Switzerland has always been at the forefront of skiing. Back in 1864, St. Moritz hotelier Johannes Badrutt persuaded British summer visitors to come back in winter. When they arrived via the Julier Pass, bundled in furs, they were met with sweeping snowdrifts, towering ivory peaks, and air so crisp it sparkled like Champagne. Word quickly spread beyond Graubünden, and Alpine ski tourism was born.
Since then, skiers have been spellbound by Switzerland’s sky-piercing limestone and gneiss mountains. The jaw-dropping scenery—think the Jungfrau and Matterhorn—hasn’t changed, but nearly everything else has. Today, skiing here means riding pioneering cogwheel railways, gliding in open-top revolving gondolas, staying in eagle’s-nest hotels, and chasing that perfect sense of escape. And whenever a global ski destination tries something new, Switzerland one-ups it.
This season’s updates fall into two camps: upgrades (think historic hotels getting facelifts and smoother lifts) and fresh additions that feel like gifts to their resorts.
In Laax, Europe’s freestyle mecca, a revamped freestyle academy (more on that later) is reopening, while the 2025 FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships returns to the Swiss Alps for the first time in 25 years—catch the action in St. Moritz from March 17–30, 2025, as the world’s best skiers take on Corvatsch and Corviglia’s dizzying heights.
New hotels are also making waves, like Wengen’s Grand Hôtel Belvédère and the refreshed Hotel Mürren Palace in Mürren, while the Revier Hotel brings sleek cabin style to glamorous Saas-Fee. Not to be outdone, architect Mario Botta’s reimagined restaurant at Glacier 3000 near Les Diablerets is a showstopper. With all these changes, even seasoned visitors might find the Swiss Alps refreshingly unfamiliar—a great excuse to fall in love with Switzerland all over again.
Here’s where to ski this season:
1. Gstaad
Best for foodies
Swiss cuisine often gets boiled down to hearty staples like fondue, raclette, rösti, and spätzle. But for something more refined, book a table at The Alpina Gstaad. This valley standout serves tasting menus that dance between lake perch, quail, and Swiss shrimp at Michelin-starred spots Sommet (by Martin Göschel) and Megu (helmed by sushi maestro Tsutomu Kugota). To burn it all off, Gstaad offers four mountain zones—for steep slopes and deep powder, aim for the first lift up Wasserngrat.
2. Jungfrau Region
Best for trendsetters
Framed by the Alps’ big three—Jungfrau, Mönch, and Eiger—this region delivers Switzerland’s most dramatic vistas. This season, stay at the revamped Hotel Mürren Palace (the country’s original celeb magnet) or Wengen’s Grand Hôtel Belvédère, the Lauterbrunnen Valley’s first five-star retreat. The latter packs saunas, a hammam, and indoor/outdoor pools into its sleek take on Swiss hospitality.
3. Laax
Best for snowboarders
Excitement is brewing here as the freestyle academy reopens after a major glow-up. Back when half-pipes weren’t a thing, skiing was just about going downhill—now, it’s all about slopestyle flair. The indoor campus boasts a vertical ramp, a trampoline with 360-degree cameras for trick analysis, and a massive skate bowl. Perfect for sharpening skills before hitting the world’s biggest superpipe.
4. Crans-Montana
Best for beginners
Vail Resorts is new to Swiss ski towns, but expect quick changes at this versatile spot. One constant? The whirlwind of activities. Catch the Men’s Alpine Ski World Cup in February, then hit the sunny south-facing slopes, ice skate at Ycoor, or try tubing and dog sledding.
5. Verbier
Best for late-season bookers
The Four Vallées delivers reliable snow and slopes that stay open when others surrender to spring. Next April, a month-long festival mixes T-shirt skiing with an art summit, street parties on Rue de Medran, and themed sports events. Enjoy quieter runs under jagged peaks—just don’t skimp on sunscreen.
6. Engelberg
Best for big changes
Obwalden’s skiers are in for a shake-up. The Titlis Project will revamp the resort’s iconic peak with a Herzog & de Meuron-designed viewing tower, a flashy new top station, and a faster cable car from Stand to Titlis by next season. Translation: fresh ways to experience the mountain.
7. Flumserberg
Best for city breakers
Zurich’s charm is winning over Brits—think lakeside beauty, storybook Old Town streets, and ski resorts just a train ride away. Atzmänning’s pristine slopes are 55 minutes out, while Flumserberg (70 minutes from Zurich’s station) offers bigger adrenaline kicks.
8. Glacier 3000
Best for high-altitude thrills
Architect Mario Botta’s sleek two-story restaurant now crowns Col du Pillon, replacing the fire-damaged original. Powered by 600 solar panels, it’s one of the Alps’ greenest buildings. From here, brave the Black Wall (Europe’s steepest groomed run) or cruise high-altitude blues and reds with panoramic Alpes Vaudoises views.
9. Saas Fee
Best for off-pisters
New lifts mean fresh adventures. The revamped Metro Alpin (the world’s highest underground funicular) accesses glaciers beneath Allalinhorn, while the Hanning cableway unlocks off-piste routes. The rest of the 62-mile area suits intermediates—especially those who want 13,000-foot peaks as their backdrop.
10. Pizol
Best for spa-lovers
Over Zermatt and St. Moritz? Try underrated Pizol in eastern Switzerland’s Rhine Valley. The Tamina Gorge inspired Heidi, and Bad Ragaz’s thermal springs are world-class. Up top, 30+ miles of serene slopes, a freeride park, and lift tickets that include spa access make for the ultimate unwind.9
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