12 Best beginner ski areas near Zürich

When you are first learning to ski, it’s helpful to start in small beginner ski areas, which have short, mild hills separate from the main ski slopes. Instead of a chair lift, you typically use a moving sidewalk (aka “magic carpet”) and/or tow rope back up the hill, which is easy and safe to use even for small children. In Switzerland, these are called “snow gardens” and are often free or inexpensive to use. 

Here are our favorite beginner ski areas near Zurich.

What to expect at beginner ski areas

Although most beginner areas welcome both adults and children, some are clearly designed for small children and ski schools, with lots of cartoon characters and amusements. For adults, I would suggest Flumserberg, Elm, Stoos or Brunni Engelberg Klostermatte. 

These beginner areas can get very crowded, especially during school holidays and sunny weekends. So parking can fill up early and lines can be long. If you have small children, consider going on Wednesday afternoons, which may be less crowded.

Many beginner’s areas are at relatively low elevations, meaning they don’t always have enough snow during the whole winter season. So definitely check the lift and slope report before going.

No gondola required

At the following ski areas, you can drive or take a bus directly to the beginner’s area. You don’t have ride a gondola or other mountain transport to get there. This means it’s cheaper to use and  non-skiing parents don’t have to pay anything to bring their child there. But these are usually at lower elevations, so may not have snow all winter season.

1. Oberiberg Kinderland

This beginner’s area is right next to the parking, so you don’t need to pay for a gondola to reach it. This area has a short magic carpet, which can be used by skiers and sledders. You’ll need a day pass to use this magic carpet, which costs CHF 10 for adults and children (2023 prices).

Next to this beginner’s hill, there is a snow garden for ski lessons, which has another magic carpet and other amusements. Next to the beginner’s area, there are also two T-bar lifts that service a couple runs, which would be nice if you have a mix of abilities in your group. Those lifts require a separate ticket. See more information about the Oberiberg ski area.

For ski rentals, there is Holdener Sport next to the parking – Tschalunstrasse 4, 8843 Oberiberg.

Magic carpet only: CHF 10/person
Address: Tschalunstrasse 3, 8843 Oberiberg
Website: skiliftoberiberg.ch

2. Skilift Brunni Alpthal

This ski area is extremely popular for beginners and for good reason. It has a 50 m long magic carpet that may be used by skiers and sledders. You need a ticket to use the magic carpet for anyone over age 3.

Next to the magic carpet, there is a T-bar lift with a short and easy blue run for beginners. In this same area, there are longer T-bars and cable car for more advanced skiers. So this area is good for groups with a variety of ski levels. Brunni Alpthal is usually quite crowded, so set your expectations and go early.

There is a second magic carpet at Brunni Haggenegg (43 m long), just a short walk from the Skilift Brunni area, near the ski school. This magic carpet has a separate fee, not combined with the other magic carpet.

Magic carpet only: CHF 13/adult, CHF 10/child
Address: Brunnistrasse 21, 8849 Alpthal
Website: www.skiliftbrunni.ch

3. Flumserberg Tannenboden

At the Tannenboden, near the parking and bus stop, you’ll find two magic carpets that are free to use. These are not the same magic carpets inside the enclosed ski school area, which are reserved for ski lessons only. The “public access” magic carpets have a very small hill, great for that first time on skis or a snowboard.

If you are driving, your only cost is the parking fee. If you are coming by public transportation, you’ll need to pay for a return ticket on the gondola from the Unterterzen train station up to Tannenboden, which costs about CHF 15/adult. If you are buying a regular ski lift ticket, this gondola will be included in the price .  

I’ve heard a couple people say that technically you need a ticket to use these magic carpets if you are over 6. But I couldn’t find anything on the website that says this and I’ve used them many times over the years and never seen anyone check tickets.  

Magic carpet: free
Address: Molseralpstrasse 9, 8898 Flumserberg
Website: www.flumserberg.ch

4. Raten near Einsiedeln

Raten is a small ski hill near Einsiedeln, an easy and inexpensive place for beginners to practice. It has one disc lift and a smaller tow rope, but no magic carpet. So absolute beginners may prefer others on this list, since magic carpets are a bit easier to use than a tow rope.

