Where winter sport becomes spectacle and the après is as memorable as the skiing. Come to be dazzled.
St. Moritz
Region: Engadine, Graubünden · ~1,800m · The Glitz & Glamour, ~1,800m
Winter
Photo by Sepp Rutz on Unsplash
The birthplace of alpine winter tourism still does glamour better than anywhere, and every February it turns its frozen lake into a stage.
- Watch the Snow Polo World Cup played on the frozen lake
- Catch White Turf — horse racing on the ice, run since 1907
- See The I.C.E., a concours of rare classic cars on the lake
- Ski the sun-drenched slopes of Corviglia and Corvatsch
Summer
Photo by Tiia Monto on Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The lake thaws into a sailing mirror and the high Engadine opens for walking, cycling, and long light.
- Sail or windsurf on Lake St. Moritz
- Hike to glacial lakes in the Roseg and Fex valleys
- Ride the Bernina Express through UNESCO-listed passes
- Graze the Engadine's gourmet and festival scene
Getting there: About 3 hours by train from Zurich Hauptbahnhof via Chur and the UNESCO-listed Albula line; about 3 hours by car.
Stay: Badrutt’s Palace, Opened in 1896 above Lake St. Moritz, Badrutt’s Palace helped define the grand-hotel fantasy of the Alps. Its lake views, storied restaurants, spa, and old-school service are matched by three MICHELIN Keys and Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star recognition.
Zermatt
Region: Valais · ~1,600m · Car-free · The Glitz & Glamour, ~1,600m
Winter
Photo by Michael Portmann on Unsplash
Car-free and pinned beneath the most famous peak on earth, with Europe's highest ski area and snow you can count on.
- Ski over the glacier border into Breuil-Cervinia, Italy — lunch is pasta with a view
- Ride to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Europe's highest cable-car station
- Take the Gornergrat cog railway for the classic Matterhorn panorama
- Ski year-round on the glacier when the rest of Europe is green
Summer
Photo by Luke Tanis on Unsplash
The Matterhorn stays; the meadows, lakes, and trails open up.
- Walk the Five Lakes trail and catch the Matterhorn mirrored in Stellisee
- Cross to Italy by cable car on the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing — no skis required
- Hike or e-bike the high glacier trails
- Ride up for a Gornergrat sunrise
Getting there: About 3 hours by train from Zurich or 4 hours from Geneva into car-free Zermatt. Drivers stop in Täsch and take the 12-minute shuttle. For the full panoramic experience, arrive on the Glacier Express from St. Moritz.
Stay: CERVO Mountain Resort, Seven contemporary lodges rise above Zermatt with direct Matterhorn views and ski-in access at the end of the piste. The Mountain Ashram Spa brings together Japanese-style onsen bathing, yoga, and meditation, while three distinct restaurants and two MICHELIN Keys make the resort feel unusually complete.
Verbier
Region: Valais · ~1,500m · The Glitz & Glamour, ~1,500m
Winter
Photo by Peter Burdon on Unsplash
The off-piste capital and beating heart of the vast 4 Vallées.
- Ride legendary off-piste and freeride terrain
- Roam 400+ km of linked pistes across the 4 Vallées
- Dive into some of the Alps' liveliest après-ski
- Take in the views from Mont-Fort
Summer
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Photo by Jérémy Toma on Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The mountain turns green for bikes, trails, and world-class music.
- Hear the Verbier Festival, a summit of international classical talent
- Session the bike park and downhill trails
- Paraglide over the Val de Bagnes
- Walk the high panorama routes
Getting there: About 2 hours by car or 2 hours 40 minutes by public transport from Geneva: take the train to Le Châble, then continue for 20 minutes by gondola or bus.
Stay: W Verbier, Beside the Médran lift, W Verbier puts a playful, contemporary spin on the traditional timber-and-stone chalet. Its ski-in setting leads straight into Verbier’s après scene, while the 1,300-square-metre spa, indoor and outdoor pools, and nine treatment rooms create a substantial retreat off the mountain.
Gstaad
Region: Bernese Oberland · ~1,050m · The Glitz & Glamour, ~1,050m
Winter
Photo by Николай Максимович on Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
A storybook promenade, gentle slopes, and quiet celebrity.
- Cross the Peak Walk by Tissot suspension bridge at Glacier 3000
- Take a horse-drawn sleigh through the Lauenen valley
- Join a full-moon sledding evening at Saanersloch or Wispile when scheduled
- Ski the linked Gstaad Mountain Rides area
Summer
Photo by Lauren Amanda Taylor on Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Cowbells, cheese dairies, and some of the world's great musicians.
- Hear the Menuhin Festival across the Saanenland's churches and tents
- Hike between traditional cheese dairies in Gstaad and Rougemont
- Drift over the valley on a hot-air balloon
- Walk the paths around Lake Lauenen and its protected moorland
Getting there: About 3 hours by train or 2 hours by car from Geneva. The scenic rail approach via Montreux can be made on the GoldenPass line.
Stay: Gstaad Palace, The fairy-tale castle above Gstaad has welcomed guests since 1913 and has remained in the Scherz family since 1947. A 1,800-square-metre spa, panoramic Saanenland setting, and discreet regional-to-international dining help explain why it endures as one of the Leading Hotels of the World.
Crans-Montana
Region: Valais · ~1,500m · The Glitz & Glamour, ~1,500m
Winter
Photo by Artiom Vallat on Unsplash
South-facing sun, sweeping views, and effortless ease.
- Follow the illuminated Lantern Path through the snowy forest
- Cross-country ski on the Plaine Morte glacier plateau
- Book a dog-sledding outing when operating conditions allow
- Ski the sunny pistes above the Rhône Valley
Summer
Photo by David Marioni on Unsplash
One of the Alps' great golf settings, ringed by lakes and larch.
- Play the Severiano Ballesteros course above the valley
- Ride the Crans-Montana Bike Park downhill trails
- Follow the historic *bisse* irrigation-channel trails
- Swim or paddle at Étang Long
Getting there: About 2½ hours by public transport from Geneva: take the train to Sierre, walk five minutes, then ride the 13-minute funicular — the longest of its kind in Europe.
Stay: LeCrans Hotel & Spa, High above Crans-Montana, this intimate chalet has just 15 rooms and suites, each named for a celebrated mountain and opening to an Alpine panorama. The spa and private terraces are joined by two MICHELIN Keys and LeMontBlanc, a one-star restaurant whose rotunda frames the surrounding peaks.
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