Gstaad Ski Resort
The glamorous ski village of Gstaad needs very little introduction. Widely recognised as one of Europe's top luxury resorts on par with the very best of them, Gstaad's reputation as a top ski destination certainly precedes it. Located in the Saanenland in the Bernese Oberland, the lovely village can be found on the eastern side of Lake Geneva only separated by the Regional Park Gruyère Pays-d'Enhaut. Less than a 2-hour transfer from Geneva’s international airport, Gstaad is a very upscale resort with luxury hotels, upmarket designer stores and high-end gourmet restaurants which draws some of the world's most well-known celebrities and royals every year. Although well recognised for its star power and prestige, Gstaad’s popularity is not solely hinged on its celebrity pull. The area has long maintained its Alpine authenticity and traditions as a farming community with over 200 farms and pastures across the area. The resort is a lovely place to be in, possessing a captivating charm and silent charisma that is hard to miss when you’re out and about. It operates a pedestrian, car-free system allowing holiday-makers to roam about the shops and restaurants quite freely.
Gstaad exudes sophistication with its array of upscale accommodations, including luxurious hotels, chalets, and boutique resorts. The resort boasts modern ski lifts, ski schools staffed with expert instructors, and top-notch equipment rental services to facilitate an effortless skiing experience. In essence, Gstaad captivates discerning ski holiday makers with its pristine natural surroundings, world-class amenities, and sophisticated après-ski offerings, making it a coveted destination for alpine enthusiasts and luxury seekers alike.
Gstaad exudes sophistication with its array of upscale accommodations, including luxurious hotels, chalets, and boutique resorts. The resort boasts modern ski lifts, ski schools staffed with expert instructors, and top-notch equipment rental services to facilitate an effortless skiing experience. In essence, Gstaad captivates discerning ski holiday makers with its pristine natural surroundings, world-class amenities, and sophisticated après-ski offerings, making it a coveted destination for alpine enthusiasts and luxury seekers alike.
Sitting at 1,050 metres, the slopes reach as high as 3,000 metres and cover over 200 kilometres of well-groomed pistes suitable to a wide range of ski ability levels from beginners and families with young children to confident intermediates and advanced skiers. The areas in Gstaad and the wider Saanenland offer different exciting skiing opportunities, thanks to the cable cars and gondolas that connect skiers with the slopes in the surrounding areas of Rinderberg Lengebrand, Saanerslochgrat, Hornberg and Horneggli. We have provided further skiing information below.
Gstaad sits between valleys of Saanen, Schönried, Saanenmoser and Zweissimen. Other ski areas include the slopes of Rinderberg, Lengebrand, Saanerslochgrat, Hornberg and Horneggli all accessible by an efficient, interconnected lift and cable-car network.
The local ski slopes are on the Wispile and Wasserngrat which has some easy, nursery slopes perfect for families and beginners. More confident beginners can try the easy-tree lined which runs down from the mountain and is easily accessed via gondola. This area is generally limited and best suited to beginners as earlier mentioned. The largest areas offering more variety, especially for intermediate to advanced skiers can be found at Rinderberg ( thanks to the Saanerslochgrat valley to summit gondola installed between 2018 and 2019) and Schönreid. Here, skiers will find a variety of long, wide-open reds ( and even a number of blues). Advanced skiers looking for a challenge will no doubt be heading for the steep blacks on Glacier 3,000. The are other blacks that can also be located around the ski area with the most notable being the legendary steep Tiger run on the Wasserngrat.
Gstaad Accommodation
Boarders and freestylers in particular will naturally gravitate to Snowpark 3000 on the glacier. It is a fantastic snowpark suitable for all levels and well equipped with a number of rails, tables, and boxes. Freeriders at Gstaad will also appreciate the numerous wide-open pistes perfect for freeriding. Beginners can find some easy cruising on the Saanenmöser slopes while more advanced free-riders will find some fantastic off-piste challenges in the Saanen areas.
The area has excellent snow conditions, thanks in no small part to the unmissable glacier with slopes reaching up to 3,000 metres. Gstaad also has world-class snowmaking facilities which cover most of the ski area.
