Andermatt ski resort guide & reviews Ski area, apres-ski, things to see & do in Andermatt
Resort Review
Up until the late 19th century, Andermatt enjoyed a golden era as one of the premier ski resorts in the Swiss Alps being the gateway to Italy via the St Gotthard alpine pass. Then came the railway which left the pretty and traditional village isolated and has until recently, been off the radar to many skiers.
In recent years, there has been renewed interest in the resort as there has been considerable investment in infrastructure. From new luxury property developments to improved ski lifts and mountain facilities, Andermatt is now making a comeback in a big way.
| Key information (whole area) | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 1444m |
| Top lift | 2961m |
| Family | |
| Beginner | |
| Intermediate | |
| Expert | |
| Piste (km) | 120 |
| Longest run | 6 km |
| Off piste | |
| Cross country | 28 km |
| Season | Dec - April |
| Snowboard parks | 2 |
| Heli Skiing | ✔ |
| Summer skiing | ✘ |
| Glacier skiing | ✔ |
| Babysitting | ✘ |
| Creche | ✔ |
| Apres ski | Relaxed and Fun |
Après-ski
Popular bars straight after the slopes include Di Alt Apothek and Spycher which continue to be busy until the late hours. After dinner, the night life can be as relaxed or as lively as you want to make it with more options such as Bar La Curva, Postillion and Pinte Pub & Club .
Wellness & spa
The latest addition to the spa scene in Andermatt is the luxurous The Chedi spa & wellness centre located 10 minutes from the train station. With 2,400 square metres packed with pools and treatment rooms, its the ideal place to relax and unwind after a day on the slopes although it is reserved for hotel guests only.
Andermatt ski area guide
The Andermatt ski area is divided into 4 sectors providing 120kms of trails.
- Andermatt-Nätschen-Gütsch
- Andermatt-Gemsstock
- Andermatt-Realp
- Oberalp-Sedrun
Nätschen and Gemsstock are accessed directly from Andermatt whilst Realp is a train ride and is really only for beginners with 1 ski lift. Sedrun is 20 minutes away via train although in the next 2 years, it will be lift-linked.
Beginners
First time skiers are well catered for at Nätschen. As well as a beginners area, the 6km gentle blue is a great trail to improve your turning skills before heading up the mountain to steeper terrain.
For children, Realp is a good place to start out as there is a kids park and a gentle beginners area.
Intermediate
Take the train to the Sedrun ski area and spend some time cruising the reds before heading up to Gemsstock. Here you will find much steeper terrain and some fabulous off-piste trails.
Advanced
Experts head to Gemsstock where you can ski the famous Bernhard Russi Run and the challenging off-piste trails such as Giraffe and Geissberg. The Gemsstock is the site of one of Switzerland’s most popular open freeride events, the "King of the Mountain".
Things to see & do in Andermatt
For those days where you simply dont want to put skis on, there are plenty of other activities to hand:
- Tobogganning down a 15.5km track
- Winter hiking & snow shoeing - 40km of trails
- Ice filed
- Ice climbing
- In-door swimming pool (Sedrun and Altdorf)
- Snowtubing in the Snowpark in Valtgeva
- Cinema (Altdorf)
Cross country
When snow conditions are favourable, the cross-country season in the Ursern Valley starts as early as November There are 28kms of trails for cross-country skiers around the valley catering for classic cross-country skiing and for skating.
There is also a night trail in Realp which is illuminated every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 to 9 pm.
