Zurich is the largest international airport in Switzerland that provides super-easy access to many neighboring ski resorts. There are flights at all times, so you can come early, seize the day on the nearby slopes, and still have the time to return home in the evening.
If you want a day trip or a weekend getaway, ski resorts near Zurich are a perfect choice for both adventure and retreat, and you will be there in a flash.
In this article, we will give you the list of the closest ski resorts to Zurich that are good for families, both beginners and experts, with discounts, and with a lot of fun in parks and sledding hills.
Related: All you need to know for a perfect ski trip in Switzerland
Scroll down and find a piece of your winter paradise!
You’ll read about:
- Ski resorts that are less than one hour away from Zurich
- Ski resorts that are more than one hour away from Zurich
- How to get to ski resorts near Zurich
If you are planning a Swiss trip check out our article on things to know before visiting Switzerland.
1. Ski resorts near Zurich – less than one hour away
You’d be surprised, but there are many less than one-hour ski resorts near the capital. You can even arrange to visit more than one resort in one day and have a blast.
The closest resorts to Zurich are the following:
- Sattel-Hochstuckli
- Mythen Region
- Amden
- Flumserberg
1. Sattel-Hochstuckli
Positioned in Central Switzerland, in the canton of Schwyz, Sattel-Hochstuckli is a great ski resort for everyone’s budget. It is only 43 minutes (46.8 km) away from Zurich.
The resort has the first revolving cable car in the world from which you will capture the most fascinating views of the region. The cable car rotates a full 360 degrees as you climb up the mountain.
Sattel-Hochstuckli is a cozy place arranged in a rustic manner, and that is probably the reason why it isn’t as expensive as other Swiss ski resorts.
Short distance and great slopes together will create an awesome day trip. The pistes are adjusted for both beginners and intermediates, so skiing in this resort will be a perfect way to improve your skills on uncrowded slopes that comes with modern facilities.
Pistes are 12 km long and the highest elevation is 1,491 m.
When you are done with the slopes, we recommend you to spend a lovely afternoon or evening on the floodlit toboggan runs. Skiing and tobogganing will fresh up your routine, making a trip to Sattel-Hochstuckli the best choice for a quick adventure.
2. Mythen Region
Mythen Region is another example of a less-known ski resort near Zurich and it offers 50 km of ski terrain to its tourists. It is also located in Central Switzerland, in the canton of Schwyz.
The locals enjoy its slopes, while the international tourists probably have never heard about it. Being only 45 minutes (61.3 km) away from the capital, Mythen Region is a great choice for a weekend getaway.
The resort is reasonably priced and the slopes are very good, at the highest altitude of 1,593 m.
The locals are familiar with the trails so they can easily change the course and glide on the untouched ones. The intermediates will have a lot of fun while hitting dominating red runs.
The town is quiet and excellent for a retreat and recharging the batteries.
For those who seek adventure, check out the snow park Mythenpark.
3. Amden
Amden is a ski resort in Eastern Switzerland, located in the canton of St. Gallen. It is one of the closest ski resorts to Zurich – only 67.3 km away (45 minutes of a ride).
The resort consists of 2 ski areas:
- Arvenbuel
- Mattstock
Arvenbuel is great for beginners and for those who strive to improve their skills, while Mattstock is preferred by experts and adventurous spirits.
The resort can get very crowded, but you can count on some peace most of the time. It is frequently visited by locals, and the prices aren’t shocking as they can be in other popular Swiss resorts.
For more fun, check out an ice field opened for ice skating. If you are visiting with your family, the whole crew can enjoy it on ice.
4. Flumserberg
Flumserberg is a hidden ski resort in Eastern Switzerland, in the Heidiland region. It is only 50 minutes (94.3 km) away from Zurich.
The resort offers magnificent 65 km of ski-able terrain, at an elevation up to 2,222 m.
Even though it is a small place, Flumserberg has a big number of slopes and it is an amazing invitation for a prolonged weekend with a lot of fun.
The ski area is accessible from several villages – from which you can use a very fast cable car system.
Flumserberg is very quiet and rarely crowded. It is a great choice for families and it has varied terrain, available for every level.
The pistes are well-maintained during the entire season, and they have good snowmaking facilities. This means that you can count on great snow conditions whenever you go.
