Recommended
Mountain Lunch: l’Etable du Marais
Après Ski: Tsirouc Bar
Dinner: Restaurant de Moiry
Non-skiers: tobogganing
Best Off-piste: Grimentz – Zinal
Best Ski Run: Panorama
Skiing
Ski Elevation: 1,570m – 2,900m
Pistes: 115km
23% Blue runs
51% Red runs
26% Black runs
Snowparks: 1
Airports
Sion (SIR):
40mins / 43km
Geneva (GVA):
2h 5m / 195km
Milan Malpensa (MXP):
3h / 206km
Grimentz Luxury Chalet
Grimentz has a lovely selection of luxury chalets, with many of the buildings keeping their original architecture and newer apartments popping up across the area. In a resort this picturesque, it’s not hard to find a place to stay with outstanding views across the valley.
FEATURES – Rustic structures and sleek modern interiors guarantee you’ll get the perfect balance of charm and luxury.
CATERING – If you choose catered accommodation, you’ll have a dedicated team on hand to tailor your stay to your every need.
LOCATIONS – Because the village is so compact, you’ll find great properties nearby to the lifts, bus stops, and town.
Grimentz is a small resort with a limited choice of properties. We recommend starting your search early so you don’t miss out on your dream chalet. Browse our selection of properties below to start crafting the Swiss luxury break of a lifetime.
Looking for inspiration? Take a look at our recommend luxury ski chalets in Grimentz…
Chalet Soldanelle
Chalet Soldanelle is a luxurious 4-bedroom Swiss ski chalet in Grimentz, Val d’Anniviers, offering stunning mountain views. This charming chalet, crafted in traditional Swiss style with old wood finishing, comfortably sleeps up to 8 guests (10 with a sofa bed for children). It features 2 en-suite bedrooms, a family shower room, a spacious living room with a fireplace, and a well-equipped kitchen with a dining area for 8-10 people. Amenities include Wi-Fi, a TV area with a smart TV and Xbox, table football, and a separate laundry room. Outside, a large terrace/balcony boasts a private jacuzzi. Built in 2008, the chalet is conveniently located near the village center and lift station, accessible by a free shuttle or a short drive. A pedestrianized old village center is a 10-minute walk away.
Grimentz Chalet Collections
B&B chalets in Grimentz
Corporate chalets in Grimentz
Ski-in Ski out chalets in Grimentz
Grimentz chalets with hot-tubs
Catered chalets in Grimentz
Flagship chalets in Grimentz
Grimentz chalets with cinemas
Grimentz chalets with spa area
Grimentz chalets with saunas
Self-catered chalets in Grimentz
Large chalet in Grimentz
Grimentz chalets with gyms
Grimentz chalets with swimming pool
Grimentz
Untouched in every sense of the word, the authentic Swiss village of Grimentz is a portal to pristine backcountry terrain.
Grimentz might be one of the best-kept secrets in the world of off-piste skiing. With many backcountry routes accessible by lift, you’ll be rushing through bowls and winding through trees in minutes. You won’t be disappointed if you’d rather stay on the runs. Whether you want to cruise or are looking for something more technical, the 220km of varied piste will keep everyone satisfied.
Back in town, you can live out an adorable Swiss fantasy. Take leisurely walks through winding streets of wooden shutters and blooming window boxes. Stop at a cosy restaurant and feed your soul with traditional Valaisan cuisine. With less than 500 year-round inhabitants, Grimentz hasn’t lost its nostalgic alpine atmosphere. You can experience small-town life in Switzerland with the added infrastructure of a modern mountain resort.
This dreamy alpine sanctuary deserves a luxurious hideaway to curl up in. Browse our selection of luxury chalets to start designing the ultimate Swiss escape.
