Gstaad Ski Holidays 2024 2025 | Skiing Gstaad

Gstaad Ski Resort

In Switzerland’s German speaking Saanenland region, Gstaad has the kind of reputation in the skiing world that St Tropez has in summer. And it’s the local international schools we have to thank for it. Institute Le Rosey set up shop here in 1917 and as students, teachers and their families raved about the Gstaad good life, the village’s reputation as a luxurious destination grew and grew. Stars of Hollywood’s golden age graced its grand hotels and ritzy bars - Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Grace Kelly – and royals have long been regulars, from Princess Grace of Monaco to Queen Sirikit.

The resort philosophy is a soothing “Come up – slow down” and it suits Gstaad swimmingly. The atmosphere is deliciously discreet and refined: buildings strictly keep to authentic chalet style and none other than Julie Andrews is the mastermind behind the fairy lights that line each and every one - having famously declared Gstaad the “last paradise in a crazy world". Boutiques, galleries and gourmet restaurants line the car-free promenade and accommodation includes a handful of 5 star hotels and some of the finest chalets the alps have ever seen. Besides Gstaad itself, nine other chalet villages lie in the surrounding area – Saanen, Schonried and Rougemont included.

Bern Airport is the closest if you plan to connect to the resort by car, taking around an hour and 20 minutes. For rail links, Geneva is the most convenient, with the transfer lasting 2 hours 40.

Stats & FAQ

Location: Switzerland, Alps

Established: 1907

Open: October – May

Downhill: 220km

View our detailed Gstaad snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Gstaad snow history.

Nearest Airport & Transfer Time:
Bern (BRN)	82km, 1h20
Beginner Intermediate Advanced 128km 58% 59km 27% 33km 15%
Top Altitude:	3000m
Bottom Altitude:	1000m
Resort Altitude:	1050m
Longest run:	10km
Slope Orientation:	N, S, E, W
Vertical Drop:	1950m
Skiable Vertical:	1600m
Night Skiing:	Yes
Glacier:	Yes
Snow Report Top 29cm Base 12cm Forecast 78cm Web Cam
Downhill Runs:	220km
Beginner slopes:	58%
Intermediate:	27%
Advanced slopes:	15%
Lift Pass Price:	CHF 62 (adult 1 day)
Nearby resorts: Villars, Les Diablerets

Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Gstaad

The ski area is huge and varied, featuring Bernese Oberland’s only glacier, Glacier 3000 as well as the Rinderberg, Lengebrand, Saanerslochgrat, Hornberg and Horneggli mountains.

Beginners can access easy blues from the Ruttli and Zuckerli lifts at the end of Gstaad village. More easy runs are served by the Gstaad – Eggli lift, streaming down into Saanen.

Intermediates should be able to handle the area’s longest run from the top of Mt. La Videmanette, all the way down into Rougemont. Blue and red runs make up the majority of the ski area, with trickier blacks dotted around for extra challenge.

Wasserngrat’s black Tiger run, clocking up 2.5km, is the steepest in the area and a local guide will be able to show you some fabulous powder runs through the trees. Nearing the end of the season, the Glacier 3000 area stays snowy the longest, with the 7km Olden run being a challenging black descent. There’s a ski cross slope on the Rinderberg, as well as snow parks on Gstaad’s La Braye and Glacier 3000.

It doesn’t all end when the sun goes down – last time we checked you could go night skiing on Wispile and Rinderberg.

Gstaad Apres Ski

As you’d expect of a resort of Gstaad’s calibre, there are some fabulous restaurants to dine in. The Alpina Gstaad and Restaurant Chesery have a Michelin star and 18 Gault&Millau points each, and more G&M points are scattered around the resort’s remaining eateries. We like Berghaus Wispile for 360° views of the surroundings and Saagli Stubli for fondues and all things cheesy. For DIY fondues, there are fondue huts and giant fondue pots scattered around the region to form Fondueland – pick up a rucksack from one of the local shops and walk, sledge or snowshoe your way to one of the locations (Schlittmoos, Vorderi Wispile and Rellerli) to enjoy warm, gooey goodness in the great Gstaad outdoors.

For a slightly different place to drink, head up to the Saanerslochgrat mountain station where an Igloo Village, complete with bar serves wonderfully warming mulled wine. The Mojo Snow Lounge has a nice sun terrace to relax on while Moosbar is a cute little alpine hut between Schönried and Saanenmöser. Sophisticated evenings can be had at Le Grand Bellevue’s Bouquet with its live pianist performance that morphs into a DJ set until late. Of all the local nightclubs, the one that shines brightest is always the GreenGo Club at Gstaad Palace with its smart seventies decor and resident DJ.

There are four ice rinks in the area, and horse drawn carriage rides are a hopelessly romantic way to explore the surroundings. Hot air ballooning and helicopter wides give a bird’s eye perspective of the region, while husky rides and llama treks introduce you to some of Gstaad’s favourite four legged residents. The Swiss Tourist Association have made Gstaad officially a Wellness Destination and spa facilities can be found in the larger hotels. A number of our finest chalets also have their own wellness centres.

Best time to go

Best time to ski Gstaad

Best time to visit & ski Gstaad

Thanks to the presence of Glacier 3000, the ski season usually runs from October – May. The best snow cover tends to be between January and March.

Peak Dates

Christmas in Gstaad is dreamy – the classic wooden huts look cosier than ever and festivities range from Michelin starred feasts to advent concerts and Santa visits from the start of December.

If you like to set the bar high, New Year in Gstaad’s perfect. Posh parties at the Palace and guided torch descent at Horneggli are just a couple of the celebrations in previous years.

Adults are well rested and little ones well looked after over Half Term in Gstaad, which still feels gloriously exclusive on the busiest skiing week of the year.

Concerts and celebrations are traditional happenings during Easter in Gstaad. We love the Easter market that usually takes place here too and the glacier holds onto the white stuff fabulously.

Gstaad Ski Holidays