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Les Diablerets is one of the few resorts left that still feels like a genuinely traditional Swiss mountain village rather than a purpose-built ski machine. Sitting at 1,200m beneath the dramatic Diablerets massif (3,210m) in the canton of Vaud, it has grown just enough to offer modern conveniences without losing its historic character – and its name, meaning “The Devils”, nods to old local legends of demonic gatherings on stormy nights, now celebrated rather than feared via the light-hearted Devil’s Day summer festival.
The resort’s ski area extends to around 125km in winter thanks to a lift link over to Villars and Gryon, and its star attraction is Glacier 3000, reached by cable car from the Col du Pillon, offering snow-sure skiing, the world’s only peak-to-peak suspension bridge, and enough novelty attractions to fill a day even without skis.
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Terrain split: beginner and intermediate slopes at the top of Glacier 3000 with tougher pistes such as Martisburg further down, plus the challenging Combe d’Audon off-piste descent, and the Meilleret sector linking through to the wider Villars/Gryon ski area.
Best for: those wanting an authentic, low-key Swiss village experience with genuine history and character; families and intermediates who want reliable glacier skiing plus access to the wider Villars/Gryon area; anyone who fancies a quirky day out on the Peak Walk by Tissot suspension bridge or Alpine Coaster.
Not for: skiers wanting a huge, varied local ski area right on the doorstep – some of the local sectors have had lift closures in recent years, so it’s worth checking current lift status before booking; those wanting a big nightlife scene, as the village stays quiet and traditional after dark.
Les Diablerets is also home to the Diablerets Alpine Centre (DAC), an official Swiss Ski training and performance centre founded in 2020 as a legacy project of that year’s Winter Youth Olympic Games, whose alpine skiing events were held on the resort’s Meilleret slopes. The resort has hosted the Les Diablerets Film Festival every year since 1969, adding a cultural dimension alongside its winter sports pedigree.
The resort participates in the wider Alpes Vaudoises pass alongside Les Mosses and Leysin, and multi-day pass holders can add on unconditional use of the neighbouring Gstaad ski area’s lifts for a small extra fee – useful given Gstaad’s designer shopping and dining are just down the road.
Les Diablerets has three main sectors. Scex Rouge, marketed as Glacier 3000, offers beginner and intermediate slopes at its highest altitudes with tougher pistes such as Martisburg further down, plus the notorious Combe d’Audon off-piste run, which sweeps past the summit of Oldehorn (3,122m) down to the valley at Reusch. Beyond skiing, Glacier 3000 is home to the Peak Walk by Tissot – the only peak-to-peak suspension bridge in the world – along with an Alpine Coaster and dog sledding trips.
The Meilleret sector, to the south-east of the village, is Les Diablerets’ connection into the extensive Villars/Gryon/Diablerets ski area and is home to the longest sledge run in Europe, descending from its summit via the Col de la Croix. Note that the resort’s third sector, Isenau, has been closed since a 2017 cable car tether failure, though a local association is working towards its restoration – it’s worth checking current lift status before planning a trip around it.
Beginners and intermediates have gentle, sunny slopes at the top of Glacier 3000, ideal for building confidence at altitude. More confident intermediates and advanced skiers can head down to Martisburg or tackle the long runs through Meilleret towards Villars and Gryon.
Experts should seek out the Combe d’Audon, a genuinely challenging off-piste descent from near the Oldehorn summit down to Reusch, one of the more adventurous runs in the wider Glacier 3000/Villars area.
Glacier 3000 provides snow-sure skiing at altitude for most of the season, even when lower slopes around the village are more changeable. January and February bring the most reliable cold snow across the wider area, while Glacier 3000 itself can offer skiing well beyond the main season in a good year.
Les Diablerets’ winter ski region extends to around 125km thanks to its lift link with Villars and Gryon. The resort also participates in the Alpes Vaudoises pass, which additionally covers Les Mosses and Leysin, and pass holders booking three days or more can add unconditional access to the neighbouring Gstaad ski area’s lifts for a small supplement.
The resort has its own ski school offering lessons for all ages and abilities, and its status as home to the official Diablerets Alpine Centre reflects a genuine depth of ski coaching expertise locally. Hire shops in the village cover the usual range of equipment for all levels.
Les Diablerets has a good range of hotels and a small town centre, reflecting its traditional mountain architecture and unpretentious character. Its size keeps things simple and low-key compared with the grander hotel scenes of nearby Gstaad or Verbier.
Dining in Les Diablerets leans towards traditional Swiss fare in a relaxed, village setting, with the option of heading down the road to Gstaad for smarter restaurants and bars. Après-ski here is quiet and low-key rather than a big scene, in keeping with the resort’s understated character.
Les Diablerets is a great choice for families wanting a relaxed, traditional base, with Europe’s longest sledge run at Meilleret a particular highlight for older children. Beyond skiing, the Peak Walk by Tissot suspension bridge, Alpine Coaster and dog sledding at Glacier 3000 add plenty of novelty, and the village’s long-running Film Festival and Devil’s Day celebrations give it genuine local character too.
Geneva is the most convenient international airport, with onward travel by train to Aigle and then the scenic Aigle–Sépey–Diablerets railway line directly into the resort. Drivers can also reach Les Diablerets by road from Aigle.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Genuine, traditional Swiss village character | Isenau sector has been closed since 2017, reducing local terrain |
| Reliable, high-altitude glacier skiing at Glacier 3000 | Quiet après-ski scene rather than a lively nightlife destination |
| Link to the wider Villars/Gryon ski area via Meilleret | Worth checking current lift status before booking around specific sectors |
| Novel attractions like the Peak Walk by Tissot and Alpine Coaster | Smaller and quieter than big-name Swiss resorts nearby |
| Option to add on Gstaad’s ski area with a multi-day pass | No direct international airport nearby |
Les Diablerets is a lovely choice for anyone wanting a genuinely traditional, unspoilt Swiss mountain village, backed by reliable glacier skiing and some genuinely novel attractions at the top. It’s not the resort for big nightlife or a huge local ski area, but for authenticity, charm and easy access to the wider Villars/Gryon and Gstaad areas, it’s a real hidden gem.
Glacier 3000 is Les Diablerets’ high-altitude ski sector, reached by cable car from the Col du Pillon, offering snow-sure skiing plus attractions like the Peak Walk by Tissot suspension bridge.
The name means “The Devils” and comes from old local legends of demonic gatherings on stormy nights, a tradition the resort now celebrates light-heartedly through its Devil’s Day festival and demon mascot.
Yes, the Meilleret sector links through to the wider Villars/Gryon ski area, and multi-day pass holders can also add on access to neighbouring Gstaad’s lifts.
Fly into Geneva, then take a train to Aigle followed by the scenic Aigle-Sépey-Diablerets railway line directly into the resort.
Yes, with gentle slopes at Glacier 3000, Europe’s longest sledge run at Meilleret, and novelty attractions like the Alpine Coaster and dog sledding, it’s a great choice for family trips.
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