Switzerland makes it easy to take public transportation to go skiing, with frequent, efficient connections to ski resorts and extra room for ski equipment. Since many people here don’t have cars here, you’ll see lots of people catching the bus and train wearing their ski boots and carrying their skis.
But it can be intimidating your first time, carrying all your gear onto the train and wondering if you’re doing it right. So here are a bunch of tips to make your trip efficient and comfortable, avoiding mistake we made on our first few times traveling by train to ski.
Why travel by train to ski?
I was so accustomed to driving on our ski days that I was a little nervous to try the train. It seemed like more hassle than it’s worth.
In 2019, we did our first ski holiday by train, to Aletsch Arena and it was easier than I thought and had so many benefits, especially for the driver. I didn’t have to worry about icy roads or traffic or falling asleep at the wheel on the way home after a long day of skiing. Plus there was one less car on the highway guzzling gas. Win win.
Traveling on trains to ski
1. Pick ski resorts with easy transfer connections
You can reach any ski resort with public transportation. But it’s certainly much easier, especially with kids, if you minimize the connections and walking time from the train/bus to the resort. It’s the easiest and most convenient if the train drops you right at the gondola station and I’ve listed a few of those below.
In most cases, you’ll need to take a bus to the resort, which isn’t my favorite but also not so bad. PostAuto buses usually have storage areas under the bus where you can place your gear. Shuttle buses often have big open areas where you can stand and hold your gear. During peak hours, sometimes they will send two buses to pick up all the train travelers so everyone fits. But don’t count on it – be aggressive (but polite) getting on that bus!
My last choice is ski resorts where the train/bus drops you off in the village and you have to walk a few minutes on icy roads from the train/bus station to the resort. With kids, this can feel like walking 100 miles. So I’m not mentioning those here.
At these resorts, the train drops you directly at the funicular/gondola/cable car station:
- Braunwald 1hr30 from Zürich
- Flumserberg 1hr30 from Zürich
- Klosters 2hr from Zürich
At the following resorts, after the train, you ride a bus that drops you directly at the funicular/gondola/cable car station:
- Stoos 1hr20 from Zürich
- Elm 1hr45 from Zürich
- Pizol 1hr30 from Zürich (Bad Ragaz side is slightly easier)
- Brunni-Alpthal 1hr15 from Zürich
- Hoch Ybrig 1h30 from Zürich
- Engelberg Titlis 1hr50 from Zürich
- Lenzerheide 2hr (bus drops directly Rothorn, for other lifts, you walk or take another bus)
- Hasliberg 2hr30 from Zürich
This is only a partial list of ski areas convenient from Zürich. Do you have a favorite not on the list?
2. Avoid rush hour on the train
Just like with driving, there is “rush hour” on the train on the way to and from the ski resorts. So trains can get very full at peak times, sometimes standing room only. This can be uncomfortable and difficult when managing both children and gear. So best to get an early start, arriving at the resort before 9:00.
On the way home, it’s a bit more difficult to plan because people leave the resort at all different times. But the trains leaving near the resort closing time, from about 14:30 to 17:00 will be the most full. After your ski day, you might linger at the restaurant with the kids having an après-ski hot chocolate before squeezing on the train home.
Save money on train tickets
3. Book combo train/ski tickets with SBB Snow’n’Rail
When you book through SBB Snow’n’Rail, you can get a 20% discount on the train travel to the ski resort and a discount on ski passes for many popular Swiss ski resorts, at least 10% but sometimes up to 50%. You also get a 15% discount on equipment rental with Intersport Rent. So review these offers before choosing where to go skiing.
Note: some offers are not valid during school holidays, so check the offer validity dates.
In the 2021/22 winter season, SBB Railaway has a “Ski for free” offer at Aletsch Arena where kids ski free every Saturday, adults get 10% off their ski pass, and the whole family gets 20% off train travel there and back. We took advantage of this offer in 2019 and loved our time at Aletsch Arena.
4. Book train tickets in advance
Even if your ski resort is not included in Snow’n’Rail, you can still save time and money by booking both train tix and ski passes in advance. If you know for sure that you’ll be traveling to a ski resort on a particular day, you can buy Supersaver tickets, which give a heavy discount on a travel route for a specific day & time, discounted up to 70%. These are not flexible and only valid on the exact route and day/time. Saver Day Passes are more flexible because they are valid the whole day on any route.
See also How to save on Swiss Train Travel.
Transporting ski gear on trains
5. Wear your gear
I now know that most skiers on the train wear their ski boots and all their ski clothes on their way to the slopes. I thought it would be easier for my kids if I carried their snowboard boots, helmets and ski clothes in a big bag. Classic rookie mistake.
Yes, it was slightly easier and more comfortable for them on the train. But I had to worry about this big heavy bag of gear, which made it more difficult to help my kids manage their other stuff. Plus, once we got to the ski resort, we wasted time getting dressed and stashing the bag.
On the way home, we simply got on the train in all our gear and it was so much simpler. I even suggest wearing your helmet until you are actually sitting on the train, then you can take it off during the ride. So word to the wise: the best way to bring your gear to the ski slopes is to wear it.
6. Carry gear in bags
It can be difficult for children (and adults) to keep 2 skis and 2 poles in one tidy package, especially when getting on and off trains and changing tracks. At the very minimum, get the velco straps that hold the skis together and another smaller one that holds the poles together.
But best to get ski bags (maybe boot bags) that keep it all together. Some ski bags will fit 2-3 sets of gear, meaning that a parent can more easily carry the gear for the child. I got a bag just to carry the gear from the parking lot to the resort. I was so sick of the skis slipping apart and poles flying every which way.
Here are some inexpensive bags you can buy from online shops in Switzerland:
- CHF 13 at Decathalon
- CHF 29.90 at Ochsner Sport
- CHF 59 at Galaxus – fits two sets of skis and poles
7. Use luggage delivery services
SBB has a luggage transfer service, which will transport luggage and ski equipment from one station to another. The luggage transfer typically takes 2 days and it can wait at the stations for 4 days without an extra fee. So two days before your trip, you could drop all your luggage and gear at your local station. Then have a comfortable journey without hassling with your gear and pick it up at your destination. This makes more sense if you are doing a multi-day ski holiday, where you are taking luggage as well as ski gear.
In 2021, it costs CHF 12 per item each one way for station to station service. If you want them to pick up the luggage from your home and drop it at your hotel, it’s additional flat rate “door to door” charge of CHF 43. See SBB offer for details and list of destinations.
8. Be polite: Clear snow off your skis
Most trains servicing ski areas have special areas in each car to place skis and snowboards. But these can fill up quickly. So many people place their gear on the overhead shelves, which are just deep enough to fit a pair of skis and poles or a snowboard with the bindings folded down. This is also helpful if you want to keep an eye on your gear.
However, on the way home, when I was confidently loading two sets of skis and three snowboards onto these overhead shelves, I was getting some weird looks from the other travelers that were sitting under my gear. When one group fled to another seat, I realized our boards were dripping icy water directly onto their heads. I wasn’t the only guilty party doing this. But most people were sitting under their own dripping gear, not imposing it on other passengers. So be kind and clear off all the snow before loading your gear on the way home.
Storing ski gear
9. Rent lockers for the season
If you are mainly skiing at the same place, many ski resorts have long-term locker rentals so you can safely leave your equipment at the resort instead of bringing it back and forth every weekend. Some are at the resort itself, others are a sport stores near the resort. Rentals are usually available for day, month or season. Just search for “ski storage” or “ski locker” at your desired ski resort.
Here are a couple examples.
- Flumserberg has ski locker locations at each main gondola. One locker typically fits 2 skis or 2 snowboards, some also fit boots and helmets. The big lockers that are heated cost CHF 250 for the season.
- At Arosa, the Luzi Sport store next to the lifts has ski lockers and smaller day lockers for personal items as well. Seasonal locker rental for gear is CHF 180.
- In Davos/Klosters, the Bardill sports store has ski lockers in at the valley stations at Madrisa, Klosters and Davos. Prices vary based on what you are storing for how long. A month locker rental for skis and shoes is CHF 150.
10. Rent a ski apartment for the season
This is a little extreme, but I know quite a few families that do this. It certainly makes traveling and skiing with children easier because all your gear and ski clothing stays at the resort. You can also travel the night before, skipping the early morning crowded commute on the train. It can be more affordable than booking a hotel every weekend, depending on what kind of place you rent.
Most vacation rentals in ski areas are for the week. So finding one for the whole season can be a little tricky. I would start by looking at the ski resort website, which often lists rentals in the area. Some online resources include Homegate.ch, Comparis.ch and Airbnb.com. It’s best to book these months in advance as they book out quickly.
If you have babies and toddlers that won’t be skiing, some ski resorts and community centers have lists of babysitters in the local area that will come to your ski apartment and watch your child while you ski. Reserve their time well in advance and expect to pay about CHF 30/hour.
That’s all the tips for now. Ready to take the train to ski?How to take the train to ski in Switzerland and tips to make it cheaper and easier, especially with children.
2 responses
I think the SBB snow n rail deal is only valid for skiing on the same day of travel.
Yes, but you don’t have to book a return trip to get the discount. I used Snow n’ Rail for a weekend trip, getting the discount for both my arrival day and departure day. But you are right, it’s a little complicated and not that useful for a week long holiday.