What a day pass costs in Switzerland
Switzerland has a reputation for expensive skiing, and for the two dozen best known resorts it is deserved. It is also incomplete. Between the cheapest and the most expensive day pass in this dataset there is a factor of 2.4, which is far more than the difference in size explains.
The median across all 85 Swiss ski areas is CHF 58. Half the country is cheaper than that. The blanket claim that a day on Swiss snow costs 90 francs describes the resorts you have heard of, not the ones you have not.
All figures are in Swiss francs, which at the time of writing sits roughly at parity with the euro and a little above the pound. Switzerland is not in the eurozone, and cards are accepted everywhere, so there is no reason to carry cash.
How the 85 resorts are distributed
Number of resorts per price band, adult day pass at the standard rate. The centre of gravity is not where the headlines suggest.
| Ski area | Day pass | Km of piste | CHF per km | Elevation | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Moritz – Corviglia | CHF 95 | 155 | 0.61 | 1,720–3,057 m | Grisons |
| Verbier / 4 Vallées | CHF 92 | 410 | 0.22 | 1,500–3,330 m | Valais |
| Zermatt – Matterhorn | CHF 92 | 360 | 0.26 | 1,620–3,883 m | Valais |
| Davos Klosters | CHF 92 | 300 | 0.31 | 1,124–2,844 m | Grisons |
| LAAX (Flims Laax Falera) | CHF 92 | 224 | 0.41 | 1,100–3,018 m | Grisons |
| Arosa Lenzerheide | CHF 89 | 225 | 0.40 | 1,229–2,865 m | Grisons |
| Andermatt-Sedrun | CHF 89 | 120 | 0.74 | 1,444–2,963 m | Uri / Grisons |
| Corvatsch-Silvaplana | CHF 88 | 120 | 0.73 | 1,800–3,303 m | Grisons |
| Diavolezza-Lagalb | CHF 88 | 35 | 2.51 | 2,093–2,978 m | Grisons |
| Saas-Fee | CHF 87 | 100 | 0.87 | 1,800–3,500 m | Valais |
| Crans-Montana | CHF 85 | 140 | 0.61 | 1,500–3,000 m | Valais |
| Gstaad (inkl. Zweisimmen und Glacier 3000) | CHF 82 | 200 | 0.41 | 948–2,971 m | Bern / Vaud |
| Adelboden-Lenk | CHF 80 | 210 | 0.38 | 1,068–2,362 m | Bern |
| Grindelwald-Wengen | CHF 79 | 102 | 0.77 | 944–2,971 m | Bern |
| Mürren-Schilthorn | CHF 79 | 50 | 1.58 | 1,600–2,970 m | Bern |
| Grindelwald – First | CHF 79 | 50 | 1.58 | 944–2,501 m | Bern |
| Samnaun / Silvretta Arena | CHF 78 | 239 | 0.33 | 1,377–2,872 m | Grisons |
| Engelberg-Titlis | CHF 78 | 82 | 0.95 | 1,050–3,028 m | Obwalden |
| Aletsch Arena | CHF 77 | 104 | 0.74 | 1,050–2,869 m | Valais |
| Belalp – Blatten | up to CHF 77 | 44.8 | 1.72 | 1,327–3,118 m | Valais |
| Flumserberg | CHF 74 | 65 | 1.14 | 1,000–2,222 m | St. Gallen |
| Lauchernalp – Lötschental | CHF 70 | 40 | 1.75 | 1,403–3,100 m | Valais |
| Leukerbad – Torrent | CHF 68 | 50 | 1.36 | 1,411–2,700 m | Valais |
| Pizol | CHF 68 | 43 | 1.58 | 1,630–2,227 m | St. Gallen |
