Crans Montana is renowned for being one of Switzerland’s sunniest ski resorts located high in the Rhone Valley. This fantastic ski resort offers everything you want from the perfect Swiss mountain experience and has excellent snow cover every year.
In this article, we will go through everything you need to know about Crans Montana. We will talk about the resort itself, the mountain, what to expect, and all the things you can do during the winter.
Where is Crans Montana?
Crans Montana is in the French-speaking part of the of the Valais area of Switzerland. It sits above the valley town of Sierre, and its closest major airport is Geneva, 171 km away by road. However, Crans Montana is also easily accessible via Milan or Zürich airports.
You can get to Crans Montana, by catching the train from Geneva or Montreux to Sierre if you prefer. From Sierre, you can take a funicular or one of the many regular local buses to the resort or by taxi.
With all these different routes, Crans Montana is an easy resort to get to. Some people like to stay in Sierre and the other local towns in the valley, as Crans Montana is a great ski resort for day trips.
The resort
Crans Montana isn’t a typical Swiss alpine village; however, it is an attractive town with lively winter and summer scenes. There is a wide range of activities to enjoy on and off the mountain to give you a more rounded experience if you want it.
The resort runs 6 km along a busy road. You can expect stunning luxury, chalets, and hotels lining this road.
A quick stroll through town reveals that Crans Montana is a shopaholic’s paradise. You will see shops featuring luxury brands, designer sportswear, and ones specializing in ski and snowboard equipment. This is the perfect place to fulfil your shopping needs.
Crans Montana is made up of three main village areas. Each has its own gondola lift accessing the slopes, but Central Montana is the most accessible from Sierre. The two other areas sit on either side of Montana; Crans and Barzettes. All three areas are linked by a shuttle bus and the ski slopes.
Skiing and snowboarding in Crans Montana
Skiable terrain in Crans Montana is incredibly diverse, featuring 1400 m of skiable vertical and 140 km of groomed slopes. At about 3000 m, you can find a high Alpine glacier, with runs that take you all the way down to the three villages.
Due to the size of the Crans Montana Ski area, you can find quiet runs even during peak weeks pretty easily.
One of the most outstanding features of Crans Montana’s ski area is its long runs. It is typical to find yourself on long leg-burning pistes, the longest being 12km.
Crans Montana is also home to an excellent snow park that is only rivalled by the one in Laax. It measures 100,000 m² and even includes Olympic size half pipe. So if you like to practice your freestyle, you can’t get much better than Crans Montana.
Crans Montana’s ski lift network is high-quality and typical of a high-end Swiss ski resort. They are fast and modern, so lift queues are pretty much non-existent, even on the busiest of days. The only time you really have to wait in a lift queue is when you want to get on the glacier.
This area is popular with advanced skiers who want to take on the Crans Montana black run. The glacier is an excellent place to go on a powder day, as the off-piste on either side of the run provides epic skiing and snowboarding.
Advanced skiers and snowboarders also love the challenging World Cup pistes, as they are fast and long. The intermediate skiers and snowboarders can have lots of fun on the long and wide red and blue runs, which are perfect for taking your skills to the next level.
Beginners and looked after, too, thanks to the three beginner areas, which are ideal for perfecting those first turns.
Crans Montana is a great region if you like ski touring and split boarding. It now has 15 ski touring tracks, so you can safely hike up the mountain away from other skiers. These new additions to the ski area are perfect for stress-free fitness and accessing powder.
Nightlife And Restaurants
Crans Montana is renowned for being a lively town. There are many bars, pubs, and nightclubs with great atmospheres to keep you dancing from the early afternoon to the early hours of the following morning. The resort also hosts international events such as the Caprices festival, the largest winter Mountain music festival featuring DJs and artists from all over the world.
The après-ski scene in Crans Montana is excellent. Whether you want a nice cozy drink or a full-on party, this buzzing ski resort has it all. There are a few establishments for late-night drinks and dancing, too.
You will never go hungry in Crans Montana. Its vast selection of restaurants serves anything from local food to Japanese, Italian, and even Argentine. Therefore, there are dining options for everyone. You can also treat yourself to luxury five-star restaurants in many of Crans Montana’s luxury hotels. Still, you can get a great pizza or a burger if you just want something simple and more low-key.
The culinary experiences extend to the pistes too. Many of Crans Montana’s mountain restaurants have sun drenched terraces with incredible views while you enjoy local dishes such as raclette, goulash, and fondue at lunchtime. However, there are a few snack bars, too, for when you want to grab a quick bite to refuel yourself for an afternoon of skiing and snowboarding.
Activities and events
Crans Montana always has something going on to keep its visitors entertained. In fact, during the winter, only 50% of the visitors to Crans, Montana, go skiing and snowboarding.
For example, you can expect international ski competitions like the men’s World Cup downhill race and the International Hot Air Balloon Meet, among many others.
Even though there’s plenty to do on the mountain, the resort itself has lots of amenities to keep you entertained during downtime and in the evenings. Crans Montana has nine swimming pools, four health centers, indoor squash and tennis courts, two ice rinks, cinemas, and several bowling alleys. These attractions make Crans Montana an excellent ski resort for families. It also means there’s plenty to do when the weather is terrible.
Crans Montana is also an excellent place to try out new things. For example, you could try your hand at curling on the ice rinks. Also, the two golf courses are transformed into cross-country ski tracks during the winter. Alternatively, you can explore the nature park on snowshoes, allowing you to experience pristine Alpine pastures and stunning, snowy forests.
Final Thoughts
While Crans Montana doesn’t have the charm of the smaller, more traditional Swiss ski resorts, it is definitely attractive and has many other things to do than skiing and snowboarding.
It almost has an American-style ski resort atmosphere to it, thanks to the style of the chalets, hotels, and lodges. Its extensive ski area, lively après, and nightlife scene make Crans Montana an excellent location for a luxury ski property.
Crans Montana is also a fantastic choice in the summer. With views of the Plaine Morte glacier, the Matterhorn, and Mont Blanc, Crans Montana’s stunning landscape is the perfect backdrop to take part in even more activities once the snow has melted.
To view our properties currently on sale in Crans Montana, visit our Crans Montana page, and if you have any questions on the location please contact us.
