Switzerland in winter is built around snow, but skiing is only one part of it. Between December and March you can ride panoramic trains through the Alps, sled down mountain roads that close to cars for the season, soak in outdoor thermal pools with peaks all around you, and eat your way through Christmas markets and fondue huts.
This guide covers the best things to do in Switzerland during winter, with practical details on where to go and when, so you can plan a trip that works whether you ski every day or never clip into a binding.
1. Ski or Snowboard the Big Resorts
Switzerland has some of the most reliable snow in Europe, and its top resorts pair serious terrain with car-free villages and excellent rail access. The season generally runs from early December through mid-April, with the best conditions in January and February.
● Zermatt: The Matterhorn towers over the village, and the ski area links across the border to Cervinia in Italy, so you can ski into another country for lunch.
● Verbier: This is the choice for advanced skiers, with steep off-piste terrain and a lively après-ski scene in the 4 Vallées area.
● St. Moritz: Sunny, polished, and high-altitude, it combines groomed cruising runs with some of the best people-watching in the Alps.
● Davos-Klosters: These twin resorts offer a huge, varied ski area that suits mixed-ability groups and families.
● Laax: Snowboarders and freestyle skiers come here for some of the best terrain parks in Europe.
If you are new to skiing, most Swiss resorts run ski schools with English-speaking instructors, and many have gentle beginner areas close to the village center.
2. Ride a Scenic Train Through the Snow
Swiss panoramic trains run all year, and in winter their large windows look out on snow-covered passes, viaducts and frozen lakes. The two routes most visitors choose are the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express.
The Glacier Express runs between Zermatt and St. Moritz in about eight hours, crossing 291 bridges and passing through 91 tunnels along the way. The Oberalp Pass section is especially striking after fresh snowfall. Seat reservations are compulsory and sell out over the holidays, so book early. The train also pauses for maintenance every autumn. For the 2026–27 season it runs again from 5 December.
The Bernina Express runs from Chur over the Bernina Pass to Tirano in Italy, with part of the route on a UNESCO World Heritage line. Highlights include the curved Landwasser Viaduct and the climb past frozen lakes near Ospizio Bernina. The full trip from Chur takes about four hours, but you can board in St. Moritz and ride only the Bernina Pass section, which makes it an easy day trip. In winter the panoramic cars are coupled to regular regional trains instead of running as a separate train.
If you plan to ride several trains, a Swiss Travel Pass can cover the base fare on most routes, though panoramic trains usually require a separate seat reservation.
3. Go Sledding on a Real Mountain Run
Sledding in Switzerland is not a quick slide down a backyard hill. Many runs are several kilometers long, maintained like ski slopes, and served by trains or gondolas that take you back up.
● Big Pintenfritz, Grindelwald: This 15-kilometer run from the Faulhorn summit (2,680 m) down to Grindelwald is one of the longest sled runs in Europe. There is no lift to the start, so plan on a walk of about two and a half hours up from First, pulling your sled behind you.
● Preda to Bergün: About 6 kilometers of the Albula Pass road between these two villages close to cars in winter and become a sled run, and the Rhaetian Railway carries you back to the top. The run is lit for night sledding from Tuesday to Sunday.
● Mürren and Wengen: Both villages in the Jungfrau Region have shorter, scenic runs that work well for families.
You can rent sleds at most train stations and sports shops near the runs. Wear ski goggles and waterproof gloves, and bring a helmet if you have one, since speeds on the steeper sections add up quickly.
4. Visit Jungfraujoch, the Top of Europe
Jungfraujoch sits at 3,454 meters and is home to the highest railway station in Europe. The cogwheel train from Kleine Scheidegg tunnels through the Eiger and Mönch before opening onto views of the Aletsch Glacier, the longest glacier in the Alps. The whole trip from Interlaken takes about an hour and a half.
At the top you can walk through the Ice Palace, step onto the Sphinx Observatory terrace, and stand on the snow plateau. Winter visibility is often sharper than in summer, but weather changes fast at this altitude, so check the live webcams before you buy tickets. Go early in the day to beat the crowds and the afternoon cloud build-up.
5. Go Stargazing Above Zermatt
From the summit or the snowshoe viewpoints, winter evenings also bring several zodiac constellations into view. In January and February, Taurus, recognizable by the orange star Aldebaran and the Pleiades cluster, and Gemini, with its two bright stars Castor and Pollux, stand high in the southern sky during the evening, and Leo rises in the east later in the night. All three lie along the ecliptic, the band of sky that the Sun, Moon and planets move through, and Western astrology takes the names of its twelve signs from twelve of the constellations on that band.
