Do you wish to spend time on the slopes of majestic mountains and picturesque landscapes this winter? If so, there is a place on earth where you must travel in order to have these experiences. That is Switzerland.
Switzerland is a small Alpine country in the heart of Europe which is in between France and Italy. This mountainous country is a home to the majestic peaks of the Alps, picturesque lakes and charming villages. Switzerland is world famous for luxury Swiss watches, delicious cheese and scrumptious chocolates as well as beautiful scenery, skiing and hiking. Switzerland is on many people’s wish lists because it has lovely flower valleys and wonderful hiking routes in the summer, as well as majestic snowy mountains, attractive Christmas markets, and some of Europe’s best skiing experiences in the winter.
While Bern is the capital of Switzerland, Zürich is the largest one. Bern has 114 Swiss heritage sites and Old Bern Town is recognized as a UNESCO world heritage. Lucerne (or Luzern) is the prettiest Swiss city and one of the most attractive travel destinations in Europe. Lucerne is a mesmerizing medieval town located on the edge of beautiful Lake Lucerne and surrounded by some of the highest mountain peaks in Switzerland.
Among the stunning landscapes of Switzerland mountains are a major attraction for tourists. Matterhorn (4,478 m) is the most famous mountain in the pennine Alps, easily accessible to the public. Anyone can reach the summit by cable cars or elevators. Out of many Swiss mountains, Finsteraarhorn (4,274 m) is the most prominent peak, Monte Rosa (4,634 m) is the most elevated and Piz Bernina (4,049 m) is the most isolated mountain.
Winter and Ski in Switzerland
Visit Switzerland in winter? Obviously that’s a good idea. One of the greatest seasons to visit Switzerland is winter. From December to January is the official winter season in Switzerland. The coldest months of January and February are perfect for festivals and winter sports like skiing and snowboarding. (add few line about resorts) At elevations above 2000 meters, the Swiss Alps are home to some enormous ski areas. This implies that the Swiss ski season starts in mid to late November at high altitude resorts like Andermatt and Saas-Fee and lasts until the end of April.
By November, most ski resorts in high altitudes begin their operations but most only on weekends and with limited areas/lifts. Some of them are Laax, Andermatt, Davos, Verbier and Lenzerheide. Zermatt and Saaf-Fee are open too with some themes. By the end of November, it is just getting chilly enough for snow to fall into the low valleys in Switzerland.
Massive snow falls can be seen in early December. In the higher elevations, you can often expect good snow. Christmas in Switzerland will definitely be a magical time for everyone. Arosa and Lenzerheide will be a good combination for an amazing christmas experience for more energetic skiers.
January is the greatest time to ski at both famous ski resorts and those with low altitudes. Although the snow quality might be better and the temperatures are icy-cold, avalanche threats are also higher. In January all the Swiss ski resorts are open to travelers who need to have a fantastic skiing experience. Resorts at lower elevations, such as Gstaad, Leysin, Adelboden-Lenk and others can be wonderful too.
Lovely February, the busiest skiing month of the year, is a fantastic time for forgotten Swiss destinations such as Bivio, Arolla-Evolene, Klewenalp, Torgon, Leukerbad-torrent and many other ski resorts. Free riders can enjoy fantastic slopes from the snowy Säntis (2,502 m) summit in north eastern Switzerland. As February marks the beginning of various school vacations, the crowds increase and the price of lift tickets and accommodations are higher even in smaller resorts.
At the start of March, everywhere is marvelous, but the high-elevation Swiss Alpine areas are superb in the last two weeks of the month. Long free-ride routes around Verbier, Davos, St Moritz, Saas-Fee, Zermatt and others are just getting fabulous.
Winter, Switzerland’s busiest season, ends in April. Higher elevations may see significant snowfall, but expect snow on ego corn and warmer temperatures. In the first two weeks of April, many of the ski resorts will close. Ski fun parties are in each and every Swiss resort to welcome spring.
Slope conditions may change day by day and from Verbier, Klosters, Davos, Andermatt, Zermatt and Saas Fee have recorded some of the most reliable good piste conditions in recent years. However, weather, snow and road conditions may change quickly at any ski resorts as well as other operational limitations so actual operation times may differ from those anticipated. Prior to traveling, it is always important to confirm the most recent weather conditions.
Some greatest ski areas in Switzerland
Arosa Lenzerheide
This is one of largest ski areas covering Arosa, Lenzerheide, Valbella, Parpan and Churwalden, Graubünden in switzerland. It started with the merger of the existing ski areas of Arosa and Lenzerheide in the years 2013 and 2014 with a total of 225 km of terrain. The ski area’s altitude ranges from 1230 m to 2865 m and the highest point in the resort is the Rothorn peak, with an elevation of 2865 m (9399 ft). In summer also, there are numerous recreational opportunities available in Arosa Lenzerheide such as bike or hiking trails and activities on the mountain lakes.
