Central Switzerland
Central Switzerland Ski Resorts
Central Switzerland is the region of the Alps at the geographic heart of Switzerland. It’s considered by many to be the origin of the country.
The main ski resorts in Central Switzerland are Engelberg and Andermatt; both snow-sure and offering long vertical descents and extensive off-piste terrain, and attracting mostly experienced skiers and freeriders.
Engelberg
While the skiing in Engelberg is more suited to advanced skiers, there are some good places for beginners to ski; but beginners should be wary of the more challenging pistes. Engelberg is a snow-sure ski resort, with an unusually long season, generally opening at the start of October and remaining open until the end of May. In recent years, Engelberg has become something of an off-piste mecca, with many skiers, coming specifically for its many challenging descents. Many of these descents are accessible from the lift-served ski areas of Titlis and Jochpass, on the predominantly North-facing slopes of Mt Titlis.
Andermatt
Put plainly, Andermatt is a freeriders’ heaven and one of Switzerland’s most snow-sure snow sports resorts. Until recently a shadow of its former self with a golden age in the distant past, Andermatt is undergoing a reawakening and making a big comeback and as a family ski resort. The the SkiArena Andermatt-Sedrun Project will link from Andermatt to the high plateau at Oberalp and the Sedrun from 2018 and the resort is already reaping the benefits of significant investment in new hotels and chalets, notably the 5-star deluxe The Chedi Andermatt opened in 2013 and a recent addition to the Swiss Deluxe Hotels association.
Getting to Central Switzerland
Getting there is easy with good rail connections from Zurich airport. Transfer times by rail from Zurich airport approximately 1 hour 20 minutes to Engelberg and around 1 hour 40 minutes to Andermatt.