Where is skiing the cheapest?

The big price comparison CH / A / I / D

The snow is quietly trickling, and expensive Switzerland may soon be a cliché. There are many reasons for this. Spectacular promotions such as the season pass at 233 francs in Saas Fee or heavily discounted day ski passes on selected days are one. The other is prices in other Alpine countries, some of which have risen significantly, while the Swiss franc has lost value and many mountain railroads in Switzerland have refrained from raising prices.

by Henning Heilmann

Ehere's a lot going on at the major ski resorts in the Alps. Not only on the slopes, but also in terms of prices. Skiing is once again becoming more expensive in the current season, at least outside Switzerland with price increases of up to over eight percent. A 6-day ski pass is becoming more expensive by an average of four to five euros, but individual ski resorts are increasing their prices significantly more. Season tickets are also becoming more expensive in Austria and Italy this year.

In Switzerland, on the other hand, ski pass prices are stable this year or have only been increased minimally. At the same time, the Swiss franc has lost value. This makes skiing even cheaper for winter sports enthusiasts from surrounding countries when calculated in euros. However, we do not want to hide the fact that skiing in many ski resorts in Switzerland is still significantly more expensive than in other Alpine countries. This is especially true of such fashionable ski resorts as St Moritz and Zermatt, but many other places also make the cash register ring with daily ski pass prices well over 70 francs. But it's not ringing so much anymore since the guests are staying away.

Because guest numbers have plummeted, many Swiss ski resorts have recognized the signs of the times. Ski regions and lift operators have realized that something has to happen to win back ski vacationers for Switzerland and its mountains. With relatively stable prices, fancy promotions and a new dynamic pricing model, skiers are expected to return or be newly attracted to Swiss ski resorts. It's worth taking a closer look at the campaigns in Switzerland's ski resorts this year.

We have taken a closer look at the prices of the most popular ski resorts in the Alps. We have compared the prices of the most popular ski resorts from around 100 kilometers of slopes in Switzerland, Austria and Italy, as well as from Germany four of the most popular ski resorts: What do day and season passes cost? Where does it get more expensive and where does it get cheaper?

Season ticket promotions
Season ticket at a hammer price: The heavily discounted WinterCard, currently priced at 233 francs in Saas-Fee, has caused a sensation beyond Switzerland. After all, a ski area with a hundred kilometers is available for it, which reaches up to a snow-sure 3,573 meters above sea level. It takes 4 hours to get there from Zurich and 7 hours from Munich. But the subscription pays for itself from just 4 days (HS day pass CHF 73, WinterCard CHF 233). After all, arrivals have increased by over 20 percent since the campaign. For those who make up their minds quickly, the inexpensive winter season ticket in Saas-Fee is still available until December 17.

In the meantime, other ski regions have followed suit and are also offering heavily discounted season tickets. Subscription prices of often well over 1000 francs are still common, but if you take a closer look, you will discover promotions this year that are well worth it. In many cases, several ski resorts have joined forces and offer a joint season ticket. As a result, the new season passes often offer many more kilometers of slopes for fewer francs. The four largest ski areas in the Bernese Oberland are also relying on the attractiveness of such a card: from the current season, a greatly reduced joint subscription is available for the Jungfrau Ski Region, Adelboden-Lenk, Meiringen-Hasliberg and Gstaad - a season pass with 666 kilometers of piste for 666 francs: this is what the "Sportpass" Bernese Oberland offers adults in the current season (promotional price only until December 15, 2017). Similar season passes are now often more expensive in other countries: for example, the Zillertal Superskipass at 720.50 euros. The Ski Arlberg season ticket even costs 820 euros.

With the "Magic Pass", 25 ski resorts in western Switzerland (Crans-Montana, Leysin, etc.) are offering a joint season pass at a greatly reduced price of originally CHF 369. Here it goes on only for subscribers and orderers...

Day ticket promotions (next section)

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