the Isel bus service, and the changing facilities in Maran and at Isel. Don’t forget to pick up your free winter hiking and sledging brochure to help you explore the 60km of prepared Nordic hiking trails. Open 08.30 – 12.00 and 13.30 – 17.30, Mon – Fri
Need help choose your Arosa ski holiday? Call us on 020 7770 6888 or click Enquire - we love to help!