Small ski resorts: 11 recommendations for families

You don't have to go abroad to enjoy a nice, affordable day's skiing during the high season. Some of Switzerland's smaller ski resorts have plenty to offer! Here are 11 recommendations for a great day on the slopes.

Eva-Maria Morton de Lachapelle

28 January 2022 | 5 Min. Reading Time

Skiing excursion

When planning a skiing holiday or day out, we mostly picture mountains covered with snow, bright sunshine and a big bowl of cheese fondue. We're happy to forget about the mountains of luggage, the high price of ski passes and the queues for the ski lifts.

Skiing with the family

Families with children also face hurdles of a different kind – like finding a resort with pistes for skiers of every level. And there should also be bad weather alternatives and something to do after the day's skiing lessons. Ideally, the ski lift or ski school should be easy to get to on foot, or at least quickly and easily reached by public transport or car.

School holidays – reserve early

For anyone with children who aren't of school age yet, there are many relatively cheap ski resorts – especially in the low season. However, for the majority of families who are tied to the school holidays, it is advisable to book well in advance if you want to spend time at the most popular and renowned ski resorts. Which also means having to dig deep into your pockets.

Small ski resorts in Switzerland

That's why some prefer to spend their family skiing holidays in Germany, Austria or France. But there are affordable alternatives even in Switzerland. These are often smaller, less well-known ski resorts, which doesn't mean that they don't have everything families need for a successful skiing holiday. On the contrary, anyone willing to give a smaller ski resort a chance will be delighted by the lack of hustle and bustle, the abundance of nature and the pleasant encounters with the locals.

So we have put together a list of 11 recommendations which are relatively cheap and where you can enjoy many other winter sports activities.

Inexpensive ski resorts: our 11 recommendations

CHF 58 / day

60km of pistes at 1,500 – 2,362m

Anzères (Valais)

The Valais mountain village has made its centre particularly child-friendly: during the winter season, the young visitors can enjoy a sledging and ski piste along with a rolling carpet.

The Valais mountain village has made its centre particularly child-friendly: during the winter season, the young visitors can enjoy a sledging and ski piste along with a rolling carpet. Piste map

CHF 49 / day

26km of pistes at 1,250 – 1,900m

Braunwald (Glarus)

If travelling to Braunwald by car, you have to leave your vehicle in Linthal and continue your journey by funicular. This is because Braunwald is a car-free resort.

Families with children up to the age of 16 can take advantage of a special offer: a day pass costing CHF 155 that includes ski passes and lunch for everyone. As well as a hike affording panoramic views of the Glarus peaks, other winter activities in Braunwald include horse-drawn sleigh rides, sledging and ski touring. Piste map

CHF 56 / day

44km of pistes at 1,619 – 2,868m

Grächen (Valais)

A small winter sports resort that is geared entirely towards families. A gondola takes you up from the mountain village to the slopes of Hannigalp, and you can listen to fairy tales during the ride.

Once at the top, you'll find the ski school meeting point, a huge children's park, the Sisu Wolkenland indoor play area and a crèche, which is included in the price of the ski pass. The Skimovie slope, on which skiers of all ages can film themselves as they race downhill, is right next door. The village itself has a sports centre, where visitors can skate on the natural ice rink. Piste map

CHF 44 / day

12km of pistes at 1,200 – 1,682m

Kandersteg (Bernese Oberland)

Kandersteg is ideal not only for families, but also for nature-lovers. This small ski area has a reasonable number of pistes, ranging from easy to medium in difficulty.

Oeschinensee, a lake situated at 1,578 metres above sea level, is one of a kind and part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Two hiking trails lead across the lake when it is frozen. You can also skate on the frozen Oeschinensee, or even go ice fishing. Piste map

CHF 58 / day

100km of pistes at 1,445m

Les Mosses incl. Leysin (Vaud)

This mountain village in the Vaud Alps is part of the Leysin - Les Mosses - La Lècherette ski area, with around 100km of pistes on offer. Thanks to its extensive network of cross-country trails, Les Mosses has also become known as a biathlon centre.

