Best Swiss Resorts for Groups

When a town comes with SIX mountains, it’s not likely to leave anyone at loose ends: Beginners have nursery slopes at Bolgen, freestylers have the Jakobshorn’s mighty Jatzpark and powder hounds have the whole Pischa to shred… There’s even a mountain dedicated to calm, cruisey skiing, the glorious Schatzalp. And that’s before you factor in the blue, red and black runs which total a whopping 320km. Walkers and cross-country skiers are just as provided for, and there’s tonnes to do in town: Ice skating and squash courts keep the tempo up, while the Eau-la-la wellness centre’s all about dreamy down time. If you’re a group who like to party, Davos’ après and nightlife is some of the nation’s best. Bar 360’s a place to sip cocktails around a roaring fire, and if you want to party into the wee hours, Ex-Bar, Pöstli and Rotliechtli have you covered.

Groups who plan to ski hard and party harder just can’t go wrong with Verbier. This place is a legend in both departments: the steeps and off piste rival anywhere else on the planet, and après ski bars don’t get wilder than these. That’s not to say beginners should stay at home: Three fabulous nursery areas and Brit-run ski schools make learning a breeze. Those confident on blues and reds have something close to 80% of the 4 Valleys (Switzerland’s biggest ski area) to roam, and freestylers could easily spend all week at the Swatch Snowpark. But it’s the black runs and powder itineraries that really rule here, from the mogul ridden Col de Chassoure to the fearsome back side of Mont Fort – share the price of a guide between you for the group ski session of a lifetime. When you’re done on the slopes, the numerous bars and clubs put on one hell of a party. Le Rouge and Pub Mont Fort see masses of ski boots dancing on their tables and Le Fairnet’s an absolute must – with a retracting ceiling, overflowing pitchers and big-time performers, this is one of the world’s best mountain bars by a long shot.

The original winter resort, St M has history and culture in swathes: museums, galleries, libraries, spas and shops to rival Bond Street. It also has miles of glorious winter walks, passing Narnia-like forests and frozen lakes – suffice it to say that any non-skiers in the group will have a grand old time. And skiers and boarders will too, with so many incredible areas to explore: Corviglia’s mixed bag of terrain (including World Cup downhills), Corvatsch’s high-altitude reds (including Switzerland’s longest night-ski run) and Diavolezza’s fabulous off piste (including a 10km glacier route). As you’d expect from a resort with such pedigree, the bars and restaurants have serious class. Meet for drinks at Alpine Hutte for spectacular views of the Engadin valley, and dine in the likes of Nobu and 2 Michelin starred Ecco on Snow for decadent foodie feasts.

This duo do a jolly good job at keeping all kinds of groups happy. You can choose between two bases for starters: Crans is the trendy one with designer shops and posh cafes, while Montana’s more about après ski and cheaper eats. There’s a good choice on the slopes, too, with Snow Island having all the trimmings for anyone making their first turns. Experts can race down the Men’s World Cup piste from Cry d’Er, conquer blacks (like the one from Bellalui) and carve their own powder trails all over the mountain. And with a mega 100,000sqm snow park, freestylers might not be appearing until suppertime. Intermediates have the bulk of the ski area to roam: we love the Plaine Morte glacier’s web of reds that stream from a heady 3000m. Non-ski activities abound, from shopping in the Alps’ biggest luxury mall to snow-scooting and air-boarding. At the end of the day, Zerodix is our favourite for a group meal – though their seemingly endless nacho, burger and chicken platter is almost too good to share...

Zermatt’s a classic – whether you spend the week on the piste, off-piste or don’t leave the town at all... This is Europe’s highest ski area, and the quality of grooming is fabulous, from Gornergrat’s cruisey blues to the reds that cross the border to Italian Cervinia. Then you’ve got the powder terrain – 39km of ungroomed trails stream down the Stockhorn, Rothorn and Schwarzee mountains and there are some cracking heli drops for a ski day no-one’ll forget in a hurry. Freestylers aren’t left wanting, with a whacking great superpipe and the high-altitude Gravity Park. From shops, to museums, to cafes, to spas, Zermatt’s cobbled streets are a treasure-trove of activities (plus they’re car-free, so a delight just to wander round). However everyone spends the day, there are all kinds of evening get-togethers. Nothing beats the après at Hennu Stall or you can go sledding or ice skating for some good old fashioned winter fun. When it comes to suppertime, you’ll find gourmet restaurants galore (L’Olivo has two Michelin stars) as well as mellower spots like Sparky’s (sticky ribs, gooey brownies) and Bergstube (all-you-can-eat raclette…).

