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15 Closest Ski Resorts to Zürich by Train

The easiest ski resorts to reach by public transportation from Zurich city and airport, with travel times, costs, and resort reviews.

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Switzerland makes it easy to travel to ski resorts by public transportation, with most Swiss ski resorts near a train station or bus stop. However, it’s important to consider travel time, number of connections and walking distance from the bus stop to the cable car.

Here are the quickest and easiest ski resorts to access with public transportation from Zürich.

Travel times from Zurich

Here’s a quick overview of travel time to ski resorts from Zurich HB main station. If you are traveling from Zurich airport, add about 15 mins to each journey. The travel times below assume the most efficient connection. Your journey may vary based on which connection you choose and your starting point.

Below this table are the detailed directions and more info about each resort.

Ski ResortTravel TimeConnectionsResort Type
1. Flumserberg1h050/1Mid-sized (65km)
2. Pizol1h101Mid-sized (50km)
3. Brunni Alpthal1h152Small (15km)
4. Sattel Hochstuckli1h202Small (14km)
5. Hoch Ybrig1h252Mid-sized (50km)
6. Stoos1h301Mid-sized (35km)
7. Braunwald1h301Small (26km)
8. Elm1h402Mid-sized (40km)
9. Flims-Laax1h451Large (235km)
10. Davos Klosters Parsenn1h501Large (101km)
11. Lenzerheide1h451Large (225km)
12. Engelberg Titlis1h501Mid-sized (82km)
13. Chäserrugg2h1Mid-sized (50km)
14. Hasliberg2h102Mid-sized (60km)
15. Grindelwald-Wengen2h301Large (160km)
* Zermatt (just fyi)3h151Large (360km)

Note: There are other tiny ski hills near to Zürich that I have not included in my list because they are a bit too small to mention.

How much does it cost to ride the train to ski resorts

To get to the ski resorts mentioned below from Zürich, an adult round trip train ticket costs from CHF 43 – 120. The train ticket prices vary greatly based on the distance from Zürich and which cantons you are traveling in. Some longer routes are less expensive than shorter routes.

Travelers with a SBB Half-fare card and children 6-15 get a 50% discount. Children under 6 ride free.

Discounts for train tickets

There are many ways to save money on Swiss train tickets. The best option is to buy a Saver Day Pass in advance, which includes travel anywhere in Switzerland all day. These are as low as CHF 52 (or CHF 29 with a Half-fare card), which is much cheaper than the regular full price ticket for the ski resorts below.

Another option is buying a “Supersaver” ticket in advance. This ticket requires that you select a specific route and travel time. If you miss that connection, your ticket is no longer valid. This ticket is less flexible, but you can save a lot.

For more train budget tips, see my post: How to save money on Swiss train travel.

Snow’n’Rail offers

During winter, you can use “Snow’n’Rail” offers to save when you purchase a train journey and ski lift ticket together. The offer typically includes a 10-20% discount on the train ticket and ski lift ticket and often a 15% discount on ski rental from Intersport Rent.

Some of these offers are only valid during before Christmas and after the February school ski holidays. See current offers.

How much does it cost to ski at these resorts

A day ski pass at the following resorts ranges from Adult CHF 41 – 98, Child CHF 19-35. Most offer cheaper half-day tickets. Many have cheaper beginner tickets that only cover a few lifts that access easy slopes.

Many of these resorts use dynamic pricing, so you can get a discount if you buy tickets in advance. Some give a discount just for buying tickets online. Some have family discounts.

See also: Cheapest ski resorts near Zürich

Suggested ski resorts close to Zurich

Below are the details for the closest ski resorts to Zurich, including directions by public transportation.

1. Flumserberg – 1h05 from Zurich

Flumserberg is an all-rounder ski resort with someone for everyone. It has a nice free beginners area with magic carpets, plus a large snow garden for the kids ski school. It has short & easy slopes with T-bar lifts for learners and a couple longer easy blue runs from chair lifts.

