Andermatt Skiing Guide

All You Need to Know About Skiing in Andermatt

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Sun 01 Dec 2024 - Sun 08 Dec 2024

With ski lifts reaching nearly 3,000m, Andermatt has some of the highest and most snow sure slopes in the Alps. Many runs are on north facing slopes and the upper runs are on a glacier. There’s a long history of good snow cover down to resort level throughout the season.

Enjoy 28km of ski trails around Andermatt, Switzerland

Cross-Country Skiing

Cross country skiing is popular around Andermatt with 28km of trails running in and around the rugged mountain scenery. The resort operates a Nordic Sports Centre at Realp where there is also a 3km long night trail. Otherwise the main tracks run along the Reuss or follow the classic Gotthard route. To use the tracks you need a pass, available from the tourist office and priced at 10 Swiss Francs for one day, 40 Francs for a week or 60 Francs for the whole season.

Use a chairlift for the first time as you learn to ski in Andermatt

Beginner

 Although not particularly well known as a destination for beginners, one of Andermatt’s three areas, the Nätschen slopes, is particularly well suited to first timers. It’s also good to have a separate sector that is suited primarily to beginners with little ‘through-traffic’ of more experienced skiers, making it nice and relaxed. The ski school has a good reputation too.

Andermatt is not bad for intermediates, we advise you to try one area at a time

Intermediate

Andermatt’s local ski area is divided in to three sectors linked by a ski bus service and the Gotthard Oberalp Arena pass also covers the slopes of neighbouring Sedrun, which is a 20 minute train journey away. All four areas offer something for the intermediate skier, but unless you’re prepared to spend time in your day riding a bus between sectors, you’re likely to have to dedicate a day to one area at a time, which may not be ideal for those who want to gobble up the piste kilometres. Of the three local sectors, Winterhorn probably has the best of the intermediate standard terrain with runs up to 5km long.

Andermatt has an outstanding reputation for advanced skiing, check out our guide to find out more.

Advanced

 Andermatt’s reputation internationally is strongest for its serious skiing. It also draws a strong domestic market, particularly at weekends, from Zurich. Of the three areas the Gemsstock, nearly 3,000m high with views of more than 600 summits from the top, is the heart of the action. Here there are wide fast carving trails and the challenging Bernhard-Russi-Run, a famous ski run down the glacier filling up most of the north side of the mountain and named after the winner of the Olympic games in Sapporo. But it’s the terrain off the piste that draws most of the skiers – everything is here from wide powder fields to steep chutes in abundance, with vertical descents of up to 1500m possible. An annual 4.5km long Freeride race over a 900m vertical draws big crowds. The local guides can show you it all, take you ski touring and there’s an Avalanche Training Centre too. Not all of the action is on Gemsstock though, we found less well known lines off Winterhorn too although recent reports suggest the lifts there are rarely working.

Aim for Big Air in the G Park in Andermatt, Switzerland

Snowboard / Freestyle Skiing

Andermatt works very hard for boarder and now freestyle skiers with two terrain parks and a halfpipe on the regional pass. Freeriders also have extensive off piste opportunities (see advanced skiing section). So all in all Andermatt is a good choice for boarders – particularly the more experienced. The two snow parks are located on Gemsstock and 20 minutes away at Sederun accessed by the Tegia Gronda lift. Back in Andermatt the g-park on the Gurschenalp has a further selection of jumps, rails and boxes and a ‘g-lounge’ to take a break in and relax while you watch others do their stuff in the park.