Best Ski Resorts for Non Skiers in Switzerland
The best Swiss resort for non skiers is St Moritz, a glamorous Engadin town with designer shopping, grand hotels, spas and a calendar of frozen lake events that has nothing to do with the pistes. Zermatt and Gstaad follow for car free charm, fine dining and scenic excursions, with Engelberg the standout value pick near Lucerne. Below we rank ten Swiss resorts on what a non skier actually wants: a beautiful, walkable place with plenty to do off the snow, including a genuine value option.
What actually makes a resort work for non skiers
The best resorts for non skiers share five things: a beautiful, walkable village you can enjoy on foot, scenic excursions by mountain railway or cable car so you can reach the views without skis, good restaurants and cafes for long lunches, spa and wellness options for downtime, and easy days out like shopping, sledding or a horse drawn sleigh. Get those right and a non skier has a full, happy week while the rest of the group is on the slopes.
Switzerland is arguably the best country in the world for this, because so many resorts pair stunning scenery with excellent public transport, mountain restaurants and a tradition of welcoming guests who never click into a binding. Car free villages score highly here, since they are calm, safe and made for walking.
Cost matters too, because Switzerland is expensive and a non skier still racks up spa, dining and excursion bills. We have included a clear value pick so the ranking is not only the priciest names, and we name a contrarian choice that beats its reputation for non skiers.
Our non skier picks for Switzerland
Ranked on the things that decide a happy week off the snow: village beauty and walkability, scenic excursions, dining, spa and wellness, and easy days out.
St Moritz
The complete non skier resort, glamorous, scenic and full of things to do off the snow.
St Moritz tops the list because it barely needs the skiing to justify a trip. The chic Engadin town offers designer shopping, grand hotels, world class spas and a famous winter calendar, from polo and horse racing on the frozen lake to the Cresta Run, all set under brilliant high altitude sun.
It edges out Zermatt on sheer variety of off snow activity and the social scene, which makes it the strongest pick for a non skier who wants to be entertained all day. It is expensive, but nowhere in Switzerland gives a non skier more to do.
Zermatt
A car free village under the Matterhorn with superb dining and easy scenic excursions.
Zermatt is the most beautiful base on this list, a car free village beneath the Matterhorn where non skiers can ride gondolas and the Gornergrat railway to jaw dropping viewpoints without ever skiing. The dining, shopping and people watching are excellent, and the traffic free streets make it a joy to wander.
It ranks second only because St Moritz has a wider roster of organized events. For pure scenery and a walkable, sophisticated village, Zermatt is unmatched.
Gstaad
A chic, car free village built for long lunches, spas and quiet luxury.
Gstaad is the discreet choice, a chocolate box, largely car free village of grand hotels, smart boutiques and a famously low key, well heeled clientele. The skiing is gentle and scattered, which suits this list perfectly, because the real action is in the hotels, restaurants and spas.
It is a non skier's dream for relaxed elegance and people watching. The trade off is that it is one of the priciest places in the Alps and quieter on organized activity than St Moritz.
Grindelwald
Switzerland's most dramatic scenery, with the Jungfraujoch excursion on the doorstep.
Grindelwald sits beneath the north face of the Eiger in arguably the most spectacular setting in the Alps. Non skiers can ride the railway up to the Jungfraujoch, the Top of Europe, take the new Eiger Express cable car for the views, walk the winter trails or sled down long marked runs.
It is livelier and better value than the glamour resorts above, with a real town feel. A superb pick for a non skier who loves big mountain scenery and excursions over shopping.
Wengen
A car free, railway only village with gentle pace and unbeatable views.
Wengen is the calm, scenic choice, a car free village reached only by mountain railway, perched on a sunny terrace facing the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau. Non skiers can ride the train to viewpoints, walk the cleared paths and soak up the peace, with no traffic to break the quiet.
It is less about activity and more about serenity and scenery, which makes it ideal for a non skier who wants to slow down. Smaller and quieter than Grindelwald just down the railway.
Murren
A tiny car free village on a cliff edge, with the Schilltorn and Piz Gloria above.
Murren is the most spectacular small village in Switzerland, clinging to a cliff terrace high above the valley and reachable only by railway and cable car. Non skiers ride the cable car to the revolving Piz Gloria restaurant on the Schilthorn for a 360 degree panorama, then wander a car free hamlet that feels untouched by time.
It is small and quiet, so it suits a non skier who wants drama and calm over shops and nightlife. One of the great scenic hideaways of the Alps.
Davos Klosters
A full sized alpine town with shopping, museums, spa and a famous railway.
Davos is the choice for a non skier who likes the buzz of a real town rather than a resort. Europe's highest town has proper shopping, restaurants, museums, a big wellness center and the scenic Parsenn and Rhaetian railways, plus a long sledding tradition and good walking.
It is less postcard pretty than the car free villages, but it offers the most urban variety on this list and decent value for Switzerland. A solid all rounder for active non skiers.
Saas Fee
A calm, car free glacier village with an ice pavilion and easy mountain views.