Freestyle skiers and boarders will love their fun park and racing courses. For more advanced skiers, it has lots of steeper slopes from the upper lifts with easy access to off-piste powder runs.

Because Flumserberg is so easy to reach from Zürich, it tends to be quite crowded on sunny weekends. But we still recommend it.

How to get there

On Fri-Sun, there is a direct train from Zurich HB to Unterterzen, where a gondola brings you up the ski resort at Tannenboden (this takes 20 mins). Then a short walk to the main gondola, chair lifts, and beginner ski area.If you are going on a weekday, you’ll have to change trains at least once before reaching Unterterzen.

  • From Zürich: 1hr05 by public transport to valley gondola station, then 20 min gondola to ski resort
  • Train station: Unterterzen
  • Train ticket: CHF 54 adult full fare
  • Ski pass prices 2022/23: Weekend day pas Adult CHF 69, Child CHF 34.50
  • Website: www.flumserberg.ch • current conditions • webcam

See our post about Skiing at Flumserberg

2. Pizol – 1h10 from Zurich

Pizol is one of our family favorites because it’s rarely crowded and has lots of wide open pistes that are a dream on powder days. This mid-sized resort has two sides to the resort, each accessed by lifts from different villages. The sides are connected at the top of the mountain by a T-bar.

How to get there

It’s slightly faster to reach the Wangs side of the resort, which has the fun park and sled run. To get to the Wangs side, you take a train to Sargans, then a bus to Wangs, Talstation Pizolbahnen, which drops off in the gondola parking lot.

We prefer the Bad Ragaz side of the resort, which has lot of nice off-piste areas for powder days. That side also has a snow garden and separate beginners slope. To get to the Bad Ragaz side, take a train to Bad Ragaz, then a bus to Bad Ragaz, Pizolbahnen, which drops directly at the gondola ticket office.

Note: If you buy your ski pass online, it’s cheaper and you can scan your voucher at a machine to get your ski pass. No need to wait in line at the ticket office. In 2023, Snow’n’Rail has a discount offer for Pizol starting 1 March 2023.

See our review of Pizol ski resort

3. Brunni Alpthal – 1h15 from Zurich

Brunni-Alpthal is a small ski resort that has a good beginners area with a magic carpet and short T-bar run. It has longer steeper runs from more T-bar lifts and a cable car. Their tiered pricing, half-day passes, and family discounts make it a more affordable place to learn to ski.

How to get there

Take a train to Einsiedeln, then a bus to Brunni SZ, Talstation LBH. The bus drops off at the cable car. It’s a short walk to the beginners area and T-bar lifts.

See our post about Brunni-Alpthal

4. Sattel Hochstuckli – 1h20 from Zurich

The main advantage of Sattel Hochstuckli is that it’s quite close to Zürich and less inexpensive than most other nearby resorts. It’s mostly visited by people that live in the neighboring villages.

Sattel has a nice snow garden for children learning to ski. The other runs are best for beginner to intermediate skiers they are rather short and there is not a lot of terrain. They only has drag lifts, which we find tiresome, particularly for snowboarders. But we really like the winter hikes, sled run and views.

Because Sattel is at a relatively low elevation, it doesn’t always have snow during the whole winter season. So make sure to check conditions before heading out.

How to get there

When traveling to Sattel by public transportation, make sure to choose a connection that takes you the Sattel, Gondelbahn bus stop, which is adjacent to the gondola station. Some connections drop you at the Sattel-Aegeri train station, which is a 10 min walk to the gondola station, not fun in winter carrying your ski gear.

Note that the train ticket is less expensive if you take the connection Zürich HB – Zug – Oberägeri – Sattel, Gondelbahn.

5. Hoch Ybrig – 1h25 from Zurich

Hoch Ybrig is our favorite ski resort near Zurich for fresh snow days, with lots of fun rolling terrain between the groomed pistes for powder runs. Plus the scenic views over the cliffs and down the ridge to Lake Lucerne are stunning.

