Ski Switzerland

Welcome to the Ski Switzerland page, providing a regular round-up of the skiing conditions and current snow reports for the main ski resorts in the Swiss Alps. Over recent years some of the most consistent good piste conditions have been reported at Saas Fee, Davos, Zermatt, Klosters, Andermatt, Verbier, and Engelberg showing a mix of high glacial resorts and those most exposed to the prevailing north westerly storm tracks. However, in any given week or season the best slope conditions may be found at any of the numerous other high Swiss resorts or at lower elevation ski stations in poor weather amongst the trees.

For off-piste powder, resorts such as Zinal, Grimentz, Davos, Les Diablerets, Arosa, Andermatt, and Engelberg have proven among the most consistent over several seasons either because of regular heavy snowfalls, favourable sun aspect, or in some cases because they are high and quite so they don't get tracked out quickly. In terms of accumulating snow depth throughout the season, Andermatt and Engelberg excel and are a regular match for anywhere in Europe, however every season is different and there are no guarantees. Slope conditions change day by day so check out the reports summaries below for the latest news and of course the snow forecasts we produce for summit, mid-station and resort level elevations at every major ski station in Switzerland.

Switzerland is for many people the country most immediately associated with skiing. Known for its spectacular mountain scenery, efficient infrastructure, high quality and yes, high prices, the country does have the world’s longest history as a winter sports tourism destination – with the very first holiday taking place in St Moritz one and a half centuries ago, shortly before downhill skiing was invented in Norway, in the Telemark style.

The Kulm Hotel St Moritz was the first hotel to be built in St Moritz, the Kulm opened its doors in 1856 and immediately became popular for summer spa and painting holidays, particularly among the British who comprised around 75% of the hotel guests.

The owner of the Kulm Hotel, Johannes Badrutt, initiated winter holidays to St Moritz from 1864, when he laid a bet with his last departing summer guests that the local weather was so good they could sun themselves on the hotel’s terrace even in deep December; if not, he would cover the cost of their holiday himself. He won the bet and within two years, the hotel was fully booked with guests staying for the entire winter season. The Kulm Hotel St Moritz can, therefore, take credit for starting the trend for winter sports holidays which developed in to Swiss ski holidays and the Kulm itself is now a huge five star hotel – one of five in the famous resort – is still in business to this day.

Since then around 400 Swiss ski resorts have opened in every canton including many of the world’s best known destinations. Europe’s highest ski lifts are here at Zermatt, 3899m up, which is one of only two resorts in the world open 365 days a year. As well as St Moritz there are glitzy resorts like Verbier, Crans Montana and Gstaad; resorts with long histories and particularly stunning mountain scenery like Grindelwald, Wengen and Murren in the Jungfrau – a favourite British destination for more than a century - or Davos, where Sherlock Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a ski pioneer.

Architecture can be more problematic in Switzerland’s ski resorts. Although there are none of the entirely concrete-block developments that have blighted some areas in the French Alps, many of the bigger Swiss resorts contain a few similar ugly buildings as they do not have the same building restrictions as Austria, where a traditional chalet style design is normally required for all new buildings. There are however unspoilt villages to be found such as Grimentz.

Switzerland offers skiing in resorts in the West of the country where French is spoken, the East where it’s German and in the southerly canton of Ticino, Italian. There are ski areas of all sizes including the 350km cross-border area shared by Zermatt and Italy’s Cervinia and the 400km of the 4 Valleys. Thanks to the glaciers and high altitude skiing of many resorts including Engelberg and Laax, snow cover is rarely a problem and sunshine is a strength, particularly for St Moritz again, which claims more than 300 days of it each year.

Another idea pioneered by the Swiss is car-free ski resorts. There are about a dozen including Saas Fee, Wengen and Zermatt. In some cases they have been so successful that permitted hotel electric buggys throng the streets making them almost as busy as they would be with motor traffic, but the noise isn’t there, nor the polluting fumes, making these very special and relaxing places to stay.

