Switzerland has some ski resorts that are known to be good for families. In case you have very small children, it can be a good idea to choose a resort that also has other activities because they may not want to ski the whole day, or the whole week… Think of resorts that also have Thermal Baths like Leukerbad or Ovronnaz, or look at towns that have an ice skating rink or other activities like a snow dog ride.
We have also been to Saas-Fee and Grächen with our children, and both towns also have excellent facilities for families.
To see our full article on Saas-Fee:
We have always had our children in skiing class in the morning when on holiday. It makes them progress quickly while enjoying themselves with children of their age. And, it gives some time off for the parents to explore the slopes together!
Thyon 2000
Thyon 2000 is a very good option for a ski holiday with kids!
There is a good ski school in Thyon, starting with a fun Snowli (Swiss skiing mascot) village for the little ones and excellent lessons for the bigger kids. We love the restaurant which is located on one of the slopes called L’Alpage (accessible via a blue slope). They have a beautiful terrace with a stunning view, and on colder days you can of course eat inside as well. They offer typical food from the Valais region. Thyon also has an Italian restaurant called le Pas’sage, an English Pub, a Sports Shop, a Panoramic restaurant, and a creperie. Activities for children are usually organized throughout the week such as snow scooter riding, raclette tasting or a disco. There is a swimming pool in Thyon which is a good alternative if your children want to take a small break from the skiing activities.
In the winter of 2018 they had put a big ice cave in Thyon! In the ice cave you can see beautiful ice sculptures of animals and dinosaurs. Our children loved it and were quite happy to be able to visit something like this right on the slope!
Thyon is one of our favorite places for our skiing holiday!
Jura
Facing the Mont-Blanc, the Jura is one of the most beautiful places to go skiing. The Col de la Faucille and Crozet (France) are well known skiing resorts that are easy to reach from Geneva. Since it can sometimes get a bit crowded on the weekend, it may pay off to drive just a bit further, to Les Rousses.
We’ve tested Les Rousses’ Espace Dole on a Sunday and were really happy with our choice!
Les Rousses Espace Dole is approximately 45 minutes by car from Geneva, and you will find all the slopes you would need there. A combined ticket can be purchased so that you can ski on both the Swiss and the French side. Crossing the border has never been so much fun!
The Restaurant du Cuvaloup is right on the slopes and has a snack and a restaurant for a sit down lunch. It has a nice fireplace on the terrace outside for you to warm up on cold days.
When driving up to La Dole, you will pass the town of St. Cergue where night skiing combined with cheese fondue is often organized. The cost of night skiing and a fondue in one of the participating restaurants is CHF 33,=. Reservation is recommended: www.ski-fondue.ch.
You will also pass the little town of La Givrine which is a perfect site for sledging, snowshoe walking and a good place for for real beginners to test skiing. It really only has very small slopes but it is reasonably priced. There is a nice restaurant near the small slopes which is called: Le Refuge de la Trelasse. When you are there, reserve your table for lunch in advance, because the restaurant is quite popular.
For all our favorite ski resorts in Switzerland and France:
