Ski Crans-Montana in Switzerland (+piste Maps & Tips)

Crans-Montana is also known as the sun terrace of the Valais. Nestled on a high plateau at 1,500 m above sea level, south facing Crans-Montana rewards skiers and snowboarders with the ultimate view of many of the highest Swiss peaks including the Matterhorn, and into France for the Mont Blanc.

Despite carrying an upmarket image, I still feel that everyone can find their favourite thing to do in Crans-Montana. From the luxury fashion shops on the main street all the way to the free-style dudes in the snow park. Crans-Montana has it all!

The two Swiss villages which form Crans-Montana are, Crans-sur-Sierre and Montana. Together they have become a successful year-round resort. Famous for golfing, a conference destination resort, and of course during the winter months a great ski destination.

And if you like big sports events then Crans-Montana is definitely the right place for you.

For example, Crans-Montana hosts one round of the women’s FIS Ski World Cup – downhill race and in the summer the European Golf Tour’s Omega Masters.

So, let’s find out more about this awesome place!

Frequently Asked Questions & Answers about the Ski Resort Crans-Montana

I have made this a bit of a different blog post. Therefore, I have gathered all the questions we had before skiing in Crans-Montana and added them to the ones you have asked us about the resort.

After having read our blog post I hope some of your questions about skiing in Crans-Montana will be answered.

Where is Crans-Montana in Switzerland & how to get there?

You will find the villages of Crans-Montana in the Canton of Valais in the southwest part of Switzerland. Stretching from the plateau to the Plaine Morte Glacier at 3000m, Crans-Montana is a sunny region with a breathtaking view over numerous mountain peaks that unfold from the Bietschhorn in Lötschental to Mont Blanc via the Matterhorn in Zermatt.

Although it is nestled on a high plateau at 1500m in the Swiss Alps you can easily reach the resorts on the amazing Swiss public transport system.

Arriving on public transport or by car

Arriving by train & funicular

Make your way to Sion, the Canton’s capital city. Change here to bus N° 353 to Crans -s. -Sierre post office. The journey time will be approx. 45 minutes.

Alternatively, and maybe the better solution is to ride the hundred-year-old funicular route, which is also the longest in Europe.

Arrive by train to Sierre (Siders is the Swiss-German name) then follow the red line on the pavement (around 5 minutes walk) to get to the funicular station.

If you don’t like to walk there is also a shuttle service waiting to bring guests directly to the funicular departure station.

The “FUNI” departures every 10 minutes and it has a travel time of 17 minutes where you will gain 927m of altitude. You will arrive at Crans-Montana Gare.

Check the train timetables on the SBB website.

Arriving by car

Of course, you can arrive also in the comfort of your own car. Exit the motorway in Sion and follow the signs up the mountain to Crans-Montana. I assume you will have booked accommodation in the resort, so best to add the address into your GPS.

Click on the Map to get full access and see many more focus points Crans-Montana has. On this map, I have listed the main points written out in this article including the hotels.

Which is the closest Int. Airport to Crans-Montana ski resort?

Geneva is the closest international airport to Crans-Montana at a distance of approximately 180km.

The transfer time will take you approximately 2 to 2 ½ hours depending on the traffic. And 2 hours by train to Sion or Sierre.

However, Sion which is only 20km away has an airport welcoming private jets.

Which language is spoken in Crans-Montana?

Crans-Montana is within the French-speaking region in Switzerland, but many of the locals also speak English as the resort welcomes international guests.

At what altitude is Crans-Montana?

The plateau stretches from 1,070 m to 1500 m altitude. The ski resort is going all the way to 2927 m where the long National downhill run awaits.

Is Crans-Montana good for skiing?

Crans-Montana has been a well-established ski resort for many years.

With stunning scenery and great skiing and snowboarding for all levels, the resort attracts all levels of winter enthusiasts.

Most of the skiing starts at 2000m altitude and reaches up to nearly 3000m where you can find the Plaine Morte Glacier. Which, by the way, belongs to the Canton of Berne.

Due to its fairly high altitude, it is most of the time a snow-sure resort and the runs are perfectly prepared. Whereas the lower slopes get help from snow cannons.

In very mild winters the resort suffers during the later months of the winter season as it is totally south facing and the snow mass melts quickly. Despite this we love spring skiing in Crans-Montana and the upper slopes are still great to ski on. This also allows for some great long lunches in the sun!

On powder days there are endless options and some great canyons to ski through and around.

In addition, Crans-Montana has a professional freeride park – the Alaïa Park which is part of the Alaïa Group. This place is ideal for young and old to practice their turns, jumps and twists on large and small obstacles.

You will also find a halfpipe and some very large kickers. A dream for all snow park lovers.

So, to answer the question in short, is Crans-Montana good for skiing? The answer is yes!

Click on the interactive Ski Map to have full access and to understand the whole ski domain a bit better.

Is Crans-Montana good for beginners?

Crans-Montana is an intermediate resort but also offers good beginner terrain.

Beginners will find a lot of great blue runs up at the Cry d’Er area, the home of the gentlest blue slopes on the mountain. It is also here where the Alaïa freestyle park is situated.

For the little skiers, there is a great ‘Snow Island’ zone by the Severiano Ballesteros golf course in Crans-sur-Sierre! Perfect if you do not want to head up the mountain.

It is the ideal family place to enjoy the first ski experience, or sledge with the youngest family members. Even if the grandparents don’t ski they can enjoy the area with a gentle walk with an exceptional mountain panorama.

To help you make these first turns you will find ski-tows and a magic carpet surface lift.

A further beginner’s area is up at the Arnouva ski area. If you have some family members in your group that are already skiing then this would be your choice. The beginners can learn with their instructor in the dedicated area, whilst the intermediate skiers head to enjoy the slopes further up.

How many ski lifts does Crans Montana have?

Being a middle-sized ski resort in Valais, Crans-Montana has 140km completely south-facing groomed runs. With 39% blue runs – 50% red runs and a great 11% black runs ready for you to discover.

These runs are accessed by a total of 19 lifts.

How much does a ski pass cost to ski Crans-Montana?

You be surprised if you are travelling with the family because children ski for free up to 9 years old in presence of a paying parent on the ski domain.

This is why we feel Crans-Montana is such a great family ski destination in Switzerland.

There are a few price ranges available and it would be too much for me to list them all.
However here are a few things to consider. For adults and youth you will find all kinds of different price ranges, so check the best solution for your family first. For instance, if you are lucky and your ski trip is on a low season day the price will be much lower than a peak day. Another prie reduction would be if you are only want to ski the Alaïa Park. Furthermore, you can save if you book tickets online 

To give you an example; if you buy a day ticket at the cash desk you will be paying Chf 89.- whereas you may have the chance to get the same ticket ONLINE from as little as Chf 25.- . They are running a kind of “easy ski” pricing system.

Where best to stay in Crans-Montana?

The choice of star rating, luxury, comfort, chalet or hotel is nearly endless.

Here are our suggestions . But should these not be to your liking you will find plenty of Hotels in Crans Montana here.

• • Hotel with a warm pool and kids allowed. The Hotel Arenas Resort Valaisia
    The hotel itself needs some upgrading, however, it is all clean, functional and the best thing is their saltwater pool is 33 degrees. You also find pool tables, ping pong, table football and a gaming room. Definitely, a great place if you are travelling with kids.
  • Top of the range Hotel. The Crans Ambassador 
    The stylish Crans Ambassador features a spa area with an indoor pool (28 degrees) and panoramic views.
  • The Skiers and Snowboarders place to be, The Alaïa Lodge
    A new and stylish, yet fairly simple hotel aimed at the young skiers and boarders that are spending their days in the Alaïa Park. The Hotel has different rooms, some shared but is also offering some great family rooms.

Other great things you should know about Crans-Montana ski resort

Crans-Montana – off-piste, backcountry & ski touring

If you want to get away from the crowds then you may enjoy one of the 15 marked ski touring routes, known as the Rando Parc.

These tours are ideal for all beginners and those new to this sport, as it is in a safe environment.

With 50 kilometers of blue, red or black tracks, they are ideal for first-time ski tourers or the more advanced who want to push their limits on the ‘extreme’ course – over 3,000 metres of vertical climbing!

To get the most out of the extensive off-piste terrain at Les Faverges, it is advisable to hire a guide and explore the untouched powder in safe hands.

Good restaurants on the mountain

This is always a difficult choice as not everyone has the same taste in food. However, I don’t think you can go wrong with the Amadeus 2006, because it is close to the beginner’s area of Arnouva. If you have beginners in the group you may want to ask the ski instructor to bring them safely to the restaurant to join the rest of the family/group.

