- Alpine skiing for the whole family
- TOP 5 best winter resorts in Switzerland
- Rest on the lakes
- Treatment in Switzerland
At the mention of the name of the Swiss Confederation, there are quite persistent associations with cheese, watches and chocolate, which is considered the world standard among similar products. Financiers and wealthy citizens will certainly recall the impeccable banking system that took shape several centuries ago and remains an unshakable stronghold of reliability to this day.
If you are not a shopaholic, but, for example, an athlete, alpine skiing will come to mind, so popular in a small country lost among the snow-capped alpine peaks. In summer, the best resorts in Switzerland offer relaxation on the lakes, and balneological centers built next to thermal springs are ready to receive those who want to recuperate and improve their health at any time of the year.
Alpine skiing for the whole family
In Switzerland, there is an authoritative commission that analyzes the possibilities for skiing in ski resorts and assigns a special title to those where comfortable conditions for families with children are created. The commission is called the Swiss Tourism Board, and the status that the resort should have in this case is Families Welcome. When making a verdict, respected experts usually assess the availability of ski schools for young athletes, the ability to leave the baby with a nanny or tutor, children's meals on the menus of cafes and restaurants, discounts on accommodation for younger family members, and even convenience for parents using strollers.
When choosing the best ski resort in Switzerland for families and children, take a look at the top three with Families Welcome status.
Diablerets-Villars and its surroundings are ideal conditions for family skiing. Its tourist infrastructure includes family rooms in hotels, children's tracks, and special discounts on ski passes for young skiers. Another plus in the piggy bank of Diablerets-Villars is the proximity of the glacier, which provides the opportunity to play your favorite sport all year round. This means that you can come here even during the summer school holidays. The rest of the resort is no different from a typical Alpine resort: the slopes on its slopes are laid for both beginners and experienced athletes; there are conditions for virgin skiing; there are special facilities for snowboarders, and many kilometers of flat trails allow you to enjoy ordinary skiing with the Alps in the background.
The experienced instructors at Arosa will be happy to teach your little one the basics of skiing or snowboarding. Located in a mountain valley, Arosa is famous for its large, in comparison with other "colleagues", the number of sunny days and a variety of trails, suitable for both beginners and well-established athletes. The clean air and magnificent views of the mountain valley are conducive to the development of hiking, and guests of the resort are happy to use the trails in the vicinity of Arosa. If snowshoes do not seem too comfortable, you can admire the scenery from the side of a dog sled or horse-drawn carriage. The youngest guests of the resort enjoy visiting the children's Alpine Club, named after Mickey Mouse, where professional teachers spend time with them. Parents at this time can safely do themselves: visit the spa complex with saunas, a fitness center and a beauty salon, or go shopping.
Compared to other winter resorts in Switzerland, Engelberg is one of the most democratic in terms of the cost of services. Hotels here are quite accessible even to family tourists with children, and at the same time they are very comfortable and convenient for organizing holidays with kids. The Bruni ski area in Engelberg is ideal for inexperienced sports enthusiasts, and the local school instructors are eager to help them learn how to put on their skis and choose the right angle for a safe fall. After taking a couple of lessons, "penguins" turn into confident users of ski slopes. The system of delivery of athletes to the starting points is also conveniently organized at the resort: about three dozen lifts serve the Engelberg slopes, and therefore you definitely will not have to stand in line with the kids. There is enough entertainment for everyone at the resort after a busy sports day: gourmets enjoy perfectly cooked food in dozens of restaurants, fans of military history take an excursion to the place where Suvorov crossed the Alps, and those who like to wander around the shops arrange a run through local boutiques.
Other resorts in Switzerland are ideal for families and skiing with children. Laax, Adelboden, Lenk, Toggenberg and Nenda are invariably on the list of the best in terms of comfort and infrastructure for families.
TOP 5 best winter resorts in Switzerland
More than half of the country's territory is occupied by the Alps, and therefore alpine skiing is the most popular sport here. The resorts of Switzerland, intended for winter holidays, are located in different regions of the country, but each of them necessarily has an ideal infrastructure, well-groomed slopes, impeccable service and a huge selection of trails for skiing. Both beginners and professionals feel great at Swiss ski resorts, and the lists of the best are sure to include:
- Zermatt, known for its magnificent views of one of the world's most scenic peaks, the Matterhorn. The resort invariably ranks among the top ten not only in Switzerland, but also in Europe, thanks to the ideal quality of snow cover and a variety of trails for professionals and athletes of the level of confident skiing. For extreme lovers in Zermatt, virgin slopes are offered, for snowboarders - the largest snow park of the continent and many half pipes and railing stations, and for fans of flat skiing - 10 km of cross-country trails.
- Saas-Fee, where professional skiers of the country train all year round, thanks to the proximity of the glacier. Providing year-round cold and snow, Fegletcher looks very picturesque, and fans of difficult trails come to Saas Fee to ride against its background. Most of them are marked in red and black, and such slopes are also attractive for the features of the relief. The length of the longest route Saas-Fee is 14 km. Snowboarders prefer the resort because of the high-altitude fan park that is open all year round. The boarder-cross track also helps the board builders hone their skills. The resort is also popular for winter walks - snowshoeing and sleigh rides.
