Accommodation
Quick answer: Crans-Montana suits sun-seekers, thanks to its famously south-facing, high-sunshine position, freestylers and boarders who get the biggest snowpark in French-speaking Switzerland and the only Olympic superpipe in the Valais Alps, and golfers and those wanting a chic, shopping-friendly resort with plenty going on beyond skiing. It is less suited to skiers who want a rustic, low-key village feel, or those chasing the very biggest connected ski areas in the Alps.
Quick resort facts
Ski area: Crans-Montana, 140km of pistes, 25 lifts · Altitude: 1,500m, skiing up to 3,000m on the Plaine Morte Glacier · Ski pass area: Crans-Montana Superpass · Nearest airport: Geneva (180km)
Crans-Montana is a chic, south-facing plateau resort above the Rhone Valley in Valais, formed from the twin villages of Crans and Montana. It’s long had a glamorous following – the actor Roger Moore owned a chalet here for decades – and combines genuine World Cup ski pedigree with a famously sunny microclimate, a big snowpark scene, and enough shopping, golf and events to fill a week even for non-skiers.
Sitting at around 1,500m with skiing up to almost 3,000m on the Plaine Morte Glacier, the resort is unusually easy to reach: a historic funicular whisks visitors up from Sierre train station to Montana in around ten minutes, making Crans-Montana one of the most car-free-friendly resorts to reach from Geneva.
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Terrain split: four distinct sectors – a family area, a fun/freestyle area, the high glacier area and a quieter nature area – spanning 140km of pistes from gentle cruising to World Cup-level race tracks.
Best for: sun-seekers, thanks to Crans-Montana’s famously south-facing, high-sunshine position; freestylers and boarders, who get the biggest snowpark in French-speaking Switzerland and the only Olympic superpipe in the Valais Alps; golfers and those wanting a chic, shopping-friendly resort with plenty going on beyond skiing.
Not for: skiers who want a rustic, low-key village feel – Crans-Montana leans upmarket and urban in style; those chasing the very biggest connected ski areas in the Alps, as 140km, while varied, is modest next to Switzerland’s largest resorts.
Crans-Montana has genuine ski racing pedigree, having hosted the 1987 Alpine World Ski Championships and regular World Cup speed events, mostly for women. Away from the piste, the resort is just as well known for the Crans-sur-Sierre golf club – home to courses designed by Seve Ballesteros and Jack Nicklaus, and the annual Omega European Masters tournament each September – plus designer boutiques, the Les Roches International School of Hotel Management, and the mountain music event, the Caprices Festival. Planning a family trip? Our family skiing guide has more advice on choosing the right base.
The two halves of the resort, Crans to the west and Montana to the east, blend traditional Alpine architecture with a more urban, cosmopolitan feel than many Swiss resorts, reflecting decades as a favourite of well-heeled visitors from across Europe.
Crans-Montana’s 140km of pistes are split across four distinct sectors: a family area for beginners and young children, a fun area geared towards freestylers, the high glacier area above 2,900m, and a quieter nature area for those wanting to escape the crowds. At the top, the Plaine Morte Glacier offers a genuinely high-altitude experience with sweeping views that take in Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn, easily reached by gondola for skiers and pedestrians alike; the on-glacier Restaurant Plaine Morte is a memorable lunch spot, and a long 8km run drops all the way back down to the village.
Freestylers are particularly well looked after: the resort’s snowpark, located near the Cry d’Er lift station, is the biggest in French-speaking Switzerland and includes a boardercross course, slopestyle jumps and the only Olympic-standard superpipe in the Valais Alps. Comparing options before you book? Our ski holiday deals and ski resort search tools make it easy to weigh up Crans-Montana against other Swiss bases.
Beginners and families are well served by the dedicated family sector, with gentle, sunny slopes close to the villages. Intermediates have plenty of scope across the fun and nature areas, including the long, scenic run down from the Plaine Morte Glacier.
Advanced skiers can test themselves on World Cup-level pistes used for international speed events, while freestylers and boarders have one of the best snowpark set-ups in Switzerland, including the region’s only Olympic superpipe.
Crans-Montana’s south-facing position gives it a claimed 300 days of sunshine a year, and skiing up to almost 3,000m on the Plaine Morte Glacier keeps snow reliable at altitude even when lower slopes soften in the sun. January and February typically bring the coldest, most reliable snow across the whole area, while the glacier sector holds good conditions well into spring for those prioritising sunny skiing over powder.
A single lift pass covers all four sectors of the Crans-Montana ski area, from the family slopes to the high glacier terrain, with the standard range of day, multi-day and season options available.
Several ski schools operate across Crans and Montana offering lessons for all ages and abilities, including specialist freestyle coaching given the resort’s strong snowpark scene, and ski/board hire shops are plentiful in both village centres. Our ski gear guides are worth a look if you’re buying your own kit.
Crans-Montana has a notably chic, upmarket feel, with smart hotels, serviced apartments and chalets spread across both Crans and Montana, reflecting its long history as a favourite of European high society.
Dining ranges from mountain restaurants such as the glacier-top Restaurant Plaine Morte, known for its cheese fondue with a view, to smart village restaurants and bars across Crans and Montana. The resort’s designer boutiques and bars give it a more cosmopolitan, shopping-friendly atmosphere than many Alpine villages.
The dedicated family ski sector makes Crans-Montana a comfortable choice for parents with young children, while off the slopes there’s world-class golf at the Crans-sur-Sierre club (including courses designed by Seve Ballesteros and Jack Nicklaus), shopping, and a packed events calendar including the Omega European Masters golf tournament each September and the mountain music event, the Caprices Festival. Planning a family trip? Our family skiing guide has more advice on choosing the right base.
Crans-Montana is one of the easiest Swiss resorts to reach without a car: fly into Geneva and take the train (around two hours) to Sierre station, then ride the century-old Sierre-Montana-Crans funicular, which climbs 927 vertical metres into Montana Gare in just ten minutes.
Crans-Montana is a superb pick for sun-loving skiers, freestylers and anyone who wants a chic, well-connected resort with plenty to do beyond the pistes. It’s not the place for those chasing the very largest ski areas or a rustic village feel, but for easy access, reliable sunshine and a genuinely varied 140km of terrain, it’s one of Valais’s most rounded resorts.
Fly into Geneva, take the train to Sierre (around two hours), then ride the historic Sierre-Montana-Crans funicular, which reaches Montana Gare in about ten minutes.
The resort offers around 140km of pistes across four sectors: a family area, a fun/freestyle area, the high glacier area, and a quieter nature area.
Yes, it has the biggest snowpark in French-speaking Switzerland, including a boardercross course, slopestyle jumps and the only Olympic superpipe in the Valais Alps.
The Plaine Morte Glacier is Crans-Montana’s high-altitude ski sector at almost 3,000m, offering panoramic views of Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn and a long 8km run back down to the village.
Yes, there’s a dedicated family ski sector with gentle, sunny slopes, plus plenty of non-ski activities in the resort for those travelling with children.
The resort is well known for golf – hosting the Omega European Masters each September on courses designed by Seve Ballesteros and Jack Nicklaus – as well as designer shopping and the Caprices mountain music festival.
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