Grimentz Resort
Grimentz is the biggest village in Val d’Anniviers, in the French-speaking part of the Valais canton. Its two villages, Grimentz and Zinal, are spread 8km apart across the valley. Perched at 1,570m, the ancient village is surrounded by vast mountain peaks. And thanks to strict building codes, the thousand-year-old settlement is brimming with character. The resort is split into two parts, with most of the skiing accommodation on one side and the old town on the other.
While it’s just a stone’s throw away from iconic resorts like Verbier, Zermatt, and Crans Montana, it’s managed to skip the skiing fever that has taken over other resorts and remains relatively untouched. This is the perfect resort for a guest who wants to avoid the glitz and glam and make the most of wholesome hospitality with great skiing.
Grimentz Travel & Transport
Grimentz is a very walkable resort and its pretty scenery makes it wonderful to explore on foot. To get to other places in the area, you can take the free bus. The most regular one goes between Grimentz and Zinal.
Travelling by car
Grimentz is easily accessible via the Swiss motorways. It’s a small village and parking options are limited. Make sure your chalet has parking or identify a parking spot before you arrive. If you don’t want to drive from home, Geneva Airport has reasonable car hire prices.
Travelling by train
While the Swiss are infamous for their efficient transport network, public transport into Grimentz can be time-consuming. The nearest station is Sierre, and from there you’ll need to take two more buses.
Airports
Geneva (GVA) – 195km
By car – 2 hours 5 minutes
By train– 2 hours 34 minutes
Sion (SIR) Airport – 43km
By car – 39 minutes
By train– 3 hours
Milan Malpensa (MXP) – 206km
By car – 3 hours
By train – 3 hours 46 minutes
Private transfer
The simplest option for getting to Grimentz is a private transfer. You can hit the road as soon as you leave the airport and don’t have to think about a car while you’re in the resort. Choose between shuttle buses, cars, or a sleek limousine.
Grimentz Restaurants
Foodies don’t need to be put off by Grimentz’s size. It may not have the international flair of Switzerland’s more glamorous resorts but, much like everything else here, its food scene is brimming with authentic delights. Plunge headfirst into traditional Valaisan cuisine with a wonderful selection of restaurants, cafes, and patisseries.
In the town
For a classic Valaisan experience, check out the charming Becs-de-Bosson. They have a great choice of fondues and serve raclette made with cheese from the valley. Gather around the wood fire at Meleze and feast on grilled meats, stews, and traditional Anniviarde fondue. Restaurant de Moiry is a local favourite and has a great mix of French, Swiss, and European dishes cooked in an open oven. Soak up the views on the sunny terrace or dine in the adorable interior of the ultimate Swiss experience.
For something more casual, grab a crepe at Claire Fontaione or a pizza at Templum. Or drop by the tearoom at Salamin Bakery for homemade hot chocolate and freshly baked pastries.
On the slopes
Take in glorious views at Restaurant d’Altitude de Sorebois where you can try tasty Anniviard specialties. Cosy up in the chic wood interior of l’Etable du Marais or sit on the breathtaking terrace. The restored barn serves Valais specialities and is accessible on skis or on foot. Or grab the best burgers on the slopes at Buvette d’Orzival. The laid-back terrace is the perfect place to refuel after a session in the neighbouring snow park.
Grimentz Apres & Nightlife
While most people are drawn to Grimentz for its serene atmosphere, there’s a small selection of cosy bars here and even a few places open into the small hours. The Val d’Anniviers region is famous for its wines, so any connoisseur will want to add a wine tasting to their list.
Nothing beats a cold beer or a steaming vin chaud after a day in the snow.
- Head to The Box for a quirky drink before the last run of the day. The bar is made from two shipping containers, with lots of tables to perch on and take in the views.
- Once the infamous Chez Florioz, the legendary Apres ski spot has reopened as Tsirouc. It’s right at the bottom of the slopes and draws in all the revellers after a day’s skiing with its warm atmosphere.
- Bar La Trappe has a peaceful atmosphere and a sunny terrace to relax on after a day’s skiing.