Next to the ski hill, there is a nice sledding hill (just walk back up), so non-skiers can also be entertained. It’s close enough to Zurich that you can even drive over on a Wednesday afternoon for just a couple hours.  See our post about Skiing at Raten

Website: www.skilift-raten.ch • webcam
Location: Holderbachweg 9, 6315 Oberägeri
From Zürich: 40 mins by car, 1hr20 by train/bus
Price 2022/23: Adult CHF 14, Child under age 16 CHF 9, Family CHF 27 (cash only)

5. Brunni Engelberg – Globi’s Winterland Klostermatte

Near the parking for the Brunni Engelberg cable car, there is a large beginners area with three magic carpets (30m, 100m, 140m) and two drag lifts (600m). You need a ticket to use this area. 

Their prices are much more expensive than many other beginner areas, but they do provide more services. We like this area because there is a variety of steepness and length of the hills, giving a beginner more options as they progress.  

Magic carpet: CHF 24/adult, CHF 20/teen (16-19), CHF 16/child (6-15), CHF 10/toddler (3-5). Slight discount for morning and afternoon tickets. 
Non-skiing parent cost: Free.
Address: Wydenstrasse 55, 6390 Engelberg
Website: brunni.ch

Gondola to reach ski resort

At the following resorts, you have to ride a gondola, funicular or other mountain transport to reach the ski resort and beginners area. This means parents will have to pay a fee to accompany children even if they aren’t skiing.

6. Stoos – Fröneli Winterland

Children and adults may use the two magic carpets in Fröneli’s Winterland for free. This beginners practice area is in the middle of the Stoos village, a short walk from the top of the funicular. There are two restaurant nearby. 

To reach this area, you do need to pay for a return ticket on the funicular to reach the ski resort. In 2021/22, this return ticket costs CHF 22/adult, CHF 11/child 6-15 or adults with SBB Half-fare, free for kids with a SBB Junior Card or under 6 and adults with GA. 

Magic carpet: free. Children age 6+ and adults need funicular return ticket to access resort
Non-skiing parent cost: CHF 22 for funicular return ticket
Address: Grundstrasse 234, 6430 Schwyz
Website: www.stoos.ch

7. Sattel Hochstuckli – Rondo’s Learning & Fun Land

This beginner’s ski area is at the top of the Sattel-Mostelberg gondola at 1200m. It includes a magic carpet and other amusements. The ski school also uses this area, but you don’t have to book lessons to use it. Although adults are technically allowed to use this area, I would say it’s primarily designed for children and I would suggest adult beginners go elsewhere. Because of the low elevation, this area doesn’t always have enough snow. So check the operating status before going.

Children aged 3-6 can use this area for CHF 10. Older children and adults must have a day pass for the full resort, no discounted beginner’s ticket: CHF 39/adult, CHF 19/child (6-16). Non-skiing parents will need a return ticket on the gondola, which in 2021/22 costs CHF 24/adult, CHF 17/adult with SBB Half-fare/GA, CHF 12/child (6-16)

Magic carpet: CHF 10/child aged 3-6, CHF 19/child (6-16)
Non-skiing parent cost: CHF 24 for access gondola
Address: Eumatt 1, 6417 Sattel
Website: www.sattel-hochstuckli.ch

8. Brunni Engelberg – Yeti Park Ristis Kinderland

Brunni Engelberg has another small beginner’s area at the top of the Ristis cable car at 1600m. It has one small magic carpet and one tow rope. As far as I can tell, this is free to use, but you have to pay for a return ticket on Brunni-Ristis cable car to reach this area. In 2021/22, this return ticket cost  CHF 32/adult, CHF 16/adult with SBB Half-fare or child (6-15), free for GA and children under 6.

Next to the Yeti Park, there is a kiosk selling snacks and a big restaurant with an outdoor terrace and indoor seating. Although it has less lifts than Klostermatte, we like that it is at a higher elevation, meaning more snow, and more sun. More info about Yeti Park.

Magic carpet: free + gondola to reach resort: CHF 32/adult, CHF 16/child (6-16), under 6 free
Non-skiing parent cost: CHF 32/adult for gondola return
Address: Wydenstrasse 55, 6390 Engelberg
Website: brunni.ch

9. Pizol – Kinderland Paradiel

To reach this beginner’s area, you’ll ride a gondola from the parking/bus to Paradiel at 1633m. Kinderland Paradiel has 3 magic carpets and 2 T-bar lifts that service a short blue run. In this same area, there is a magic carpet and other facilities reserved for the ski school, just fyi.