We find Hoch Ybrig best for intermediate skiers and above, as the blue runs are a little steep for beginners who are learning to control their speed. But they do have a decent snow garden for children at the top of the cable car.

Since there are almost no trees in this area, it’s best on clear weather days, so you don’t get lost in the fog.

How to get there

Take a train to Einsiedeln. Then a bus to Hoch-Ybrig, Talst. Weglosen, which drops directly at the cable car station.

See our post about Skiing at Hoch Ybrig

6. Stoos – 1h30 from Zurich

Stoos is a smallish ski resort overlooking Lake Lucerne, well known for its very steep funicular train that brings you up the mountain. It’s a good place to learn, with a snow garden with magic carpets and short beginner slopes with drag lifts.

The Fronalpstock side of the resort is good for advanced beginners, with mostly very wide blue runs. On the Klingenstock side, the slopes are quite steep and more challenging. For non-skiers, there is an exciting long sled run and winter walks.

How to get there

Take a train to Schwyz train station. Then bus 501 to Schwyz, Stoosbahn, which drops directly at the Stoos ticket office and funicular station. On sunny weekends, this bus may be very full and there may be multiple buses in the morning to accommodate the crowds.

See our post about Skiing at Stoos

7. Braunwald – 1h30 from Zurich

Braunwald is an adorable alpine villages surrounded by impressive mountain peaks, absolutely gorgeous. It’s very easy to access from Zürich and the journey is beautiful.

The ski resort is a bit small but fun and we’ve had some really nice ski days there. However, the layout is a little weird, requiring a couple awkward traverses on busy narrow trails. So it’s not my favorite of the bunch.

How to get there

From Zürich HB, you can take a direct train to Linthal Braunwaldbahn. From there, you ride a funicular up to the alpine village and ski resort.

See our post about Braunwald ski resort

8. Elm – 1h40 from Zurich

Elm is a small resort, but it’s usually our first choice on weekends and we’re always happy here. It has a nice mix of beginner to advanced runs and pretty views all around. It’s one of the most affordable, with flexible half-day tickets.

The beginner’s area is very nice, with two magic carpets and room to spread out. For non-skiers, they have a fun 4 km sled run for non-skiers. We also like that all slopes face the sun, so you don’t get cold in shade.

How to get there

Take a train to Ziegelbrücke, then change trains to Schwanden GL. Then a bus to Elm (Talstation), which drops directly at the cable car station.

Note: there is a direct train from Zürich HB to Schwanden, but that connection takes 30 mins longer than changing trains in Ziegelbrücke.

See our post about Skiing at Elm

9. Flims Laax – 1h45 from Zurich

Flims Laax is a large ski area, with 74 km of slopes across multiple mountains. After skiing at small resorts closer to Zurich, the massive terrain here feels luxurious, if a bit overwhelming.

The cool kids come here for the elaborate freestyle parks (also for beginners) and “free ride” ungroomed pistes for powder days. But don’t worry, they have lots of mild blue runs and beginner areas for those just learning.

Flims Laax feels a bit far for a day trip for me, but I’m always happy I made the effort. Many Zurichers have holiday apartments here, so perhaps ask a friend if you can stay the weekend on their sofa.

How to get there

Take a train to Chur, then a bus to Flims Dorf, Bergbahnen, which drops directly at the gondola station. If you prefer to start on the Laax side of the resort, stay on the bus until Laax GR, Bergbahnen, about 9 minutes past Flims.

See our post about Skiing at Elm

10. Davos Klosters Parsenn – 1h50 from Zurich

Davos Klosters is a very large ski destination, with multiple ski areas on different mountains connected by a short bus ride. If you are doing a day trip, best to pick one area to maximize your time on the slopes.

We suggest the Parsenn ski area, which is massive with 97 km of slopes. We particularly like the super long runs that let you find and enjoy your rhythm before getting back on the lift. Beginners will appreciate the very wide blue runs that help you avoid the speedsters.

If you are dropping kids at ski school, note that most ski school classes are held at Madrisa on the opposite side of the valley. But instructors will usually pick them up at the Klosters Platz train station, so parents can ski at Parsenn.

