Riederalp ski resort guide & reviews Aletsch Arena ski area, apres-ski, things to see & do
Resort Review
Riederalp sits on a south-facing plateau in a natural sun trap at 1950m and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch area. The carfree village is accessed via cable car from the valley floor and on arrival, you are faced with chocolate box chalets typical of the Valais that look across to the Pennine Alps on the Italian border.
Après-ski
The night life is fairly relaxed as you would expect in this popular family resort. Having said that, there are several restaurants, bars and a nightclub that tend to get very busy at weekends with the Valais locals.
| Key information (whole area) | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 1925m |
| Top lift | 2869m |
| Family | |
| Beginner | |
| Intermediate | |
| Expert | |
| Piste (km) | 104 |
| Longest run | 5 km |
| Off piste | |
| Cross country | 10 km |
| Season | Dec - April |
| Snowboard parks | 4 |
| Heli Skiing | ✔ |
| Summer skiing | ✘ |
| Glacier skiing | ✔ |
| Babysitting | ? |
| Creche | ? |
| Apres ski | Relaxed |
Riederalp ski area guide
The Aletsch Arena ski area is one of the most spectacular in Switzerland. It offers impressive views of the Great Aletsch Glacier, the largest in Europe at 23kms long plus the 4000m Valais peaks including the Matterhorn and the UNESCO Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch World Heritage Site. A trip to Moosfluh, Bettmerhorn and Eggishorn viewpoints is an absolute must!
There are 104kms of pistes across the carousel split between for all levels of skier and snowboarder including 15 kms of marked off-piste itineraries.
Beginners
.
Intermediate
The Aletsch Arena ski area is ideal for a weeks ski holiday for intermediate skiers and boarders with 50kms of red pistes that stretch from Riederalp all the way to Fiescheralp at 2212m. For a long cruising red, try the 4.6km Aletsch run from the top of the Bettrmerhorn at 2647.
Advanced
There is a limited amount of really challenging terrain with just 12kms of pistes. However, what makes the Aletsch Arena popular with advanced skiers is the ski touring possibilities. From 1 day to multi-day ski tours, the skiing is simply fantastic with 4000m peaks in every direction. See the ski schools or Tourist Office for detailed information on the ski tours available.
Cross country
There are 10km of cross-country and skating trails around the Aletsch Arena.
Other ski holiday activities
For those days where you simply dont want to put skis on, there are plenty of other activities to hand...
- Tobogganning
- Snowshoeing
- Spa
- Fun park
- Heli-skiing
- Paragliding
- Ice climbing
Families & Kid's Clubs
Riederalp was awarded the "Families Welcome label" by the Swiss Tourism Federation which means it provides top-class activity programmes, family-friendly accommodation and amenities such as day nurseries and babysitting services.
During the winter, there are daily activities organised for tiny tots and older children. The ski schools accept children from the age of 3 for ski lessons.
Our View on Riederalp
Skiing in Riederalp on a sunny day takes some beating. Fantastic views of the surrunding peaks and the Aletsch Glacier, great mountain restaurants and excellent ski touring opportunities. A couple of suggestions...
- A day over to Zermatt with it's long runs and stunning views of the Matterhorn is not to be missed
- Take a trip to the wonderful city of Sion with its showpiece castle
- Visit the historic village of Mund (25kms) which is the only place north of the Alps where Saffron is grown
- Every Saturday is market day in Domodossola, the city on the banks of the Toce, just over the Italian border. This bustling historic market sells local Italian specialities including leather goods and attracts visitors from far and wide
- Thermal and wellness oasis Brigerbad (13kms)
If you like Riederalp, you may also want to look at Grindelwald in the Jungfrau region next to Wengen and Villars which also sits on a south facing plateau and popular for family ski holidays.
