{"id":25466,"date":"2026-03-04T19:14:50","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T19:14:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/25466\/"},"modified":"2026-03-04T19:14:50","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T19:14:50","slug":"why-andermatt-is-becoming-switzerlands-next-world-class-mountain-destination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/25466\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Andermatt is becoming Switzerland\u2019s next world-class mountain destination"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">My journey across magnificent Switzerland continues in Part 3, following visits to M\u00fcrren with its dramatic peaks and Engelberg for its glacier.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Now, it\u2019s time for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.myswitzerland.com\/en-ca\/destinations\/andermatt\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Andermatt;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Andermatt<\/a> \u2014 a world-class ski hub moving confidently into the future. Located just 90 minutes from Zurich and Milan, Andermatt is the fastest-growing town in Switzerland and has been listed among the 10 best ski resorts in the country by numerous publications.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Once a quiet military base in the heart of the Swiss Alps, it is transforming into one of Europe\u2019s most luxurious resorts and there\u2019s two world-class partners working together on this dream. Andermatt Swiss Alps AG is developing the property while Vail Resorts, Inc. operates the ski resort so you can expect an incredible experience on and off the mountains. The ambitious development plan is already underway. What was once the epitome of a low-key European resort is evolving into a world-famous, year-round destination for everyone in the family.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The town may not be as large as Zermatt or Kitzb\u00fchel, nor as busy, but it offers every amenity you could want.<\/p>\n<p>511 inches of snowfall each season<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Known as Europe\u2019s premier powder destination, Andermatt sits in the Ursern Valley where the Swiss Alps meet the Gotthard massif, averaging an astonishing 511 inches of snowfall each season. It is part of the Andermatt, Sedrun and Disentis region, the largest ski area in the heart of Switzerland, boasting 180 kilometres of slopes. Its location between the Oberalp, Gotthard and Furka Passes guarantees reliable snow conditions. Sitting at 1,444 metres, you\u2019re already high in the mountains before even boarding a lift, and the wide-open bowls are breathtaking \u2014 especially on bluebird days.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">What makes Andermatt truly unique is its blend of past, present and future. The historic village reveals traditional dark larch-wood chalets and a charming mix of shops and restaurants. To understand Andermatt better, I finished skiing in the morning then took a stroll through the \u201cold town\u201d to The Talmuseum Ursern, dating back to 1786 and located in the historic \u201cSuworow House,\u201d showcases local history, alpine farming and military heritage. At the same time, there are clear signs the town is positioning itself among Switzerland\u2019s most luxurious destinations.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\" The Chedi Andermatt\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"639\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/5c5b566c34df95a34b4cb6752d08e0f5.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p> The Chedi Andermatt<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Leading that charge is the renowned five-star <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechediandermatt.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Chedi Andermatt;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Chedi Andermatt<\/a>. From the moment you walk through its doors, the Asian-Alpine fusion architecture impresses. The hotel features eight restaurants, including \u2018The Japanese Restaurant\u2019 Michelin-starred Japanese venue and one of the most innovative dining concepts I\u2019ve experienced: \u201cThe Restaurant,\u201d which houses four open kitchens serving Swiss or Asian cuisine from the same core ingredients. Every detail is extraordinary, from a two-storey cheese tower presented after dinner to a wine library of more than 1,000 bottles and a cigar collection that includes untouched boxes from Fidel Castro and John F. Kennedy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Andermatt\u2019s culinary scene is exceptional, with more than 30 restaurants, 13 hotels and nine sports shops for equipment rentals. I stayed at the four-star Radisson Blu Hotel Reussen, conveniently located near the lifts. This is far from a typical airport Radisson \u2014 it offers 244 suites, a full breakfast buffet with an omelette chef and shuttle service to the lifts or your favourite restaurant. The hotel is very impressive from the outside and inside with modern Swiss design.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">On the slopes, Andermatt delivers in a big way. Epic Pass holders will love the 180 kilometres of terrain, 33 lifts and elevations reaching 2,962, it is a paradise for powder lovers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Gemsstock area, the highest peak, is known for world-class freeriding and dramatic Alpine views. Natschen area offers more family-friendly terrain, while Sedrun area features wide-open groomers and stunning scenery for intermediates. Kinderland Matti area is perfect for beginners and young skiers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The resort is massive and can feel overwhelming, so as always I recommend hiring a guide on your first day. My guide, ski school director Fr\u00e4nggi, whom I highly recommend led me to fresh powder in the glades of Gemsstock before we enjoyed my classic two-hour European lunch of local Raclette, apple strudel and craft beer. The stop was exceptionally sweet at Wachthaus, a mountain hut with stunning mountain views owned by 1972 Olympic downhill champion and FIS overall winner Bernhard Russi. His gold medal proudly hangs on the wall and great for photos.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\" An evening view of Andermatt.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"683\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/366c1a390ad2856ff9f30c8c9d6de012.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p> An evening view of Andermatt.<\/p>\n<p>Food and slopes are out of this world<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">There are signs of thoughtful progress everywhere, including a small wind farm atop the peak over looking Wachthaus, reinforcing Andermatt\u2019s commitment to sustainable energy. In all my travels, I\u2019ve never seen a wind farm at a ski resort and unique to see riding the gondola. Beyond skiing, the town offers a vibrant high-end cultural and culinary scene, including six Michelin-recognized restaurants and 96 GaultMillau points across various establishments. There\u2019s even a Michelin-listed Japanese restaurant atop the Gutsch Express operated by Chedi Hotel, \u201cThe Japanese at G\u00fctsch\u201d, at an elevation of 2,344 meters above sea level.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">For non-skiers, Andermatt provides plenty of adventure: Dog sledding, skating, snowshoeing, sledding, hiking, spa experiences, paragliding or a scenic ride aboard the Glacier Express.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In summary, my 10-day journey across Switzerland was not only memorable but full of surprises \u2014 especially at the lesser-known resorts that deliver world-class experiences of their own. Andermatt already possesses all the ingredients of a premier luxury destination, and under Vail Resorts, Inc. and Andermatt Swiss Alps AG vision, it is poised to become one of Switzerland\u2019s most luxurious and sought-after mountain escapes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Glenn Crouter is an Ambassador, Canadian Ski Council \/ Ski Reporter, 640 Toronto Radio<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/torontosun.com\/category\/sports\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:sports section;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">sports section<\/a> for the latest news and analysis.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"My journey across magnificent Switzerland continues in Part 3, following visits to M\u00fcrren with its dramatic peaks and&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":25467,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[15666,15668,4596,6943,17,15667],"class_list":{"0":"post-25466","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-switzerland","8":"tag-andermatt","9":"tag-powder-destination","10":"tag-ski-resorts","11":"tag-swiss-alps","12":"tag-switzerland","13":"tag-world-class-partners"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ch\/116172509855873160","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25466","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25466"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25466\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25467"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25466"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25466"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25466"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}