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Like watches and chocolates, the Swiss make ski holidays a cut above the rest. These are the classics, the Grande Dames of winter tourism - and everything’s primped, primed and polished to the very last degree.
Five star hotels come with all the bells and whistles (think Michelin Stars, cavernous spas, horse-drawn taxis...), while the ski areas test your mettle as much as your camera memory. Skiing doesn't get finer than this.
Switzerland: Top 10 Luxury Ski Resorts
Way back when, hotelier Johann Badrutt made a wager that his British summer guests would find St Moritz ever more charming in wintertime… Naturally they adored it, and thank heavens: Thus began ski tourism as we know it. There’s an infectious feel of finery here, whether you’re strolling along Via Serlas (the continent’s highest density of fashion houses from Chanel to Bulgari) or throwing shapes at King’s, Switzerland’s oldest nightclub (where closing time’s whenever the last reveller leaves). Activities are fabulously quirky: Watch polo and snow cricket on the frozen lake, or get membership to the selective Tobogganing Club and conquer the Cresta. Did we mention the skiing? Schuss through Narnia-esque forests and secret side-valleys, and you’ll soon see that the odds were always in Johann’s favour.
Of all the world’s ski resorts, Zermatt’s one of the gentry. From the heritage-rich 5* hotels (where horse and carts take you to the slopes) to shops purveying the very best in Swiss watches and chocolates, Bahnhofstrasse is brimming with the heritage other resorts can only dream of. Foodies, rejoice: NOWHERE else in Europe has such a density of gourmet restaurants. There are a hundred to eat your way through in the village alone, with over twenty scoring highly on the Gault-Millau guide, and two (Le Capri and After Seven) twinkling with Michelin Stars. The ski area’s just as noteworthy, with 360km of pistes to swish down across the Swiss and Italian Alps, including the highest terrain on the continent. The most wondrous thing is that the Matterhorn oversees all, and for that reason alone, Zermatt will always be held in the highest esteem.
Klosters might resemble a humble old farming village, but boy this place has pedigree. The chosen hangout of the stars of the Golden Age, it was known as ‘Hollywood on the Rocks’ back in the 50's: Greta Garbo famously graced the floors of the Chesa Bar, where Rex Harrison discussed the scores of My Fair Lady with the pianist. The bar still stands today, and it certainly has the same old-school glamour of days gone by: Glühwein, compulsory... Dancing on the tables, Gene-Kelly-stylie, optional. Foodies could feast for weeks here, with Chef Heribert rustling up Michelin-starred wonders at the Walserhof. And it won’t take long to work up an appetite, with 310km of pistes spanning 6 mountains to get your skis into (you might even find yourself schussing past Prince Charles, who incidentally has a lift named after him). Other exhausting activities include the Roman Vereina Spa, with its gallery-worthy mosaics, soothing salt cave and aromatic steamed baths…
The place where princes party and oligarchs blow thousands on single cocktails: Verbier knows how to give its royal and rich clientele the absolute time of their lives. The 410km blueprint of pistes is alone worth yodeling from the rooftops (the 4 Valleys is Switzerland’s largest ski area) but it’s the powder terrain really rules here – hire your own guide or go all out with a heli-trip. Then come home to the most fabulous ski lodging in the world. In 2010, No.14 was named ‘the world’s greatest chalet’ – its interior was dreamt up by the same designers that did Branson’s Verbier chalet. The new Hotel W is as va-va-voom as ever (Michelin-starred dining, indoor/outdoor pool… book the E-WOW Suite, where the bed rotates). Apres ski here knows no limits. Nab a VIP booth at the Fairnet, then continue onto the legendary Farm Club to clink glasses with Fergie and DiCaprio.