Gstaad’s has an impressive apres-ski scene. It's certainly not as crazy and extravagant as other ski resorts in the Swiss Alps but its great selection of bars, restaurants and clubs still allows it to provide party-going skiers with some amazing nighttime experiences in Gstaad. Its wide selection of hang out spots also allows skiers the preference of a vibrant, lively night or a relaxed rustic evening. Whatever the case and the preference, keep in mind that Gstaad evenings are also known to be a little bit expensive. That being said, we have put together a few places that may be of interest to you.
GreenGo
As far as parties go in Gstaad, there is hardly any other place to start other than GreenGo nightclub. Over 50 years since it first opened its doors, the GreenGo nightclub has earned legendary status in Gstaad as one of its most iconic places to visit on a night out. A classy, trendsetting nightclub, it has welcomed some of the world’s most famous celebrities and personalities from Princess Diana to Madonna. Popular music artists and DJs such as Akon. Tim Cullen from Ministry of Sound and Bob Sinclair have been recent visitors and performers. The atmosphere in the GreenGo is fantastic and perhaps one of the best in Gstaad, being the number one party spot in the area. It also hosts different events such as themed parties, live DJ and performing artist's sets and much more. Certainly, the place to party with the stars, the GreenGo should be top of your apres-ski list if you are visiting Gstaad this season with a view to party.
Rialto’s Bar
Another staple in Gstaad, Rialto’s Bar is open every day until 1:30 am. A very well-liked bar that is popular among visitors and locals alike, Rialto’s stands in sharp contrast to the GreenGo. It's a lot more chilled out with a rustic vibe which appeals to a more mellow crowd. It can best be described as a wine bar, with its large selection of wine accompanied by food platters setting the tone and overall theme of the bar. It is located on the promenade in the resort centre and is not hard to miss on an evening out so if you are after a quieter evening with yourself or your group, head over to the Rialto’s.
Bro's Café-Bar Lounge
A great place to hang out during the day for mid-day beverages (coffee, hot chocolate) and a few evening drinks after a day out on the slopes. Located in the centre of the resort, on the well known Gstaad promenade, Bro's Café-Bar Lounge is a relaxed cosy spot which acts as a fantastic meetup spot for an evening of apres-ski fun. Coffee and hot drinks aren't the only things on the menu here, look out for a wide selection of ritzy cocktails from the classic stuff to exotic selections. Bro's Café-Bar Lounge also has a great wine selection and a fantastic beer menu for those after more traditional or standard stuff. The food here is fantastic and is served all day, so keep Bro's Café-Bar Lounge in mind after a long night of drinking, you just might get that obligatory kebab at the end of the night. The only difference here is this kebab will be one of the tastiest you’ve had in a while.
The Lounge, Hotel Bernerhof
Aptly named, The Lounge is the bar and lounge in Gstaads lovely and welcoming Hotel Bernerhof. Recently refurbished, it offers a lovely getaway for people after a quieter evening but with all the trimmings of a great atmosphere, lovely surroundings and great drinks menu. The interior is expertly finished with traditional Alpine stone floors, local fir wood ceilings and some parts of the wall and large glass and steel-rimmed doors separating the restaurant from the lounge. There is a large fireplace in the middle of the lounge providing additional charisma and character. Probably preferred for an evening aperitif before dinner or a nightcap before bed, The Lounge will be most likely favoured and appreciated by visitors on a quiet one for the evening.
Gstaad is one of Europe's top ski resorts and as expected, its facilities also rank among the best anywhere in the world. From its facilities on the pistes including its ultra-modern lift systems and piste grooming machines to its services such as ski equipment hire, non-ski entertainment and fantastic accommodation, Gstaad is very well equipped to cater to all its visitors every ski season.
If you are visiting Gstaad with the family in tow including the little ones, the village is well equipped with more than enough facilities and services to ensure children are catered for , looked after and very well entertained. From ski lessons, slope and off-slope entertainment and childcare, Gstaad is very well suited, booted and prepared for children.
Gstaad Accommodation