You need a discounted beginner’s ticket to use the Kinderland area, which also includes a return ticket on the gondola that brings you from the parking/bus to the ski resort. In 2021/22, this beginner’s ticket cost CHF 36/adult and CHF 18/child (6-15). The website doesn’t say specifically, but I assume that under 6 is free. If you are a non-skiing parent, you can buy a return ticket on the gondola for CHF 36/adult or CHF 18/adult with SBB Half-fare or GA. 

Magic carpet: Beginner ticket CHF 36/adult, CHF 18/child (6-15), under 6 free
Non-skiing parent cost: CHF 36/adult for gondola return
Address: Loisstrasse 50, 7310 Bad Ragaz
Website: pizol.com

Below is the blue run next to the magic carpets covered by the beginner ticket. 

10. Elm – Kinder Arena

At the top Elm, there is an enclosed “Kinder Arena” beginner’s ski area with two magic carpets, with varying steepness on the hill. This area is used by the ski school, but other beginners (adults and children) are also allowed to use it. You need Kinder Arena ticket, which is available as a day pass or 4hr pass for mornings or afternoons. In 2021/22, a Kinder Arena day pass cost CHF 27/adult and CHF 20/child age 6-15, under 6 free. This ticket also includes the short drag lift next to the Kinder Arena, which is the next step up from the magic carpet.

To reach the Kinder Arena, you have to ride a gondola up from the parking & bus stop. So if you are a non-skiing parent, you’ll need a return ticket for that gondola. In 2021/22, a return ticket costs CHF 18/adult, no discounts with travel cards.

Magic carpet: Kinder Arena ticket CHF 27/adult, CHF 20/child (6-15), under 6 free
Non-skiing parent cost: CHF 18/adult for gondola return
Address: Obmoos 33, 8767 Elm
Website: www.sportbahnenelm.ch

11. Braunwald – Kinderland Grötzenbüel & Huttenberg

The main beginner’s area at Braunwald is Kinderland Hüttenberg, which has facilities for the ski school, as well as a small sledding hill and two practice lifts for beginner skiers and snowboarders. You can purchase a “Übungsgelände” ticket from the ski school that covers this area. If you have a ski day pass, that is also valid in Kinderland.

To reach the ski resort, you need to ride the Braunwald funicular. Then you walk over to the Hüttenberg ski area, about a 10 min walk. Or you can walk a bit less and pay to ride a short gondola to reach Hüttenberg. Your total cost will vary based on which lifts you want/need to ride. So the prices here are just examples.

Kinderland Hüttenberg: CHF 18/adult, CHF 12/child (6-15), under 6 free (more if you need to ride up the Braunwald funicular to reach resort)
Non-skiing parent cost: CHF 14.40/adult for Braunwald funicular to reach resort (discount with SBB Half-fare)
Address: Stachelberg 2, 8783 Linthal
Website: skischulebraunwald.ch

Braunwald has another smaller beginner area at Grötzenbüel, with one 150m long magic carpet, a nice place for beginners to practice. You can ride a gondola up to the practice hill and back down, so you don’t have to do the blue run if you aren’t ready. Instead of a full resort pass, you can buy a slightly discounted Beginner ticket to use this area. The magic carpet is next to a restaurant.

Magic carpet: Beginner ticket: CHF 48/adult, CHF 39/teens & students, CHF 24/child (6-15), under 6 free
Non-skiing parent cost: CHF 32/adult for gondola return to Grötzenbüel (discount with SBB Half-fare)
Address: Stachelberg 2, 8783 Linthal
Website: braunwald.ch

12. Hoch Ybrig

At the top of the Weglosen – Seebli cable car, there is a small beginner’s area with a covered magic carpet. It’s used by the ski school but as far as I can tell, any beginner may use it. I can’t find any information on their website about prices for this area, so I assume it is free to use. But you must pay to ride the cable car up to reach this area.

Magic carpet: free (I think!) + cable car return to reach ski resort
Non-skiing parent cost: CHF 19/adult, CHF 14/child (6-15) for cable car return
Address: Waagtalstrasse 127, 8842 Unteriberg
Website: www.hoch-ybrig.ch

If you have another beginner’s area with magic carpets to recommend, please leave a comment!