Winter sport destinations: Regions

Nestled between the mighty Säntis massif and the seven Churfirsten peaks, the resorts of Alt St. Johann, Unterwasser and Wildhaus are among the highest-lying municipalities in Toggenburg. Eastern Switzerland's largest winter sports area is just one hour from the airport and Zurich.

Mighty mountains and glaciers, crystal-clear lakes, rushing waterfalls and pristine valleys – the Bernese Oberland is the very epitome of Switzerland. Experience unforgettable excursions to Interlaken, Thun, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, the Aare Gorge or the Jungfraujoch.

Axalp is a clearing at 1535 metres altitude above the resort of Brienz. It can be reached by post bus or car in 35 minutes from the village. Axalp is ideally located for hiking in summer and skiing in winter.

The serene, sunny high valley in the Goms region, in Upper Valais, is famous for its authentic villages with wooden houses and whitewashed churches. Goms is an attractive cross-country paradise in winter and a popular and far-flung hiking region in summer.

For those who are looking for peace and quiet, Madulain is the place to go. The smallest commune in the upper Engadine has no more than 200 inhabitants, but the special charm of its typical Engadine houses and cultivated Rhaeto-Romanic culture is all the more convincing.

The family-friendly Braunwald, Elm and Martinsloch, the picturesque Klöntal Lake (Klöntalersee): In Glarnerland there is much to be discovered. This beautiful (and fairly unknown) part of the world can be reached in less than an hour from Zürich.

The serene, sunny high valley in the Goms region, in Upper Valais, is famous for its authentic villages with wooden houses and whitewashed churches. Obergoms is an attractive cross-country paradise in winter and a popular and far-flung hiking region in summer.

The Werdenberg region is situated in the St. Gallen Rhine Valley on Switzerland’s eastern border. It encompasses the administrative communes of Sennwald (Frümsen, Haag, Salez, Sax and Sennwald), Gams, Grabs, Buchs, Sevelen and Wartau (Azmoos, Trübbach, Weite, Oberschan and Malans) and borders on the Principality of Liechtenstein, Heidiland, Toggenburg and the St. Gallen Rhine Valley.

The highest mountains in Switzerland await visitors to the Saas Valley. Saas-Fee, Saas-Grund, Saas-Balen and Saas-Almagell all offer an astonishing array of enjoyable, sporting, family-oriented and adventurous holiday activities. The valley’s mild climate and stunning glaciers create a magical setting for any holiday.

The Val d'Anniviers is a Valaisian side-valley defined by a rich cultural tradition. The chain of authentic mountain villages with sun-blackened houses extends from Siere in the Rhone Valley to the climbers’ village of Grimentz.

The small holiday region of Melchsee-Frutt / Melchtal / Kerns lies at the heart of central Switzerland, surrounded by lakes and mountains. The centre for tourism in this expansive region is the high valley of Melchsee-Frutt at an altitude of 2000 metres, with its traffic-free, family-friendly resort on shores of the little mountain lake.

Fiesch: The family-friendly village with suspension rope park and the “Gogwärgiweg” dwarf-themed trail is ideally located in terms of transport. Against the stunning permanent backdrop of the Valais 4,000m peaks, the many leisure activities in the Aletsch Arena and excursions to the Aletsch Glacier or Goms will inspire you.

Charming black fir tree forests, bluish rivers, deep lakes and green pastures, covered in snow when winter comes, give the Neuchâtel mountains a paradise touch. A very lively watch paradise with human warmth, trendy cities and plenty of temptations!

The patricians of the old days knew why they built their stately homes right here: La Punt has a favorable strategic situation at the foot of the former trade route across the Albula pass. The erstwhile farming village Chamues-ch lies at the entrance to the mystical chamois valley, the Val Chamuera.

The Engadin Samnaun Val Müstair holiday region – from the south-facing Val Müstair, and the Lower Engadin with its rich traditions and typical Engadin villages, to the Alpine village of Samnaun – features a blend of three cultures.

The sunny holiday region of Thyon is located on the western side of the Val d'Hérémence in the Lower Valais, close to the canton capital of Sion (Sitten) at an altitude of 1500 m to 2100 m. Thyon is particularly geared up to meet the needs of skiers, and forms the eastern gateway to the vast "Four Valleys" skiing area.

The Jungfrau Region is up there with the best of them: be inspired by the largest glacier and the highest upper station in the Alps on the Jungfraujoch. Marvel at the most impressive waterfalls, and enjoy idyllic mountain villages and the ideal conditions for winter sports.

