The Swiss Alps are legendary for Alpine skiing, extraordinary scenery and authentic chalets for lodging, dining and après ski. Here are a few of the best ski hotels in Switzerland’s Alps, four and five star places to stay located right on the slopes for your next Swiss luxury ski vacation.
Zermatt has over 120 fine ski hotels, all walking distance to Zermatt’s ski lifts in this car free ski village. The Cervo is the ultimate chic alpine hotel, located at the base of the Sunnegga slopes. Cervo is also THE Place to be and be seen at après ski, so you are styling where the cool kids party after skiing, but your suite is quiet and sophisticated come evening. The Suitenhotel Zurbriggen Zermatt is a modern minimalist style hotel and spa, owned by famed Swiss ski racer Pirmin Zurbriggen. On mountain at Zermatt, The Riffelalp Resort at mid mountain or The Kulmhotel at the summit – are both reached by the Gornnergrat train. You can also stay in an igloo on the ski slopes at Zermatt’s Iglu Dorf – how cool is that! See our review of skiing Zermatt.
Crans Montana is sizeable in Valais – the Rhone River valley loaded with ski mountains. Crans Montana has sunny southern exposure summit skiing from nearly 3000 meters (9,600′), and breathtaking Alps views all around the circuit of 34 lifts on 140 kilometers of slopes, plus thousands of acres of Freeride Terrain. The luxury hotel Crans Ambassador is ideal for posh 5-star lodging, dining and a sophisticated spa. For a more relaxed affordable family-run Chalet hotel on a high mountain plateau the Hôtel Ad’Eldorado is charming.
Portes Du Soleil is a vast ski region connecting 12 village, in both the Swiss and French Alps. Our favorite place to stay is in Les Crosets, Switzerland, a small ski village, at The Mountain Lodge. From this modern but cozy on slope ski lodge, you are step to the lifts, and après ski provides a jacuzzi, steam room, Cinema, fireside bar, and delicious homemade dinner and breakfast – included in your stay. Our balcony in the beautiful chalet lodge afforded a great view of night skiing and the Dents Du Midi – the striking Alps peaks that frame Portes Du Soleil’s tremendous skiing.
Les 4 Vallées combined is a Swiss mega resort comprised of 6 Ski Resorts, 72 Lifts, over 410 km of prepared pistes with peak elevation of 3330-meters. The 5 resorts from east to west include Thyon/Les Collons, Veysonnaz, Nendaz, La Tzoumaz, and the venerable Verbier.
Verbier is the very chic ski village within 4 Vallees, a party town and playground for the wealthy and wild – the ski terrain here is pretty extreme and steep. Among Verbier’s hotels and chalets, Chalet de Flore is four star and offers beautiful suites with mountain views, conveniently located near the lifts and the village shops, dining and après ski.
Located in the center of 4 Vallées’ vast terrain is Nendaz, offering quieter less expensive lodging like the smaller slopeside Hotel Les Etagnes. In charming Thyon Les Collons, the slopeside Hotel La Cambuse offers chic Swiss ambiance, delicious cuisine, and stunning views of the Matterhorn. See our review of Hotel La Cambuse.
Arolla is great if you want to break away from the crowds… at an elevation of 2000-meters at the top of the Val d’Hérens, you will discover this village and the charming Hotel du Pigne with its 12 modern, spacious and comfortable rooms offering a warm family atmosphere with fabulous dining. See our review of Hotel Du Pigne. Arolla’s skiing from a 3,000-meter summit is accessed by just 4 T-bars, but the mountain offers something for everyone including vast off-piste skiing. The Espace Dent-Blanche’s 3 ski areas in the valley offer over 100km of slopes and trails. Grand Hôtel & Kurhaus is a Swiss Historic Hotel near the base of Arolla, with wonderful cuisine and old-world charm.
Leukerbad is a famed Swiss spa village known for its natural hot springs. On one side of Leukerbad village you can ski Torrent Alpine Ski Area. Across town, ride the Cable car to Gemmi Plateau and 
SnowparSportarena which hosts over 50 kilometers of high alpine XC trails around Lake Daubensee and views of twenty 4000-meter peaks in the surrounding Valais and the Rhone Valley. Leukerbad’s alpine village has great dining and lodging. The family run Hotel Waldhaus is a lovely small Alpine Chalet right by the base of the skiing with exceptional cuisine.