This winter paradise is available for every type of skier. If you are a beginner, you will find simpler practice slopes in both skiing areas: Tschuggen West and Reid lifts in Arosa as well as Fastatsch and Fadail in Lenzerheide lifts are particularly ideal for those initial tries at skiing. Beginner-level skiers also can try slopes like Hintere Piste or Leichte Maran in Arosa with their appropriate level of difficulty. For children there are several kid-friendly parks with thrilling obstacle courses and magic carpet lifts. Lifts like Lavoz, Cumascheals, and Pedra Grossa in Lenzerheide are your best choice if you feel brave enough to try the steep slopes.
Andermatt-Sedrun Sports AG
In the area of Andermatt, Sedrun and Disentis with 180 km of slopes and 33 lifts that reach elevations of 3000 m is a powder and off-piste paradise for free-riders. You can easily reach Andermatt-Sedrun ski area by the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn train, the world’s biggest lift, terrain, and the expansion of connectivity in recent history. For sure, it will be a fantastic journey and a beautiful destination in the winter as well as summer.
Andermatt-Gemsstock is a home in the Gotthard region, to top skiers and free-riders with an elevation of nearly 3000 m. It has very steep slopes with a 1,500 meter vertical drop and perfect deep powder so free-riders will find the perfect routes on these deep-snow slopes from November to May. And it is an ideal destination for those who love off-slope rides. You will be able to enjoy stunning views of 600 mountains around the Gemsstock at over 3,000 meters above sea level.
Visit Disentis for a wide range of Alpine winter activities which are combined with breathtaking mountain scenery, deep powder, and spectacular winter landscapes. There are child-friendly lifts in Andermatt, Sedrun and Disentis so, this is the perfect destination for everyone looking to experience winter with their families in its full glory.
This is the largest ski area in central Switzerland’s features 180 km of pistes for every level of difficulty and for all levels of ski, including the beginner level. 47.5 km of blue pistes are more suitable for beginners as they offer leisurely descents and are less steep. Red pistes have an average degree of difficulty and a maximum incline of 40 degrees with a distance of 84 km. 37 km of black pistes with difficult descents are specially designed for top-skiers with excellent technical skills. There are also 16.5 km of yellow pistes deep-powder trails for free-riders. Avalanches are prevented on these slopes.
Ski resorts in Switzerland
The history of winter sports tourism in Switzerland is the longest in the world. The first holiday was celebrated in St. Moritz a century and a half ago. The Kulm Hotel, the first hotel opened in St. Moritz in 1856, became popular quickly. Since then, more than 400 ski resorts have opened around Switzerland, many of them in popular tourist destinations. Europe’s highest ski slopes/lifts are at Zermatt with an elevation of 3899 m. Around 51 lifts are open 365 days a year for ski lovers. The concept of car-free ski resorts was also introduced by Switzerland. There are a number of resorts that follow this concept such as Zermatt, Saas Fee and Wengen. Get away from your busy and noisy everyday environment and can get a unique experience by resorting to this green concept.
When it comes to prices, it is worth knowing that, although lift tickets for adults might be pricey, children can get them for some of the lowest costs in Europe in Switzerland. In fact, more than 50 resorts do not charge any fees for children up to the age of 8 or 9. So in this way, as they gradually get older, they can get more affordable price plans for their lift tickets compared to France.
Travel from Paris to Switzerland – Transportation methods
If you want to travel from Paris to Switzerland, it only takes a few hours and there are different travel options that you can try. The straight line distance from Paris to Switzerland is 495 km.
If you use a train, the 488 km trip takes on average 4 hours and 6 minutes. The first train leaves Paris at 7.15 am and the last train at 8.25 pm. 18 trains per day provide their services to the passengers to reach Switzerland. If you choose the TGV Lyria train service, 1st class ticket prices start from €20 and 2nd class from €16.
Flying from Paris Airport, the average flight time will take 1 hour 16 minutes to land at Zürich Airport, Switzerland, covering a flight distance of 489 km. And the cheapest flight ticket can be found for around €160. Among the many airlines that fly from Paris to Switzerland, Swiss Airlines offers a high-quality service to ski lovers. Once you land at Geneva or Zürich airport, there is a very efficient train and bus service that runs directly to the ski resorts.
You can also try a bus service like FlixBus, ALSA or Union Ivkoni. The distance between Paris and Zürich bus station is 668 km and it will take about 9 hours to reach Zürich as soon as possible. You can find the cheapest bus ticket for €25.
When you travel by taxi, the distance between Paris and your desired Swiss destination may vary depending on the route you choose. Many skilled taxi drivers who know shortcuts and back streets may take longer but avoid road construction and traffic jams. You can travel from Paris to Zürich in around 6-7 hours and to Geneva in around 5-6 hours.
Popular cities along the way to Switzerland from Paris
Here are a few common cities to visit on your taxi journey from Paris to Geneva or Zürich. You must visit these cities to experience the uniqueness and charm of it.
