Family & kids, Ski, Snowboard | Mar 10, 2022

The best ski resorts for families in Switzerland

Marietta Hoffmann
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Are you looking to spend a relaxed, laid-back and fun ski holiday with your family? At the family ski resorts of Switzerland, that’s easy! There is a multitude of options for winter lovers to spend their time in the snow: skiing, sledging, cross-country skiing and more – a dream come true for sporty guests!

The best thing about it: The family-friendly ski regions offer something for every age. While the grown-ups can relax and unwind, the little ones are living it up in the snow. A real win-win situation!

How to spot a family-friendly ski resort

Quality seal, family runs and more

Beginners and children have special wishes during a ski holiday – and so do more accomplished skiers! Family-friendly ski regions cater to both, making the snow dreams of skiers of all skill levels come true. The following criteria are useful for identifying a “family-friendly” ski resort that lives up to the demands of the young and the young-at-heart:

  • (Swiss) quality seal “Families welcome” 
  • discounted family ski pass prices, free ski passes for children or package deals for families
  • many easy ski runs (green & blue runs, family runs)
  • children’s lifts, child-friendly chairlifts or child-friendly access to the lifts
  • comprehensive childcare services 
  • ski schools with beginners’ areas near the valley 
  • special children’s areas with wave tracks, adventure courses, playgrounds and more

Family-friendly & safe

Marked ski runs for beginners

Not every slope is suitable for children with little skiing experience. That’s why it’s important for a family-friendly ski resort to offer clearly marked easy runs in addition to the beginners’ and children’s slopes. Kids and newbies should stick to the green and blue runs as they are not as steep and thus suitable for families.

© McKINLEY

Top-class equipment for the whole family

© McKINLEY

For a successful ski holiday, you also need the right equipment! Fortunately, winter sports enthusiasts can rely on the comprehensive and family-friendly services of INTERSPORT Rent in Switzerland. Our RENTertainers on site will be happy to support you in finding the right gear for you and your loved ones. Plus, our convenient online reservation tool allows you to pick your favourite skis in advance. Benefit from top quality and family-friendly prices!

Children’s hotels with all the bells and whistles

If you’re holidaying with the family, a stay at a family-friendly accommodation is something like a “holiday upgrade”. That’s because special children’s hotels cater specifically to the needs of winter sports fans of all ages, ensuring a relaxed getaway in the snow. The staff knows just what families need on a ski holiday. Plus, there are plenty of great off-piste activities on offer.

© McKINLEY

What makes a good children’s hotel?

Firstly, family-friendly hotels are located near the slopes. Often, the best runs are just outside your doorstep, making it unnecessary to carry your equipment over long distances. What’s more, there should be a ski lift nearby. A ski shuttle is also a convenient service for families.

Why you should book a children’s hotel for your ski holiday

  • comprehensive baby- and childcare services
  • children’s menus and children’s buffets
  • on-site playgrounds and playrooms
  • special baby- and childcare items in your room or available for rent at reception 
  • special family rooms 
  • special family rates

Family-friendly services like these make a holiday a pleasure for both kids and parents.

Good to know: For even more information on ski holidays with children, check out our blog!

Family ski resorts in Switzerland

With more than 300 ski resorts and countless kilometres of slopes, Switzerland has winter sports happiness down pat. In addition to traditional ski runs, the snow-sure Alpine region boasts plenty of cross-country ski trails, sledging runs, freeride descents and winter hiking trails.

The ski resorts of Switzerland are known as a snow paradise for kids, making them popular with families from all over the world. 
But where can you find the best family ski resorts in Switzerland, and what makes them so special? Our RENTertainers have all the facts for you …

Aletsch Arena

Aletsch Arena encompasses the villages of Riederalp, Bettmeralp and Fiesch-Eggishorn. With a total of 104 kilometres of slopes, it’s a great choice for snow-loving families. More than 40 kilometres of ski runs are rated green, blue or family runs – perfect for families with kids and for beginners! At the kids’ club, the littlest ones can make their first winter sports experiences, or learn how to master their first turns in the snow at the adjacent beginners’ area.

