Anzere ski vacation review

Anzere Skiing at Glance:
Elevation: 1500 M (4,921′) to Summit 2420 M (7,940′)
Vertical: 920 meters (3,018′)
Lifts: 13, inc 2 modern gondolas
Trails: 64 km of prepared pistes plus acres of Freeride terrain when the snow is right.

Anzère: Sunny Slopes, Big Views…a Swiss Ski Gem

Anzère is one of those Swiss Alps ski resorts that quietly steals your heart. Perched in the southwest of Valais, above the Rhône Valley, it sits in a beautiful bowl of peaks—surrounded by ski areas big and small, yet confidently doing its own thing. Mid-sized, thoughtfully designed, and wonderfully family-friendly, Anzère is the kind of place you come for a week… then start plotting your return.

Set between 1,500 and 2,420 meters (about 5,000–8,000 feet), Anzère offers sunny, south-facing slopes with panoramic views that feel almost theatrical. From the lifts, you can spot neighboring Crans Montana and a dozen other ski areas scattered around the valley—plus the provocatively named Sex Noir and Sex Rouge (don’t worry, the “x” is silent). Anzere may be one of the few places in the Alps where you can ski while visually hopping from resort to resort, we counted 10 ski areas from Verbier & 4 Vallees, to Grimentz-Zinal, Leukerbad, Télé Marécottes, Nax Mont Noble, Vercorin, St-Luc/Chandolin, and more.

Anzere’s lift system is modern and efficient: two gondolas anchor the mountain, supported by chairlifts and surface tows. Despite eight drag lifts (pomas) in the mix, everything is accessible via gondolas and chairs.

Start your day riding the base-to-summit gondola from Anzère’s compact village. At the top, the Maimbré plateau opens wide, revealing 60 kilometers of groomed trails—mostly sunny and well-pitched. Beginners enjoy the summit too: the learning terrain sits high on the mountain, with gentle slopes, better than being relegated to the base-area bunny hill. It’s inclusive and scenic, inspiring for novices.

While Anzère officially boasts 29 named runs, the mountain skis more like a dozen long, engaging trails—each with rollers, rhythm, and personality. One standout is the 5-kilometer Piste des Masques, a demanding top-to-bottom black-diamond descent under the Maimbre gondola that drops nearly 3,000′ vertical to the base.

For more nature inspired turns, venture far skier’s left to Les Rousses, where undulating terrain dip below tree-line. Here north-facing trails and glades offer playful skiing and off-piste options. This is also sledding central—home to a wildly long sled run accessed by the triple chair to the mid-station. Alpine sledding is always a little unhinged, and this one delivers. We decided skiing was less-risky.

Off-piste skiing is plentiful and easily accessed, though some terrain is steep and avalanche-prone—hiring a guide is both wise and rewarding. Anzere draws ski tourers, ice climbers, paragliders, and kite skiers alike. The summit buzzes with alpine energy, from wide-eyed beginners to full-send daredevils.

There’s long been talk of lift connections linking Anzère to Crans-Montana—and onward to Adelboden—creating Switzerland’s largest ski network. For now, it remains a tantalizing “what if,” but Anzère stands strong on its own.

Lunch at Anzere is a highlight. Grenier de Zalan is the gem: an intimate, rustic chalet you ski and hike to with a chef-owner who works culinary magic from his wood stove. The fondue is among the best in Valais, and everything from the lasagna to the beef is memorable, on the sun deck or inside the historic Shepard’s hut. Nearby, Écuries de Tsalan, set in a cow barn, serves traditional Swiss fare. Pas de Maimbré at the gondola summit offers refined cuisine, cafeteria and table service sections, extensive wines and a panoramic view. The table service is tucked away from the bustling cafeteria.

Born in the 1960s as a collection of chalets and lifts, Anzère has grown into a well-planned, purpose-built resort. The pedestrian Place du Village hums with life: restaurants, bars, and a cheerful snowpark where kids sled and play while parents linger over Apéro at Ice Cube. On some afternoons, a DJ spins tunes right in the snow-covered plaza, you can ice skate too. For a more grown-up après, Why Not Bar at the Maimbre gondola base delivers music and lively vibes.

What truly sets Anzère apart is its spirit. Weekly events range from torchlight walks and scavenger hunts to night ski touring and ski-school Snow Volley under the lights. It’s wholesome, spirited, and fun.

Après-ski bliss awaits at Anzère Spa & Wellness, a modern complex with indoor and outdoor pools, jacuzzis, saunas, steam rooms, and treatment options. The outdoor heated pool is dreamy, steamy, as you gaze at the surrounding peaks—pure alpine poetry. Swimsuits are required, adults-only zones are blissfully quiet, and yes: BYOT – bring your own towel, or expect a small surcharge to your admission fee.

Anzere accommodations span from hotels, apartments, to chalets in classic Swiss alpine style. Hotel Eden is more upscale, and closest to the gondola, offering modern rooms with balconies, and a great Panoramic restaurant on premise. More economical is Hotel Zodiaque, a 70s chalet hotel, also with scenic balconies, a ski room, lounge and Au Chalet restaurant in a big building on the pedestrian Place du Village, see more on Hotel Zodiaque. While Anzere lacks the luxe of nearby Crans-Montana or the old-world charm of villages like Grimentz or Leukerbad, Anzère makes up for it in convenience and friendliness. Everything is proximate to the gondola, and soon the Mori gondola will continue to a lower village base. You have everything you need in Anzere, ski-back access, ski shops, a spa, restaurants and a grocery market.

Best of all, Anzère is part of The Magic Pass, opening the door to nearby gems like Grimentz-Zinal, Lauchernalp, Leukerbad, Ovronnaz, Vercorin, St-Luc/Chandolin, and more. A Swiss Valais ski safari? Highly recommended. Anzere is just two hours from Geneva, as your port of entry, to drive or take a train to Sion or Brig.

Anzère may not get the big shout—but it doesn’t need to. It simply delivers sunny slopes, big views, hospitality, and a rhythm that makes skiing feel fun again.