Another larger restaurant is right at the Alaïa Park, the Cry d’Air Club Altitude, and maybe better situated for you if you are spending the day at the park.

Alaïa Park by Tudor in Crans-Montana

 For sure the Best freestyle park in Swiss Romand if not Switzerland.

 The infrastructure meets everyone’s needs. There is a mini-park for the beginners with up to 25 modules and 4 lines from XS to M jumps

The main park holds about 40 modules and has 5 lines with jumps reaching from M all the way to the pro-line with XL jumps.

Furthermore, will you have the fun of riding a superpipe (7M) or a mini pipe (4m)?

If this is what you are interested in then I suggest packing your bags and getting up to Crans-Montan to try it out.

For spring skiing in Crans-Montana, you will find the snowpark up at the Plaine Morte, situated at an altitude of just under 3000m above sea level.

Things to do in Crans-Montana for NON-Skiers

Sometimes when you are on a ski holiday it is quite a nice change to stay one day “off the mountain”, and discover the place you are actually holidaying in a bit better. Crans-Montana is an ideal place for this, as the town is pretty and is great for a stroll around. If you like the alpine shopping experience then you will be in for a treat.

• Shopping
  The high street in Crans-Montana offers many high quality fashion and sports shops. Being in Switzerland you also find a fancy chocolate shop – David l’Instant Chocolat and even the sparkling jewellery gallery is present.
• Non Skiing Activities
  A large ice-rink. The Ycoor ice rink is one of the largest outdoor ice surfaces in Switzerland. Located in the centre of the resort at the Route du Rawyl 56. Apart from iceskating and pirouetting you can also try out curling. A sport that surprises many on how difficult it is yet how addictive it can be. You need to book in advance if you wish to have a try. therefore best to contact them directly.
  During the evenings you may be lucky to see the figure-skaters in training or maybe even a hockey match.
• Dog sledging at the Plaine Morte Glacier
  What a way to surprise the family! A dog-sled ride in a picturesque winter setting, on the Plaine Morte glacier at an altitude of almost 3000 metres. Book your ride and live a magical moment with your family or friends!
• Winter hiking and snowshoes trails
  Plenty of magical winter trails await within the Crans-Montana Resort in Switzerland. The choice is yours, whether you want to go for a short pretty walk through the forest and along the village centre, or maybe you are seeking something a bit more strenuous? Crans-Montana has it all

.Click on here to get full access to the winter hiking map below and pick your favourite winter trail.

A very exceptional and special winter fairy-tail path is the Lanterne trail – Bella Lui. Based on the story of “The Shepherd and the Bella Lui Star“.

A path is just slightly over 2km lit by 200 different lanterns and many other surprises make this an absolute family must-do when in Crans-Montana. The lantern path is open from November to March although the festive village that goes with it is only until mid January. You will find the start of the “Chemin des Lanternes” at Rond-point Etang Long.

To sum up our Ski Crans-Montana Experience

We have lived for over 11 years opposite Crans-Montana in the 4 Vallees Ski domain. I cannot believe that this was the 1st time we skied in Crans-Montana Switzerland.
We’ve missed out big time.
The whole experience of being in the resort, spending the night there and having an awesome ski day was beautiful. And guess what, this was definitely not the last time we will be skiing in Crans-Montana!

And the next time we will be a bit more courageous in the Alaīa Park!

You may also like these posts from Valais

• Alaïa Group in Valais – Our expereince
• Ski Safari – Pays Du St. Bernard Ski Resort – Valais 
• 5 Snowshoeing and skitouring trail in Nendaz
• Relaxing moment in Lötschental – Genuss Hotel Nest- und Bietschhorn
• Best winter clothing for children
• Bettmeralp – Aletsch Arena – family ski paradise
• Arolla – How to visit the Glacier cave in Arolla Valais
• Zermatt – Visit the World’s Highest Glacier Palace

If I have missed anything out on this post, or if you have some more questions on Ski Crans-Montana in Switzerland, then leave a comment below. It is always nice for others to see some real people conversations.

Note: Our ski tickets were sponsored by Crans-Montana Tourism – thank you again. As always, you can be sure that we will express OUR views and enthusiasm here. The purpose of such collaborations is to introduce to you great new family destination in Switzerland and give you tips and suggestions 1st hand.

PIN it for future references and tell a friend about it.

Thank you, Never forget to explore!

Thanks for sharing it!