How to get there

From Zürich, take a train to Landquart. Then change trains to Klosters Platz, Bahnhof, which drops directly across from the Gotschnabahn cable car station. Since everyone has to use this one cable car to reach the resort, it gets extremely crowded in the mornings, especially on sunny weekends. Best to show up well before 9am.

See our post about Skiing at Klosters Parsen

11. Arosa-Lenzerheide – 1h45 from Zurich

Arosa-Lenzerheide is a massive ski resort, joining three large mountains areas. It’s almost not possible to ski the whole thing in a day, so best to pick one area to enjoy.

If you are coming by public transportation, it’s quickest to take the bus to Churwalden and ride the gondola up to the Stätzertäli lift, which services the fun park and a nice blue run. From there, you can make your way across the west part of the resort, accessing a wide variety of terrain.

My second choice would be riding the bus to the Rothorn cable car, since the bus drops right at the station. I like the runs on this side of the mountain, but it’s quite shady in the morning, so I prefer to spend the afternoon here.

We also love the Arosa side of the resort, but it takes almost an hour to get there using lifts. By train from Zürich, it takes 2h30 to get to Arosa. So we prefer Arosa when we are staying over at least one night.

How to get to Lenzerheide

From Zürich, take a train to Chur main station. Then a bus towards to Churwalden, Bergbahnen (20 mins from Chur) and ride a gondola up to Heidibüel to access the resort.

Or you can ride the bus 12 mins further to Lenzerheide/Lai, Rothornbahn, which drops directly at the Rothorn cable car station, a central part of the resort.

Learn more about Arosa Lenzerheide

12. TITLIS Engelberg – 1h50 from Zurich

TITLIS Engelberg is a popular resort for Lucerne locals, but not too far from Zürich. Some of the resort, including the glacier, is at a higher elevation than most other resorts near Zurich, meaning it’s more snow sure.

It has lots of steep red and black runs, so good for skiers that have a need for speed. The blue runs at the far west side of the resort are fun rolly polly hills that also have good powder potential slightly off-piste. Beginners are better off at Brunni Engelberg on the other side of the valley.

How to get there

From Zürich, take a train to Luzern main station, then switch to a train to Engelberg. Then take a short bus ride to Engelberg, Titlisbahn, which is directly at the gondola station. If you miss the bus, it’s a 10 mins walk from the train station to the gondola.

See our post about Skiing at TITLIS Engelberg

13. Chäserrugg – 2h from Zurich

The Chäserrugg ski resort has a quirky layout, but we were immediately charmed by it. A funicular and large cable car take you a high plateau, where you can peer over steep cliffs to a lake below.

At the top, there’s a easy wide slope down the plateau. But then it gets a bit steep and narrow on the trails leading off the plateau, better for intermediate to advanced skiers. Elsewhere in the resort, there is a fun race course that kids will enjoy. Plus a long sled run for non-skiers.

How to get there

From Zürich, take a train to Wattwil or Buchs SG, then a bus to Unterwasser, Post. The bus drops you off a 5 min walk from the lift, as shown below. The connections through Wattwil are more frequent. But there is a direct train from Zürich to Buchs, meaning less transfers.

See our post about Skiing at Chäserrugg

14. Hasliberg – 2h10 from Zurich

We adore the Hasliberg ski resort and should really ski there more often than we do. The views over the Bernese Oberland mountains are spectacular, especially from the Alpine Tower.

They have a good ski school and learning areas on the lower slopes. But we enjoyed this resort much more when our kids were intermediate skiers and could handle the exciting red runs at the top.

The resort is kinda split in half and it’s a big of a slog to get from one side of the other. So we suggest picking a side and not wasting a bunch of time going back and forth.

How to get to Hasliberg

From Zürich, take a train to Luzern main station, then another train to Brünig Hasliberg. Then a bus to Hasliberg Wasserwendi, Twing (11 mins) or Hasliberg Reuti, Dorf (27 mins).