Grindelwald’s the biggest, liveliest town in the Jungfrau area which makes for a cracking week with friends and family. The train system here is excellent, with access up to Kleine Scheidegg and Jungfraujoch, or down to Lauterbrunnen and Interlaken letting everyone explore more ski areas, villages and towns. In the local area, Bodmi and special ‘Slow Slopes’ make the area brilliant for beginners. Intermediates can clock up the miles on blues and reds, while experts have World Cup tracks, super-steep off piste and fabulous heli-drops. You’ll find some weird and wonderful activities to get stuck into - two favourites are the sledge run from the top of the Faulhorn (the world’s longest at 15km) and the First Flyer, where you whizz down an 800m cable from First to Schreckfeld at speeds of over 50MPH. But you’ll have to make time for them, as the après ski’s the best for miles around – whether you’re more for mojitos at Avocado or beers at Espresso bar.

Arosa and Lenzerheide form one of Switzerland’s biggest ski areas, with 225km of pistes for the whole group to get stuck into. Nearly half of the runs are blue, letting beginners and early intermediates really explore. These cruisers are a dream for more experienced skiers to dip in and out of, in-between the reds, blacks and powder trails in the area. A top spot for a mid-ski meet up is the Carmenna Hutte – the views of the valley are best accompanied with their Munggapfupf, a liqueur and cream laden mug of joy. Arosa also happens to be one of the Alps’ finest spa towns, which is a major draw for non-skiers (or anyone with aching ski legs for that matter). The Kulm and Tschuggen spas have a roster of therapists, treatments and facilities to melt away all manner of aches and pains – the only problem’s dragging everyone home at the end of the week…

Gazing over the insanely pretty Jungfrau Ski Region, Wengen’s a top spot for mixed level groups with non-skiers in tow. In the local ski area alone, beginners can practice on the nursery run on the Figeler slopes, while confident skiers test their mettle on the Lauberhorn World Cup downhill, ungroomed Black Rock and fittingly named Oh God! There’s as much to do off the slopes as on, with 110km of scenic footpaths and train links to the likes of Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and Interlaken. If everyone’s on the mountain at lunchtime, grab some seats at the Eigergletscher restaurant - it looks like it’s been jammed onto the side of a mountain and has awesome views of the surroundings. The après ski isn’t wild, but it’s perfect for chilled gatherings – we like Tipirama Bar for their endless stream of schnapps. Something not to be missed is a trip up the Jungfrau railway, which chugs up to ‘the Top of Europe’ at 3454m. You’ll find all kinds of attractions up here: the Lindt ‘chocolate heaven’ shop and an ice palace to name a couple.

Saas sits in the bowl of a socking great glacier – making it a great choice if good snow’s everyone’s top priority (it’s SO good that the slopes are still skiable in the summertime…). We like that the ski area has a fairly even spread of blues and reds, plus more daring black and powder descents for more experienced members of the group. The freestyle area’s a good ‘un, with a super halfpipe for the pro’s and chill-out area to watch them from. And there’s always the option of visiting neighbouring hamlets Saas Almagell, Balen and Grund (included in the area pass) for a change of scenery. After skiing, the list of activities goes on and on, from gathering around Astrid’s famous fondues at Dü, to ice grotto visits, and hurtling down the night sledding slope from Hannig. The Aqua Allalin has one simple goal: chill out time, with saunas, Jacuzzis and relaxing rooms galore. It might not rock as hard as St Anton, but there are a decent amount of bars to explore – Nesti’s for glorious Glühwein, the Black Bull’s for live music and Popcorn for terrace cocktails and a late-night disco.

Murren’s best for groups who are au-fait with the slopes - whether you’re here for the steeps or to really rack up the mileage, the bulk of the terrain is challenging and spectacular. We love the red run from Kleine Scheidegg, and the black Inferno is one to really race down. For those more park than piste, the Skyline Snowpark has easy and more difficult lines. That’s not to say beginners are forgotten – a set of easy blues circle around Birg, with the Engetal run a prime spot for getting the hang of the basics. Wherever everyone spends their mornings, there’s one meeting place that can’t be skipped - Piz Gloria (AKA Blofeld’s lair in Her Majesty’s Secret Service). Sip a 007 emblazoned hot chocolate, take in the panorama (the restaurant rotates…) and get up to scratch on Bond trivia. Confident skiers can schuss all the way home from here, while the others take the lift down and enjoy more sights of the UNESCO-listed landscape.