Winter Sports for Families in Switzerland

Wengen and the Jungfrau

On the whole the Swiss cater well for families. The winter tourist industry was established in Switzerland long before it was in other countries and provides a wide variety of winter diversions for the family. We particularly enjoy resorts with spas, but many resorts also have wonderful winter walks, toboggan runs, ice rinks and creche facilities.

There are a number of hotels that cater specifically for families. The Family Hotel Gorfion in Malbun, Liechtenstein is probably my favourite and is especially good for beginners and intermediates. Although hostels are not specifically designated as family hotels in my listings, they tend to be my preference for family ski trips. They usually have play areas, provide small dormitories of 4 or 6 beds suitable for families, offer half-board and are relatively inexpensive. The hostel in St Moritz is absolutely fabulous, but do book well ahead.

Although I have focused mainly on winter sports holidays for families based in the Basel area, the information remains valid for families living in other parts of Switzerland or visiting the country from abroad. Throughout the Swiss Winter Sports database distances and directions from other major population centres are provided. Approximate transit times from Basel are listed at the Travelling from Basel page, from Zurich at the Travelling from Zurich page, from Bern at the Travelling from Bern page and from Luzern at the Travelling from Luzern page.

One question I often get asked by other parents is how feasible it is to travel by train and bus to a resort when you are burdened with buggies, ski gear and the little darlings themselves. I can assure you it is entirely practical, and we have been doing it for many years since before the kids could even walk. Those double decker trains, by the way, invariably have a family carriage at one of the ends with a play area inside. If you are well organised, you can even get Swiss Rail to send your gear to the nearest railway station to your resort in advance of your trip. Of course you can also drive to all of the resorts listed here, although the car-free resorts will require that you use a cableway, train or Shank's pony for the last leg.

Below are details of some resorts to consider visiting - click on a column head to sort the table. "Snow'n'Rail" is the scheme operated by Swiss Rail whereby at certain resorts you will get a significant discount if you book your rail (and, if applicable, bus) travel together with your ski pass. The "Family" designation referenced below is awarded by the Swiss Tourist Board to certain resorts which are especially family-friendly. The distances and times given from Basel are representative, but individual resort pages give more details of travel from all major cities.

