On the mountain

Ski Area

Crans-Montana ski area is almost entirely south-facing with one of the best 360 degree panoramic views of the Alps including Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn. more...

Lift system

The latest addition to the lift system is the comfortable new 6-seater National Express chairlift opened in 2007/08. more...

Ski schools and guiding

There is a wide choice of ski instruction available in Crans Montana, with five ski schools, more than 200 instructors and two crèches for toddlers.
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Advanced and expert

With most of the ski area designated red and just one easy black run, the on piste skiing is best suited for intermediates and although advanced skiers are unlikely to find on piste conditions very challenging, the marked runs are nonetheless very enjoyable and good for working on technique. more...

Intermediate

The whole ski area is an intermediates’ play ground and if you’re feeling adventurous you can test yourself on the jumps in the snowpark and find plenty of opportunity to experience deeper snow between the pistes.
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Beginner

Crans-Montana has plenty to offer beginners, with 38 per cent of its pistes classified blue for beginners. more...

Boarding and freestyle

Crans-Montana is widely regarded as a good destination for boarders of all abilities with few flats and plenty of wide open and mostly uncrowded intermediate red runs for carving and easy access to a reasonable amount of off-piste at higher altitude and some good terrain jumps.
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Mountain restaurants

There are 18 mountain restaurants marked on the ski map ranging from self-service eateries to hidden away mountain huts, some of which are reliant upon on good weather to pack the sun terraces with only limited seating indoors.
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Off the mountain

Village

The resort of Crans-Montana is made up of 3 villages: Crans Sur Sierre, Montana and Aminona.  Crans is certainly upmarket; Montana is quieter and more family orientated; and Aminona is home to the snowpark and rumoured to be proposed as a location for development of a major hotel and apartment complex, but approval has yet to be given.

Accommodation

Most of Crans-Montana’s 46,500 tourist beds are in ski chalets and apartments, including numerous large chalet-style apartment buildings, offering good value ski accommodation at reasonable prices with the opportunity to browse particulars, check prices and availability, and book online via leading chalet operator Interhome.
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Apres ski

Although the resort includes over 50 restaurants and a dozen or more bars, there’s no real sense of lively après ski and in this respect Crans-Montana is found wanting, yet it seems not to bother existing clientele – mainly couples and families – who it seems are content, for want of anything better to do, to return to their hotel or apartment and relax before dinner. If the resort is to appeal to younger clientele, an improved après ski on- and off-the mountain would help.
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Restaurants and bars

According to Tourist Office literature, there are over 100 eating and drinking establishments of one kind or another in Crans-Montana - including restaurants, mountain restaurants, café bars, bars, snack-bars and tea rooms.
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Other information

Crans-Montana genuinely is an all year round resort and a sophisticated one at that with plenty of activities besides skiing. In fact, only 30% of guests come to Crans-Montana to ski so the non-skier is especially well catered for.

Getting there

Crans Montana is easily reached from Geneva Airport in around 2 or 3 hours by car (mostly motorway) or train respectively, with alternative easy transfers by road and rail from Bern airport in central Switzerland.
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