My Top Five: Best Resorts to Ski in Switzerland in 2025/26
- Henry
- Sep 20
- 5 min read
Dive into the five best destinations to ski in Switzerland this winter.
Switzerland regularly tops the list of places people want to ski in Europe; traditional Alpine villages and amazing skiing is topped off with a sprinkle of luxury that can be hard to find in other regions.
Loathe to rest on their laurels as the destination of choice for the rich and famous, there is a lot exciting happening in the world of Swiss skiing heading into this winter. New lifts and new passes dominate this list, giving skiers a taste of something new in Switzerland; at the same time, the old classics remain just that; a classic.
Read on to dig in to Skiing Unlocked's Top Five Resorts to Ski in Switzerland in 2025/26
1. Mürren
The small Swiss resort of Mürren may not be the top of everyone list of places to ski in
Switzerland for 2025/26; it’s the little sister of the three Jungfrau resorts including Wengen and Grindelwald, and sits apart from themon the Schilthorn mountain across
the valley.
But there’s more to Mürren than meets the eye, especially this year. Having been closed for much of last season, the link gondola to the top of the Schilthorn and the famous 007 Experience and Piz Gloria restaurant has now reopened, the final leg in a multi-year, multi-million Swiss Franc rebuild of the core lift system. Skiers can now be whisked from the base of the valley in three legs - rather than the previous four - increasing speed and capacity hugely compared to the old network.
As if that wasn’t enough, Mürren sits at the heart of the new AlpsPass network, offering unlimited skiing at four key Swiss destinations including Jungfrau, Engelberg and Adelboden - the latter two some of the best freeride destinations in the Alps! Regardless of whether you are a local or visiting and spending a lot of time in the Bernese and Grison Alps this winter, this could be the season to truly discover Mürren.
2. Nendaz
The village of Nendaz may not be the 4 Valleés destination everyone thinks of when they picture this corner of the world - that undoubtedly goes to Verbier, one of the biggest names in Swiss skiing.
But the middle sister of the ski area has quietly been growing a name for itself in the past few years as a great and useful alternative to the now often busy and expensive (even by Swiss standards) Verbier - after all, it provides access to the same 410km (c.250m) of slopes and lies right in the heart of the ski circuit, meaning no late afternoon rush for the lifts when venturing back from the far side of the region.
The ski area offers some formidable off-piste skiing and plenty of heli-skiing, to boot. For
backcountry lovers this has often been the top of the list for off-piste skiing in Europe, and there is little to suggest that has changed for 2025/26. So, perhaps this is the year to discover Nendaz, before the rest of the world does, too?
Website: https://www.nendaz.ch/en/
3. Laax
If you haven’t heard or read me bang the drum for Laax in the past, then, honestly, you need to spend a lot more time on this website …
I got the chance to explore Laax last year, and was completely and utterly blown away by the ski area. It has a reputation built on freestyle skiing, and there is plenty to keep the whole family entertained on half-pipes and kickers. But the real selling point is what they don’t harp on about - it is, quite simply, a really good place to go skiing.
2,000m of vert across three villages, a stunningly new and efficient lift system, high glacier skiing, brilliant options for all kinds of weather days, and some of the best on- and off-mountain restaurants I have yet discovered.
Mix in its short (and comfortable) transfer times from Zurich and this place absolutely hhasto be on your radar to ski for 2025/26 - or indeed any season come to think about it.
Resort Guide: www.skiingunlocked.com/resort-guides/laax
Skiing Unlocked Write-Up: www.skiingunlocked.com/posts/laax-ski-resort-redefined
Website: https://www.laax.com/
4. Villars
This is probably the one ski area that you won’t have heard of, I reckon. Villars, like many other resorts on this list, sits in the west of the country - actually just down the rroadftom Nendaz and the 4 Vallées.
Villars - or Villars-sur-Ollon to give it its full name, is a quiet, pocket-sized resort; don’t expect a vibrant party scene or even a wide variety of restaurants to explore every evening. Instead, look to escape the crows, and relax in your chalet in front of a roaring fire whilst the snow falls outside in the dark, Alpine night - heaven, eh?
There are 81km of slopes available here, stretching between 1,110m and 2,000m - mmixin the nearby Les Diablerets and Gryon, and that rises to 150km and up to 3,000m elevation. It is also one of the closest resorts to Geneva, with a transfer time by train of only 2hrs - despite its proximity, it remains a quiet, closely guarded secret by those in the
know … which could be you this season …
Oh, and did I mention it has the best hot chocolate in the Alps? No? Okay ... well it does ...
Website: https://www.alpesvaudoises.ch/en
5. Zermatt
Zermatt is one of those destinations that doesn’t need an excuse or a year to visit; it is one of the best destinations in the entire Alps for whatever skiing you want to do. There are around 150km of slopes available for every level of skier, reaching up to a staggering 3,900m elevation, guaranteeing skiing almost - almost - all year round. There is also an incredible range of off-piste skiing available, including some of the highest lift-access off-piste in Europe, with touring access well well outside the realms of civilisation.
The kicker for 2025/26? For several years now, Zermatt has been a destination on the Ikon Pass network, offering a week’s skiing to pass holders alongside a range of other destinations in Europe. Starting this winter, this range of 50+ worldwide destinations also includes neighbouring and connected resort, Cervinia - you can now ski both sides of the Matterhorn (or Monte Cervino, to give it it’s full Italian name…) on one ticket, and not have to pay the upgrade costs to enjoy better coffee and better value food. All told, that’s 300km of Swiss-Italian skiing available now on the Ikon Pass!
Website: https://zermatt.swiss/
Final Thoughts
These five destinations are just a sample of what to expect skiing in Switzerland this season. Each one of them provides something different, blending the new with the old to create a really unique experience.
Are you planning on skiing in Switzerland this season? Have your own favourite resorts to ski in Switzerland? Register with Skiing Unlocked (for free!) and share your thoughts in the comments below!
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