Verbier, Switzerland
Advanced and steep off-piste skiing during the day and Stureplan in the evening.
Verbier is a very large ski area and is the western part of the 4 Vallees, which is the largest ski area entirely within Switzerland's borders. There are almost unlimited opportunities for good on- and off-piste skiing. From Geneva airport it takes about 2.5 hours by train, followed by a 10 minute egg lift from Le Châble to Verbier.
Unlike other major ski resorts in Europe, Verbier is a cozy alpine village with mostly traditional low-built chalets clustered around Place Centrale. Don't be fooled, though, "Nightlife is like Stureplan," as the 25-year-old son's friend put it. There are plenty of good restaurants and everything you could ever need to buy can be found in the many shops.
Although there are four valleys to ski, most people stay in the area above Verbier, not least because the passages between the valleys often have old-fashioned lifts and dull skiing, especially in poor snow conditions.
If your thing is steeper off-piste with good snow luck and a love of nightlife, you'll love Verbier. Mont Gelé and Mont Fort (3330m) can provide great skiing experiences with views of the Grand Combin, Matterhorn and Mont Blanc. Keep in mind, however, that in high season the mountain and the village are very crowded, and if it's snowing hard you won't have any friends on the mountain.
If you are a beginner or prefer blue and red slopes and also want to skip the nightclub and take it a little easier in the evening, there are better ski resorts to visit.
Magnus Brink
2023-11-27
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