Switzerland Alps Winter - What's to do if you don't ski?
 

Always wanted to be in the Alps in winter, but I don't ski (and won't be beginning to learn now). What other adventures await me at the ski areas in winter if I'm not skiing? I'm active, just not a skiier.

Ummm, take the lift up above, have a hot cocoa in the cafe and enjoy a possible view?
Find a tobaggan run?
Visit museums?
Shop?
Watch foreign TV?

Hiking/walking.
Horse-drawn carriage rides.
Taking a cable car up, relax on the sunny terrace of the mountain hut and watching skiers while sipping on a glass of red wine or a hot chocholate.
Tobogganing/sledding.
Relaxing in a spa (also outdoors).

Lower level cross country or snowshoe-ing?
'sledging' --see post of "stonesc" from 11/24/10 (search Fodors for 'winter sports'.
Seek indoor pools/ spas.
Check areas for possible snowsculpting competitions, with all the attendant fanfare.

Enjoy the Mountain air!

Cable car up to magnificant peaks and views

Nestle in down comforters/duvets while the snow lightly falls overnight by mmoonlight

Walk, wander, hike, window shop

Slip into a Gastehaus to get out of the cold and warm yourself
by the "Kachelhoven" while sipping a hot chocolate made with 1/2 farm fresh milk and 1/2 melted swiss chocolate!



(I miss the ALPS!!!)

-john

Unlike ski areas in the US, where non-skiers are rarely if ever allowed to use the lift facilities, you see people everywhere at Alpine ski resorts doing all kinds of non-skiing things. Previous posters have already run through the list, but you need to understand that there is absolutely no stigma whatsoever attached to being a non-skier. Mountain hikers, tobogganers, and just sightseers share the facilities without anyone thinking anything of it.

Weather in the Alps is much milder than at a US resort and in March (when we like to go to ski) the weather can be very warm indeed, even at altitude, the days are longer, and the snow is usually at its deepest.

bmw - So one can hike in the Alps in the winter? Isn't the snow rather deep?

Recommend any town to do this in? Berner Oberland vs. Engadine?

"So one can hike in the Alps in the winter? Isn't the snow rather deep?

Recommend any town to do this in? Berner Oberland vs. Engadine?"

Yes, you see people hiking all the time - not XC or snowshoeing - just hiking in regular boots, and not postholing either. There are maintained winter trails and it's also possible to hike on the sides of the pistes, which I've done - take the lift up, have lunch at a mountain restaurant, and walk down. I don't know about the Engadine, but it's very common in the Berner Oberland (Jungfrau Ski Region). (Just keep your wits about you and step lively when crossing the pistes!)

The upper Engadine alone has about 100 miles of groomed hiking trails in winter.

Any hotels you would recommend in the upper Engadine? Don't want to spend more than $200 US/night. I know that might be tough in the "high" season.

www.engadinerhof.ch

It's in Pontresina. Old world charm. Have a look at the "Magical Prices" for stays for a week - excellent deals!

Thanks lingo. I've looked and also looked at "Sporthotel" in Pontresina which seems to be the same rates. "Magical Prices" are good if you're staying 7 days, but we're not.

Still, pretty damn expensive. But that's Switzerland! And also the US dollar exchange rate. Ouch!

Another question (I'm full of them):

What is the price for the chairlifts in this region in Winter? We won't be skiing but I'm guessing that to hike we'll need to use these. Are there also funiculars? Wonder if the Half Fare Swiss card will cover these.

Prices for single rides on cable cars/funiculars etc. are the same in winter and summer. The Half Fare Card is good on some of them, but not on all. I know for sure it is at Corvatsch. See this website for prices:
http://www.engadin.stmoritz.ch/somme...rvices/tarife/
(Note: The hiking pass is not available in winter, but click on the single mountains like "Corviglia" to find out single fares)

If you stay at the Engadinerhof (and many others) for at least 2 nights then you get a pass for bus and train in the Upper Engadin - helps to save a lot of money.

Btw, no need to take many cable cars/chair lifts or so. Walks and hikes along or over the (frozen) lakes are most enjoyable. Ditto for the side valleys - Fex and Roseg e.g. which are also served by horse-drawn carriages.

You can see maps of hiking/walking trails on the Engadin website:
http://www.engadin.stmoritz.ch/winte...winter-hiking/

I.

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