There are plenty of reasons to visit Zurich in the winter season, and skiing is definitely one of them. Although the city itself might not offer a plethora of ski slopes a stone’s throw away from your hotel, you can easily travel to one of the ski resorts nearby and spend your days on the slopes, and then be back in the metropolis just in time for dinner and a night out.
Whether you want to be able to go out to a ski resort in the morning and be back in the city in the afternoon, or you’re traveling to the resort from Zurich and you plan to stay there for a few consecutive days, we’ve got you covered. This guide to the best ski resorts near Zurich includes all the best options in the Swiss Alps for apres-ski, ski-in/ski-out, and more!
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Mythen Region
The Mythen Region is one of the closest ski resorts to Zurich. You can take a direct train to Schwyz (less than an hour) and from there you can ride the cable car from Rickenbach to Rotenflue where the ski lifts are.
The Mythen Region ski resort boasts a total of 56 kilometers of ski slopes at a maximum altitude of 1,593 meters above sea level. The vast majority of the slopes are for intermediate skiers, with a total of 31 kilometers of red pistes. There are also 18 kilometers of easy blue pistes, and only 1 kilometers of black skiing pistes for experts.
The ski season at this Swiss resort is from mid-December to mid-March when there’s plenty of snow on the ground.
Andermatt
Andermatt is one of the best and most popular ski resorts in Switzerland, some two hours outside Zurich by train. The ski area of Andermatt includes eight Alpine passes and it encompasses the neighbouring ski resort Sedrun and even Disentis. This entire region has more than 70 kilometers of ski slopes, most of which are red and blue runs.
There are also some 12 kilometers of black runs, which will live up to the standards of even the most experienced and demanding skiers. A total of 13 chairlifts, ski lifts, and gondolas transport skies to the top of the resort’s best slopes.
The pistes are suitable for skiing and snowboarding, but the Anermatt holiday region is also known for off-piste terrain that allows for cross-country skiing.
Engelberg
The Titlis-Engelberg ski resort is one of the best options for intermediate and advanced skiers. This ski region is about an hour and 45 minutes away from Zurich by train, with just one train change in Lucerne.
This resort area features a total of 80 kilometers of ski slopes, with plenty of options for beginners, experts, and intermediate skiers. There’s a total of 17 lifts to transport the skiers to the slopes, so it shouldn’t be too hard to avoid the crowds. The ski season in Titlis-Engelberg is from mid-October to mid-May, and most slopes are on an elevation of 1,000 to 3,000 meters above sea level.
This is one of the largest ski areas in Central Switzerland and it’s worth checking out regardless of your previous skiing experience.
Sattel-Hochstuckli
Situated in the Schwyz canton just an hour outside Zurich, the Sattel-Hochstuckli ski region is a good option for skiers who don’t want to go too far outside Zurich. This is one of the smaller resorts near the big city, with a total of 12 kilometers of ski pistes.
Six kilometers of slopes are easy blue runs and the other six are red runs, so unfortunately there are no options here for extremely experienced skiers. Most slopes are on an elevation of 800 – 1,491 meters above sea level, with a total of 9 lifts that transport the visitors. The length of the ski season in this resort heavily depends on snow and weather conditions, but it often starts in November and lasts until mid-March.
Flumserberg
Head to Flumserberg in eastern Switzerland for the best skiing closest to Zurich. The resort boasts more than 60 kilometers of skiing trails, and it is the largest ski resort located between Zurich and Chur.
You can reach this resort by train from Zurich; it’s about an hour to Quarten, and from there you can take two gondola lifts, first to Oberterzen and then to Flumserberg. With 14 kilometers of easy blue runs, the resort is great for beginners who can enroll in ski schools and take drop-in ski lessons.
The Flumserberg ski resort also features 40 kilometers of intermediate red runs, so it’s ideal for skiers with a bit more experience. With 11 kilometers of black runs, veteran skiers won’t miss out on the fun at this ski resort either.
Laax
The Laax – Flims – Falera ski resort is approximately two hours outside Zurich and it’s the best ski resort if you want to have a wide variety of options when it comes to ski terrain. With 197 kilometers of ski pistes, this resort offers fantastic skiing and snowboarding to skiers of all experience levels.
