Ski and Snowboard Switzerland from Geneva

You can see the Alps from Lake Geneva

Geneva lies in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, known as the Romande. The international airport is well connected and a major hub for Easyjet, BA and Swiss (who will carry your skis for free). It is a popular transit point for many Alpine resorts, and convenient for as little as a day on the slopes from many parts of Europe. Verbier, Villars and Chamonix are around an hour from the airport by road via Switzerland's immaculate motorway network, so it is even feasible to fly in on an early morning flight, get a day on the slopes and be back in your bed that evening. I know, I've done it!

Generally you can clear customs in Geneva Airport quite quickly, although visitors from non-Schengen countries might get delayed at passport control. If you are hiring a car the hire service is pretty efficient. For those taking public transport there is a main line railway station actually in the airport itself.

Geneva lie at the heart of an incredibly efficient public transport system, without a doubt the best in the world. That the public transport is so good can make getting to the Swiss resorts, and getting back, a large part of the enjoyment of a day out in the mountains. There is no stress, indeed the trip out to the mountains along Lake Geneva is therapeutic whilst the journey back is a great opportunity to enjoy some apres ski beers, as the most amazing backdrop passes by. Incidentally the train service to the Alps does not have a buffet car or trolley service, so you will need to stock up on refreshments at your departure point.

For one, two and six day outings from Geneva, Swiss Rail runs the outstanding Snow'n'Rail scheme with significant discounts on both public transport and lift passes. Amongst the easiest destinations by train are Champéry (in the Portes du Soleil), Leysin, Les Diablerets, Villars and Verbier. Journey time from either Geneva or Geneva Airport is around two and a half hours.

If you want to get to any French resorts you will either need to hire a car or use one of the reasonably-priced shuttle bus services that operate from the airport, e.g. Alpybus. If you take a shuttle make sure you book your place before you fly. Depending on the resort, the transfer charges are usually between €20-40 each way.

To get to the Swiss Alps by road take the Swiss motorway system from Geneva through the Rhone Valley. Initially take the A1 in the direction of Lausanne, then the A9 in the direction of Vevey/Montreux for access to the mountain roads up to the resorts of Vaud and Valais. If you want to hire a car I recommend you contact Rhino Cars for the best rates from all the usual suspects.

All the resort pages on this site provide accommodation recommendations. If you are traveling at short notice, need to arrive late or leave early, or don't fit in with the weekly booking schedules you might find it harder to find somewhere to stay in the resorts themselves. However a number of towns in the Rhone valley have more flexible accommodation options, fast transport links to Geneva and provide easy access to the slopes. These “hub” towns, include Lausanne, Vevey, Montreux, Aigle, Martigny, Sion, Sierre or Visp. It all depends on how much travel time you are prepared to put in to and from respectively the airport and your preferred ski resort. Some towns on the main line service to Brig from Geneva Airport are particularly convenient for specific resorts, e.g. Aigle for Portes du Soleil (Champéry), Villars, Les Diablerets and Leysin; Martigny for Verbier and Les Marécottes; Sion for the central section of the 4 Valleys (Nendaz, Veysonnaz or Siviez) and Anzère; Sierre for Crans-Montana; and Visp for Saas-Fee or Zermatt.

