So, right from the beginning of the year, I could check off another item from my “Swiss Bucket List” – a list of places I would like to visit. For a long time, I wanted to go skiing in Gstaad. We have been to Gstaad itself several times – of course, how else but for our children’s hockey games. And I also passed through it when my friend and I were on a GoldenPass MOB Panoramic Express trip.
You may ask why we haven’t skied here before. After all, it’s as close to us as our favorite resorts, Adelboden and Grindelwald. Maybe it’s because we’ve subconsciously pegged Gstaad as a luxury place. But we thought that luxury would translate into skiing – and prices. But you know what? I was pleasantly surprised by this place (with a few exceptions). And the prices here weren’t exactly outrageous, either. Don’t believe it? Then read on!
Getting there
Skiwelt Gstaad – Saanenmöser/Schönried is located in the western part of the Berner Oberland. Go to Alte Str. 2, 3777 Saanen, and park in the Saanersloch car park near the lift station of the same name (marked in green on the map below). Alternatively, you can use the Schönried or Rinderberg (Zweisimmen) car parks. Parking costs CHF 5/day and can be paid with coins, the mobile app, or via Twint. If you want to go by train, you can go to Saanenmöser, Schönried, or Zweismmen stations. All valley cable car stations are close to the station (approximately a 5-minute walk).
Pistenplan
For the sake of clarity, I have only taken a picture of the ski area I am talking about in this article. Skiwelt Gstaad still includes the Eggli/Saanen/Videmanette area and Glacier 3000.
Skipasses prices
The dynamic pricing system has been in place at Skiwelt Gstaad for several years and can, unfortunately, be tricky. The price of a day pass bought in advance can be as low as CHF 66 but can go as high as CHF 84! For me, a one-day adult ski pass for Sunday, bought on the spot, came out to CHF 75 + CHF 5 deposit per card. Unfortunately, there are no good deals for families – for example, kids ski free on Saturdays like in the Jungfrau Region or Adelboden. Children aged 6 to 15 (inclusive) will pay 36 – 45 CHF here. This left a bit of a bitter aftertaste for me, especially when I plan to ski with three children.
Gstaad is also one of the four resorts in the Berner Oberland where the common Top4-Skipass applies. Season passes for the regions of Gstaad, Jungfrau, Haslital, and Adelboden-Lenk.
Skiing
The slopes are mostly wide and mostly fall into blue (easy) and red (moderately difficult). But to be honest, some of the blue runs felt more like red runs compared to other resorts we’ve skied – plus some of them I didn’t find well groomed. On the other hand, I really liked runs 13 and 15. Even though they’re a bit off the main area, they seemed perfectly groomed and less busy.
For kids and beginners
The area is suitable for families, mainly due to the predominance of easy and intermediate slopes. For beginner skiers and snowboarders, there is the Lernpark Schönried, located above the lower Horneggli station in Schönried. The park has two children’s rope tows and a carpet lift.
Snowpark
For more experienced skiers and snowboarders, there is also the Snowpark, located at the Saanenwald station. The park offers various obstacles and jumps for all skill levels, so there’s something for both beginners and advanced riders who like a bit of adrenaline.
Sledding
If you want to take a break from skiing for a while or don’t want to ski at all, you can go sledding. The sledding runs lead from the Hornberg and Horneggli stations.
Restaurants
The restaurants on the premises are great and offer pleasant seating inside and out. Whether it’s Restaurant Rinderberg-Spitz, Rinderberg, Berghotel Hornberg, Restaurant Hornfluh (these two restaurants are right next to each other – see photo), Restaurant Kuhstall, or Berghaus Horneggli. I especially recommend Restaurant Saanenlochgrat, which has a good menu and a picnic area.
Iglu-village
On the Saanerslochgrat, at an altitude of almost 2,000 metres, is the unique Iglu-Dorf Gstaad. This artificial snow hotel offers not only accommodation in an igloo, but also a restaurant, bar and wellness area. The igloo bar is open during the day and offers impressive views of the surrounding valleys and mountains.
Summary
Skiwelt Gstaad is a beautiful resort with wide, clear runs and a relatively quiet atmosphere, although some are less well-groomed. I appreciate the good snow quality, even though the resort is at a lower altitude (1200-2000 m above sea level). The shade and artificial snow probably help this.
Regarding the lifts, the new cable car has sufficient capacity, but the older chairlifts could do with an upgrade. I find the ski pass prices higher than expected, especially without special family offers. Still, this place has something going for it – especially for those looking for a less busy and quiet skiing experience. It definitely hasn’t been my last time here!