A birth chart records which of those signs the Sun, Moon and planets occupied at the date, time and place of your birth. The Nebula app builds one from those three details, and its astrology psychic advisors can explain what each placement means if you want to follow up on the night once you’re back indoors.
6. Soak in an Alpine Thermal Bath
After a day in the cold, few things beat sitting in hot mineral water while snow falls around you. Switzerland has thermal spas in several mountain regions.
● Leukerbad: Located in the Valais, it describes itself as the largest thermal spa resort in the Alps, with more than four million liters of thermal water rising from its springs every day. The outdoor pools at Leukerbad Therme and the Walliser Alpentherme look straight up at sheer rock walls.
● Therme Vals: Designed by architect Peter Zumthor and built from local quartzite, it is as much an architectural landmark as a spa. Day visitors need an online reservation because tickets are limited, and entry costs CHF 70 to 85 depending on the day of the week.
● Bad Ragaz: The Tamina Therme here is an easy stop between Zurich and the Graubünden ski resorts.
Most thermal baths offer day passes, and many sell combination tickets with nearby ski lifts or hotels.
7. Browse the Christmas Markets
From late November through December, Swiss towns set up wooden chalets selling mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, handmade ornaments, and local cheese.
● Montreux Noël: Stretched along the Lake Geneva shoreline, it is one of the largest markets in the country, with more than 150 chalets, and pairs well with a visit to Château de Chillon.
● Basel: The markets on Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz are widely considered among the best in Switzerland, with a strong focus on crafts.
● Zurich: The city runs several markets, including Polarzauber inside the main train station, which has more than 100 stalls around a giant Lindt Christmas tree.
● Einsiedeln: Set in front of a baroque monastery, this market feels more traditional and less commercial than the city options.
Most markets close on or just before December 24, so plan accordingly if you are traveling over the holidays.
8. Catch a Winter Event in St. Moritz
St. Moritz has hosted the Winter Olympics twice and still runs some of the most unusual winter events in the world. When Lake St. Moritz freezes solid, it becomes a venue.
● Snow Polo World Cup: Held on the frozen lake in late January (22–24 January in 2027), it brings international polo teams onto a snow-covered field.
● White Turf: On three Sundays in February (7, 14 and 21 February in 2027), horses race across the frozen lake, including skikjöring races where skiers are pulled behind riderless horses.
● Cresta Run: This natural ice skeleton track dates to the 1880s, and visitors can watch riders go head-first down the chute or, with advance arrangement, try it themselves.
Hotels fill up quickly around these dates, so book well ahead if you want to time your trip to an event.
9. Hike, Snowshoe, and Skate
You do not need to ski to get out into the mountains. Most Swiss resorts maintain groomed winter hiking trails, marked with pink signs, that keep you on packed snow with no special gear required.
Snowshoeing takes you further into quiet terrain. The Engadin Valley, the area around Mürren, and the trails above Zermatt all have marked snowshoe routes, and rental shops can outfit you in a few minutes. Guided tours are a good option if you want to go off the marked trails, since avalanche risk is real in backcountry areas.
For skating, natural ice on frozen lakes such as Lake Sils in the Engadin offers an experience no rink can match, though you should only skate where the ice is officially opened. Most resort towns also run outdoor rinks, and Davos has a historic outdoor natural ice rink where many speed skating world records were set.
10. Eat Fondue and Raclette in a Mountain Hut
Swiss winter food is simple, rich, and built for cold weather. Cheese fondue, usually made with Gruyère and Vacherin Fribourgeois, is the classic. Raclette, where a wheel of cheese is melted and scraped over potatoes, pickles, and onions, is just as popular in the Valais.
The best place to eat either one is a mountain restaurant reached by ski, sled, or gondola. Many huts around Zermatt, Grindelwald, and the Engadin serve fondue at lunch and host fondue evenings followed by a sled ride or torch-lit walk back down. Pair it with a glass of local white wine such as Fendant, or hot tea, which locals say helps digestion.
Practical Tips for a Winter Trip to Switzerland
● Best time to go: January through March offers the most reliable snow, while December is best for Christmas markets and festive atmosphere.
● Getting around: Swiss trains are punctual and reach almost every resort, so most travelers do not need a car.
● Budget: Switzerland is expensive, and booking hotels and train reservations early is the most effective way to keep costs down.
● Packing: Bring waterproof boots with good grip, since village streets are often icy even when the slopes are not.
● Daylight: Winter days are short, so start mountain excursions early to make the most of clear morning conditions.
Whether you come for the slopes, the trains, the spas, or a plate of melted cheese in a mountain hut, Switzerland in winter has more to offer than almost anywhere else in Europe. Pick two or three regions, give yourself time to slow down, and leave room in the plan for the days when fresh snow changes everything.
