Escape the crowds and immerse yourself in glorious mountain scenery. With panoramic views at every turn, the vistas of Crans Montana allow you to see the Simplon, Mont Blanc, and the Matterhorn.
Treat yourself to 140km of sun-soaked piste without the hustle and bustle of the more famous resorts. Race down World Cup ski slopes and explore endless miles of backcountry. Thanks to the 3000m Plaine Morte glacier, you’ll have snow-sure conditions throughout the season.
Despite the idyllic setting on the slopes, the villages back in town are full of life. Buzzing bars and restaurants start the celebrations early. Cosmopolitan crowds spill out onto the sunny terraces. A fabulous gourmet dining scene and the largest alpine shopping centre in the world will provide plenty of entertainment when you’re not exploring the mountains.
Wrap up your days back in the comfort of your luxury chalet. With some of the best properties in the alps based here, you’ll find a fantastic place to base yourself during your stay. Browse our selection of accommodation below to start creating the ultimate winter break.
Crans and Montana are two separate villages that have become a premier ski destination. Previously under the radar for British tourists, it’s quickly becoming a new hot spot thanks to its uncrowded slopes and buzzing village centre.
Crans Montana rests on a sunny plateau in the Swiss canton of Valais. High above the Rhone Valley at 1,500m, you’ll find some of the best views in the Alps here. A large and varied ski area offers something for every type of skier. The social atmosphere back in town and a great gourmet dining scene make this a wonderful place to base yourself during your time in the alps.
Mountain Lunch: Cry D’er
Après Ski: Zerodix
Dinner: Le Partage
Non-skiers: Art De Vive (spa)
Best Off-piste: Col du Pochet
Best Ski Run: Bellalui run
Ski Elevation: 1,510m – 2,927m
Pistes: 140km
39% Blue runs
50% Red runs
11% Black runs
Snowparks: 1
Sion (SIR):
30 minutes / 22km
Malpensa (MXP):
2h 50m / 200km
Geneva (GVA):
2 hours / 183km
There’s a wonderful selection of luxury chalets in Crans Montana, whether you want a hideaway nestled in the woods or a sleek home in the heart of the action. Crans Montana is home to some of the best luxury chalets in Europe, so you’ll find it easy to find a place that caters to your taste.
FEATURES – Traditional exteriors hide elegant modern décor. Wrap-around fireplaces are often the fixture of stylish open-plan spaces. Exceptional wellness and entertainment facilities and catering options such as wine cellars and cigar rooms provide an excellent base during your stay for relaxing and welcoming friends.
SIZE – We have spacious luxury chalets in Crans Montana that can sleep anyone from small groups all the way up to 38 people. If you have a larger party or can’t find the right property to fit your needs, contact us so that we can help you design the ideal combination of chalets for your holiday.
CATERING – If you choose a catered chalet, you can expect impeccable hospitality and a team of staff ready to help you make your break exceptional. From three-course meals to a knowledgeable concierge service, you can rest assured that you won’t have to lift a finger.
LOCATION – Crans Montana has many ski-in-ski-out properties, so you can waste less time commuting and spend more time on the snow. Despite the prime slope-side locations, you still have easy access to town if you want to spend your evenings exploring.
Found a property you like? We recommend booking early to avoid disappointment. If you’re struggling to find the perfect chalet for you, get in touch and we will do our best to help you create your dream winter break. Explore our selection of outstanding luxury chalets below to find inspiration.
Looking for inspiration? Take a look at our recommend luxury ski chalets in Crans Montana…
Le Petit Crans
Wake up among endless mountain peaks at Le Petit Crans. Take in the panoramic views from the floor-to-ceiling windows or on the large sunny balcony. The thoughtful and elegant design uses alpine touches to make you feel at home.
The wine cellar and cigar room make this a great spot for entertaining and the cinema room and games room will keep the kids happy. Extensive wellness facilities will have you sinking into pure bliss. Drift in the large indoor swimming pool or soak away your worries in the indoor hot tub with mood lighting. Refresh in the sauna and hammam or take a massage in one of the treatment rooms.
Ultima Crans
A stay at Ultima will give you an opulent mountain experience. Sleek, sparkling décor gives you the ideal setting to recover after your days exploring the slopes. Grab a drink from your very own bar then retire to the patio area for some al fresco drinking.
The property shares luxury facilities with the Ultima collection of chalets. With a private lake and steaming outdoor pool, this is ideal for a group that would like to mix privacy with socialising. The marble and crystal-soaked spa will transport you to a world of tranquillity. Warm tired muscles in the sauna or stretch them out in the yoga studio.
