Braunwald Ski Resort Review 2026
Braunwald is a car free sun terrace perched above the Linth valley, reached only by funicular, and one of the safest small family resorts in Switzerland. As a parent I love it for the youngest skiers: gentle, traffic free slopes, a storybook village with no through road, and a quick transfer from Zurich. Skip it if you want big mileage, steep terrain or anything resembling nightlife.
By the Ski Resorts for Kings editorial team · Last reviewed June 2026
Mountain stats at a glance
| Village altitude | around 1,300 m |
|---|---|
| Top lift | around 1,900 m |
| Vertical | roughly 600 m |
| Pistes | around 30 km |
| Run split | mostly gentle blues with a few reds |
| Lifts | around 6 |
| Season | roughly mid December to late March |
| Nearest airport | Zurich, roughly a 1 hour 15 minute transfer |
| Day pass | around $55 |
Photos via Google. Contributed by Mrchenhotel Braunwald, Patrizio.
Who it suits
Braunwald suits families with young children better than almost anywhere of its size. The village has no cars at all, you arrive by funicular and move around on foot, sledge or ski, and the slopes are gentle, sunny and easy to supervise. For a first family ski trip, or for grandparents joining small children, it is hard to beat for calm and safety.
It does not suit experts, who will exhaust the terrain in a morning, nor mileage hunters, teenagers wanting a scene, or anyone who needs a lively bar. This is a quiet, wholesome, almost old fashioned holiday, and that is precisely the point. Read the size honestly and it delivers exactly what it promises.
The skiing
Braunwald offers around 30 km of mostly gentle pistes spread across a sunny shelf above the Linth valley, rising to around 1,900 m. The skiing is wide, well groomed and forgiving, the kind of terrain where a four year old in ski school and a cruising parent share the same happy blue. A handful of reds add a little spice, but nobody comes here for a challenge.
There is pleasant winter walking and sledging woven through the area, and the views across to the Glarus peaks are a constant. Strong skiers should treat Braunwald as a gentle day or a young family base rather than a week long project, and look down the valley to bigger areas if they want mileage and pitch. Within its small footprint, though, it is beautifully run and genuinely lovely.
The village
Braunwald is a tiny car free village of hotels, chalets and a few shops scattered along a sunny terrace, with the funicular from Linthal the only way up. The absence of traffic changes the feel completely: children roam safely, the loudest sound is the church bell, and the whole place has a storybook quality in fresh snow. It markets itself as a fairytale destination and, unusually, earns it.
Evenings are hotel dinners, family games and early nights, with sledging by lamplight the closest thing to action. Non skiers are well served by the walking trails and the sheer calm. Anyone wanting shopping, spas or bars will find Braunwald far too quiet, which is the whole idea.
Where to stay
Lodging is small hotels, guesthouses and apartments, most a short walk from the funicular and the slopes given the tiny scale of the village. A famous family hotel anchors the resort and books out far ahead for the school holidays. Because everything is close and car free, location worries are minimal here.
Our guide to booking a catered chalet covers the catered route. If you want Braunwald priced for your dates, use the form below and we will route your brief to operators who know this corner of Glarus.
Lift pass prices and how to save
A day pass runs around $55, modest for Switzerland, and family rates are generous given the resort is built around children. Small children often ski very cheaply or free, and a multi day pass makes sense for a week. Buy online ahead in the school holidays.
Compare current prices and buy ahead through our lift pass partner.
Lessons and ski hire
The ski school is small, patient and entirely geared to children and beginners, with English available and a nursery area right by the village. Instructor numbers are finite, so the peak weeks need booking ahead. Hire shops will sort a whole family in one visit.
Arrange lessons through our lessons partner and gear through our ski hire partner.
Getting there
Zurich is roughly 1 hour 15 minutes by road to Linthal, then the funicular up to the village, a short and stress free journey that suits families with young children. You leave the car in Linthal, since Braunwald itself is car free. The Swiss train and funicular combination is a pleasure and removes any need to drive.
Book an airport transfer through our transfer partner, and sort cover through our travel insurance partner before you travel.
When to go
January and February give the most reliable snow and the classic crisp Glarus weather, with February the family fortnight to book early. The sunny aspect makes March pleasant for warmth and light, though the modest altitude means snow quality is best secured in midwinter. This is a resort to book for the heart of the season.
The honest bottom line
Braunwald is one of the safest, calmest and prettiest small family resorts in Switzerland, a car free terrace where the youngest skiers thrive and parents relax. It is a specialist booking, ideal for first timers and young families, and wrong for experts, mileage hunters and anyone after a scene. Judged for what it is, it is close to perfect.
If you want this trip priced by specialists, tell us your dates and budget below and we will route your brief to operators who know Braunwald and the Glarus valleys.
Nearby alternatives
Down the valley and east, Flumserberg is a bigger, sunny family area with far more mileage and grand lake views. In the same region, Toggenburg offers gentle skiing under the dramatic Churfirsten ridge. For a step up in scale and altitude, Engelberg adds serious vertical and glacier skiing within easy reach.
Common questions
Is Braunwald good for families?
Yes, it is one of the safest small family resorts in Switzerland. The village is entirely car free, the slopes are gentle and easy to supervise, and the funicular access and short Zurich transfer make it simple with young children.
How big is the Braunwald ski area?
Around 30 km of mostly gentle pistes on a sunny terrace, rising to around 1,900 m. It is small by design, ideal for beginners and young families rather than mileage hunters.
Is Braunwald car free?
Yes. You reach the village by funicular from Linthal and leave the car below, so there is no road traffic in Braunwald. Families move around on foot, sledge or ski, which is a big part of its safe, calm appeal.
Is Braunwald good for experts?
No. The terrain is gentle and quickly explored, so strong skiers should treat it as a young family base and look to larger, higher areas nearby for pitch and mileage.
How do I get to Braunwald?
Zurich is roughly 1 hour 15 minutes by road to Linthal, then a short funicular ride up to the car free village. The train and funicular combination is easy and removes any need to drive in the mountains.
Is Braunwald expensive?
Not by Swiss standards. A day pass is around $55, family rates are generous, and a comfortable week often lands in the $2,000 to $4,000 per person band depending on lodging.
Where should you stay and when should you go?
Prefer a village bed to staying in the main base? Read our village guides to Braunwald, Flumserberg and Hoch Ybrig for beds, transfers and who each one suits. For month by month snow, crowds and prices in Switzerland, see skiing in Switzerland in December, January, February, March, April.
Plan your Braunwald trip with specialists
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