Top Skiing and Snowboarding near Zurich

Top Skiing Near to Zurich

There is some fabulous skiing to be had close to Zurich. We’ve listed below some key resorts close to Zurich – Flumserberg, Hoch Ybrig, Atzmännig, Davos / Klosters, Flims / Laax and Lenzerheide / Arosa. They are all easily accessible from Zurich for a day’s skiing – though of course there’s nothing to stop you staying longer. The big news last year was that the Lenzerheide /Arosa link finally opened. It had been some 40 years in the planning but it’s a great breakthrough for the resort opening up a huge expanse of extra skiing for this new extended resort.

So here are some of our top resorts near to Zurich:

– Flumserberg

Close enough to Zurich that you can get there in around an hour less depending where you’re located. Easily accessible by train too if you catch the train from Zurich HB to Unterterzen and take the gondola to the top. Beautifully pisted slopes with something for everyone. Plenty of nursery slopes for beginners. Some great restaurants. Big plus – they do “Stundenkarte mit Rückvergütung” – hourly tickets whereby you pay less if you ski for just under 3 or 4 hours – great if you’re short on time and can’t spend the whole day there but want to save on buying a whole day pass. For more information please read here.

– Hoch Ybrig

A quaint resort with plenty of old-fashioned, village charm. Beautiful location and very picturesque. Something for everyone – there are basic slopes in one part of the resort and more extended slopes in the main resort. Travelling from Zurich you go through Einsiedeln a beautiful town famed for its monastery and the “black Madonna” – definitely worth a visit! For more information please see here.

– Atzmännig

A small resort very close to the Uster / Greifensee part of town. It has a great family feel and if you live close by is a fabulous place to go when there is plenty of snow and you just want to get some skiing under your belt. It’s particularly good for learners and for children and very friendly too. Read an article we wrote about Atzmännig here.

– Klosters/Davos

Famed for its connections with the British royal family – you are bound to bump into plenty of people speaking English when you ski here. A well sized resort with plenty of scope for skiers of all level. It has a snowboard park and you can easily ski from Davos and into Klosters . There is an igloo village and also a small wellness area in Davos called Eau La La as well as plenty of great restaurants in both villages as well as on the mountains. It’s about one and and a half to one and three quarter hours drive from Zurich depending on where you’re located. For more information see the website.

– Flims/Laax

Great ski resort with a wide range of options. There is a glacier offering an extended skiing season and a big snowboard park with half pipe at Laax that attracts a wide following. Some great restaurants too offering wide variety of cuisine. For more information please read here.

– Lenzerheide/Arosa

Lenzerheide has a reputation for being quite Swiss whereas Arosa has more of an international feel to it. Combined into one large ski area as they now are, the Arosa -Lenzerheide ski area promises to be a dream resort offering plenty of diverse skiing with 225km of ski runs. Previously Arosa was a difficult drive from Zurich with an enormous number of hair pin bends to navigate which meant a long train journey if you didn’t fancy driving. From now on you can drive to Lenzerheide (or to take the train to Chur and then the bus) and take the new Urdenbahn cable car connection and simply ski into Arosa. For more information read here.

Wherever you go skiing near Zurich have fun! If you’re interested in visiting or staying in an Igloo, please read this article.

See Below our post on Top 5 Tips for Snow:

Are you ready for the snow in Switzerland? Here are five practical tips to help you prepare for the Winter season:

1. Winter Tyres – If you haven’t changed your tyres over from Summer to Winter now is the time to do this. Typically in Switzerland the time to change your tyres is in October and then back again to Summer tyres in March. Swiss Autumn weather can be deceptive, changing quickly from sunshine to snow – so it’s always good to be prepared. Make an appointment with your garage to have your tyres changed – they may be getting booked up by now – so don’t leave it too late. Most garages will also store your tyres for you till the Spring. If you need to order tyres www.reifendirekt.ch are a cost effective option.

2. Salt & Shovels & Oil – if you live in a house and have pathways or need to clear the drive then it’s a good idea to get some salt in and a shovel. You can get these in any DIY store or even at the supermarket. If you live in a house heated by oil fired central heating it’s a good idea to check the gauge now and pre-order your next delivery if necessary.

3. Ski Gear – now is a good time to check if you or your children have “outgrown” their ski gear or skis. Most of the new season’s stock will be hitting the stores now – so if your kids have grown taller and their ski jackets and pants don’t fit any longer, or if you’d like to progress to newer or more advanced skis this is the time to check out the new ranges. It’s also wise to go early to choose your rental skis – it will be quieter and there will be more choice.

4. REGA insurance – if you’re not a member of REGA already do think of joining. REGA is a charity dedicated to rescuing people from mountains and slopes. Not only do they help in ski accident situations but the cover is all year long (their year runs May – May) if you’re hiking or walking too. Family membership of REGA is just CHF 70 per year and individual membership is only CHF 30. For more information and to become a member click here .

5. Book ahead for your Ski holiday– if you’re planning a ski holiday in Switzerland for the February ski week or indeed over Christmas now is the time to book. In fact many of the Swiss, book their next ski holiday straight after returning from their last one. It is always good to check the local tourist office in the resort you are planning on staying in if you get stuck as they are often able to help with last minute bookings too.

Wherever you go have a great Winter in Switzerland and enjoy the snow!

NewInZurich runs regular “Snowtime” Workshops for individuals, families and groups – covering not just skiing but lots of Winter activities and events for non-skiers in Switzerland too. For more information please email: newinzurich@gmail.com