At both bus stops, there is a gondola that accesses the ski resort. It’s quickest to get off at Twing. But if you are doing ski school at Bidmi or Mägisalp, you’ll need to get off at Reuti instead. It’s best to get off the bus at the area you want to start in, since it can take awhile to ski between the two parts of the ski resort.

See our review of Meiringen-Hasliberg ski resort

15. Grindelwald-Wengen – 2h30 from Zurich

Most Zürich locals wouldn’t choose Grindelwald-Wengen for a day trip. But this large ski area near Interlaken is a very popular ski holiday destination for both tourists and the Swiss. If you are flying into Switzerland, Zürich is the closest airport to this ski area, with easy and frequent train connections.

Grindelwald-Wengen is one of three ski areas in the large Jungfrau Ski Region, which also includes Grindelwald-First and Mürren-Schilthorn. All of them have beginner to advanced runs, ski schools, winter hikes and sledding.

Bonus: kids ski free on Saturdays at Grindelwald! Up to 3 kids aged 6-15 receive a complimentary ski day pass when accompanied by an adult with a full price day ticket. You must purchase your ski ticket online to get this deal. Learn more.

How to get to Grindelwald-Wengen

From Zürich, take a train to Interlaken Ost. If possible, choose a direct train so you don’t have to change in Bern, which can be a very busy station during commute hours.

To access the Grindelwald-Wengen ski area, take a train from Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald Terminal. From here you can access the Grindelwald-Wengen ski area with either the Eiger Express gondola or Männlichen gondola.

To reach the Grindelwald-First ski area, ride a little further to the Grindelwald, Bahnhof station. Then a short walk to the First gondola. To reach the Mürren-Schilthorn ski area, instead take the train from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen. Then ride up the Grütschalp cable car, then mountain train to Winteregg where you can reach the first chair lift of the ski area.

Learn more about the Jungfrau Ski Region

Tips for riding trains for skiing

Choosing your train connection

If you are going skiing by public transport, it’s important to consider three things:

  • total travel time
  • number of connections – when traveling with skis and other gear, it can be cumbersome to transfer from a train to another train or bus multiple times
  • connection time – if the connection is short (under 5 mins), you may choose to catch the next bus/train. So check the schedule to see how long you may need to wait.
  • distance of final stop from ski resort – you don’t want a long walk with your ski gear from the bus stop to the cable car station

Buy ski tickets in advance

The ticket line at the ski resort can get very long right after the train/bus arrives. So it’s best to pre-book ski tickets in advance, so you can skip the ticket line and go directly to the mountain lifts.

If you live in Switzerland, you can often load your ticket onto your Swiss Pass or an old SkiData card. Otherwise, you may need to show a voucher (digital or printed) at the ticket office or automated machine to get your ski ticket.

See more tips for traveling on trains to ski.

Riding the train with skis

Trains that connect to ski resorts often have a ski storage area with standing racks. If this area is full or your train does not have this area, you can store your skis under your seat or in the overhead bins.

If you are traveling with wet skis, knock off the snow and dry the skis so they don’t drip on other passengers (we made this mistake and annoyed our neighbors).

Riding the bus with skis

Some of the ski resorts have a train that drops you directly at the cable car station. But many require that you transfer to bus that takes you into the mountains.

If you are riding a yellow PostAuto bus, you can usually take your skis onto the bus and store in the overhead bin or open area in the middle. But sometimes the bus driver is standing outside and will load your gear into a storage area under the bus.

During peak hours, some areas will send two buses to pick up all the skiers. But don’t count on it. Be aggressive (but polite) and get on that bus so you don’t have to wait longer than necessary!

Picture of Tanya, Swiss Family Fun
Tanya is the founder and editor of Swiss Family Fun. She has lived in Zurich Switzerland since 2005, spending most of her free time hiking in the Swiss alps.
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Hi! I’m Tanya and our family has been living & hiking in Switzerland since 2005, collecting dozens of fun hikes and activities for all ages and abilities. More about us…

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