Best Ski Resorts for Luxury in Switzerland
The most luxurious ski resort in Switzerland is St Moritz, the birthplace of winter glamour, where grand hotels and frozen lake polo set the standard the world copies. Zermatt and Verbier follow for the most theatrical setting in the Alps and chic skiing with serious bite, with Andermatt the modern contrarian's choice. Below we rank ten Swiss resorts on the things that actually define a luxury week.
What actually makes a Swiss resort luxurious
Switzerland practically defines luxury skiing. The resorts that earn the word combine exceptional grand hotels and chalets, serious fine dining both in the village and on the mountain, famously precise service, and a setting and atmosphere that justify the considerable cost. The best of them back the glamour with first class skiing.
Swiss luxury comes in two flavors. One is grand and theatrical, all palace hotels and frozen lake glamour, led by St Moritz and Zermatt. The other is discreet and royal, where privacy is the point, led by Klosters and the quieter Engadin. We tell you which resort is which so you choose the right mood.
Price is a given, with the finest chalets and suites running well into the $8,000 plus per person band for a peak week. We have flagged where the spend genuinely delivers and where you pay mostly for the name. For the wider picture, read the full Switzerland guide.
Our luxury picks for Switzerland
Ranked on the things that define a luxury week: quality of lodging, fine dining, service, atmosphere and the calibre of the skiing that backs it all up.
St Moritz
Switzerland's most luxurious resort, the original and still the grandest.
St Moritz invented winter glamour in 1864 and has never let go of the crown. The lakeside town glitters with grand hotels, a Cresta Run, polo on the frozen lake and a clientele that treats fur as outerwear, while the sun drenched Corviglia and Corvatsch skiing is wide and civilised.
It takes top spot for sheer atmosphere and history. Nowhere else in Switzerland combines this much glamour with 322 days of sun a year.
Zermatt
Car free luxury under the most famous mountain on earth, with summer snow.
Zermatt pairs the most theatrical setting in the country, the Matterhorn over every terrace, with Europe's highest lift served skiing and a glacier that holds snow into August. The car free village brims with fine hotels and excellent restaurants.
It is expensive and unapologetic, and worth every franc for travelers who want the mountains at their most spectacular. The skiing is genuinely excellent too.
Verbier
Chic, sun soaked luxury with the most thrilling off piste in Switzerland.
Verbier is where stylish luxury meets serious skiing. The village is chic but unstuffy, with smart chalets and a famous apres scene, while the terrain off the Bec des Rosses hosts the Freeride World Tour finals.
It suits luxury travelers who actually want to ski hard, a rare and appealing combination.
Gstaad
Discreet old money glamour for those who would rather not try too hard.
Gstaad is the bolt hole of choice for quiet luxury, a car free village of grand hotels and a famously loyal, low key clientele. The skiing is gentle and scenic, the real action at long lunches and in the Palace hotel.
It is more about the lifestyle than the slopes. Pair it with the higher Glacier 3000 for more reliable snow.
Klosters
The discreet royal favorite, a calm village sharing Davos's vast slopes.
Klosters has long been the discreet choice of the British royal family, a quiet, pretty village that shares the huge Davos Klosters ski area without the bustle of its neighbor. The luxury here is understated and private.
It is the pick for those who want grand skiing and grand comfort without being seen. Substance over spectacle.
Andermatt
Switzerland's boldest new luxury project, snow sure and on the rise.
Andermatt has been transformed by major investment into a serious new luxury destination, anchored by a landmark five star hotel and a smart new village, with high, snow sure skiing across the SkiArena to Sedrun.
It is our contrarian pick, the modern alternative to the established names, with more terrain and better snow than its old reputation suggests. It is still finding its feet socially, which is part of the appeal.
Crans Montana
Sunny, golf course glamour on a balcony above the Rhone valley.
Crans Montana spreads along a sunny plateau with panoramic Alpine views, grand hotels, designer shopping and a famously relaxed, see and be seen atmosphere. The skiing is wide and forgiving, ideal for cruising between long lunches.
It is more about sunshine, scenery and lifestyle than challenging terrain, and it does that beautifully.
Davos
Grand hotels and global power, backed by six mountains of varied skiing.