Resort Region Language Locality Bottom m Top m Piste km Fam­ily Day Price Snow'n'­Rail Stat­ion Distance
Adelboden Bernese Oberland Swiss German Bern 1068 2362 205 66 SFr Y 236 km
Airolo Ticino Italian Ticino 1700 2250 30 45 SFr Y Y 349 km
Aletsch Arena Valais Swiss German Valais 1845 2869 104 Y 60 SFr Y Y 228 km
Andermatt Central Switzerland Swiss German Uri 1444 2963 120 57 SFr Y Y 347 km
Anzère Valais French Valais 1500 2420 58 55 SFr 176 km
Arolla Valais French Valais 2000 2980 47 39 SFr 198 km
Arosa Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 1230 2865 225 Y 84 SFr Y Y 437 km
Belalp Valais Swiss German Valais 1750 3112 60 58 SFr Y 224 km
Bettmeralp Valais Swiss German Valais 1970 2647 104 60 SFr Y Y 225 km
Braunwald Eastern Switzerland Swiss German Glarus 1300 1905 30 Y 49 SFr Y Y 376 km
Brigels Graubünden Romansh Graubünden 1100 2418 75 Y 56 SFr Y 443 km
Caux Lake Geneva Region French Vaud 1161 2322 8 35 SFr 101 km
Celerina Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 1750 3057 163 79 SFr Y Y 484 km
Chamonix France French Haute-Savoie 1035 3842 170 Euro Y 82 km
Champéry Valais French Valais 1050 2250 603 67 SFr Y Y 128 km
Champoussin Valais French Valais 1000 2360 650 63 SFr 131 km
Chandolin Valais French Valais 2000 3000 60 58 SFr 200 km
Château-d'Oex Lake Geneva Region French Vaud 1001 1650 30 Y 36 SFr Y 143 km
Crans-Montana Valais French Valais 1500 3000 140 Y 89 SFr Y Y 184 km
Davos Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 810 2844 279 Y 71 SFr Y Y 436 km
Diavolezza Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 2093 2978 35 67 SFr Y Y 499 km
Disentis Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 1227 2833 60 62 SFr Y Y 466 km
Elm Eastern Switzerland Swiss German Glarus 1000 2100 40 49 SFr 367 km
Engelberg Central Switzerland Swiss German Obwalden 1050 3020 82 Y 68 SFr Y Y 310 km
Feldberg Germany German Black Forest 945 1493 55 Y 36 Euro Y 295 km
Fiescheralp Valais Swiss German Valais 1845 2869 104 60 SFr Y Y 229 km
Flims Laax Falera Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 1100 3018 224 Y 85 SFr Y 426 km
Flumserberg Eastern Switzerland Swiss German St Gallen 1220 2222 65 Y 63 SFr Y Y 384 km
Glacier 3000 Lake Geneva Region French Vaud 1350 3000 28 64 SFr 134 km
Goms Valais Swiss German Valais 1400 1580 5 16 SFr 232 km
Grächen Valais Swiss German Valais 1619 2864 44 Y 56 SFr Y 226 km
Grimentz Valais French Valais 1572 2900 115 62 SFr 197 km
Grindelwald Bernese Oberland Swiss German Bern 1049 2500 160 65 SFr Y Y 244 km
Grüsch-Danusa Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 1250 1800 32 55 SFr 389 km
Gstaad Bernese Oberland Swiss German Bern 1200 2971 58 65 SFr Y 157 km
Hoch-Ybrig Central Switzerland Swiss German Schwyz 1050 1831 50 55 SFr 347 km
Klewenalp Central Switzerland Swiss German Nidwalden 1279 2001 40 51 SFr Y 307 km
Klosters Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 810 2844 279 Y 71 SFr Y 425 km
Lenzerheide Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 1230 2865 225 Y 84 SFr Y 427 km
Les Diablerets Lake Geneva Region French Vaud 1200 3000 84 56 SFr Y 130 km
Les Marécottes Valais French Valais 1100 2200 28 44 SFr Y 143 km
Leukerbad Valais Swiss German Valais 1411 2610 55 Y 55 SFr 196 km
Leysin Lake Geneva Region French Vaud 1350 2205 100 Y 55 SFr Y 126 km
Lötschental Valais Swiss German Valais 1968 3111 55 57 SFr Y 215 km
Meiringen Bernese Oberland Swiss German Bern 1061 2433 60 Y 59 SFr Y Y 255 km
Melchsee-Frutt Central Switzerland Swiss German Obwalden 1080 2255 36 50 SFr Y 297 km
Moléson Fribourg Region French Fribourg 1100 2002 30 35 SFr 125 km
Morgins Valais French Valais 1050 2277 650 63 SFr Y 76 km
Mürren Bernese Oberland Swiss German Bern 1650 2971 54 65 SFr Y Y 225 km
Nendaz Valais French Valais 1350 3330 412 Y 59 SFr Y 165 km
Ovronnaz Valais French Valais 1350 2500 30 53 SFr 156 km
Pizol Eastern Switzerland Swiss German St Gallen 1045 2250 43 54 SFr Y Y 409 km
Pontresina Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 2093 2978 9 79 SFr Y Y 499 km
Riederalp Valais Swiss German Valais 1950 2335 104 60 SFr Y Y 234 km
Rougemont Lake Geneva Region French Vaud 992 2284 62 63 SFr 151 km
Saas-Fee Valais Swiss German Valais 1483 3600 100 Y 73 SFr 229 km
Saas-Grund Valais Swiss German Valais 1560 3200 35 Y 54 SFr 225 km
Samnaun Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 1700 2872 239 62.5 SFr 552 km
Scuol Graubünden Romansh Graubünden 1250 2783 70 57 SFr Y Y 466 km
Sedrun Graubünden Romansh Graubünden 1500 2350 120 SFr Y Y 475 km
Sils Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 1750 3303 120 79 SFr Y 421 km
Silvaplana Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 1750 3303 120 79 SFr Y 475 km
St Moritz Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 1750 3303 163 Y 79 SFr Y Y 480 km
St-Luc Valais French Valais 1650 3000 60 58 SFr 195 km
Stoos Central Switzerland Swiss German Schwyz 1300 1935 35 52 SFr Y 331 km
Thyon Valais French Valais 1350 3330 412 62 SFr Y 182 km
Torgon Valais French Valais 1100 1998 640 51 SFr Y 121 km
Vals Graubünden Swiss German Graubünden 1250 3000 25 49 SFr 446 km
Verbier Valais French Valais 1500 3330 412 67 SFr Y Y 162 km
Veysonnaz Valais French Valais 1350 3330 412 59 SFr Y 171 km
Villars Lake Geneva Region French Vaud 1300 3000 84 Y 56 SFr Y 129 km
Wengen Bernese Oberland Swiss German Bern 1274 2320 162 66 SFr Y Y 237 km
Zermatt Valais Swiss German Valais 1620 3899 360 92 SFr Y 238 km
Zinal Valais French Valais 1670 3000 115 62 SFr 201 km
Zweisimmen Bernese Oberland Swiss German Bern 950 2008 85 65 SFr Y Y 160 km