© aletscharena.ch / PERRET
© aletscharena.ch / Christian Pfammatter

The resort’s family-friendly services at a glance:

  • Bobo’s Children’s Club  (with a snow garden and the Snow Kids Village)
  • Snowli Park ski school
  • ski kindergarten
  • merry-go-round
  • wave track
  • obstacle course 
  • magic carpet
  • children’s lifts
  • childcare services
  • playground
  • “Kindersonnenland” children’s area (with a snowtubing track and sledging run)  
  • Gletschi, the glacier flea mascot

Arosa Lenzerheide

The family ski resort of Arosa Lenzerheide is particularly popular with beginners. At Honigland Prätschli and the children’s areas of Auarara, Fastatsch and Heimberg, the youngest guests will have plenty of fun while learning how to ski.

Most attractions are free for kids, and the resort boasts plenty of easy, child-friendly runs, plus special highlights like a merry-go-round, a mini obstacle course and an igloo. The resort’s 225 kilometres of slopes also offer something for more accomplished skiers. Plus, there are several snow parks, cross-country ski trails and a sledging run.

© Arosa Lenzerheide
© Arosa Lenzerheide

The resort’s family-friendly services at a glance

  • Honigland Prätschli & several children’s areas
  • merry-go-round
  • obstacle course
  • magic carpet
  • ski kindergarten
  • ski school
  • childcare services
  • snowtubing track 
  • sledging run
  • Globi’s winter playground 
  • Snowli, the mascot

Brigels-Waltensburg-Andiast

The family-friendly ski resort of Brigels-Waltensburg-Andiast is located above the picturesque Vorderrhein valley. With its 50 kilometres of slopes, it’s a perfect choice for beginners. The wonderfully wide slopes and the Snow Kids Village with practice area make the resort a great choice for winter sports enthusiasts of all ages. More experienced skiers can nip over to the nearby snow park or the Skimovie racetrack.

© McKinley
© McKINLEY

The resort’s family-friendly services at a glance:

  • children’s areas with practice slopes
  • ski kindergarten & day nursery (for children up to the age of 4)
  • ski school 
  • childcare services
  • Snow Kids Village (with a merry-go-round, magic carpet, tow lift, Ski-Doo course and wave track)
  • adventure course
  • children’s lifts
  • sledging run
  • snowtubing track with lift

Grächen

Grächen ski resort was made for families. Expect 44 kilometres of perfectly groomed slopes, a magical fairy-tale cable car and a great SiSu family park! Plus, there’s a snowshoeing trail and a sledging run. Comprehensive childcare services allow for a little parents’ time-out spent relaxing or exploring the ski resort.

© IIC - INTERSPORT International Corporation GmbH
© McKINLEY

The resort’s family-friendly services at a glance

  • fairy-tale cable car
  • SiSu family park (with children’s lifts, beginners’ slopes, magic carpets, a merry-go-round and a fairy-tale igloo cinema)
  • sledging run
  • snowtubing track
  • mäc SiSu family restaurant
  • 4 family funparks for children aged 2 to 15 
  • introductory snowbike course
  • family funslope 
  • Jump Maxi Area
  • ski kindergarten for children aged up to 2 years
  • ski school
  • SiSu, the mascot
  • winter hiking trails
  • snowshoeing trails

Klosters Madrisa

Spread out across 31 kilometres of slopes at the adventure mountain near Davos-Klosters, you can find a snow paradise for winter sports athletes of all ages and skill levels. While beginners can work on their first turns in the snow at Madrisa-Land, more accomplished skiers can experience action-packed snow adventures at Madrisa-Park. If you’re looking for great off-piste activities, there are numerous winter hiking trails and a sledging run, making a ski holiday in Klosters Madrisa a great choice for snow-loving families.

© McKINLEY
© McKINLEY

The resort’s family-friendly services at a glance

  • Madrisa-Land for beginners (with a merry-go-round, bouncy castle, trampoline, snowtubing track and magic carpet)
  • Madrisa-Park for more experienced skiers (with a race park, big airbag, obstacle course, children’s cross track, wave track and jumps)
  • ski kindergarten
  • ski school 
  • playground
  • Snowli, the mascot
  • sledging run
  • winter hiking trails

INTERSPORT Rent tip

Have you found the perfect destination for your family ski holiday? That’s great! Then it’s time to pack your suitcases! What should you pack for your winter getaway, and what’s important to keep in mind? Our ski holiday checklist will help you make the right decisions. You’ll see: Packing has never been easier!

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