The first and possibly most important tip about visiting Crans-Montana for a ski holiday is you won’t need to spend extra money on lift tickets if you have an Epic Pass, as this stunning Swiss alpine destination is one of 34 European resorts available to most pass holders.
In terms of scenery, this fabulous resort, located in the heart of the French speaking part of Switzerland’s stunning Valais canton, is almost unparalleled. Perched on a heavenly, high altitude mountain plateau (at almost 5,000 ft above sea level) overlooking the Rhone Valley, Crans-Montana’s panoramic views of the southern Swiss, Italian, and French Alps are mind-blowing. On a clear day you can even see the Matterhorn, Mont-Blanc (western Europe’s highest peak at 4805m/15,766ft), and a host of other majestic 4000 metre-plus peaks on the horizon.
In terms of vibe, understated elegance is the best way to describe this ultra luxurious ski resort that is made up of two ski neighboring villages – Crans & Montana. Crans-Montana doesn’t have the glitz and opulence of a Gstaad or St. Moritz, and the folks who frequent this spectacular resort are quite happy with that – as for the most part winter visitors here are serious ski enthusiasts who love to get out on the slopes.
Here are 10 tips that will help you plan and navigate your trip to this marvelous slice of alpine heaven…
TIP 1: SKI RESORT STATS & LIFT PASS INFO
Definitely pack your sun lotion as Crans-Montana is one of the sunniest ski resorts in the Swiss Alps where Helios comes out to play over 300 days a year! With over 140 kilometers (87 miles) of trails on south-facing slopes located between an altitude of 1,500 to 3,000 metres (roughly 5,000 – 10,000 feet) snow conditions (about 117 inches a year) at Crans-Montana are almost always optimum level because of its high elevation.
Infrastructure at Crans-Montana is outstanding, and the resort’s 61 marked runs are serviced by 24 lifts, making long lines very rare. Signage is also very efficient and as a whole the ski area inside the ropes is very easy to navigate even if you’re a first time visitor.
If you’re an Epic Pass holder it’s very likely you will have unlimited access to Crans Montana, although some passes (Epic Local & Epic Adaptive 5-day) limit access to five days. Just head to a ticket window located at one of the resort’s three gondola base areas and pick up a Crans-Montana access card. Remember to bring a piece of valid photo ID, proof of a valid Epic Pass, CHF 5 for the card, and you’re in business. For more info about Epic Pass and Crans-Montana, click here.
If you don’t have an Epic Pass, lift passes range from a very reasonable CHF 59 to CHF 89 for a one-day ticket – and purchasing them beforehand online is probably the best way to get a deal.
TIP 2: BEST RUNS
Crans-Montana’s vast ski area is spread out over five different sections – Cry d’Er, Bella Lui, Les Violettes, Petit Bonvin, and the spectacular Plaine Morte glacier. There is something for every type of skier and snowboarder at this beautiful resort, both on and off-piste, regardless of skill level.
Crans-Montana even has a couple of spine-tingling downhill runs for World Cup skiers (the Mont-Lachaux piste for women and the Nationale piste for men) that will be used at the 2027 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, as well as in January 2026 when the World Cup Tour comes to town for the women and men.
So what are the best runs at Crans-Montana based on your skill level, mood, or intestinal fortitude? According to Greg Pages local ski guide and art legend (he’s the co-founder of the Vision Art Festival) these runs are not to be missed…
“If you’re an absolute beginner the ‘Snow Island’ is the place to be and it’s located on the Severiano Ballesteros golf course. It has a magic carpet and two drag lifts for novice skiers, a snow tubing area, and lots of activities for families with kids. For intermediates who love to cruise groomers, make sure not the miss ‘Pas du Loup” which is a fantastic run right at the exit of the Arnouva chair lift. Experts will love the Toula Superieur black run on the Violettes side of the mountain. This run will get your pulse moving, it’s nice and steep with a heart-stopping mogul run at the very top called ‘Les Bossses’ which will definitely make you feel like a ‘BOSS’ if you shred it successfully,” Pages says.