Spectacular mountain restaurants are yet another forte, be they the revolving restaurant built with money generated by the James Bond film crew that filmed On His Majesty’s Secret Service at Murren in the late 1950s, or similar establishments above Leysin and Saas Fee, or the ultra-cool Botta restaurant at Les Diablerets.

Switzerland is expensive although just how expensive depends on the strength of the Franc against other currencies. In the 1990s its strength made Switzerland the most expensive destination in Europe for skiers, but through the first decade of the current century prices gradually dropped below those of the Euro, and the French 3 Valleys around Courchevel became more expensive than the Swiss 4 Valleys around Verbier. That changed with the global economic collapse in 2008 when investors seeking a safe haven invested in the Franc and by autumn 2011 the currency was riding so high that one version of Zermatt’s international pass became the most expensive lift ticket in the world – overtaking the usually ‘most pricey’ in Western USA for the first time in decades. The Swiss national bank intervened to limit the strength of the franc and prevent the collapse of Swiss tourism.

Many fans of Swiss skiing do say that the higher costs are worthwhile anyway, so long as they are affordable, for the higher quality experience. Swiss Airlines provide a high quality service to skiers which is continually recognised in user polls and industry awards and, once you land in Geneva or Zurich, many resorts are accessible by an ultra efficient rail and bus network direct from the airports.

It’s also worth noting that, although lift tickets for adults can be expensive, Switzerland offers the best prices in Europe for children. Indeed more than 50 resorts don’t charge for children at all until age 8 or 9 and then offers at least 50% off until adulthood at age 16 or 18 and even then there’s usually a 15-30% discount for young adults or students to their early 20s. This compares to France where children usually pay from age 4 or 5 and then 60-80% of the full adult price, which is payable in total from age 11 to 13. So some family configurations may find that, even with a higher adult lift pass cost, overall they pay less. read more...