Saas Fee is a romantic, family friendly car-free ski village near Zermatt, without the busy Zermatt feel. If you want to be slope-side The Hotel Bristol (pictured right) while not fancy is well-located. This ski in/ski out hotel overlooks the beginner skiing and ice rink, in the heart of Saas Fee ski village. Bristol’s south facing rooms have balconies with magnificent mountain views. Bristol is comfy and cozy – and with half-board, its easy – buffet breakfast and a 4-course dinner each day included in your stay. Its fun to ski from Saas Fee’s glacial 3,500 meter summit and ski all the way down to 1700 meters at The Bristol.
Adelboden is a small Swiss village that fills when the World Cup comes to town each January. The Parkhotel Bellevue and Spa is the perfect ski retreat, with its scenic hillside setting overlooking the historic village. Lovely guestrooms- some modern, some traditional, excellent dining and après ski in the glass lined dining room and lounge, and a splendid Spa with indoor and outdoor salt water heated pools plus a Finnish sauna await you. Adelboden is a sprawling Alps ski area, comprised of 6 ski areas: Adelboden Lenk, Engstligenalp, Elsigbach, TschentenAlp, Betelberg and Kandersteg
Wengen is the crown jewel of the Jungrfrau region in Switzerland, in the heart of the skiing at Grindelwald, Wengen and Murren – where you’ll find the Schilthorn and the Piz Gloria revolving 360 restaurant James Bond made famous. Wengen’s car-free ski village is historic and happening, especially during the World Cup race on the Lauberhorn. The Hotel Regina, since 1894, is a classic, old-world regal hotel perched on Wengen’s hillside, a short walk to town, the ski shops, bars, and train station. Rooms are old-fashioned, traditional, skier comforts in the hotel include a ski room, and a bountiful breakfast, plus a hearty prixe fixe dinner in the grand dining room. Après ski drinks in the Swiss décor piano bar are a flash from the past.
Ski Lodge Engelberg, while not a luxury hotel – is also not stuffy or sophisticated, its lively, casual and fun for skiers, perfect after skiing the Titlus Glacier and Engleberg’s beautiful ski slopes. This Swedish-owned hotel has great après ski, an outdoor hot tub and Sauna, ski room with boot dryers, modest comfy rooms, and serves a bountiful breakfast buffet well before lift opening in the pretty mountain village of Engelberg. The balcony views of Mt Titlis, Spannort and Hahnen are impressive as well, and you are steps to the Train station and ski bus, and the 11th century Monastery where they make cheese.
St Moritz most famed hotel is Badrutts. This grand castle is historic and gorgeous. Johannes Badrutt made a bold bet with his English summer guests, promising them mild Engadin sunshine in mid-winter. Badrutt won the bet – hence the 1865 5 star Badrutts Palace Hotel and St. Moritz went on to become one of the world’s most exceptional winter sports resorts. Badrutt’s is the “Grande Dame” of Swiss hotels. The 1855 Kulm is also 5 star, and even more historic, in St Moritz.
In Davos Klosters, 
the more charming alpine town of Davos Klosters, either Chalet Piz Buin or Hotel Vereina are lovely 4-star hotels, steps to the ski tram or a bus or train to more nearby ski slopes. If you must stay in Davos- the Seehof is 5-star, steps to the funicular and posh, or the Alpen Gold is a cool modern hotel – resembling a massive golden easter egg – its five star but further from the ski lifts and town.
Gstaad ski village in the Bernese Oberland is famed for beautiful chalets and upscale boutique shopping, even more than the skiing! Gstaad is also home to some of the best five star hotels in Switzerland – Park Gstaad, The Gstaad Palace Hotel and the Alpina Gstaad, plus four star hotels ideal for families like The GolfHotel Les Haus and Spa in Saanenmoser, and the more casual Hamilton Lodge in Rinderberg – a true ski in ski out hotel. See our review of skiing Gstaad
See more on Skiing Switzerland
Top European Ski Resorts
Top Swiss Ski Hotels
Top Ski Hotels in Austria
Top Ski Hotels in France
Top Ski Hotels in Italy
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