B&B chalets in Crans Montana
Corporate chalets in Crans Montana
Ski-in Ski out chalets in Crans Montana
Crans Montana chalets with hot-tubs
Catered chalets in Crans Montana
Flagship chalets in Crans Montana
Crans Montana chalets with cinemas
Crans Montana chalets with spa area
Crans Montana chalets with saunas
Self-catered chalets in Crans Montana
Large chalet in Crans Montana
Crans Montana chalets with gyms
Crans Montana chalets with swimming pool
Crans Montana has a fantastic free shuttle network with buses running every 20 minutes to the lifts and town centre. Parking is limited and you need to make sure you park in the designated spaces.
Transfer information
The roads and public transport network coming into Crans Montana is excellent, so you’ll have no trouble getting into resort.
Travelling by car
Crans Montana is easy to reach by car. The roads into the mountains are easy for most drivers. There’s a good choice of car parks once you arrive at the resort.
Travelling by train
A combination of train and funicular will get you into Crans Montana from nearby major airports.
Private transfer
There’s a range of shared and private transfer options into Crans Montana. If you want to come by helicopter, there’s a landing pad at Chermignon-d’En-Haut which is a few minutes’ drive from the resort.
Airports
Geneva (GVA) – 183km
By car – 2 hours
By rail – 2 hours 35 minutes
Zurich (ZRH) – 305km
By car – 3 hours 10 minutes
By rail – 3 hours 36 minutes
Malpensa (MXP) – 200km
By car – 2 hours 50 minutes
By train – 3 hours 50 minutes
Sion (SIR) – 22km
By car – 30 minutes
By rail – 40 minutes
Private transfer
There’s a range of shared and private transfer options into Crans Montana. You’ll be picked up from the airport and delivered straight to your door. Don’t forget, our concierge team can always book a private helicopter tour once you’re inside your Crans Montana luxury ski chalet.
The cosmopolitan atmosphere makes Crans Montana a fantastic destination for eating out. As well as an excellent gourmet dining scene, you’ll find a lovely selection of authentic Swiss restaurants and plenty of global fare.
In the town
Crans Montana has an abundance of gourmet restaurants. The stunning Le Mont Blanc has one Michelin Star and 17 Gault Millau points. Sample modern Swiss and French cuisine alongside panoramic views. Le Denche Blanche has been in the same family for three generations. Many high-profile customers have eaten here thanks to their juicy meats and elegant fondues.
Get a taste of Latino culture at Parrilla Argentina Chez Chico. They serve up some of the best steaks in town. For an exciting blend of Japanese and Peruvian dishes, head to La Muna. Rare ingredients are expertly sourced to create a refreshing balance of flavours.
For a relaxed evening, check out Mosaic Brasserie. The bistro-style restaurant serves beautifully presented dishes using top-quality ingredients. You can also try Burger Lounge, popular for its mouth-watering homemade burgers made from locally sourced beef, chicken, and salmon.
On the slopes
There are 23 different mountain huts and restaurants to access from Crans Montana, so you’ll have no shortage of options for your long mountain lunches.
Get an authentic Swiss meal at the Michelin Starred Cabane des Violettes. The elegant cabin sits at an altitude of 2,208m, offering you outstanding mountain views. You can access it on foot or by gondola, so it’s perfect for bringing the whole group together.
The laid-back Chez Erwin is a cosy cabin and terrace with limited seating, so get there early to snag the best table. With enviable meat platters and incredible raclettes, this place gets packed out fast.
Chetzeron serves up authentic alpine dishes with a modern twist. Their seasonal menu uses local ingredients and hearty mountain flavours. Their four panoramic terraces were made for afternoons in the sunshine.
Crans Montana is packed with lively bars and clubs to keep your night going. The nightlife is divided across two areas, with Crans being for the older crowd seeking higher quality and Montana being for a younger clientele looking for cheaper drinks and lively parties.
If you’re looking for a mountain party, Crans Montana has some buzzing spots to wrap up your day on the slopes.
There’s a huge selection of bars in town to continue the party.
If you want to extend the evening, the discos start ramping up around midnight.
The Plateau where Crans Montana is based is sprinkled with small lakes and offers 140km of piste. The varied slopes have something for everyone, from rolling tree lines to wide-open slopes.
The ski area
With access from four valley bases, a modern network of bubble and high-speed chair lifts will transport you to three different ski areas:
Boarders
Crans Montana pulls in lots of snowboarders thanks to its great carving and freeriding opportunities. Beginners will find a fantastic choice of blues, but it may take some planning to avoid the drag lifts. The runs around Cry D’Er are ideal for increasing your confidence.
The long red runs are glorious for intermediates. The 12km route from the Plaine Morte Glacier all the way down to Les Barzettes is an exhilarating way to end your day. If you want to pace yourself, there’s a fantastic mix of red and blue runs around the Bella Lui area.