Resort Region Language Locality Bottom m Top m Piste km Snow'n'­Rail Stat­ion Fam­ily Car-free Spa Tobo­ggan Basel Basel Distance
Adelboden Bernese Oberland Swiss German Bern 1068 2362 205 Y Y 2 hrs 35 mins 2 hrs 158 km
Airolo Ticino Italian Ticino 1700 2250 30 Y Y 2 hrs 57 mins 2 hrs 183 km
Aletsch Arena Valais Swiss German Valais 1845 2869 104 Y Y Y Y Y 2 hrs 38 mins 3 hrs 221 km
Alt St Johann Eastern Switzerland Swiss German St Gallen 900 2262 50 Y Y 3 hrs 20 mins 2 hrs 179 km
Andermatt Central Switzerland Swiss German Uri 1444 2963 120 Y Y Y 2 hrs 56 mins 2 hrs 167 km
Anzère Valais French Valais 1500 2420 58 Y Y 3 hrs 22 mins 3 hrs 265 km
Arolla Valais French Valais 2000 2980 47 3 hrs 53 mins 3 hrs 14 mins 287 km
Arosa Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 1230 2865 225 Y Y Y Y 3 hrs 36 mins 3 hrs 232 km
Belalp Valais Swiss German Valais 1750 3112 60 Y Y Y 2 hrs 39 mins 3 hrs 30 mins 214 km
Bettmeralp Valais Swiss German Valais 1970 2647 104 Y Y Y 2 hrs 38 mins 3 hrs 40 mins 236 km
Braunwald Eastern Switzerland Swiss German Glarus 1300 1905 30 Y Y Y Y Y 2 hrs 37 mins 2 hrs 172 km
Brigels Graubünden Romansh Graubünden 1100 2418 75 Y Y Y 3 hrs 29 mins 3 hrs 220 km
Bruson Valais French Valais 1080 2220 26 Y 3 hrs 21 mins 2 hrs 38 mins 246 km
Caux Lake Geneva Region French Vaud 1161 2322 8 Y 3 hrs 37 mins 2 hrs 8 mins 190 km
Celerina Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 1750 3057 163 Y Y 4 hrs 20 mins 3 hrs 28 mins 291 km
Chamonix France French Haute-Savoie 1035 3842 170 Y 5 hrs 3 hrs 10 mins 268 km
Champéry Valais French Valais 1050 2250 603 Y Y Y 3 hrs 57 mins 2 hrs 30 mins 226 km
Chandolin Valais French Valais 2000 3000 60 2 hrs 43 mins 3 hrs 11 mins 289 km
Château-d'Oex Lake Geneva Region French Vaud 1001 1650 30 Y Y Y 3 hrs 11 mins 2 hrs 15 mins 182 km
Crans-Montana Valais French Valais 1500 3000 140 Y Y Y Y 3 hrs 7 mins 3 hrs 273 km
Davos Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 810 2844 279 Y Y Y Y 3 hrs 22 mins 2 hrs 45 mins 232 km
Diavolezza Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 2093 2978 35 Y Y 4 hrs 50 mins 3 hrs 39 mins 306 km
Disentis Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 1227 2833 60 Y Y Y 3 hrs 38 mins 3 hrs 15 mins 262 km
Elm Eastern Switzerland Swiss German Glarus 1000 2100 40 Y 2 hrs 48 mins 2 hrs 2 mins 174 km
Engelberg Central Switzerland Swiss German Obwalden 1050 3020 82 Y Y Y Y 1 hr 49 mins 1 hr 40 mins 131 km
Feldberg Germany German Black Forest 945 1493 55 Y Y Y 1 hr 45 mins 1 hr 10 mins 73 km
Fiescheralp Valais Swiss German Valais 1845 2869 104 Y Y Y Y 2 hrs 58 mins 3 hrs 221 km
Flims Laax Falera Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 1100 3018 224 Y Y Y 2 hrs 48 mins 2 hrs 30 mins 222 km
Flumserberg Eastern Switzerland Swiss German St Gallen 1220 2222 65 Y Y Y Y 2 hrs 29 mins 2 hrs 180 km
Glacier 3000 Lake Geneva Region French Vaud 1350 3000 28 3 hrs 47 mins 2 hrs 30 mins 222 km
Goms Valais Swiss German Valais 1400 1580 5 Y 3 hrs 7 mins 2 hrs 40 mins 210 km
Grächen Valais Swiss German Valais 1619 2864 44 Y Y Y 3 hrs 14 mins 3 hrs 30 mins 216 km
Grimentz Valais French Valais 1572 2900 115 3 hrs 43 mins 3 hrs 10 mins 286 km
Grindelwald Bernese Oberland Swiss German Bern 1049 2500 160 Y Y Y 2 hrs 38 mins 2 hrs 10 mins 166 km
Grüsch-Danusa Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 1250 1800 32 Y 2 hrs 21 mins 2 hrs 196 km
Gstaad Bernese Oberland Swiss German Bern 1200 2971 58 Y Y 2 hrs 52 mins 2 hrs 10 mins 178 km
Hoch-Ybrig Central Switzerland Swiss German Schwyz 1050 1831 50 Y 2 hrs 31 mins 2 hrs 143 km
Klewenalp Central Switzerland Swiss German Nidwalden 1279 2001 40 Y Y Y 1 hr 53 mins 1 hr 35 mins 127 km
Klosters Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 810 2844 279 Y Y 2 hrs 52 mins 2 hrs 30 mins 221 km
Lenk i. S. Bernese Oberland Swiss German Bern 1068 2362 182 Y Y Y Y Y 3 hrs 2 hrs 20 mins 179 km
Lenzerheide Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 1230 2865 225 Y Y Y 3 hrs 6 mins 2 hrs 30 mins 223 km