Better known as the host of the World Economic Forum, Davos pairs grand hotels and a cosmopolitan, well connected crowd with one of Switzerland's largest and most varied ski areas across six separate mountains.
The town is functional rather than pretty, but the scale of the skiing and the grand hotel scene give it a particular kind of high powered luxury.
Arosa
Quiet wellness luxury in a sheltered, sun filled mountain bowl.
Arosa offers a calmer, spa focused kind of luxury, a sheltered sunny resort with excellent wellness hotels, gentle skiing and a relaxed pace, linked to Lenzerheide for extra mileage.
It is the pick for those who want a luxurious, restorative week rather than a social scene. The wellness offering is among the best in the Alps.
Saas Fee
Car free, glacier backed and quietly upscale, with snow you can count on.
Saas Fee is a car free glacier village ringed by thirteen four thousand metre peaks, with a growing collection of design led hotels and reliably excellent snow thanks to its altitude.
It is less flashy than Zermatt next door, but the setting, the snow security and the car free calm make it a refined choice for keen skiers.
The luxury shortlist
| Resort | Style | Skiing | The verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Moritz | Grand and glamorous | Good | The original glamour resort. |
| Zermatt | Theatrical and car free | Excellent | Luxury under the Matterhorn. |
| Verbier | Chic and serious | Excellent | Glamour that skis hard. |
| Gstaad | Old money calm | Good | Quiet, unshowy and loyal. |
| Klosters | Discreet and royal | Very good | Private, with Davos's slopes. |
| Andermatt | Modern and rising | Very good | The bold new luxury project. |
| Crans Montana | Sunny glamour | Good | Balcony views and long lunches. |
| Davos | Grand scale | Very good | Grand hotels, six mountains. |
| Arosa | Wellness luxury | Good | Spa focused and restorative. |
| Saas Fee | Car free and snow sure | Very good | Quietly upscale, dependable snow. |
Book the trip well
Even at the luxury end, the lift passes, private transfers, lessons and ski hire are worth arranging ahead, both to lock in the best guides and instructors and to keep the logistics seamless.
Book the extras and save
Lift passes, airport transfers and lessons are where a trip quietly leaks money. Booking ahead almost always beats the resort window price.
Compare lift passes Book a transfer Find lessons Reserve ski hire Travel insuranceRelated luxury guides
Compare with our luxury lists for the wider Alps, France and Austria, or read the full Switzerland guide. For practical help, see luxury ski holidays explained and the wellness ski holiday.
Luxury skiing FAQs
What is the most luxurious ski resort in Switzerland?
St Moritz is our overall pick, the birthplace of winter glamour, with grand hotels, frozen lake polo and a famously glittering clientele. Zermatt and Verbier follow for the Matterhorn setting and chic, serious skiing.
Which Swiss resort is best for discreet luxury?
Klosters is our pick for discreet luxury, the long standing choice of the British royal family, quiet and private yet sharing the vast Davos Klosters ski area. Gstaad and Arosa are the other great choices for low key, restful luxury.
Which luxury Swiss resort has the best skiing?
Zermatt and Verbier lead for serious terrain, Zermatt for its high, snow sure glacier skiing and Verbier for its thrilling off piste. Andermatt and Davos also offer extensive, varied terrain that backs up the comfort.
Is Andermatt really a luxury resort now?
Yes. Major investment has transformed Andermatt into a serious luxury destination, with a landmark five star hotel, a smart new village and high, snow sure skiing across to Sedrun. It is the most modern of the Swiss luxury names and still gaining a social scene.
Do I need to ski to enjoy a luxury Swiss resort?
Not at all. St Moritz, Gstaad, Crans Montana and Arosa all reward non skiers with grand hotels, spas, fine dining, shopping and winter activities. Arosa in particular is built around wellness, with some of the best spa hotels in the Alps.
How much does a luxury ski holiday in Switzerland cost?
A true luxury week sits firmly in the $8,000 plus per person band once you include a premium chalet or suite, private transfers and guiding, more again at the grandest addresses over New Year. Quieter weeks and shoulder season dates cost considerably less.
Tell us the dates.
We price the trip.
If you want a luxury ski trip in Switzerland priced by specialists, give us the dates, party and budget below and we will route your brief to operators who place luxury clients well. No fee to you, ever.
Every brief is read by a real planner. You will hear back within two working days, in season.