There is a 13 km long run for which you won’t need a lift.
2. Ski resorts near Zurich – more than one hour away
Now let’s mention winter travel destinations that are a bit further, but still not too far away from Zurich:
- Hoch-Ybrig
- Engelberg-Titlis
- Andermatt Sedrun
- Arosa Lenzerheide
1. Hoch-Ybrig
Located in the canton of Schwyz, Hoch-Ybrig lies at an altitude of 900 to 2,200 m. This beautiful village is blessed with the peaks of the Drusberg (2,282 m), Forstberg (2,215 m), and Twäriberg (2,117). This succession of mountains creates a ridge that splits the Muotatal and Glarnerland regions.
Above the Ibergeregg, the mountain connects Ybrig with the canton capital Schwyz.
Under the sunlight, these snow-capped peaks will mesmerize you with beauty. In addition, they have wonderful slopes for great entertainment.
The pistes are well-maintained and they capture fantastic landscapes, stretching to 50 km. There is also a fantastic snow park by the 6-seater Hesisbol chair lift.
This area comes like a cool drink after a very long day. It offers delicious specialties and cool après-ski refreshments in many restaurants. Most people come to this place to recharge and find some peace of mind, and most importantly, they all return home satisfied.
If you take the car from Zurich Airport, you will arrive there in 1h and 7 minutes, covering a distance of around 68 km. If you decide to take the train, expect to travel a bit longer.
To ensure the quality and comfort of your ride, hire a limousine service, and arrive in no time and without stressing out.
2. Engelberg-Titlis
Engelberg is one of the most popular tourist attractions, located in Central Switzerland’s Uri Alps. It was built around the Benedictine monastery that still has a big influence on the village character. The architecture with the combination of the Swiss Flair makes Engelberg unique and ravishing.
When we talk about high-altitude ski resorts near Zurich, we must mention this one since its highest summit is at an altitude of 3,239 meters above sea level.
The sides of the valley differ, but they both guarantee an adventure for both experts and slower skiers.
The pistes are 80 kilometers long and they are divided in the following way:
- 27 kilometers for beginners
- 47 kilometers for intermediate skiers
- 8 kilometers for expert athletes
You can expect the best snow from October to May, and on higher slopes that lie on the glacier.
Between Christmas and early March, the pistes are opened in the night, too.
For those who prefer slower activities, there are numerous hiking trails around the resort. Deep powder and high terrains are very suitable for freestylers and outabounds skiers.
The new Titlis Rotair gondola is the first fully rotating gondola in the world, from which you can spot the Uri Alps in their endless charms. There you can also visit one of many restaurants with breathtaking views.
The highlight of the resort is the Titlis glacier cave at the top of the mountain, and with the walls in turquoise-blue light. The temperature in the cave is -1.5˚C all year-round. The view of million tiny crystals amid a glacier will leave you speechless.
For a real adrenaline rush, you should try to cross the Cliffwalk – a 100 meters long bridge on Mount Titlis at an altitude of 3,000 meters above sea level. Make sure that you go on this adventure during a calm sunny day without the wind to disturb your rhythm.
There are also numerous hiking trails in the Brunni mountain area, including the trail that will take off your snickers – you have to cross it barefoot.
Close to Engelberg are 6 Via Ferratas with different levels of difficulty. The best for beginners is Brunnstöckli – 200 meters high, and it takes about 45 minutes for a climb.
If you want extreme hiking excitement, you must take Buiräbähnli Safari Hike, a 20-hour hike with 2 nights in mountain huts. This kind of adventure will carve deeply into your memory!
Engelberg is about 100 km away from Zurich, and it takes about 1 and a half-hour of drive to arrive.
3. Andermatt Sedrun
The Ski-arena Andermatt Sedrun consists of 3 ski resorts, linked by the Matterhorn Gotthard train line.
In Andermatt, you can enjoy the Gemsstock and Andermatt-Gütsch-Schneehünerstock resorts, while in Sedrun the Milez-Oberalp resort.
Most of the Gemsstock slopes are at an altitude of 2,000 or 3,000 meters, with good snow conditions all year round.
Within the region are 850 km of hiking trails and wide slopes perfect for beginners. Most of these trails are intermediate such as trails at the Nätschen area, and all in deep powder.