Snow: next 3 days

Ski resorts of Switzerland, alphabetically

Resort	Webcam (click to zoom)	Top and bottom snow depth	On-piste	Off-piste	Forecast snow in next 3 days (click for forecast)	Weather forecast for 3 days ahead Weather report	Last snow
Adelboden		60 cm 0 cm	Good	Varied	10 cm	Moderate rain (total 17.0mm), heaviest on Sat night giving way to a moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Sun morning Overcast skies	15 cm on 19 Apr
Aeschi					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 42.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning
Airolo					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 48.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning
Alt St. Johann/Toggenburg					5 cm	A dusting of snow giving way to moderate rain (total 10.0mm) heaviest on Mon afternoon
Amden					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 24.0mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon
Andermatt					15 cm	Mild at first with light rain (total 7.0mm) on Sat night followed by colder weather and light fall of snow, heaviest on Sun morning
Anzère					24 cm	Moderate rain (total 14.0mm), heaviest on Sat night giving way to a moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Sat night
Arolla					49 cm	A heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Sat night
Arosa					9 cm	Mild with moderate rain (total 14.0mm) on Sun morning, Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Sun afternoon
Atzmännig Goldingen					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 20.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning
Avers					14 cm	Mild at first with light rain (total 6.0mm) on Sun morning followed by colder weather and light fall of snow, heaviest on Sun morning
Beatenberg					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 40.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning
Belalp - Blatten - Naters					38 cm	A heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Sun morning
Bellwald / Goms					18 cm	Mild with heavy rain (total 21.0mm), heaviest during Sat night. Becoming colder with a moderate fall of snow heaviest on Sun morning
Bergün / Bravuogn					10 cm	Moderate rain (total 12.0mm), heaviest on Sat night giving way to a moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Sun afternoon
Bettmeralp - Aletsch					38 cm	A heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Sun morning
Bivio					19 cm	A moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Sun morning
Bosco Gurin					5 cm	Heavy rain (total 43.0mm), mainly falling Sun morning. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Sun morning
Braunwald					6 cm	A light covering of new snow, mostly falling on Sun morning. Becoming milder with moderate rain (total 19.0mm) heaviest on Mon afternoon
Brienz - Axalp					11 cm	Moderate rain (total 14.0mm), heaviest on Sat night giving way to a moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Sun morning
Brigels-Waltensburg-Andiast					9 cm	Mild at first with light rain (total 8.0mm) on Sun morning followed by colder weather and light fall of snow, heaviest on Sun morning
Bruson					11 cm	Mild with heavy rain (total 33.0mm), heaviest during Sat night. Becoming colder with a moderate fall of snow heaviest on Sun morning
Bulle - La Chia					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 34.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning
Bumbach / Schangnau					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 34.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning
Bürchen - Törbel					39 cm	Light rain (total 5.0mm) on Sat afternoon. Becoming colder with heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Sat night
Celerina/Engadin					18 cm	Mild at first with light rain (total 4.0mm) on Sun morning followed by colder weather and light fall of snow, heaviest on Sun afternoon
Champéry					7 cm	Mild with moderate rain (total 19.0mm) on Sat night, Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Sun morning
Champex-Lac					27 cm	Light rain (total 3.0mm) on Sat afternoon. Becoming colder with heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Sun morning
Champoussin					12 cm	Moderate rain (total 10.0mm), heaviest on Sat night giving way to a moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Sun morning
Chandolin					37 cm	A heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Sun morning
Charmey					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 36.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning
Château d'Oex					9 cm	Mild with moderate rain (total 18.0mm) on Sat night, Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Sun morning
Chur					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 33.0mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon
Churwalden					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 34.0mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon
Corvatsch-Furtschellas					21 cm	A moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Sun morning
Corviglia-Marguns					17 cm	Mild at first with light rain (total 4.0mm) on Sun morning followed by colder weather and light fall of snow, heaviest on Sun afternoon
Crans Montana					29 cm	Light rain (total 2.0mm) on Sat afternoon. Becoming colder with heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Sun morning
Dallenwil Wirzweli					5 cm	Heavy rain (total 21.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Sun morning
Davos					9 cm	Mild with moderate rain (total 11.0mm) on Sun morning, Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Sun afternoon
Degersheim					0 cm	Moderate rain (total 14.0mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon
Dent-de-Vaulion					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 35.0mm), heaviest during Sat night
Diavolezza-Lagalb		120 cm 5 cm	Packed		19 cm	A heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Sun afternoon	on 16 May
Diemtigtal - Grimmialp					10 cm	Moderate rain (total 16.0mm), heaviest on Sat night giving way to a moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Sun morning
Diemtigtal - Springenboden					3 cm	Heavy rain (total 32.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Sun morning
Diemtigtal - Wiriehorn					3 cm	Heavy rain (total 32.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Sun morning
Disentis					17 cm	Mild at first with light rain (total 3.0mm) on Sat night followed by colder weather and light fall of snow, heaviest on Sun morning
Ebnat-Kappel - Toggenburg					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 21.0mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon
Eggiwil					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 29.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning
Eigenthal					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 23.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning
Einsiedeln					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 23.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning
Eischoll					19 cm	Mild with heavy rain (total 34.0mm), heaviest during Sat night. Becoming colder with a moderate fall of snow heaviest on Sun morning
Elm					2 cm	Heavy rain (total 25.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Sun afternoon
Emmetten					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 30.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning
Engelberg		440 cm 0 cm	Good	Varied	10 cm	Moderate rain (total 10.0mm), heaviest on Sat night giving way to a moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Sun morning Partly cloudy, some sunny spells	35 cm on 19 Apr
Eriz					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 35.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning
Ernergalen					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 59.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning
Evolène					42 cm	A heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Sat night
Fideris - Fideriser Heuberge					5 cm	Heavy rain (total 21.0mm), mainly falling Sun morning. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Sun afternoon
Fiesch - Eggishorn - Aletsch					33 cm	A heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Sun morning
Flims Laax Falera					9 cm	A light covering of new snow, mostly falling on Sun morning. Becoming milder with moderate rain (total 12.0mm) heaviest on Mon afternoon
Flumserberg					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 24.0mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon
Frutigen - Elsigen - Metsch					11 cm	Moderate rain (total 18.0mm), heaviest on Sat night giving way to a moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Sun morning
Giswil - Mörlialp					9 cm	Mild with moderate rain (total 14.0mm) on Sat night, Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Sun morning
Gluringen - Goms					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 59.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning
Goms - Oberwald					7 cm	Heavy rain (total 34.0mm), mainly falling Sun morning. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Sun morning
Grächen					48 cm	A heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Sat night
Grimentz					39 cm	A heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Sat night
Grindelwald					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 49.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning
Grüsch - Danusa					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 29.0mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon
Gstaad		520 cm 0 cm	Good	Heavy	20 cm	Mild at first with light rain (total 2.0mm) on Sat night followed by colder weather and light fall of snow, heaviest on Sun morning Partly cloudy, some sunny spells	40 cm on 19 Apr
Gstaad - Château-d'Oex					9 cm	Mild with moderate rain (total 18.0mm) on Sat night, Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Sun morning
Gstaad - Saanen - Rougemont					17 cm	Mild at first with light rain (total 4.0mm) on Sat night followed by colder weather and light fall of snow, heaviest on Sun morning
Gstaad - Schönried - Saanenmöser					18 cm	Mild at first with light rain (total 3.0mm) on Sat night followed by colder weather and light fall of snow, heaviest on Sun morning
Gstaad - St.Stephan - Zweisimmen					9 cm	Moderate rain (total 19.0mm), heaviest on Sat night giving way to a moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Sun morning
Gstaad/Rinderberg-Saanerslochgrat					3 cm	Heavy rain (total 32.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Sun morning
Gurnigel					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 32.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning
Habkern					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 38.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning
Haute Nendaz					34 cm	A heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Sun morning
Heiden - Grub - Oberegg Appenzellerland					0 cm	Moderate rain (total 12.0mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon
Hemberg - Bächli					0 cm	Moderate rain (total 19.0mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon
Hoch-Ybrig					5 cm	A dusting of snow. Milder later with heavy rain (total 20.0mm) on Sun afternoon
Interlaken					19 cm	Drizzle on Sat night followed by colder weather and a moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Sun morning
Jaun					3 cm	Heavy rain (total 29.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Sun morning
Jaunpass - Boltigen					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 37.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning
Kandersteg					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 52.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning
Kerenzerberg - Filzbach					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 26.0mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon
Kiental					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 45.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning
Klewenalp - Stockhütte					10 cm	A light fall of snow, heaviest on Sun morning. Turning milder with light rain (total 5.0mm) on Mon afternoon
Klosters					6 cm	Heavy rain (total 22.0mm), mainly falling Sun morning. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Sun afternoon
Krummenau - Wolzenalp - Toggenburg					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 20.0mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon
L'Abbaye / Vallée de Joux					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 34.0mm), heaviest during Sat night
La Berra - La Roche					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 33.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning
La Dôle					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 37.0mm), heaviest during Sat night
La Forclaz (Evolène)					16 cm	Mild with heavy rain (total 42.0mm), heaviest during Sat night. Becoming colder with a moderate fall of snow heaviest on Sun afternoon
La Fouly - Val Ferret					30 cm	A heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Sun morning
La Punt/Engadin					21 cm	A heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Sun afternoon
La Tzoumaz					26 cm	Light rain (total 8.0mm) on Sat night. Becoming colder with heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Sat night
Langenbruck					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 21.0mm), heaviest during Sun morning
Lauchernalp - Lötschental					30 cm	Light rain (total 3.0mm) on Sat afternoon. Becoming colder with heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Sun morning
Lauterbrunnen					14 cm	Moderate rain (total 18.0mm), heaviest on Sat night giving way to a moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Sun morning