TIP 3: GEAR RENTALS
One of the best places to get ski rentals in Crans-Montana is Avalanche Pro Shop helmed by Dave Albrecht who has over 30 years of experience ripping in the mountains, and helping outfit others who want to rip (you can rent or buy an assortment of snowsport hard and soft goods at Avalanche). Dave, who you would never know wasn’t North American based on his accent-free English, is one of the most knowledgeable and affable ski industry entrepreneurs you’ll ever have the good fortune of dealing with.
Angel’s Sport Ski Shop & Rentals is another great ski shop in town and I’ve always been super pleased with their excellent selection of snow sport gear and service. Run by Olivier Angéloz, this wonderful little shop has everything you’ll need for fun on snow while you’re in town.
Another great option is Ski and Ride, and you’ll find one of these fab shops at every bottom station in Crans-Montana. And if you’re a fan of Stöckli skis, this is the place to go as Ski and Ride has exclusivity on this brand in Crans-Montana.
TIP 4: ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
Accommodation options in Crans-Montana are plentiful. Here are a few options:
Six Senses Crans Montana ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you’re looking for an ultra luxurious, ski-in/ski-out 5-star hotel with unbelievable views of the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc, this is the place for you. I once described this spectacular hotel’s subterranean parking facility as a cross between New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art and a Batman movie set that was “so posh that I would be happy just to sleep in its parking garage,” and I wasn’t kidding. Click here to read my full description in a recent story I wrote.
If you’re looking to spend your ski trip in the lap of luxury while in Crans-Montana, the Six Senses Crans-Montana is your best bet! Click here to find out more.
Hôtel Art de Vivre ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You could easily book a room at this lovely, family-run hotel for its sumptuous in-house spa with incredible views, or its super location (a very short walk to the Crans-Merbé Cry d’Er gondola station), or plush rooms. I, however, will definitely go back to Hôtel Art de Vivre for its unbelievably delicious flaky breakfast pastries, I have never had a better pain au chocolat outside of Paris! Click here to find out more.
Hôtel Central Spa & Lounge Bar ⭐️⭐️⭐️
If location, location, location is important to you and you’re looking for moderately priced accommodation in town, I can tell you from personal experience that the three-star Hôtel Central, located in the town of Montana, is almost unbeatable in terms of functionality and bang for your buck.
Hôtel Central is located right across the street from the Montana-Arnouva gondola station, making it a pseudo ski-in/ski-out hotel, given the fact that you put your boots on in the building, and in the blink of an eye, you’re riding up the mountain in your ski gear.
Rooms are very clean, staff are very friendly, service is excellent, and the Hôtel Central’s lively Lounge Bar is a great place to mingle with locals and other visiting skiers. Oh, and if you’re renting ski gear, Hôtel Central is ideal, as Dave Albrecht’s Avalanche Pro Shop is right next door! To find out more about Hôtel Central, click here.
TIP 5: DINING OPTIONS
Crans-Montana is a diner’s paradise with fabulous culinary options no matter what kind of food you’re craving. Here are some of my favorites in no particular order.
Brasserie Mosaic
A mecca for surf and turf lovers, this wonderful brasserie (great beers and cocktails!!!) and grill house has all manner of meat, poultry, and seafood done up in a myriad of styles. Soups, salads, Italian food, Asian bowls, grilled meats galore, it’s hard to think you won’t find what you’re into here.
As a steak lover, I’ve shared a ginormous Tomahawk steak here with friends, had a melt-in-your-mouth filet on my own; they never get it wrong here. Oh, and the butternut squash soup and Baba au Rhum & Argumes (citrus fruits) are killer!
Zerodix
One of Crans-Montana’s most popular après ski bars (more on that later) is also a fantastic choice for a ski-in/ski-out lunch. Burgers, BBQ ribs, Thai chicken (also available in a vegan version), salads, wraps, fondues, steaks, seafood, are just some of the things you can order at Zerodix, located next to the Crans-Cry d’Er lifts.
My faves at Zerodix: Pataclette (a play on “Raclette”) – baked potato wedges bathed in melted Swiss cheese. Spare-Ribs Josper – fall off the bone ribs coated in a sweet, homemade BBQ marinade, soooo delish. Mousse au Chocolat – a French classic made even better using Swiss chocolate!
