Best Ski Resorts Near Basel, Switzerland (Right Around The Corner)

Basel is a lovely city but not quite the perfect destination for skiing. It is pretty close to some of the best ski resorts in Switzerland, so if you are landing at the Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg airport and wondering where to go from there, you are absolutely in the right place!

This detailed guide covers the six best ski resorts close to Basel, all of which are less than three hours away from the city. Some are even so close that you could manage to visit them on day trips from Basel, provided you can get up early enough to be at the train station at 6:30 AM. In any case, here’s all you need to know about the best ski resorts near Basel!

Ski Resort Travel Time

Travel time from Basel to the nearest ski resorts by train often takes a little longer than by car. However, there are regular traffic jams on weekends, so keep that in mind.

By Train

By Car

Grindelwald

Grindelwald might not be the closest ski resort to Basel, but it is one of the best. It’s accessible by personal vehicle and public transport, so it’s possible to organize a day trip from Basel if you get up early enough.

The Basel to Grindewald train is the best option for most people – it’s quick and reliable, and it will get you from the center of one place to the other in approximately two and a half hours. You will need to change trains at Spiez and Interlaken, but the wait times should be just a few minutes. Driving to Grindelwald is possible, but you should know that the village is car-free and you would need to park outside Grindelwald.

The First-Grindelwald ski resort in the Jungfrau region is most easily accessible from the village and features approximately 50 kilometers of ski pistes. More than half the pistes are easy blue runs, but there are also options for intermediate and expert skiers. A daily ski pass is 75 CHF for adults during peak season, and there are discounts for young adults, teenagers, and children.

Andermatt

Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis is one of the largest ski resorts in central Switzerland. If your plane lands at Basel and you want to spend a couple of days exploring the city and then head to a proper ski resort for the rest of your vacation in Switzerland, this is certainly one of the best options.

With 180 kilometers of ski pistes and 33 lifts to transport you to the tallest peaks in the area, it’s impossible to be bored at this resort. It’s perfect for a family ski holiday because there are runs for everyone, from absolute beginners to expert skiers looking for challenges. A daily ski pass is 89 CHF for adults, and it’s possible to get various discounts for younger skiers and family ski passes.

Andermatt is three hours from Basel by train, with just one train change in Göschenen, less than 15 minutes outside Andermatt village. You can also drive to Andermatt – it takes anywhere from two to three hours depending on the road and traffic conditions, but the village is car-free and you’d have to park near the entrance.

Adelboden

Adelboden is probably the best destination for longer ski vacations in Switzerland. It is easily accessible from the Basel airport, and it features multiple ski areas that, together, have more than 200 kilometers of well-prepared pistes. There’s everything from ski schools to challenging runs for veteran skiers, so everyone can have fun.

Adelboden-Lenk is the main ski area closest to the village, but there are several others in its immediate vicinity. Tschentenalp, Elsigen-Metsch, Engstligenalp, and Betelberg are all just as easily accessible as Adelboden-Lenk, so there are plenty of pistes to discover. It’s possible to purchase a wide variety of ski passes, ranging from half-day (four hours) to annual ones. The average price of a daily ski pass in these resorts is 40-50 CHF.

The village of Adelboden is just two hours from Basel by car or two and a half hours by train. Traveling by public transport includes a train change in Spiez, and then a short bus ride from Frutigen to Adelboden.

Engelberg

Engelberg is very close to Basel and you can reach it in under two hours from the Swiss city. It’s approximately an hour and 50 minutes by train, with just one change in Lucerne. Driving from Basel to Engelberg takes around an hour and 40 minutes, depending on the traffic and road/weather conditions.

The Engelber-Titlis ski area features some of Switzerland’s most thrilling descents, including a 2000-meter non-stop run from Titlis into the valley. Most pistes are intermediate red runs (45 kilometers) and there are fewer blue and black runs. Also, this ski area boasts chair lifts, a mountain railway, and even the world’s first revolving cable car to transport you to the tallest summits.

A daily ski pass is approximately 60 CHF (depending on the exact date), and it’s possible to get various discounts. Cheaper ski passes are available for beginners, and those include access only to the lower slopes. Families can also get discounts on bundled tickets, and there are special rates for children.

Wengen

Situated in the Jungfrau mountain range, the lovely village of Wengen boasts a quiet ambiance and a vast ski area. Stay in this village if you want to be close to the Kleine Scheidegg/​Männlichen ski area, but also to the Schilthorn – Mürren/​Lauterbrunnen.

Wengen is only 20 minutes from Grindelwald, so you will have access to the same ski areas and pistes, and you’ll need to purchase the same ski passes. It mostly comes down to which ski resort you prefer for a stay, and Wengen is slightly more peaceful and cheaper than Grindelwald.

To reach Wengen from Basel, you can take a train to Interlaken and Grindelwald, and then a gondola to Wengen, which takes approximately three hours. The alternative is driving, which can take anywhere from two and a half to three and a half hours, depending on the traffic, weather, and road conditions. It’s important to note that you can’t get all the way to Wengen by car; the closest you can get to is Lauterbrunnen, and from there you must travel by train.

Interlaken

Interlaken might not be an exciting ski resort per se, but it is an excellent destination for a ski vacation with loads of resorts and pistes just outside the town. If you want to be able to ski all day long, but also explore the town, visit museums, and maybe even go on a lake cruise, plan to stay in Interlaken during your ski vacation.

You would be about 45 minutes away from Grindelwald and Wengen at any time, so you can easily go skiing at either resort every day. On the other hand, you’re also only an hour away from Axalp ob Brienz and Niederhorn–Beatenberg – both small-scale ski resorts with mostly blue runs that are perfect for beginners and newbies to skiing.

Interlaken is accessible from Basel by a direct train which takes just two hours. You board the train at the center of Basel and get off at the center of Interlaken. Driving from Basel to Interlaken is also possible, but it’s usually not as fast as the train ride.

Map of Ski Resorts Near Basel

Frequently Asked Questions