Sir Roger Moore famously spent his winters here, and if it has enough to occupy Mr. Bond through the season, it’s good enough for us. Experts have been praising the healing properties of this region for yonks, and the combination of skiing, fresh air and sunshine (they call it ‘Switzerland’s Sun Terrace’) sure work wonders. You’ve also got a stonking load of shops, for therapy of the retail kind. It’s actually the biggest luxury shopping area in the Alps, with over 180 boutiques, from Hermes to Timberland. Overlooking the glorious Valais, restaurant Le Mont Blanc is worth seeking out at suppertime. With one Michelin star and 16/20 Gault-Millau points, the signature tasting menu is seriously top-notch, with an extensive Vinotheque to boot. When fit to bursting, sink into one of their old-school armchairs in the private Cigar Lounge, complete with roaring fireplace. At the end of the day, over 60% of the accommodation here is high-end, including spa hotels with ALL the trimmings (like the Ambassador, with its 1300m squared wellness area – where we’d gladly hole up all week).
There are times when only a ski holiday in a spa resort will do, and Arosa is the answer. Leave your cares on the ever-winding road through the dreamy Schanfigg Valley, and you’ll soon approach this bolthole of Alpine calm, sheltered by peaks and thick woods. Arosa’s been a leading health resort since 1877, and just so happens to have a socking great ski area as its back garden. There’s 225km to ski in all, thanks to recent links with Lenzerheide, letting you devote your time to pampering, pistes or (our preference) a wondrous mix of both. Beg, borrow or steal your way to Salus at the Waldhotel National and the Tschuggen Bergoase, where world-leading facilities include a Herbal samarium, Rock Grotto and private wellness suites. That’s not to say you’re confined to a week of Matcha tea and fluffy robes - this is the land of fondues after all… We love the ones at Pratschlistall where you can take a glee-filled sleigh ride back down into the village. Drinking spots are easily found too, with the Strumpf Bar specialising in cigars and whiskey and the Tschuggen Bar’s Arosa Spritz always going down a treat...
No roads lead to Wengen - just the longest cog railway in Switzerland, which makes everything oh so quiet. On arrival, Frau Wegmüller’s cute electric taxis pick you up from the station and whizz you to wherever you please. We’d go straight to Chez Meyer for culinary nirvana in all its 15 Gault-Millau point glory (the endless views of the Alps really work up an appetite on that train journey…). Or if the sun’s out, Caprice has a smashing south facing terrace, with plush banquets that must be on the Michelin guide’s watch list. Alternatively, ask your driver to follow the siren calls of the Beausite Park Spa, where their facilities and treatments soothe all manner of ills. A 213km ski area awaits when energy’s restored, and it’s a looker: The Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains teeter over for added WOW factor, and for the adrenaline factor, the World Cup downhill shoots all the way back to resort.
They call this the Pearl of the Alps, and it has an undeniable lustre. No mere imitation, Mother Nature’s created a corker of a ski area, with a socking great glacier peaking at a heady 3500m. In the village (which happens to be one of the coziest you’ll ever see), restaurants including Arvu Stuba and Swiss Chalet come Michelin-recommended for their fine cuisine. You’ll also find places oozing old-school Swiss charm, like dü where Astrid concocts dreamy cheese fondues. For a post-dinner tipple, it’s all about the cocktails and snuggly sheep-skin throws at the Vernissage Lounge. Snow sure ski days and après indulgence call for only one thing: For some serious relaxation, the Aqua Allalin spa covers a vast 2000m squared. Sink into the whirlpool whilst gazing out to the mountains – nowhere else in the world can you see so many 4000m high peaks, and if you hadn’t already changed in your swimmers, they’d surely blow your socks off.
A veritable choc-box village above the Rhone Valley, Nendaz has kept many remnants of its past - the Tsablo water mill, diddy chapels and traditional barns. In the old quarters, the gallery at La Maison de La Culture has numerous exhibitions throughout the winter season, mainly focused on local culture. Foodies can feast at Le Mont Rouge (which has clocked up 15 Gault-Millau points). While saunaphiles head to Spa des Bisses and wine lovers kick back in the adjoining piano bar. But the real reason you come here’s the 4 Valleys: Without Verbier’s razzmatazz, Nendaz lets you blend into the surroundings and get fully engrossed in the epic 412km of corduroy and never-ending powder. Sprogs are welcomed with arms wide open - they’ll go wild for the sledding, tubing and Tracouet snow playground, where private instructors will have them schussing confidently in no time.
