Holiday region Gstaad for families
Holiday region Gstaad for families
1. Skiing: family pass, Euterpark snow park and the sound adventure trail
The inexpensive tryout ticket is a great option for the whole family to enjoy a day on the slopes of the first section of the Saanerslochgrat gondola lift. The blue piste is an easy slope that is ideal for budding skiers to practise their first turns. In the Euterpark snow park, small boxes and rails are available for first-time freestylers – who will conquer the wooden stairs? If you’re looking for something different, another fun activity is the sound adventure trail – this short hike features elements that you can make sounds with using your ski poles. After all that hungry work of skiing and adventuring, grab a hot dog at the WHY KNOT Bar on the piste or at the bottom station.
Tryout ticket prices: children up to and including 5 years of age free of charge, CHF 20 per child (from 6 years of age), CHF 20 for young people (16–19 years of age), CHF 35 for adults (from 20 years of age)
2. Tobogganing and fun in the snow on Gstaad’s local mountain
The whole family will love the toboggan run on Gstaad’s local mountain, Eggli. After a ride on the state-of-the-art gondola lift, you step off to be greeted with breathtaking Alpine scenery. The Eggli Run starts right next to the summit station, and leads back down into the valley through secluded sections of forest and the tranquil Gstaad mountains. It has plenty of sections where even small children can start steering their toboggans themselves. Before embarking on your next descent, head to the Berghaus Eggli restaurant for delicious, freshly cooked meals – there’s something for everyone, from tasty chips to gourmet Gstaad culinary delights. You’ll also find other toboggan runs in the Saanersloch, Hornberg, Horneggli, Sparenmoos and Wispile ski areas – it’s a true tobogganing paradise for the whole family.
3. Indoor experiences: STATION & indoor aquatic centre
If you’re in need of a break from the snow and icy temperatures, we can recommend two fantastic indoor activities. STATION in Saanen is a space to discover, do crafts and try out new things. It has an engaging contraption room with a fascinating maze of ropes, cogs, cranks and ball runs, plus various arts-and-crafts stations. For those who prefer to swim, slide, splish and splash, the Sportzentrum Gstaad sports centre has a water wonderland with different pools, a turbo water slide, a children’s paddling pool and a diving board. Our top tip: watch the snow fall as you and the kids enjoy the 34°C water in the outdoor pool. Don’t forget to present your Gstaad Card to receive a little surprise at STATION and discounted admission to the aquatic centre.
4. Ice skating and strolling along the Gstaad Promenade
The Gstaad Promenade is definitely worth a visit. In winter especially, the cosy chalets and beautiful shops in the pedestrian zone create a magical atmosphere. But if the little ones quickly get bored of strolling, the Gstaad Promenade’s artificial ice rink is sure to be a hit. Whether they want to skate or play ice hockey, they can have fun on the ice to their heart’s content. The equipment can also be conveniently hired on-site. Charly’s, right next to the ice rink, has delicious coffee, exquisite pastries and cakes, and is the perfect place to grab a warming hot chocolate for everyone after a session on the rink.
5. Reap the benefits of the Gstaad Card
From your first overnight stay in the holiday region Gstaad, you’ll receive the Gstaad Card, which gives guests access to a host of fantastic family experiences. Fancy a fondue? Enjoy it straight out of a backpack, sitting in one of the XXL caquelons in the middle of the snow. Or pay a visit to the dairy and watch as the farmer makes cheese, then taste the farm’s abundant delicious products directly on-site. With the Gstaad Card, you can also take advantage of various perks for the following experiences: a carriage ride, torchlight mountain descent, fondue in an XXL caquelon, night tobogganing, the Magical Trail and a visit to the cinema.
6. Our three insider tips
- Saanenmöser Magical Trail: on Friday evenings, as soon as dusk falls, it’s on with the snowshoes and off along the Magical Trail. Seventeen enchanting light and sound installations await, surrounded by the spectacular beauty of the winter forest they call home. If you’re feeling a bit peckish, make a stop at the Lochstafel restaurant for a bite to eat before returning to the valley by toboggan: www.zauberweg.ch.
- Fondue straight from a backpack: the fondue backpack is available at the Molkerei Zweisimmen dairy. A bus will take you up to Sparenmoos, the sunny terrace above Zweisimmen, where a cosy hut nicknamed the ‘Fuchsbau’ (fox’s den) is just a short walk away. Once there, you can enjoy the fondue you brought with you in the midst of a stunning snow-covered landscape: sparenmoos-aktiv.ch.
- Cross-country skiing on the Schönried course: this type of skiing doesn’t have to be boring. The cross-country course in Schönried is comparable to a pump track for mountain bikers – you need quite a bit of skill to tackle it: Cross-country skiing Schönried.