There are more than 80 kilometers of blue runs that are perfect for beginners, some 90 kilometers of red runs, and around 22 kilometers of black runs for expert skiers. The region also boasts 35 kilometers of off-piste ski terrain, making this region one of the best in all of Switzerland for a proper ski holiday.
More than 70% of pistes in the region are at an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level, and some are even at 3,000 meters. There are 28 lifts and gondolas throughout the resorts to transport the skiers.
Chäserrugg
Chäserrugg is a good ski resort about an hour and a half outside the city of Zurich. However, it’s important to note that the ski region will be accessible only to travelers with a personal vehicle in Switzerland since the public transport options are not convenient.
It’s not impossible to reach the ski resort of Chäserrugg from Zurich by train and bus. Still, it would include traveling for more than two hours and changing 3-4 trains/buses in each direction, which is a nightmare if you’re carrying your ski equipment.
In any case, this ski resort is best suited for beginner and intermediate skiers with 40 kilometers of red runs and 8 kilometers of blue runs. There are only 2 kilometers of black runs, so although there are some options for expert skiers, it’s not like you’ll have plenty of variety of trails to choose from.
Arosa-Lenzerheide
About two hours outside Zurich, just above the Igl Lake is the Arosa-Lenzerheide ski resort with more than 220 kilometers of slopes. With 110 kilometers of easy blue runs, it’s the best ski resort near Zurich for beginners and very young skiers.
Intermediate and advanced skiers can also have fun at this ski resort since the remaining 100+ kilometers are red and black pistes. There are 87 kilometers of red runs and 28 kilometers of black runs, and some of those are at an altitude of more than 2,800 meters above sea level.
The ski season at this resort is from mid-November to mid-April but can depend on the weather and snow conditions.
Pizol – Bad Ragaz/Wangs
Located just a little more than an hour away from Zurich, the Pizol – Bad Ragaz/Wangs ski resort is one of the best in Heidiland. It’s a great ski resort even for experienced skiers, thanks to 13 kilometers of black runs that will undoubtedly get your heart racing.
This ski resort also has around 21 kilometers of red runs, as well as 15 kilometers of easy runs, and 3.5 kilometers of off-piste ski routes. The ski season here starts in early December and goes on into mid-April when the weather conditions allow.
There are 12 ski lifts and gondolas here to transport the skiers, and that’s plenty considering that the resort has “only” 50 kilometers of slopes total. The pistes are an elevation of 500 to 2,227 meters above sea level; the lower slopes are perfect for beginners, but veterans will know that the higher slopes are the most fun.
Amden
The Amden ski resort is only about an hour outside Zurich and it’s great for skiers who want to stay close to the big city. This is one of the smaller resorts in Switzerland, and it’s best suited for people with little or no previous experience on the slopes.
This ski resort has 10 kilometers of blue runs and 10 kilometers of red runs, with no black runs nearby. It’s open from mid-December to mid-March, provided that the weather conditions are good and there’s enough snow on the ground.
It’s worth noting that this is also one of the more affordable ski resorts in central Switzerland, so if you’re trying to organize a skiing trip on a tighter budget, it’s definitely worth considering. Especially if you’re not a very advanced skier, and you’re okay with having access to various red runs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there beginner-friendly ski schools at the resorts near Zurich?
Yes, of course, that are ski schools at the resorts near Zurich that are beginner-friendly. The resorts that have a high percentage of easy blue runs are great for beginners, including Flumserberg, Engelberg, and Hochstuckli among others.
Are there any ski resorts close to Zurich that offer ski-in/ski-out facilities?
The Arosa Kulm Hotel at the Arosa ski resort offers a ski-in/ski-out experience. If you want to hit the slopes the moment you step out of the hotel, this is most likely your best option in terms of ski resorts that are close to Zurich.
Which ski resorts near Zurich offer the most enjoyable après-ski experiences?
The Flims Laax ski resort near Zurich offers a very enjoyable apes-ski experience with many restaurants, bars, and clubs. If you want to go to a resort where the fun doesn’t stop on the slopes, you won’t be disappointed by the offer in Flims Laax.