Gorgeous Grindelwald inspired Wagner and Byron and still sends the most Scrooge-like into raptures. Slap bang in the middle of the Jungfrau massif, the village is a medley of scallop-trimmed chalets and grand Victorian hotels. It’s the largest ski resort in the region, as well as being the only one with road access - which helps if you prefer to travel incognito in a private car. For a serious eyeball of the area, hire a helicopter: You’ll fly over sky high peaks and valleys that’d have the most unartistic composing operas and sonnets... Skiers can request a guided drop-off on some epic glaciers for the most 007-worthy descents (‘Secret Service’ was filmed here in ’69). And when all that leaves you famished, Restaurant Belvedere has a fine gourmet menu of Swiss specialties, Asian and Mediterranean delights. Retire into their elegant piano bar or Smoker’s Lounge for afters – then sleep sweetly, rise, and do it all over again.
This is the definitive list of the best luxury Swiss ski resorts. If you're looking for some savoire faire in your luxury ski resort, Switzerland has to be top of your list. There are many exclusive ski resorts in Switzerland, featuring first class chalets, elegant hotels and highly-rated restaurants.
And when it comes to what's beyond the Swiss border, you can browse the most exclusive resorts in the other ski nations of France, Austria and Italy. We also have a list of the most luxurious ski resorts worldwide, featuring a few of the finest Swiss resorts listed on this page - see the world's best here.
Switzerland Best Luxury Ski resorts
| Resort | Resort luxuries | Best restaurants | Best spas | Luxury hotel/chalet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Moritz | Iconic mountain hotels, gourmet restaurants, designer shops, stunning scenery | IGNIV, The K, Da Vittorio, Cà d'Oro | KULM Spa, Kempinski The Spa, Palace Wellness | Hotel Kulm |
| Zermatt | Gorgeous alpine village, Matterhorn views, luxury chalets & hotels, gourmet restaurants | The Omnia, Capri, After Seven | Vita Borni, Spa Vernissage | Grand Hotel Zermatterhof |
| Verbier | Huge luxury chalets & 5* W hotel, extravagant apres ski | La Table d’Adrien, La Vache, Le Grenier | AWAY Spa @ W Verbier, Chalet Makini’s private spa | Chalet Makini |
| Klosters | Low key luxury, incredible skiing, Royal’s favourite | Chesa Grischuna, Walserhof, Alpenrösli | Silvretta Park Wellness, Alpina | Hotel Silvretta Park |
| Crans Montana | Largest luxury shopping area in Alps, acclaimed restaurants, spas | Le MontBlanc, L’Ours, Le Rawyl | LeSpa, Spa Nescens | Hotel Crans Ambassador |
| Arosa | Spa resort, high end hotels | La Vetta, Lamme & Leu, Muntanella | Tschuggen Bergoase, Alpin Spa | Waldhotel National |
| Wengen | Historic, traffic free resort, stunning scenery, good restaurants & spas | Chez Meyers, Caprice, Jack’s Brasserie | Spa Jungfrau, Silberhorn SPA | Hotel Beausite Park and Jungfrau Spa |
| Nendaz | Fabulous snow record, pretty Swiss village, great food | Swiss Chalet, Capra | Paradia Spa, Spa the wave | Hotel Ferienart Resort & Spa |
| Nendaz | Chocolate box Swiss village, 4 Valleys ski area, foodie restaurants | Mont Rouge, Vieux Chalet | Spa des Bisses | Chalet Hautes Cimes |
| Grindelwald | Jungfrau region’s biggest resort, stunning scenery, big restaurant scene | Barrys, Schmitte, Les Bisses, Gastübli | Selfness & Spa @ the Eiger, Schweizerhof SPA | Romantik Hotel Schweizerhof |
We update this list often but facilities can change, so if any specific feature is essential to your trip, make sure you ask us to confirm the details before you book your holiday.
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