Les Diablerets Lake Geneva Region French Vaud 1200 3000 84 Y Y 3 hrs 47 mins 2 hrs 20 mins 226 km
Les Marécottes Valais French Valais 1100 2200 28 Y Y 3 hrs 33 mins 2 hrs 24 mins 232 km
Leukerbad Valais Swiss German Valais 1411 2610 55 Y Y Y 3 hrs 16 mins 3 hrs 10 mins 285 km
Leysin Lake Geneva Region French Vaud 1350 2205 100 Y Y 3 hrs 48 mins 2 hrs 30 mins 215 km
Lötschental Valais Swiss German Valais 1968 3111 55 Y Y Y 2 hrs 47 mins 2 hrs 45 mins 184 km
Lungern Central Switzerland Swiss German Obwalden 1550 2205 24 Y 2 hrs 26 mins 1 hr 30 mins 131 km
Malbun Eastern Switzerland Swiss German Liechtenstein 1300 2000 23 Y Y 2 hrs 52 mins 2 hrs 25 mins 202 km
Meiringen Bernese Oberland Swiss German Bern 1061 2433 60 Y Y Y Y 2 hrs 34 mins 1 hr 30 mins 145 km
Melchsee-Frutt Central Switzerland Swiss German Obwalden 1080 2255 36 Y Y 2 hrs 12 mins 1 hr 40 mins 137 km
Moléson Fribourg Region French Fribourg 1100 2002 30 Y Y 2 hrs 53 mins 1 hr 45 mins 161 km
Mürren Bernese Oberland Swiss German Bern 1650 2971 54 Y Y Y Y 2 hrs 14 mins 2 hrs 171 km
Nendaz Valais French Valais 1350 3330 412 Y Y Y 3 hrs 21 mins 2 hrs 50 mins 254 km
Obersaxen Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 1201 2310 120 Y 3 hrs 22 mins 2 hrs 40 mins 242 km
Ovronnaz Valais French Valais 1350 2500 30 Y Y 3 hrs 40 mins 2 hrs 36 mins 245 km
Pizol Eastern Switzerland Swiss German St Gallen 1045 2250 43 Y Y Y Y 2 hrs 20 mins 2 hrs 40 mins 205 km
Pontresina Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 2093 2978 9 Y Y 4 hrs 50 mins 3 hrs 40 mins 295 km
Riederalp Valais Swiss German Valais 1950 2335 104 Y Y Y Y 2 hrs 35 mins 3 hrs 30 mins 230 km
Rougemont Lake Geneva Region French Vaud 992 2284 62 Y 3 hrs 05 mins 2 hrs 10 mins 180 km
Saanen Bernese Oberland Swiss German Bern 992 2284 86 Y Y 3 hrs 1 min 2 hrs 11 mins 176 km
Saas-Fee Valais Swiss German Valais 1483 3600 100 Y Y Y 3 hrs 10 mins 3 hrs 30 mins 219 km
Saas-Grund Valais Swiss German Valais 1560 3200 35 Y Y 2 hrs 44 mins 3 hrs 28 mins 220 km
Savognin Graubünden Romansh Graubünden 1200 2713 80 Y Y 3 hrs 42 mins 2 hrs 40 mins 249 km
Scuol Graubünden Romansh Graubünden 1250 2783 70 Y Y Y Y 3 hrs 43 mins 3 hrs 30 mins 262 km
Sedrun Graubünden Romansh Graubünden 1500 2350 120 Y Y Y 4 hrs 02 mins 3 hrs 20 mins 271 km
Silvaplana Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 1750 3303 120 Y 4 hrs 50 mins 3 hrs 16 mins 282 km
Sörenberg Central Switzerland Swiss German Luzern 1166 2350 53 Y Y 2 hrs 32 mins 1 hr 30 mins 106 km
Splügen Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 1460 2215 30 Y 3 hrs 30 mins 3 hrs 253 km
St Moritz Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 1750 3303 163 Y Y Y Y Y 4 hrs 25 mins 3 hrs 20 mins 295 km
St-Luc Valais French Valais 1650 3000 60 3 hrs 43 mins 3 hrs 10 mins 284 km
Stoos Central Switzerland Swiss German Schwyz 1300 1935 35 Y Y Y 2 hrs 21 mins 1 hr 55 mins 151 km
Unterwasser Eastern Switzerland Swiss German St Gallen 900 2262 60 Y Y 3 hrs 20 mins 2 hrs 8 mins 181 km
Vals Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 1250 3000 25 Y Y 3 hrs 38 mins 2 hrs 58 mins 253 km
Verbier Valais French Valais 1500 3330 412 Y Y Y 3 hrs 21 mins 2 hrs 50 mins 251 km
Veysonnaz Valais French Valais 1350 3330 412 Y 3 hrs 17 mins 2 hrs 45 mins 260 km
Villars Lake Geneva Region French Vaud 1300 3000 84 Y Y Y 3 hrs 31 mins 2 hrs 25 mins 212 km
Wengen Bernese Oberland Swiss German Bern 1274 2320 162 Y Y Y Y 2 hrs 14 mins 1 hr 50 mins 159 km
Wildhaus Eastern Switzerland Swiss German St Gallen 900 2262 60 Y Y 3 hrs 20 mins 2 hrs 10 mins 184 km
Zermatt Valais Swiss German Valais 1620 3899 360 Y Y Y 3 hrs 24 mins 3 hrs 40 mins 229 km
Zinal Valais French Valais 1670 3000 115 3 hrs 43 mins 3 hrs 30 mins 290 km
Zweisimmen Bernese Oberland Swiss German Bern 950 2008 85 Y Y Y 2 hrs 19 mins 1 hr 55 mins 163 km
St Anton Austria German Tyrol 1304 2811 340 Y 4 hrs 7 mins 3 hrs 10 mins 268 km