Expert snowboarders will want to check out the backcountry around the Plaine Morte Glacier. If you’re experienced with off-piste, Faverges has some hair-raising slopes.
Crans Montana also has one of the best snow parks in French-speaking Switzerland. The 100,000 m2 area has facilities for every level of boarder. Rails, boxes, jumps, and pipes offer endless opportunities to show off your moves.
Beginners
Beginners will have a one-of-a-kind start to their skiing career, with lessons taking place on the snow-covered golf course. There are three different nursery areas for beginners. They’re all at the base of the resort, so you can learn in sunny and sheltered conditions.
Crans Montana is a great place to build your confidence, with a wonderful mix of blues and reds. When you’re ready to progress, head to Cry d’Er. You can access it from the gondola and with a T-Bar network you can ski easy slopes all day without braving any chairs.
Our recommended ski schools:
Intermediates
Crans Montana is made for intermediates, with lots of long and wide reds to cruise. The long red from Plaine Morte starts with powder and panoramic views and ends with pretty slopes through the trees. The wide Bellalui run is perfect for working up your speed and has some of the best panoramic views in the resort. The Piste Nationale is a fun challenge when it’s not being used for races. The Kandahar Ski Trail is marked as black, but most consider it a difficult red, so it’s a good option for confident intermediates.
Advanced
Experts may find the pisted options limited. The World Cup pistes present a few challenges to get you warmed up. If you’re looking for some adrenaline, the icy black at Col du Pochet may be for you. There’s also a good black run from the Cabene de Bois chairlift. Many head to the neighbouring resort of Anzere, a quiet area with a larger percentage of difficult runs.
Despite the limited blacks, you’ll find more than enough off-piste if you’re starting to get bored. The glacier will present jaw-clenching action. The most off-piste opportunities can be found around La Tza or Chetzeron. We recommend you go off-piste with a guide for your safety and to help you find the most memorable spots in the resort.
Thanks to the Plaine Morte glacier and great snow-making systems, you can expect great snow conditions throughout the season. Enjoy a long season with all-day sunshine on south-facing slopes
November
Snowfall begins to increase, and most lifts are open by the end of the month.
Average snowfall: 20cm
Snow days: 1
December
Snow conditions improve and the resort comes alive for the magical Bella Lui Festival.
Average snowfall: 51cm
Snow days: 4
January
Snow conditions are often excellent. It’s also the coldest month of the year, but Crans Montana’s position surrounded by other mountains offers some protection from the elements.
Average snowfall: 72cm
Snow days: 5
February
The first week of February is the snowiest week of the year and you can expect good snow throughout the month.
Average snowfall: 76cm
Snow days: 5
March
The days are long and warm but there is potential for slushy conditions lower in the valley.
Average snowfall: 39cm
Snow days: 4
If you don’t ski or are facing a bad weather day, you’ll find lots of activities in Crans Montana to keep you satisfied. This stylish and cosmopolitan resort has a focus on health and wealth, with a rich heritage dating back 100 years.
The shopping in Crans Montana is one of its main draws. As the largest alpine shopping facility in the world, you’ll find more than enough opportunities to indulge in some retail therapy. There are over 150 shops to choose from. Splash out at Louis Vuitton and Hermes, buy the highest quality Swiss watches, or browse the artisanal cheese and wine stores.
You’ll also find all your favourite winter activities. The Ycoor Centre is one of the largest outdoor ice areas in Switzerland. As well as a magical illuminated ice rink, there’s also a curling hall, café, and an ice disco every Thursday. Why not experience the Plaine Morte Glacier in a new way, by flying across it during some dog sledding?
If you want to stay in the warm, there’s a vintage-style cinema and a bowling alley with pool and darts. The sleek spa at Le Crans focuses on natural rejuvenation with treatments and programs tailored to your needs. Soak in the panoramic heated outdoor pool, the indoor pool with mountain views, or in the sauna and hammam.
Make sure to stop at Étang Grenon, a stunning frozen lake between Crans and Montana. A large Crans Montana sign set to a mountain backdrop is the perfect spot for your holiday photos. The surreal Chemin Des Lanternes is a lantern trail that is a permanent feature of Crans Montana throughout the winter season. Stroll the snowy pathway of twinkling lights on your way back from dinner and lose yourself in the fairy tale atmosphere.
Our luxury Crans Montana Chalets blog covers a wide range of topics: the latest luxury rental properties in Crans Montana, local news, snow conditions, new and top rated restaurants and bars, best rental shops, spa’s and swimming pools, top 5’s and of course, Ski Chalets in Crans Montana!
Need to stay in Crans Montana a little longer? Or just wish to enjoy the piste for a few months rather than a week? Check out our collection of seasonal chalets in Crans Montana, giving you access to the resort for the entire snowy season.