For evening revelry, you’ll find a good choice of bars, whether you’re looking for a cosy glass of wine or something livelier.
- Le Saint Bar is a good first stop, with darts, pool, and football tables. They also have regular live music nights, theme nights, and karaoke to get the party started.
- Bar Domino is for the younger crowd, with live sports screening and darts to keep everyone entertained.
- Delve into the finest local wines at Le Grenier. They select different wines each month depending on the season and occasion. They even offer cheese and meat plates for you to graze while you sip.
Surprisingly for such a small resort, there’s also one discotheque. Disco Shaddock is one for the night owls and can stay open until 4 a.m during peak season.
Grimentz Ski Area
Across the Val d’Anniviers ski area, there’s enough pisted terrain to keep beginners and intermediates happy for the week. Advanced skiers may find this is the push they needed to start exploring backcountry terrain, which you’ll find in abundance. Spend your days carving across pristine piste or riding untouched powder. At every turn, you’ll be faced with picture-perfect mountain views.
The ski area
The Val d’Anniviers ski area includes five different resorts and over 220km of piste to explore under one ski pass. Thanks to a modern lift system, the whole area is well connected, making it easy to find the slopes perfect for your ability.
There are 5 resorts to explore from Grimentz:
- Grimentz is easy to access and has a great choice of piste for all levels of skiers and boarders. It’s also famous for its incredible views and accessible backcountry.
- Combined with Grimentz, Zinal offers 120km of piste for all levels. This area also has epic backcountry and is a top destination for ski tours.
- St Luc has lovely rolling pistes but less on offer for the advanced skier.
- Chandolin is a large ski area and has the biggest variety of on-piste skiing.
- Vericon is a small area perfect for beginners and intermediates. Advanced skiers will find endless off-piste terrain.
Boarders
Beginner boarders will enjoy wide practice slopes where you can learn to turn away from the crowds. The Grands Plans has a long blue that’s popular with beginner skiers, but it’s narrow in parts, so not the best choice for novice boarders. You’ll also want to avoid the blue at the Roc d’Orzival since it’s a long and uncomfortable T-bar to the top.
More advanced boarders will have a great time on the reds and blues spread across the ski area. If you want to wrap up the day with a challenge, take the long black from Zinal. It’ll take you down steep slopes and weave through the trees until you emerge close to the Grimentz gondola station.
Freestylers will find parks at Grimentz-Zinal, St-Luc, and Vercorin, with jumps, rails, and kickers for all levels. There are also airbags and a boardercross run. The highlight of Grimentz is the accessible freeriding, which you can get to quickly from the Durand piste.
Beginners
Beginners will find good facilities around Benolla and Sorebois, with practice lifts, magic carpets, and flat slopes to help you master the basics. You’ll also find a second nursery slope in Zinal.
The Jardin des Neiges in both Sorebois and Benolla have fun characters and mini slalom courses perfect for children taking their first steps on the snow. The Family Park in Zinal is another good choice, with mini obstacles for them to start playing with their technique.
When you’re ready to progress, you’ll find easy slopes between Sorebois and Espace Weisshorn. The Tsarva is a fun blue with some steeper parts to test your nerves. On your way back to Grimentz, stop in Benolla and do the wide, flat blues. Wrap up the day by taking the cat track all the way back to Grimentz.
Our recommended ski schools:
- Swiss Ski School are established across Switzerland and have been running since 1932. They have lessons for all styles, ages, and abilities. Why not master boardercross or perfect your slalom technique?
- Ski School Grimentz promise fast progression, with custom lessons for all ages and abilities.
- ESI offers group and private lessons for a variety of disciplines and has ski kindergarten for ages 2½ years+.