| Grimentz-Zinal | CHF 66 | 106 | 0.62 | 1,570–2,900 m | Valais |
| Scuol – Motta Naluns | CHF 66 | 70 | 0.94 | 1,250–2,783 m | Grisons |
| Villars-Gryon-Diablerets | CHF 65 | 125 | 0.52 | 1,113–2,120 m | Vaud |
| Meiringen-Hasliberg | CHF 65 | 60 | 1.08 | 600–2,433 m | Bern |
| Villars-Gryon (nur CH-Teil) | CHF 65 | 44 | 1.48 | 1,113–2,120 m | Vaud |
| Grächen | CHF 64 | 44 | 1.45 | 1,619–2,868 m | Valais |
| Champéry / Portes du Soleil (CH) | CHF 62 | 600 | 0.10 | 1,050–2,277 m | Valais |
| Saint-Luc / Chandolin | CHF 62 | 75 | 0.83 | 1,650–3,025 m | Valais |
| Disentis 3000 | CHF 62 | 60 | 1.03 | 1,150–2,833 m | Grisons |
| Leysin | CHF 62 | 60 | 1.03 | 1,260–2,330 m | Vaud |
| Hoch-Ybrig | CHF 62 | 50 | 1.24 | 1,048–1,856 m | Schwyz |
| Chäserrugg / Toggenburg | CHF 62, dynamic | 50 | 1.24 | 900–2,262 m | St. Gallen |
| Splügen – Tambo | CHF 61 | 30 | 2.03 | 1,480–2,215 m | Grisons |
| Brigels | CHF 60 | 40 | 1.50 | 1,100–2,418 m | Grisons |
| Stoos | CHF 60 | 35 | 1.71 | 1,300–1,935 m | Schwyz |
| Saas-Grund – Hohsaas | CHF 60 | 34 | 1.76 | 1,560–3,200 m | Valais |
| Anzère | CHF 59 | 58 | 1.02 | 1,500–2,420 m | Valais |
| Obersaxen Mundaun | CHF 58 | 120 | 0.48 | 1,201–2,310 m | Grisons |
| Sörenberg | CHF 58 | 50 | 1.16 | 1,160–2,350 m | Lucerne |
| Braunwald | CHF 58 | 26 | 2.23 | 1,236–1,901 m | Glarus |
| Wildhaus – Gamserrugg | CHF 57 | 23 | 2.48 | 1,050–2,076 m | St. Gallen |
| Melchsee-Frutt | CHF 56 | 32 | 1.75 | 1,080–2,255 m | Obwalden |
| Elm im Sernftal | CHF 55 | 40 | 1.38 | 1,020–2,105 m | Glarus |
| Klewenalp-Stockhütte | CHF 55 | 40 | 1.38 | 1,600–1,900 m | Nidwalden |
| Grüsch Danusa | CHF 55 | 30 | 1.83 | 1,230–2,295 m | Grisons |
| Tschiertschen | CHF 55 | 30 | 1.83 | 1,340–2,450 m | Grisons |
| Savognin | from CHF 54 | 80 | 0.68 | 1,200–2,713 m | Grisons |
| Mythenregion | CHF 54 | 45 | 1.20 | 1,042–1,811 m | Schwyz |
| Moosalp – Bürchen/Törbel | CHF 53 | 25 | 2.12 | 1,450–2,550 m | Valais |
| Visperterminen – Giw | CHF 53 | 20 | 2.65 | 1,340–2,300 m | Valais |
| Les Mosses / La Lécherette | CHF 52 | 40 | 1.30 | 1,450–2,200 m | Vaud |
| Vercorin | CHF 52 | 35 | 1.49 | 1,340–2,377 m | Valais |
| San Bernardino | CHF 52 | 35 | 1.49 | 1,600–2,530 m | Grisons |
| Bellwald | CHF 52 | 30 | 1.73 | 1,560–2,560 m | Valais |
| Airolo – Pesciüm | CHF 52 | 30 | 1.73 | 1,175–2,250 m | Ticino |
| Ovronnaz | CHF 50 | 30 | 1.67 | 1,350–2,500 m | Valais |
| Bivio | CHF 50 | 30 | 1.67 | 1,770–2,550 m | Grisons |
| Elsigenalp – Frutigen | CHF 50 | 30 | 1.67 | 1,350–2,340 m | Bern |
| Zuoz – Pizzet/Albanas | CHF 49 | 15 | 3.27 | 1,716–2,465 m | Grisons |
| Evolène | CHF 48 | 42 | 1.14 | 1,400–2,680 m | Valais |
| Bosco Gurin – Grossalp | CHF 48 | 30 | 1.60 | 1,500–2,400 m | Ticino |
| Les Marécottes | CHF 48 | 25 | 1.92 | 1,100–2,200 m | Valais |
