Verbier (Switzerland)

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Verbier has been ranked in 3 'Best of the Best' categories - for advanced skiers, off-piste skiing and après-ski. Voted the best of the Four Valleys domain, Verbier has access to 400km of pistes. It has an excellent sun and snow record, particularly at higher altitudes, also offering a limited amount of year-round skiing on the Mont Fort glacier. From here the scenery is absolutely breathtaking. There's a massive array of skiing throughout the area, with unlimited off-piste and great black runs for advanced skiers. There is also a specialist park for boarders. Tuition for better skiers is of the highest order, while the lift system has been constantly upgraded since 1994. The resort itself offers an excellent variety of restaurants, extremely lively nightlife and plenty for non-skiers to do.

Any disadvantages? The skiing lower down can be poor as a result of the sun. There can often be considerable queues. Prices are high, even for Switzerland and the accommodation won't be winning architectural awards any time soon.

Verbier is a superb resort, particularly for better skiers, but as the list of faults confirms, it isn't quite in the same league as some other domains - Whistler, the Trois Vallées and Val d'Isère / Tignes are all a head or more above. Nonetheless, this is a seriously good skiing venue and the views are among the best in the world.

Locality:

Verbier is justifiably famous as one of the most outstanding ski areas in Europe and lies high in a sunny, well-sheltered position in the heart of Switzerland's southern-most Alps with views of Mont Blanc to the west and the Matterhorn to the east.

Ski Information:

Highest lift: 3330m (10925ft)
Lowest lift: 1500m (4921ft)
Vertical drop: 1830m (6004ft)
Number of lifts: 38
Uplift capacity: 41328 p/hr
Number of slopes: 70
Beginner: 39%
Intermediate: 42%
Expert: 19%
Total piste length: 125km
Snowboard parks: 2
Cross country: 20km

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Verbier is justifiably famous as one of the most outstanding ski areas in Europe and lies high in a sunny, well-sheltered position in the heart of Switzerland's southern-most Alps with views of Mont Blanc to the west and the Matterhorn to the east.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

Skiing - Night skiing: Heli skiing: Torchlit descents:

Snowboarding Snowparks: 2

Other Snow Sports Cross country: 20km Cross country equipment available: Snow shoeing: Snow shoes available: Telemark: Telemark equipment available: Sleigh rides: Skidoos:

Verbier, and the smaller resorts of Nendaz, Veysonnaz, Thuyon and La Tzoumaz are all linked by one ski pass, which offers skiers and snowboarders one of the largest skiable areas in the Alps, including 255 miles (410km) of pistes of all standards. Verbier itself offers 122 miles (195km) of pistes for various levels of skiers and snowboarders. Advanced and intermediate skiers seek the resort's most famous slopes on the intimidatingly steep Mont Fort and the off-piste routes from Mont Gelé to Tortin and La Chaux. Verbier is also renowned for its vast amount of challenging off-piste skiing and demanding mogul runs, which are sought after by expert skiers and snowboarders. Beginners are also well catered for with excellent ski schools, nursery slopes in the centre of the village and a wide variety of blue (easy) runs on Savoleyres and Lac de Vaux.

The shopping in Verbier is excellent, though genearlly limited to groceries and ski wear. There are a range of boutiques and clothing stores, but most are very expensive.

A wide choice of restaurants caters to the international crowd with over 60 superb restaurants offering anything from traditional cuisine to Japanese and American fare. Rosalp and the Montpelier restaurants are well known for their award winning food, but are priced accordingly. Local specialities like fondues, raclette and rösti are served in traditional establishments like La Channe Valaisanne, Viex Valais and Le Carrefour. Vegetarians are well catered for. The main square is surrounded by cafes, patisseries and coffee shops.

Verbier has one of the wilder and more exciting nightlife scenes among the European winter ski resorts. The road running from the main ski lift to the town centre is the heart of the après ski action and there are plenty of bars and cafes around the town square. The Nelson Pub and King's Bar serve cocktails and fine wines; the Croquignolle is famous for its Long Island Iced Teas. Five nightclubs stay open and busy until 4am: Le Scotch attracts the younger crowd with happy hours and theme parties, and Big Ben is the gathering spot for teenagers. Tara Club has three bars and different music. L'Aristo and Marshal's Night Club are late night lounge bars. The Farm Club is perhaps the most famous nightspot in Verbier and is the choice for many celebrities. Regular guests keep their own bottle behind the bar and are waived past the long queue.

Besides skiing and snowboarding, Verbier also offers heliskiing, a six-mile (10km) toboggan run, ice-skating and cross-country skiing. As a top Alpine sports centre, Verbier also offers a sports and fitness centre, indoor swimming pools, curling, a climbing wall, and paragliding. It is also one of the best sites for hang gliding and parascending. Summer activities also include walking trails and superb mountain biking. The ski resort has good facilities for children of all ages.

Verbier's accommodation, restaurants and ski passes are expensive and queues for the lifts can be long during the holidays. The snow reliability is fairly good in Verbier and it's usually possible to ski down to the village, but as with all European ski resorts weather conditions are unpredictable and it is can be cloudy.

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Population: 7.489.400
Languages: German 64%, French 20%, Italian 7% (all official);
Currency: Swiss franc
Currency code: CHF
Local Times:
Switzerland - Bern

Switzerland - Bern

Switzerland - Z�rich

Country Dialling Code: +41
Voltage: 220V 50Hz
Electrical plugs:
2 Parallel circular prongs

'Schuko' type with two earth connectors on the sides

Switzerland, in central Europe, is the land of the Alps. The fusion of German, French and Italian ingredients has formed a robust national culture, and the country's alpine landscapes are certainly vast and varied.

With snow-capped Alps, forested hills, fairytale castles, Renaissance cathedrals, shimmering lakes, stylish spas and luxury ski resorts - it's easy to see why Switzerland has been one of the world's top tourist destinations for the past two centuries.

It's the country that fashioned tourism, so it's no surprise that Switzerland caters to visitors all year round. In spring and summer it offers lakeside chalets, mountain trails and spa resorts. In the sunny southern region of Ticino, near the Italian border, visitors will find palm-fringed Riviera-style resorts offering a host of water sports. Those keen on hiking and mountaineering will find over 31,000 miles (50,000km) of mountain and forest trails throughout the country.

In November the country's ski resorts begin opening, and visitors pour in throughout the Christmas season and until the snow begins to melt with the onset of spring. With the highest pistes in Europe, Switzerland's ski runs offer reliable snow and breathtaking views. Most resorts also have plenty to do for those not so keen on skiing, making Switzerland the perfect destination for a winter fantasy of log fires, fondues and glistening snow.

Switzerland's cities are pristine and beautifully laid out with famous Swiss precision. Zurich is widely held to be the intellectual and artistic centre of the country, sporting incredible architecture and more than a thousand fountains, with many museums and galleries. Geneva is the principal city for the international community, and is home to hundreds of world organisations. Its setting on the shores of Lake Geneva give it a romantic atmosphere, and the city has an exciting, if rather expensive, nightlife.

Mostly German in Central and Eastern parts. French in the West; some Italian in the South. Raeto-Romansch is spoken in the Southeast by 1%. English is spoken by many.

Climate varies throughout Switzerland. In the Alpine regions the temperatures tend to be low. The lower land of the Northern areas has higher temperatures and warmer summers.

This is a very law abiding nation. Dropping litter can cause offence. Don't give Chrysanthemums or white Asters to a host as they are considered to be funeral flowers. Many cultures overlap in Switzerland.