Verbier

About Verbier

Situated between the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc at a height of 5,000 feet, a Verbier ski vacation offers one of the largest ski areas in Europe. If you’re in search of a happening ski town, incredibly scenic Alpine peaks and some of the most renowned Swiss skiing, you will love a ski trip in Verbier. This delightful village is located on a sunny plateau in the grand circuit of the Four Valleys ski areas—linking Verbier to Nendaz, Siviez, Veysonnaz and Thyon. These additional four areas at Verbier Four Valleys are known collectively as “Printze” and have a large selection of blue and red (intermediate) runs as well as a few black pistes sprinkled throughout.

Verbier offers its visitors options when it comes to places to dine and partake in après. Visit Le Mouton Noir Bar on the mountain for a happening celebration after a long ski day while the DJ sets the vibe out on the largest terrace in Verbier that has panoramic views and can hold up to 1,000 people partiers at once.

To balance your visit, you may consider stopping the next night for dinner at Les Touristes Restaurant, located in the old village of Verbier. Les Touristes is known by the namesake hotel where it’s located, and offers traditional Swiss cuisine like fondue, raclette and croute, a comfort food dish made of bread, wine and cheese, as well as classic French dishes. If you still have energy after skiing or decide to take a day off, the Centre Sportif de Verbier provides visitors with the best off-piste activities as well, including tennis, squash, ice hockey, curling and swimming. For non-skiers, nearby cities such as Montreux and Lausanne are easily accessible by public transportation.

How to get to Verbier

Verbier is located in the eastern central Valais region of Swiss Alps and is 160 kilometers or just under 100 miles from Geneva International Airport—making it a relatively easy ski resort to get to from just about anywhere in the world. Ski.com recommends flying into Geneva for the best rates. Most European ski resorts are best accessed via railway—rather than car—and Verbier is no different, however opting to travel by rail requires a train change in Martigny. Plus, the train station is located within the Geneva airport, making it quite convenient and stress-free. If you do rent a car, an all-wheel drive vehicle is recommended. Convenient airport transfers are also available.

Getting around Verbier is seamless with various transportation options. The Le Chable-Verbier gondola, part of the public transport system, operates daily from 5:15 am to 11:50 pm. The resort also offers buses, shuttles, taxis and ample parking. Whether on foot or by vehicle, Verbier's extensive infrastructure ensures easy access to all parts of the resort.

Skiing in Verbier

When we say big, we mean it. Your lift ticket is honored at the Four Valleys’ 93 lifts. You could ski at this sprawling resort network for a week and never ski the same run twice. Intermediates surprisingly have the most options, with a breakdown of 35 blue, 39 red and 14 black pistes making up the entire resort.

As an annual host venue to the Freeride World Tour—an elite extreme skiing and snowboard competition—you can bet that Verbier skiing will challenge the best. If you’re looking to feed into your competitive side, there is the mini-kilometer sprint, a racecourse to challenge your friends and family while knocking out your fastest run of the day. Experts will find even more terrain in Verbier’s 7 secure, marked but ungroomed routes such as the Col des Mines, Vallon d’Arbi and Col de Mouches. Hiring a guide when exploring these areas is the best way to get the most out of your time skiing there.

Col des Mines is ideal for when there’s fresh snow with its moderately steep gradient, and Col de Mouches, known as La Mouche to locals can be accessed by taking the Chassoure gondola up to an open bowl of moderate, consistent gradients that feed into the Gentianes-Tortin itinerary feeding you out to the Tortin lifts. Get to Four Valleys’ over 10,925-foot summit with Mont Fort’s fast and modern lifts open to some of the steepest lift-accessed skiing in the Alps, and also provides breathtaking views of the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc and Dent Blanche.

There’s one terrain park, perfect for freestylers and designed with routes for all levels of experience. Try your hand at the kickers, boxes and rails by riding up the six-seater La Chaux Express or the La Chaux 2 chairlift. Freestylers will find plenty to do in Verbier’s two terrain parks. For beginners, Les Esserts is the largest area with one drag lift and two magic carpets, including the largest magic carpet in Switzerland. Once beginner skiers are feeling more confident, La Chaux is a good spot to move onto for slow blue pistes. It’s also south facing so as the day goes on the snow will soften up.

With 36 percent of Verbier’s terrain marked as blue, which is beginner terrain in Europe, new skiers and snowboarders have many excellent options. First-time skiers and snowboarders have a well-placed “learn to ski” zone right in the middle of Verbier’s village and several well-situated learning areas at the base of the mountain between Medran and Savoleyres. Because the village of Verbier sits at 1,500 meters (almost 5,000 feet), beginners can enjoy superb snow conditions even at the base of the mountain.

Once new skiers and riders have mastered their skills and are ready to explore more of the mountain, Verbier offers nearly limitless terrain possibilities—especially when combining Verbier’s trails with the interconnected 412 miles of skiing to be had at St. Bernard the 4 Valleys ski resorts. For the best views and snow, more experienced blue skiers and snowboarders should head up to La Chaux ski area.

Intermediate and advanced skiers have a heap of sustained cruisers to choose from including red trail routes that run from the top of Col de Gentianes, at nearly 9,700 feet (2,950 meters) all the way back down to Verbier, at 4,000 feet (1,200 meters). Talk about getting bang for your buck. With the exception of skiing off the top of Mont Fort summit, intermediates have unimpeded access to the Verbier and the surrounding Four Valleys’ 412 miles of terrain. You could ski at the Four Valleys for a month or so and never ski the same run twice, and intermediates will best enjoy the terrain offerings.

Experts can enjoy 27 percent of Verbier’s 110 miles of terrain—and that doesn’t include all the options in the remaining 300 miles of skiing at the other Four Valleys resorts. Whatever your terrain preferences you have, you’ve got in Verbier. Since Verbier sits quite high—Mont Fort reaches a summit of nearly 11,000 feet—it enjoys incredible, season-long snow conditions. Verbier’s renowned snow conditions combined with its renowned off-piste skiing make the resort a bucket list destination for international expert skiers and snowboarders. The skiing off the top of Mont Fort and Mount Gele are particularly rewarding for those seeking steep, challenging terrain. If you do venture into Verbier’s off-piste terrain, be sure to go with a professional mountain guide to ensure optimal safety and enjoyment.

Family vacations in Verbier

Boasting two dedicated children’s areas, one at Les Esserts in Verbier and one in Les Moulins, and a dozen more ideal children’s slopes spread out over the Four Vallees ski resorts, families will appreciate Verbier just as much as the off-piste enthusiasts do. And with plenty of family-friendly lodging and restaurants to choose from, a Verbier family ski vacation should be a top choice for those looking for European winter getaway. To learn more about this property, call or chat with one of our knowledgeable Mountain Travel Experts.

The three-star Hotel De La Poste provides families with incredible value and equally incredible amenities, including a convenient onsite restaurant, a close location to the center of the village and the tram station and a heated, roofed swimming pool that kids love splashing around in.