Le Thai
I luuuuuuurrrrrrrvvvvvvv Thai food, and Le Thai in Crans-Montana is one of my favorite Thai Restaurants in the world. All the greatest hits from the Thai food catalogue are available at this cosy restaurant with some of the friendliest staff you’ll ever meet. Chicken, duck, beef, seafood, done in yellow, red, green, and Panang curries in a variety of different “heat” levels. Highly recommend!
La Cabane des Violettes
Perched on a breathtaking peak with 360-degree panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, La Cabane des Violettes is one of the best “mountain hut/rifugio” type ski-in/ski-out restaurants you can dine in – and even sleep in if you make a reservation.
The brainchild of celebrated chef Franck Reynaud (who helms the one Michelin-starred L’Ours restaurant in Crans-Montana) and legendary Crans-Montana mountain guide Pierre-Olivier Bagnoud, La Cabane (as locals call it) is known for its divine fondues, pastas, gnocchis, and polentas. But the dish I love most at La Cabane is Reynaud’s take on the classic cheeseburger “Hamburger de veau ‘CHuCk” made from locally grown veal, smothered lovingly with locally made cheese and homemade bread.
Restaurant Pizzeria Oliveto
An extremely popular local Italian restaurant, consider yourself truly blessed if you manage to score a table as a walk-in at Oliveto. Consider yourself even more blessed if they have Spaghetti Homard (spaghetti with half a fresh-baked lobster) on the menu when you’re in town.
Lobster, seasoned and served dripping in butter, with a side of spaghetti pomodoro, is one of the most decadently divine menu offerings you’ll ever see at a restaurant high up in the Swiss Alps. Follow it up with a homemade Crème Brûlée and you’ll be in custard heaven.
Brasserie-Pizzeria Gerber
Mmmmmm wood-fired pizza after a long, hard day shredding in the sun, no place better in Crans-Montana than Brasserie-Pizzeria Gerber. My fave lunch or dinner combo, a fresh Caesar salad for a starter followed up by a freshly baked “Romana” pizza (tomato sauce, mozzarella, ham, olives…tweaked with the addition of fried eggplant slices). Top off the meal with a delicious espresso and a Tiramisu, and you are golden!
Gueuleton
The French word for “big feast” or “blowout” is “Gueuleton” and that’s exactly what you’ll get if you drop into this new and very popular restaurant that caters to what it calls “bon vivants” who love good wines, good breads, and “good fats” on some of the most mouth watering cuts of beef you’ll ever see. In fact, a very knowledgeable server will actually come out with a blackboard listing the different cuts of meat available to order, and after a quick lesson on what’s what, will actually bring out the cut of beef you’ve selected for you to inspect before it goes on the grill.
You may have come across a Gueuleton restaurant in Paris or other parts of France; it’s a chain and has only recently opened up in Switzerland. The ambiance is cozy with wood, brick, stone, and hundreds of gorgeous bottles of French wine on display, creating a very relaxing vibe where you can enjoy a gourmande’s feast among friends and other like-minded epicureans and culinary bon vivants.
We even bumped into some of the racers from the Canadian national ski team (Brodie & Riley Seger, Jeff Read, and newly crowned 2025 Hahnenkamm Downhill champion Jack Crawford) who were sitting at the table next to us, I can confirm that they are some of the friendliest, humblest, and most talented downhillers on the planet…and oh yes, and they definitely love a nice big hunk of perfectly grilled steak for dinner.
Oh, and pro tip: don’t forget to order Gueuleton’s amazing “Cigare au Chocolat” from Geneva’s famed Chocolaterie Rohr for dessert. It’s absolutely fabulous!
TIP 6: APRÈS SKI OPTIONS
There are sooooooooo many options for amazing après ski cocktails in Crans-Montana but I’m going to keep it to a few of my favorites…
Zerodix
With over 300 sunny days in Crans-Montana the spacious outdoor terrace and upper level “balcon” deck are put to good use by diners and après ski revelers who love a nice cold bevvie after a day on the slopes. The vibe at Zerodix is always hopping, with amazing tunes at its fantastic outdoor bar located 20 feet from the Crans-Cry d’Er lifts. I can not imagine a ski trip to Crans-Montana without an après ski pit stop at Zerodix!
