Montreux is a must-visit destination in Switzerland for tourists and natives alike. On the banks of Lac Léman with a vibrant culture of art and music, Montreux does not disappoint during the end-of-year holiday season. With the end of November comes the month-long Christmas market in Montreux, one of the best and largest in Switzerland. The famous Chateau de Chillon becomes a medieval winter wonderland that is enchanting and delightful for visitors of all ages. Try local delicacies and why not even do some of your Christmas shopping there? As with all markets in Switzerland, Montreux Noël boasts the abilities and products of a number of craftsmen and artisans.
Dates : November 22 – December 24
Opening hours:
● Sunday to Tuesday: 11:00 – 20:00
● Wednesday to Thursday: 11:00 – 21:00
● Friday to Saturday: 11:00 – 10:00
The Dolder Open-Air Ice Rink is the largest of its kind in Europe. Built in 1930 and spanning 6000 m2, the Dolder Ice Rink is located next to the Dolder Grand hotel. You can reach the rink by taking the Dolderbahn train, which will take you up the hill, through the forest and into a winter wonderland.
Prices:
● Adults: CHF 8
● Adolescents (17-20): CHF 6
● Children (4-16): CHF 4
● Spectators: CHF 2
● Family Ticket (admission for 2 adults and maximum 4 children below the age of 16 – includes skate hire): CHF 40
Dates: October 05 – March 10
Opening hours:
● Monday to Satuday: 09:00 – 22:30
● Sunday: 09:00 – 17:45
● Wednesday: Closed from 17:45 – 19:15
Grindelwald is your perfect example of a Swiss Christmas village with plenty of activities that range from sledging and snow-shoeing to ice-skating and night ski tour training. Not feeling too sporty, not a problem. Grindelwald is a village rich with tradition and culture. Find out the stories behind and underneath the mountains as well as of those who bravely ventured into the mountains. You can even pair this with an excursion into the mountains, for example, the 007 Walk of Fame in the Schilthorn.
Try something new this holiday season with a holiday at the Igloo-Village. Founded in 1995/1996, the village was created by the ambition of Adrian Günter to be the first on the mountain, early in the morning to shoot photos of the sunrise and to of course experience the slopes before anyone else gets the chance. In Switzerland, you can find an Igloo-Village in Davos-Klosters, Gstaad, Stockhorn and Zermatt. A tunnel system connects the igloos to each other and every year international artists arrive to decorate the interiors of the igloos, creating fantasy world in snow and ice.
When a white Christmas won’t come to us, we will go to it. Spend your Christmas up in the mountains – it will be magical, unforgettable and absolutely beautiful. Living in or visiting Switzerland means that your options for a Christmas spent skiing, ice-skating and/or snow-shoeing up in the mountains are not limited. Here are some of our top picks:
a. Davos Klosters
While the city is famous for hosting the annual World Economic Forum, a lesser known fact is that Davos is one of Switzerland’s biggest ski resorts. At Klosters, you will find some of the best skiing the entire canton of Graubünden has to offer.
b. LAAX
Built for those of all levels and ages, LAAX is a great resort for snowboarders and freeskiers. You can sharpen your free-skiing skills or learn them from scratch. If you would prefer a more conventional skiing experience, LAAX shares one of the largest ski areas in Switzerland with Flims.
c. Gstaad
Small, quaint and the place you go to, to bump into celebrities like Julie Andrews, Kofi Annan, Madonna and George Clooney. With 10 ski villages and 220 kms of pistes, Gstaad will offer you the perfect luxury experience.
d. Verbier
Barely a two hour drive from Geneva, Verbier is possibly the most popular resort in Switzerland. More than 400 kms of pistes and breathtaking views of the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc, Verbier is the perfect location for an exciting Christmas getaway.
Transport yourself back to the 70s and 80s with this fun event at X-TRA in Zurich. Fabulously themed discos and a great alternative to your traditional winter activities. Fun is guaranteed and dressing up is highly encouraged. Admission is only allowed for those above the age of 18.
You can find out when the next disco is here: Rollschuh Disco Agenda
Prices:
● CHF 25 – includes roller skate rental
Hallowe’en comes a little late in Schaffhausen. Taking place only during the Advent period, the guided night-watch tours of Schaffhausen are a great way to learn interesting facts about the city and canton as well as spooky, strange and amusing incidents from times gone by. The tour will tell you about the duties of a night watchman during medieval times as well as the story behind the Munot, including where the name came from. The tours can be taken in English, French and German. The duration of the tour is 1/2 day. Each group taken on the tour is about 10 – 40 people strong.