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With runs of all shapes and sizes, no family member’s left behind on the Swiss’ watch, and if your young are taking their first steps on the snow or tackling trails higher up the mountain, the Swiss World Champions’ track record tells you all you need to know about the standard of teaching here to help them.
Better yet are the villages themselves - whether you’re staying in a member of alpine royalty or somewhere with less of the limelight, the Swiss will show you that family holidays aren’t all set menus and Crayola... From fabulous family fondues to weird and wonderful activities, here are ten family ski resorts worth yodelling about.
Switzerland: Top 10 Ski Resorts for Families
Despite its status as a Royal favourite, Klosters has managed to hold onto its humbler, rural Swiss roots, reigning supreme as the place to introduce the clan to traditional alpine beauty. The whole resort has been granted the “families welcome” seal of approval from the Swiss tourist board, but if you’re a young family, we’d recommend leading your train slightly north to the idyllic Kloster Dorf. The geniuses behind Madrisa Land have packed it with everything from mini ski courses, tubing, igloos, and full daycare facilities – to keep the kinder busy while Mum and Dad run wild and free on 320km of cruisey blues, steep reds and epic off-piste.
A slightly larger, better equipped town than its neighbour, Klosters, Davos has superb après activities - try Switzerland’s largest natural ice rink and 9 toboggan runs and “Escape” adventure that have a proven track record of driving kids wild – as well as an incredible ski area right on your doorstep. Check out the Kinderland kids club for innovative childcare, which involves obstacles & small jumps, then a trampoline and bouncy castle to keep them entertained all day while you make the most of the mountain. The Jakobshorn above Davos is the birthplace of freestyle and Jatzpark is still a firm snowboard and free-skiing hotspot, one of the most regular hosts of the Audi Snowboard Series Big Air – thrilling to watch as a family and backed by excellent local tuition if it sparks some teen interest.
With a completely pedestrianised centre, enchanting Wengen has a gloriously relaxed village vibe - the kind of place you’d want to raise a skiing brood. The private nursery area will soon have everyone flying down the slopes with confidence and on to the wide cruisey blues from atop the Mannlichen down into Grindelwald – some of our all-time favourites for a family ski. Advanced parents and accomplished teens will relish the chance to tackle the infamous Lauberhorn, a historic downhill racing track, and if anyone of any level runs out of piste, Wengen is connected to Murren and Grindelwald by cable cars and cog railways. Even sans-skis, the Jungfrau railway (est. 1912), climbing to 3454m and spectacular views from the world’s highest railway station, makes for prime family time.
Quality winter fun is a Mürren specialty and the scenery’s not half bad either. Views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau from the village make a flawless backdrop which only gets better as you ascend the Schilthorn. Stay for an unforgettable lunch at the Piz Gloria (alt. 2970m); the revolving restaurant built as the set for Blofeld’s lair in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” (1969) – even if the only Bond they know is Mr Craig, Bond burgers and 007 spaghetti should go down well. From here, confident blue skiers (which beginners soon will be thanks to the estimable Snowli kids club) can tackle a challenging but do-able 16km blue back down the mountain while the rest of the clan grabs a sneaky Swiss hot choc before riding the gondola back down. The slopes are an exciting mix but if you outgrow those for your ability, the connecting lifts to Wengen or Grindelwald unlock 161km more.
Sky high slopes, mountains of snow and the alluring old Swiss village makes Saas-Fee another beautiful Swiss base for a brood, especially those with some ski savvy. Whizz up on the Aplin Express and try to keep up with budding skiers as they swoosh off down heaps of cruisey blues and reds heading out to Felskinn and Mernia. We couldn’t imagine a better introduction to skiing for teeny trail-blazers than the Swiss Snow Kids Village, making excellent tuition that bit better with bonus activities like an alpine coaster and ice cave. Rest the legs and spend some quality family time playing I-spy with the mountains from the world’s highest funicular, Metro Alpin, and the world’s highest revolving restaurant, “threes!xty”, while for some snowy pre-bedtime fun, the 6km night toboggan run from Hannig will make you a shoo-in for the World’s Best Parent Award.
Tree-bound Arosa feels hidden and remote enough to soon make the school run a distant memory. Now linked to Lenzerheide, it’s also the gateway to 225km of downhill terrain; with a whopping 100km+ of blue piste for family skiing. Time flies as you eat up the miles on cruises like the Platterhorn, a cruising line back down to inner-Arosa. Diddy freestylers can head to Lenzerheide for an innovative funslope with unusual features like a tunnel, a giant spinning stone and a collection of small rails, while you’ll have to drag freestyling teens from the Arosa Tschuggen Snow Park. For some alone time, the impeccable Swiss Ski & Snowboard school Arosa takes care of the kids as young as 4, while their Junior Club has a more challenging kids area. Grownups can then take an afternoon off to find out why Switzerland’s considered the world spa capital in the Tschuggen Bergoase spa (graced by Wills and Kate) followed by gourmet taste-sensations at our favourite restaurant, La Vetta.