Cry d’Er Club d’Altitude
With two dance floors, an outdoor Aperol Spritz bar, it’s own take-out pizza Kiosk, and 360-degree south-facing views of the Swiss Alps, it’s hard to beat Cry d’Er Club d’Altitude right next to Crans-Cry d’Er gondola for on-mountain après-ski festivities if you’re not skiing up until the last lift. I love this place, especially since you can do the responsible thing and download on the gondola after a few guilt-free post-skiing drinkees.
Café Le Postillon
When a local friend told me one of my favorite golfers, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, used to frequent Café Le Postillon whenever he was in town to play at the Omega European Masters I couldn’t resist going for a little refined après ski after one of my days out on the mountain.
This cozy bar is decorated with golf related memorabilia and has an amazing selection of wine, including Petite Arvine du Valais Grand Métral, one of my all-time fave Swiss whites. The staff is super friendly, and some of the locals are real characters, you will have a lot of fun at this little gem of a café/bar.
TIP 7: WELLNESS OPTIONS
Crans-Montana has an abundance of luxury spa and wellness facilities sprinkled around the resort that are exquisite. L’Alpage at Hôstellerie Pas de l’Ours, Spa & Wellness Cinq Mondes are two of my favorites, but the one that stands out the most for me is the Six Senses Crans-Montana Spa.
Spread out over 2,000 square meters and two floors, this otherworldly spa is an oasis of rejuvenation, relaxation, healing, and tranquility that is free for guests, and open to the public with day passes. You can book all kinds of massages and treatments at Six Senses, or just while away the hours in the spa’s resplendent saunas, steam rooms, and pools. Not to be missed if you’re a wellness aficionado.
TIP 8: SHOPPING
With over 120 shops spread around Crans-Montana, there is no end to the damage you can inflict on your credit card if you love to shop. For luxury brands make sure to hit Rue du Prado where you’ll find high end fashion and Swiss watches at boutiques like Moncler, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, and Omega.
TIP 9: ART & CULTURE
Crans-Montana is a fountain of art and culture with an abundance of galleries where you can purchase paintings and sculptures, and it’s even home to La Fondation Opale, the only center for aboriginal art in Europe. But my favorite art attraction in Crans-Montana is the stunning outdoor collection of colorful murals dotted all over town and on the mountain.
These incredible works of art, painted by some of the world’s most talented urban artists, are part of an open air art museum created by the Vision Art Festival, the brainchild of Swiss art curator, ski guide, and mountaineer Greg Pages. You can book a tour on skis if you’re up for it, or just admire them when you’re on the mountain or wandering around town. To find out more about the Vision Art Festival, click here.
TIP 10: FUN OFF THE SLOPES
If you love games of chance, you can spend an evening (hopefully winning) at one of Casino Crans-Montana’s 140 slot machines, or settle in at one of its roulette, blackjack, or poker tables.
If gambling is not your thing, you can try your hand at ski touring, snow tubing, winter hiking, snowshoeing, ice skating, sled dog riding, or even go walking with yaks while you are in Crans-Montana. If you’re a hockey fan, you can also take in an HC Crans-Montana game, which is sometimes played outside under the stars!
More info on Crans-Montana:
For more info on Crans-Montana go to: https://www.crans-montana.ch/en/
Getting to Crans-Montana:
Crans-Montana is easily accessible via bus, train, car and is only about two hours away from Geneva Airport. I always go by train, and purchase Travel Switzerland’s all-in-one Swiss Travel Pass which lets you use trains, buses, boats with one ticket for 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 days. This pass will also get you into over 500 museums in Switzerland for free, as well as get you discounts on other travel related excursions in Switzerland. For more information on the Swiss Travel Pass, go to: https://www.travelswitzerland.com/de/tickets-preise/paesse-und-ermaessigungskarten/swiss-travel-pass/
PHOTO CREDIT: Six Senses Spa photos courtesy of Six Senses Crans-Montana
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