Tips for Families in the Basel Area

Feldberg Ski Resort in the Black Forest is close enough to Basel to be able to pop over for a few hours skiing while the kids are at school, and despite being relatively low has a suprisingly good snow record. The resort also has excellent facilities for children, learners and for doing other winter sports (including ski lessons in English). There is a two kilometre toboggan run at the Seebuck section in Feldberg, and you can hire toboggans from the Thoma shop there. Other good places in the Black Forest for tobogganing, include Kandel, Friedenweiler, St. Blasien, Breitnau and Menzenschwand. In Altglashuetten there is a short toboggan run served by a "magic carpet" lift. Above Lake Titisee the floodlit one kilometre run down to the lake from Lenzkirch-Saig is served by a toboggan bus from Titisee itself where you can also hire toboggans - and there is snowtubing at the top. Even when there is no snow you can also take the Hasenhorn roller coaster at Todtnau, also served by a chairlift.

For tobogganing in Basel itself we like to use the park at Margarethen or some of the hills in Bruderholz, such as the field at Hechtliacker.

The closest lift-served toboggan run to Basel in Switzerland is not at a ski resort. It is at Wasserfallen in Baselland. You can get there by bus, taking the number 70 from Aschenplatz via Liestal to Reigoldswil where there is a gondola to take you to the top. The bus runs every half hour and takes just over an hour to get to Reigoldswil Dorf where you have a ten minute walk to the gondola. There is also car parking at the gondola bottom station. You can hire toboggans at the lifts, but it is also a glorious destination for family-friendly winter walks.

Even closer to Basel, there is one winter sport that you can actually pursue in the city itself, even when there is no snow - ice skating! There are rinks at Eglisee and Margarethan and, for budding ice hockey enthusiasts, there are introductory courses run at St. Jakob and Margarethan. Also at St. Jakob, the professional Ice Hockey team, EHC Basel Sharks, plays matches in the National League Division B.

Basel's Christmas market is fabulous, but for a bit of variety the Christmas market in Colmar is well worth the trip. The railway station is about a fifteen minute walk from the centre of town.

For more ideas about what to do in Basel with families, visit Basel in English, Play Basel or Basel Life.