- Davos, which holds the unofficial title of Switzerland's snowboarding capital. Its fan parks and halfpipes are designed and built with the latest winter sports fashion, and Davos is the preferred destination for freestylers. The ski slopes in each of the resort's six ski areas cater to the needs of all skill levels of skiers, from beginner to pro. Another undoubted plus in favor of choosing this resort is the opportunity for treatment in Davos. The local climate is ideal for the recovery of people with pulmonary pathologies and allergic diseases. You can take a course of medical procedures in one of the Davos sanatoriums.
- St. Moritz, the number of sunny days in which significantly exceeds the average for Switzerland. For decades, one of the oldest and best winter resorts in the world has hosted aristocrats, movie stars and even royal persons, and therefore the level of local service is beyond praise. The slopes of the resort are mainly located within the red and blue markings, but there are also "black" sections in the ski area with the characteristic name Diavolezza in St. Moritz. The resort also positions itself as a balneological resort. It offers its guests numerous spa treatments - massages, mud wraps, mineral baths and thalassotherapy complexes for skin care.
- Verbier with its 400 kilometers of ski slopes, which, even during a very long vacation, cannot be covered. Moreover, this Swiss resort has an incredible number of difficult sections - "black" slopes and virgin trails, which can only be accessed with a specially trained guide. Ski safari is also popular with advanced skiers. The distance runs along several routes marked in red and black, and its length is more than four dozen kilometers. Verbieux is also great for beginners, you just have to choose those areas where "green" and "red" tracks are laid. Snowboarders will appreciate the freestyle park and boardercrossing areas.
The ApreSki of the Swiss resorts also deserves special attention. At any of them there are spa salons with a varied selection of wellness programs, shopping centers with the latest novelties of world fashion, restaurants, the menu of which offers the best dishes of Alpine cuisine. In their free time from skiing, guests of the resorts can take excursions to the most famous cities of Switzerland and see its sights or visit museum exhibitions dedicated to history, painting and crafts.
Rest on the lakes
Swiss lakes are clean and cool. Geneva is the largest in Europe with grassy beaches and picturesque mountain peaks on the horizon, while Lucerne is ideal for a relaxing meditative getaway surrounded by pristine nature. Resorts for summer vacations on the shores of Swiss lakes are very popular with both retirees and young people.
Weggis is famous for its beach, where for the first time in the world representatives of the strong and beautiful half of humanity were allowed to swim. A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since 1919, but Weggis on the shores of Lake Lucerne continues to be one of the best resorts in Switzerland for summer holidays. After sunbathing, sedate holidaymakers switch to active activities - playing golf, playing tennis and fishing in the waters of the lake. Fishing here acts as a sports entertainment, because the chefs of restaurants overlooking the lake have already taken care of the guests' daily bread.
Active tourists will also like Vitznau, where they practice not only water sports, but also horse riding, fishing and Nordic walking. Walking trails in the resort are laid everywhere: on the slopes of Mount Riga, and in the old center of the town itself, teeming with charming historical buildings. Vitznau was famous back in the 19th century, and the reasons why the highest aristocratic world of Europe came here every summer is the mild climate and the purest mountain air.
Burgenstock has not in vain gained fame as one of the best resorts in Switzerland. Firstly, it is very beautiful, and the view of the peninsula where the town is located is often called the visiting card of the country. Lake Lucerne is the second reason to choose a resort for relaxation. The beaches equipped on its shores are very comfortable and convenient, and the possibilities for active recreation are truly endless. Resort guests mountain biking up the hills, play Alpine golf on an impeccable course, compete for top tennis on the tennis court, and stroll along the slopes of the Hammetschwand Mountain for stunning views of the surrounding countryside.
Treatment in Switzerland
Not far from Lake Geneva there is a smaller reservoir - Lake Neuchâtel, and on its shore is one of the best Swiss resorts of Yverdon-les-Bains. The town is famous for its thermal springs, which become the main healing factor of numerous wellness programs offered to the guests of the resort. The depth of the waters is more than half a kilometer, and their composition is truly unique! The waters of the springs of Yverdon-les-Bains help patients with diseases of the joints, respiratory tract, neurological disorders and dermatological problems feel better. The cultural program of vacationers at the resort on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel is also worthy of attention. Guests visit historical sites, including an old medieval castle, explore museum expositions and enjoy local cuisine, which has absorbed the best culinary traditions of Italy, France and Germany.
The thermal water of the Bad Ragaz resort, located an hour's drive from Zurich and famous for its Tamina public baths, has no less advantages. Here you can swim in the pool filled with life-giving water and have a good time at spa treatments, the basis of which is the same healthy moisture. The resort also has health centers, and a variety of diseases become indications for treatment in them. Bad Ragaz can help you lose weight, improve sleep, recover from a sports injury or surgery, and heal diseases of the lungs, bronchi, joints and bones. You can explore the beautiful surroundings and admire the signature sights of Switzerland on horseback or rent a bicycle, and actively relax by playing tennis or golf.
You can come to Leukerbad for treatment at any time of the year, but in winter, relaxation in its spa centers is a pleasure to combine with skiing. The resort's thermal center is called Burgerbad and offers guests a variety of wellness options. The complex has more than a dozen pools with thermal waters of different temperatures, all kinds of baths and massage rooms.
Traveling to Switzerland is not a cheap event, but the rest in the local resorts will be remembered for many years. Moreover, tourists always manage to combine alpine skiing with treatment, outdoor excursions and active sports outside the alpine slopes.