Beaune
This is a walled town at the heart of Burgundy’s famous vineyards in France. Beaune is famous for the annual wine auction held at the Hôtel-Dieu (Hospices de Beaune). This 15-century former hospital, recognized by its colorful, geometric patterned tile roof, is now the Hôtel-Dieu Museum. If you visit this cobbled town, you will be able to taste wine, attend wine auctions and enjoy a delicious meal. There are many restaurants, hotels, bed & breakfasts open for online booking too.
Dijon
This is one of the main wine making areas of France and it is the capital of the historic Burgundy region of eastern France. It is famous for its traditional mustard, vineyard tours, gastronomic fair in autumn and eye-catching building styles ranging from Gothic to art decor. This town is 16 minutes far from the main route.
Fontainebleau
This is another town, 11 minutes off the main route and located southeast of Paris. This town is famous for the opulent Fontainebleau palace built by French royalty.
Apart from these common cities there are several other famous cities on the route from Paris to Zürich like Marne-la-vallee, Colmar, Basel, Freiburg im Breisgau, Besancon, Mulhouse and Gerardmer.
Marne-la-Vallee
The The most popular city on the route, which is less than an hour from Paris city. Marne-la-Vallée is a new town in eastern Paris. There are many tourist attractions including Disneyland Paris, Walt Disney Studios Park, Golf Disneyland La Vallée Village, and Château de Champs-sur-Marne.
Colmar
This is a city in northeastern France’s Grand Est region, close to the German border. Colmar is famous for vineyards, medieval and early Renaissance structures as well as Riesling and Gewürztraminer wines.
Basel
This city in northwest Switzerland close to the borders of France and Germany. Basel is situated on the picturesque border of the river Rhine. The 12th-century Gothic cathedral of Basel contains the tomb of Erasmus, a 16th-century Dutch scholar.
Sports gear shops on the way to Switzerland
In winter, the Swiss Alps are an adventure paradise where you can enjoy various snow activities like skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing and tobogganing. You will need specialized clothes and equipment, such as skis, poles, and ski boots, especially if you want to skiing in Switzerland. But don’t worry, you can purchase sporting goods on your route from Paris to Switzerland. There are many sports equipment shops on the way and options to buy new or used equipment or rent ski equipment. Below we listed some top rated stores for you,
Decathlon Dijon Quetigny
A big area full of a wide variety of snow sporting gear and other equipment at very attractive prices with friendly and supportive staff.
Address: 1 Rond Point Des Sports, 21800 Quetigny, France
Open:- Monday – Saturday : 9 AM – 7.30 PM and Sunday : 10 AM – 6 PM
S’Cape Fontainebleau
They have all skiing and snowboarding clothing, shoes and ski equipment for men and women.
Address: 21bis Rue Paul Séramy, 77300 Fontainebleau, France
Open:- Tuesday- Sunday : 10 AM – 7 PM and Monday : Closed
EASYGLISS
They offer the rental and sale of new or used winter sports gear as well as the maintenance of your equipment. The shop has a wide range of accessories for skiing or snowboarding.
Address: 1 Rue Edouard Belin, 25000 Besançon, France
Open:- Monday – Tuesday : 2 PM – 6 PM, Wednesday – Saturday : 10 AM – 6:30 PM and Sunday : Closed
Skimium – 100% SKI
You can find ski and snowboard equipment from the biggest brands like Atomic, Rossignol, Burton, Salomon, Dynastar etc. They offer rental and repairs and maintenance of skis and snowboards.
Address: 302 route D’Épinal, 88400 Gérardmer, France
Open:- Monday- Sunday : 8 AM – 7 PM
SportXX
You can easily and quickly purchase or rent the ski and snowboard equipment adapted to your needs, at very affordable prices. They will give you expert advice for choosing your winter sports equipment.
Address: Münchensteinerstrasse 200, 4053 Basel, Switzerland
Open:- Monday- Saturday : 8 AM – 9 PM and Sunday : 1 PM – 6 PM
The best travelling method to go to Switzerland from Paris
Among the many ways travelers have to move from Paris to Switzerland, public transport is very pocket-friendly but it has some disadvantages when considering private transportation methods. If you choose a private taxi service, the journey will be much more expensive than public transport, but you can plan a flexible journey according to your desires. Paris Private Shuttle Taxi Service is ideal for this kind of road trip. Our road experts, familiar with back streets and shortcuts, can prove Google Maps false. We assure that we are one of the cheapest, punctual, comfortable, safe and quick taxi services you can find around Paris. Our friendly drivers will take care of you and your luggage till the end of the journey.
The nicest part of choosing our taxi service is that you can ask the driver to stop at a cafe or restaurant or even make a quick detour to snap a few pictures of stunning views while traveling from Paris to Switzerland. Yes, our drivers will give your request priority!