Saas Fee is the quiet, family friendly pick, a car free village ringed by thirteen four thousand meter peaks. Non skiers can ride the Metro Alpin to the world's highest revolving restaurant, visit the ice pavilion carved into the glacier, walk the winter trails or simply enjoy the peace.
It is gentler and less glamorous than St Moritz or Gstaad, which is exactly its appeal for a calm, scenic trip. A relaxing base for a non skier who values quiet over crowds.
Crans Montana
A sunny, sophisticated plateau resort with shopping, spas and big southern views.
Crans Montana sits on a sunny terrace high above the Rhone valley, with smart boutiques, good restaurants, spas and panoramic southern views over the Valais peaks. The flat plateau setting makes it easy for non skiers to stroll, and there is golf, walking and a relaxed pace.
It feels more like a small sunny town than a ski station, which suits a non skier well. A comfortable, scenic and slightly more affordable alternative to the marquee names.
Engelberg
The contrarian value pick, with the Titlis excursion and a historic monastery near Lucerne.
Engelberg is the value and convenience choice and the reason this list is not only the priciest names. Just a short, scenic train ride from Lucerne and Zurich, it offers the spectacular Mount Titlis cable car and revolving cabin, the Cliff Walk suspension bridge, a working Benedictine monastery to tour and easy days out to Lucerne itself.
It is far better connected and more affordable than the glamour resorts, which makes it ideal for a non skier on a sensible budget or a short break. Our pick for value and easy access.
The non skier shortlist
| Resort | Best for | Scene | The verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Moritz | Overall non skier trip | Glamour | Shopping, events and grand hotels. |
| Zermatt | Scenery and dining | Car free | Matterhorn views and superb food. |
| Gstaad | Quiet luxury | Discreet | Long lunches, spas and boutiques. |
| Grindelwald | Big excursions | Dramatic | Eiger views and the Jungfraujoch. |
| Wengen | Calm and views | Car free | Serene, scenic and railway only. |
| Murren | Spectacle | Cliff top | Tiny, dramatic, the Schilthorn above. |
| Davos Klosters | Town variety | Urban | Shops, museums, spa and railways. |
| Saas Fee | Calm scenery | Car free | Glacier village with an ice pavilion. |
| Crans Montana | Sun and ease | Plateau | Sunny, sophisticated and walkable. |
| Engelberg | Value and access | Convenient | Titlis, a monastery and close to Lucerne. |
Plan the extras around the non skiers
Whichever resort you choose, the excursions, spa days, lift tickets for sightseers, transfers and any lessons for the skiers are where a Swiss week quietly leaks money. Booking ahead almost always beats buying on the day, and reserving the popular mountain railways and cable cars in peak weeks avoids disappointment.
Book the extras and save
Scenic lift tickets, airport transfers, lessons for the skiers and travel cover are where a Swiss trip quietly leaks money. Booking ahead almost always beats buying on the day.
Compare lift and excursion passes Book a transfer Find lessons Reserve ski hire Travel insuranceRelated non skier guides
Compare across the range with our wider list of the best resorts for non skiers in the Alps and by country for Italy, Austria and France. To choose your base, read our guide to how to choose a ski resort, and see the full Switzerland destination guide and the Zermatt review for the headline pick.
Non skier FAQs
What is the best Swiss resort for non skiers?
St Moritz is our overall pick for its designer shopping, grand hotels, spas and a packed winter calendar of events on the frozen lake. Zermatt and Gstaad follow for car free charm, fine dining and scenic excursions. The right choice depends on whether you want events and glamour or scenery and calm.
Which Swiss resort is best for non skiers on a budget?
Engelberg is our value pick, with the spectacular Mount Titlis cable car, a historic monastery and an easy, affordable train ride from Lucerne and Zurich. Davos and Crans Montana also offer more for the money than the glamour resorts while still giving non skiers plenty to do.
What is there to do at a ski resort if you do not ski?
Plenty. Most top Swiss resorts offer scenic mountain railways and cable cars to viewpoints, winter walking trails, sledding, spas and wellness centers, shopping, fine dining and mountain restaurant lunches. Car free villages like Zermatt and Wengen are especially pleasant to explore on foot.
Can non skiers reach the mountain restaurants and views?
Yes. In resorts like Zermatt, Grindelwald, Murren and Engelberg, non skiers can buy a pedestrian or sightseeing lift ticket and ride the gondolas, cable cars and railways to high viewpoints and revolving restaurants without skiing. It is one of the great pleasures of a Swiss trip.
Are Swiss resorts expensive for non skiers?
Switzerland is expensive, and a non skier still spends on excursions, dining and spa days. The glamour resorts like St Moritz and Gstaad are the priciest, while Engelberg, Davos and Crans Montana offer better value. Booking excursions and transfers ahead helps control the cost.
Which Swiss resorts are car free?
Several of the best for non skiers are car free, including Zermatt, Wengen, Murren, Saas Fee and the heart of Gstaad. Car free villages are calm, safe and made for walking, which makes them especially enjoyable for guests spending the day off the slopes.
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