In Gemsstock are a bit more extreme trails and challenging off-piste terrain for powder skiing. With its 900 meters vertical drop, this ski terrain is one of the largest in the world.
For other winter activities, you can try sledding, hiking, ice skating, cross country skiing, swimming, and horse riding.
The Andermatt Sedrun ski resort is located 100 km south of Zurich (114 km from the airport), about one hour and a half of drive away.
The rail is a highly recommended transport to the resort, and it can be reached from all directions.
4. Arosa Lenzerheide
Until 2013, Arosa and Lenzerheide were individual resorts. At the present, they are joined, and together they make the resort with record-breaking sunny days.
They are linked by the airing and mile-long Urdenbahn cableway, and in a single ticket and within 5 minutes you’ll set your foot there.
This ski region offers 225 kilometers of trails with steep and wide slops. They are divided in the following way:
- 110 kilometers are blue
- 87 kilometers are red
- 28 kilometers are black
Arosa Lenzerheide has 3 mountainsides. The biggest summit is at an altitude of 2,865 meters above sea level.
With its 140 miles trails, this ski region is a favorite among intermediate skiers.
Let it put this way:
- The longest trail is Rothorn to Parpan.
- The hardest is Silvano Beltrametti.
- The most relaxed and enjoyable is Weisshorn Summit to Prätschli.
- The resort numbers the magnificent 43 Transport systems and 41 restaurants.
Lenzerheide is a paradise for bikers too with more than 305 kilometers of bike trails from the Älplisee Trail to Runda Lai.
From the top of Parpaner Rothorn, you can try the Ski Safari route which is covered in deep powder, and ski across a glacier.
Lenzerheide is about 139 km away from Zurich, with 1 hour and 48 minutes of drive.
Arosa is about 155.4 km away from Zurich, with 2 hours and 21 minutes of drive.
For reaching these linked luxury Switzerland ski resorts, hire a limo service, and appear like a superstar.
Related: Winter in Zurich – things to do and places to see
3. How to get to ski resorts near Zurich?
If you are not sure how to reach your ski resort from the Zurich airport, here are some suggestions:
- Train travel
- Bus transport
- Private transfer
1. Train travel
For anyone visiting the Swiss Alps, it would be a ski offense not to use the best railway system in the whole world as transportation. Besides the mind-blowing landscapes from the window, most resorts near Zurich are reachable by train straight from the airport.
Trains in Switzerland are safe, comfortable, and reasonably priced, especially for small groups or short trips.
Most trains from Zurich airport to the nearby resorts are followed by a change at Zurich central station, but still, several go direct to ski areas.
2. Bus transport
Maybe not as iconic as the Swiss railway network, the buses in Switzerland still fulfill their purpose.
A vast bus route network links with the train system exquisitely, providing efficient and cheap rides to ski resorts near Zurich.
Timetables are usually posted at all stops and online (check their site). Most buses have a screen inside that will thoroughly inform you about the route and next stops. If you have some uncertainties, feel free to ask the driver about anything. Bus tickets can be purchased from the driver or online.
Expect that even local buses will have space on board for large luggage.
3. Private transfers
Private transfers from the Zurich airport directly to your hotel at the ski resort might be a preferred option for many ski travelers.
Having in mind that all these ski resorts are near the city, the drive won’t last long, and the price might be financially acceptable especially if you are traveling in a group.
If you want the ride of the highest quality and comfort, hire a limousine service, and allow a professional driver to take you to your resort using the best routes that will save your time and nerves. Sail into your winter holiday on the most luxurious wheels and be ready to have fun!
Ski resorts near Zurich Airport – conclusion:
Here they are – 8 best ski resorts near Zurich that are reachable in less than two hours. It isn’t that familiar that Zurich is a perfect base for skiing and snowboarding, hiding many snow pearls under its wing.
That’s just how it goes with Switzerland – there is nothing that the Swiss Alps cannot offer and no place which cannot be reached from Zurich Airport.
We mentioned very affordable resorts and those on which the biggest celebrities hit the slopes. It is up to you to choose where you want to spend your winter getaway.
Upon your arrival at the Zurich airport, we warmly recommend hiring a limousine service and reaching your destination in the highest class.