But the resort is a popular destination for families, too. At the foot of the ski slopes and just 300m from the centre of the village is the Les Mosses Parc, a snowpark with a ski lift and magic carpet for kids. Snowtubing is another activity that promises lots of thrills and fun. And there's a freestyle snowpark and cross piste next to the Crettex ski lift. Piste map

CHF 39 / day

20km of pistes at 1,061 – 1,568m

Les Paccots (Fribourg)

The holiday resort is situated close to Châtel-St-Denis and can be easily reached from Fribourg and Lausanne in around 30 minutes. Its gentle slopes and Snowli snow garden make it the ideal place for children to learn to ski.

Visitors appreciate the family-friendly atmosphere and closeness to nature. If you like to snowshoe, visit farms or go horse riding, then this is the resort for you. And Les Paccots also has a large ice rink. Piste map

CHF 55 / day

30km of pistes at 1,300 – 2,427m

Ovronnaz (Valais)

The pistes for all levels and snowpark with timed ski cross runs are not the only highlights to be found in Ovronnaz. Where better to relax than in the thermal baths with wonderful views of the mountains all around?

There's a baby lift for young children next to the Ovronnaz ski lift. A free programme of weekly events is organised for visitors throughout the winter season. Activities include yoga in the snow or learning how to make crêpes, for example. If you're not only interested in downhill skiing or snowboarding, you can go snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or ski touring. Piste map

CHF 39 / day

14km of pistes at 800 – 1,600m

Sattel-Hochstuckli (Schwyz)

The world's first-ever revolving gondola carries winter sports fans from the valley station in Sattel to the top of this family mountain. If you decide to stay in Mostelberg, at an altitude of 1,200 metres, you'll have direct access to the ski school and the Rondos Kinderland facilities for children.

One of the features is a 125-metre "magic tunnel": a conveyor belt that takes kids comfortably back to the mountain station while telling them the story of Rondo, the little mascot. The 40-minute loop trail across the Raiffeisen Skywalk, a 374-metre pedestrian suspension bridge, promises hikers a special experience. Piste map

CHF 61 / day

80km of pistes at 1,200 – 2,713m

Savognin (Graubünden)

Savognin is situated at the heart of Parc Ela, Switzerland's largest nature park. The family-friendly ski resort has long, extra-wide downhill runs. The Kinderland facility for children is right in the middle of the village and you can leave your children here to be looked after and fed even if they're not taking part in a skiing course.

As an alternative to the ski slopes, there are two sledge runs and many winter hiking trails and ski touring routes. And the snowpark adds even more variety. Piste map

CHF 54 / day

53km of pistes at 1,166 – 2,350m

Sörenberg (Lucerne)

Thanks to the many activities it offers, the Lucerne ski region is ideal for the whole family. If you don't ski or snowboard, you'll find fantastic snowshoe trails, winter hiking paths and cross-country trails. Or you can have fun on the sledge runs and natural ice rink.

There's even more fun for kids up in the Rossweid area at 1,465 metres above sea level, including a photo station. That's also where the Freestyle-Line heads back down to the village. The Sörenberg Freestyle-Line is a piste designed to excite skiers and snowboarders of every level. The village itself has an indoor swimming pool and "Kids Village" with ski and snowboard school. Piste map

CHF 52 / day

35km of pistes at 1,300 – 1,935m

Stoos (Schwyz)

The funicular railway will take you from Schwyz to Stoos at world-record speed. The car-free ski resort offers access to slopes to suit all tastes and levels of ability: easy runs for beginners; broad, panoramic pistes for those who like to ski for fun; and steep descents for experts and thrill-seekers.

No-one, whether skier, snowboarder or hiker, should miss the spectacular views from Fronalpstock, taking in 10 Swiss lakes. In addition, Stoos offers family-friendly prices: the Kids' Pass lets children of 5 and under ski for free, and the Family Day Pass for CHF 126 includes kids aged 6-15. Piste map