The tradition-imbued, Bernese Oberland holiday resort of Meiringen lies in the Hasli valley, south east of Lake Brienz. Sherlock Holmes met his maker here – only to be resurrected again several years later. In actual fact, Meiringen-Hasliberg almost offers the unbelievable – and not only in respect of its most famous fictional hero.

Surprisingly versatile: Surselva is located in the heart of the Alps, between the source of the Rhine and the Rhine Gorge. One can find ideal conditions for active and passive leisure enjoyment in and around the cozy mountain villages.

The Leventina is mostly known as a transit axis leading from the Gotthard Mountain to the south. At certain points in the partially narrow valley, where trains, roads and super highway emerge, one does not expect to find scenic beauty and cultural and historic sights - but this assumption is unfair.

The Trient Valley (Vallée du Trient) links Martigny in Lower Valais via the border town of Le Châtelard with Chamonix, the well-known French resort at the foot of Mont Blanc. The Trient Valley is an untouched natural paradise with wild gorges, grottos, dinosaur tracks, and one of the Alps’ most beautiful glaciers.

Through the Val Ferrera the way leads to Cröt, from where the road winds up to Cresta over numerous bends. Cresta lies at 1,958 meters above sea level and is the main town of the Avers municipality, and Juf is found at the far end of the valley. Europe’s highest permanently inhabited community lies at an altitude of over 2,100 meters above sea level.

Located in the heart of Central Switzerland, between Schwyz and Einsiedeln, the Mythenregion may be quickly and easily reached from all directions. From Zürich in about 45 minutes and from Lucerne/Zug in 30 minutes.

The Bündner Herrschaft, located in the northernmost corner of Graubünden, is the gateway to the canton. Its excellent Blauburgunder wines made the region famous as a winegrowing region. The fairly small vacation region has at its center the town of Maienfeld, home of Heidi - the world-famous children’s book character.

The region of Obersaxen Mundaun is a vacation destination for experiencing nature and culture. The hamlets of Obersaxen (a typical Walser community with 29 farms) and Mundaun (Surcuolm & Flond) are located on a 12 km long sun terrace at 1,072 to 1,430 meters above sealevel.

The many sunny days, the clear air, the Maloja wind: the Engadin lends itself perfectly to aquatic and winter sports. Discover the beautiful Engadin lakes, mountains such as the Bernina, Corvatsch and Corviglia, villages such as Pontresina, Bever, Zuoz – and of course St. Moritz.

Lower Engadine guarantees restorative relaxation during your active vacations . With the holiday resorts of Scuol, Valsot and Zernez, its picturesque mountain villages and the Swiss National Park, hiking, biking, rafting and nature adventures await. Many pass crossings enable discovery trips into neighboring valleys and countries.

Traveling from Lake Thun in a westerly direction, the Simmen Valley opens up. The pyramid-shaped Niesen and the Stockhorn preside over the imposing entrance to the valley. The hiking-mountain and vantage point beckon with an imposing panoramic view of 200 peaks.

Discover the Aletsch Arena, the Valais holiday paradise with the car-free destinations of Riederalp, Bettmeralp and Fiescheralp. The centrepiece is the Great Aletsch Glacier, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Experience the ice stream up close – while hiking, skiing or on a glacier tour.

In addition to Kandersteg and the world-famous Lake Blausee, Reichenbach and the Kiental Valley are true insider tips. The beautiful mountain villages have retained their rural character. A wide range of hotels, apartments, mountain hostels, campsites and cozy restaurants give the villages the typical charm of the Bernese Oberland.

La Tzoumaz is a discreet, tranquil, family resort situated half way between Martigny and Sion.

The La Gruyère region invites you to relax and enjoy. Discover Gruyères with its castle, the show dairy and the Giger Museum. Let yourself be surprised by the far-reaching view from the Moléson. Treat yourself to a trip to Lake Gruyère with the Maison Cailler or wellness in Charmey.

Nestled in the foothills of Mont Blanc is the Pays du Saint Bernard, the gateway to Italy. The legendary Hospice du Grand Saint Bernard and its dogs symbolise the welcome and human warmth perpetuated over centuries by the Canons of the Grand Saint Bernard.

Arosa Lenzerheide, with its countless meadows, mountain streams and crystal clear mountain lakes offers a wealth of possibilities in summer. And in winter, diverse cross-country ski tracks, winter hiking paths and ski slopes extending over 225 kilometres are yours to enjoy.

Lötschental lies embedded in an imposing mountain landscape between the Valaisian and Bernese Alps. The mostly undeveloped valley with its still authentic villages lures visitors to enjoy a vacation in pristine surroundings, far from the large tourism centers.