Intermediates
The pistes in Grimentz are perfect for intermediates, with lots of cruisy reds and blues to while away your days on. The most popular choice is the Panorama down from Orzival. This long, winding run has outstanding mountain views from every angle. You’ll find plenty of fun reds from the summits of Corne de Sorebois and Becs de Besson. For the last run of the day, start at Becs De Besson and enjoy a long cruise all the way back into town.
Advanced
Experts will find the most pisted challenges around Zinal. Barthelemy and Col are both steep but the wide blacks are perfect for picking up speed. There’s a long black run from the top of the Lona 2 T-bar back into Grimentz to help you finish your day feeling satisfied.
But the real attraction here is the backcountry. North and East facing slopes hold powder for days and you’ll find it easy to make fresh tracks every time. You’ll find the most accessible terrain from the Durand piste. You can also head to Lona 2, where you’ll find natural bowls on both sides.
To get the most out of the backcountry in Grimentz, we highly recommend hiring a guide. You’ll be able to suss out the best areas from day one, so you can throw yourself into all the freeriding the resort has to offer. There’s also a heliport in Grimentz, creating outstanding opportunities for heliskiing further afield.
Weather
Grimentz is a high-altitude village with snow-sure slopes for most of the winter season. But if the snowfall is less than optimal, the high-altitude lake helps artificial snow facilities generate snow across all the pistes.
November
Snow can start falling in Grimentz as early as the middle of November but the exact opening dates for the season vary from year to year depending on conditions.
Average snowfall: 17cm
Snow days: 1
December
December is a magical time in this fairytale village. Father Christmas brings sweeties for the kids- and mulled wine for the big kids- and you can attend twinkling events like Christmas mass and torchlight processions.
Average snowfall: 57cm
Snow days: 4
January
January is a very cold month. After the first week is over, the festive rush dies down and you can enjoy the quiet and pristine slopes. If you get the chance, head over to Chandolin for the Three Kings celebrations or to Zinal for the paragliding and hang-gliding cup.
Average snowfall: 85cm
Snow days: 5
February
February is also very cold but has quiet pistes outside of half-term weeks. Make sure to get involved in all the activities for the vibrant Anniviers Carnival.
Average snowfall: 39cm
Snow days: 3
March
March means longer days and more time on the slopes. There’s also a packed events calendar this month, with races and competitions taking place across the valley.
Average snowfall: 40cm
Snow days: 3
Things To Do In Grimentz
Despite its size, Grimentz has lots of interesting things to see and do when you’re not skiing. Whether you’re into history or natural wonders, this little town is full of surprises.
In the village, you can glide across the frozen lake on ice skates. Take a taboggan ride from Benolla, or why not ramp things up a notch and race down the taboggan run on a snow cart? Take the kids up to the illuminated slopes at SwissPeak Resorts for some nighttime sledding or let them bounce around at the indoor amusement park. There’s also an indoor pool, escape room, and climbing hall for bad weather days. The village sits on an intricate network of hiking trails where you can get out and explore the epic Val d’Anniviers scenery on foot.
History and culture buffs will have a fantastic time in Grimentz, whose residents are proud of their traditions and heritage. Start with a tour of the Burgher House. This 1550 building sits at the heart of the village and is a fountain of information on Grimentz’s farming history. Or visit La Maison de Grand Maman. The house, dating back to 1529, is an immersive example of 19th-century life. Foodies aren’t left out either. Learn about the region’s famous Vin du Glacier wine or bake a loaf of traditional rye bread.
One of the coolest things to do during your time in Grimentz is to visit the Cabane de Moiry. You’ll have incredible views of the Moiry Glacier, the Grand Cornier, and Pointes de Mourti. Take in the scenery from the mountain hut where you can enjoy a drink and a hearty meal. For more glacier action, carve out a day for a trip to the inside of the Zinal glacier. You’ll strap on your snowshoes and step inside the awe-inspiring glacial caves.
Our luxury Grimentz Chalets blog covers a wide range of topics: the latest luxury rental properties in Grimentz, 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 Grimentz!