Snow-sure, sunny and seriously swanky, St. Moritz would top the fridge star chart every day of the week and you’d be surprised at what it has going on for smaller skiers. Make it a whole family affair and bring Granny and Granddad along, who’ll love strolling by the natural lake to watch historic sporting activities like Polo and Horse Racing, perusing the boutique shopping area, warming up in the Helibad thermal baths and indulging in a famous Swiss hot chocolate from a beautiful slope-side restaurant. Meanwhile on the snow, after a funicular ride up to Piz Nair peak, try not to get left behind as you blaze down your pick of the endless couloirs, which mix into reds and blues. After tuition from Ski School St Moritz - Switzerland’s oldest, who’ve passed on pearls of wisdom for 86 years to everyone from 3 and older – your young are sure to have more than a few tricks up their sleeve.
At the heart of the vast 4 Valleys, Nendaz is billed as the laid-back, family alternative to loud and lively Verbier. The location and reliable slopes alone take this to the top of the wish list for confident families ready to rack up the miles together. You’ll find a great choice of blacks and mogul-ridden reds to challenge the advanced family members (something that’s often lacking when ‘family friendly’ is the main criterion) while learners are spoilt too: one of Switzerland’s best designated beginners’ areas is decked out with carpets, drags and a bubble. Combined with a flurry of blues, young skiers in Nendaz are sure to start out confident. The resort itself is quiet compared to its neighbour, but there’s still so much going on you’ll never be bored. Take the family out to La Lanterne for a cheese-themed evening of Swiss cuisine, clip your boots back on and ski under the full moon, or bring the kids to chilled-out venues like the Piano Bar for nightcaps and hot chocolate.
Somehow still just a blip on the Brits radar, Les Diablerets is festooned with beautiful blues and rolling reds that are the stuff of ski dreams. For idyllic family cruising head to Meilleret and glide through the super scenery all the way back down to the village. But this resort doesn’t just rest on its scenic laurels, providing tonnes of excitement, like the ESS ski school’s private Ski Garden, rigged with fun inflatable assault courses, non-stop sledging, and husky rides on the Glacier. Snow-sure Glacier 3000 has a further 30 spectacular runs down, but make sure take time at the top to drink in the views from the world’s first and only ‘Peak Walk’: this 107m long suspension bridge connects the View Point peak with Scex Rouge for a truly spectacular panorama of The Matterhorn, Eiger, Mönch und Jungfrau that will make even mini mouths drop. Even the ticket office gets behind mini skiers - look out for free lift passes for under 9s which has been a great saving in recent years.
Chic Crans and merry Montana are a smorgasbord of stimulating activities for kids and little luxuries for grownups, and is heaven for adventurous teens and boarders; a pretty perfect family holiday spread. Two snowparks, a boardercross, and an airbag with excellent tuition are excitement enough for a week, while young kids are well tended on ‘Snow Island’ where mini pistes, snowtubing and sledding will make them fall in love with the snow if they’re not already. Just try holding them back from Verdet and the other glorious blues, too good to only ski once. After closing lifts force them off the snow, let them loose on the ice rink or unwind by an open fire and indulge in anything from reasonably priced pizza at La Piccolina to Michelin starred morsels at L’Ours. If the kids are too young to sit still at the table, they’ll be in good hands with Borgeat Barbara, one of many independent English speaking babysitters.
The Swiss ski resorts push the boat out to provide spectacular ski holidays, and these ten resorts in particular treat children royally well. If you’re wondering what’s on offer elsewhere in Europe, have a look at our ‘Top 10’ lists for France, Italy and Austria.
Switzerland’s finest family resorts are no mean feat to rival but if you want to take your family trip to the next level, check out our ultimate list of the 10 best family ski resorts around the globe. From Austria to America, these places top the charts worldwide.
Switzerland - best family ski resorts
| Resort | Best features |
|---|---|
| Klosters | ‘Families Welcome’ label, Madrisa Land for kids, big ski area |
| Davos | Terrific snowpark for teens, kinderland for tots, linked ski area |
| Wengen | Car free village, good ski school, historic ski resort |
| Murren | Jungfrau ski area, great ski school, quiet mountain village |
| Saas Fee | Snow sure ski area, charming swiss village, exciting activities |
| Arosa | Linked ski area, snow park, spa for teens & parents |
| St Moritz | First class ski school, 5* hotels, super non-ski activities |
| Nendaz | Quieter neighbour to Verbier, oodles of skiing, cracking beginner’s area |
| Les Diablerets | Glacier skiing, great for intermediates, kids lift pass deals |
| Crans Montana | Varied ski area with ‘Snow Island’ zone for kids, terrific non-ski activities |
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