| Nara – Leontica | CHF 46 | 30 | 1.53 | 1,400–2,200 m | Ticino |
| Bergün – Darlux | CHF 46 | 25 | 1.84 | 1,400–2,550 m | Grisons |
| Wiriehorn – Diemtigtal | CHF 46 | 20 | 2.30 | 1,250–2,200 m | Bern |
| Amden – Arvenbüel | CHF 46 | 20 | 2.30 | 1,200–1,700 m | St. Gallen |
| Charmey | CHF 45 | 30 | 1.50 | 1,000–1,630 m | Fribourg |
| Carì | CHF 45 | 24 | 1.88 | 1,650–2,250 m | Ticino |
| Brambrüesch – Chur | CHF 45 | 15 | 3.00 | 1,600–2,174 m | Grisons |
| Moléson | CHF 44 | 30 | 1.47 | 1,100–2,002 m | Fribourg |
| Schwarzsee – Kaiseregg | CHF 44 | 28 | 1.57 | 1,050–1,755 m | Fribourg |
| Nax – Mont-Noble | CHF 44 | 20 | 2.20 | 1,300–2,340 m | Valais |
| Vals – Dachberg | CHF 44 | 20 | 2.20 | 1,250–2,200 m | Grisons |
| Sattel-Hochstuckli | CHF 44 | 14 | 3.14 | 800–1,400 m | Schwyz |
| Jaun | CHF 42 | 30 | 1.40 | 1,500–1,900 m | Fribourg |
| Les Bugnenets-Savagnières | CHF 42 | 30 | 1.40 | 1,080–1,460 m | Neuchâtel / Bern |
| Minschuns – Val Müstair | CHF 42 | 25 | 1.68 | 1,700–2,735 m | Grisons |
| Rosswald | CHF 42 | 20 | 2.10 | 1,800–2,560 m | Valais |
| Arolla | CHF 42 | 12 | 3.50 | 1,950–2,890 m | Valais |
| La Robella – Val-de-Travers | CHF 40 | 30 | 1.33 | 1,050–1,440 m | Neuchâtel |
| Marbach – Marbachegg | CHF 40 | 15 | 2.67 | 900–1,480 m | Lucerne |
What these numbers do not include
Dynamic pricing. Most large resorts no longer charge the same price every day. Book early and it is cheaper; turn up on a Saturday in the Swiss February holidays and it is not. The figure here is the standard price at the ticket window, so it sits at the upper end of what you would actually pay.
Season passes. From roughly four to six ski days a winter a season pass wins almost everywhere, and the regional passes have shifted that calculation further in recent years. If you ski regularly, this is the wrong table for you.
The rest of the day. The lift pass is rarely the largest item. Travel, mountain restaurants and rental add up, and at the well known resorts they add up considerably faster than at a village lift. How a ski day actually breaks down is set out in our article on the subject.
CHF per kilometre is not a quality measure. The column favours large areas because their kilometre count sits in the denominator. If you ski 40 kilometres in a day, having 300 available does nothing for you. It works for comparing resorts of similar size, not for comparing a village lift with a linked network.
Related
The cheapest resorts
The 25 cheapest day passes, with the price per kilometre alongside.
See the ranking →Season passes compared
From how many days each pass pays off, calculated rather than claimed.
Read the article →The biggest resorts
What actually lies behind the piste kilometres resorts advertise.
See the ranking →