Looking for tips/ideas for Switzerland in Christmas/NYE! Will have 9-10 days and arrive on the 23 or 24. Would probably want to visit 3 places. Or less if there are a couple great places to stay. Goal is a slow relaxing trip. Zermatt is the only place on my must do list right now. Thinking a white Christmas so perhaps higher elevation towns? Head straight to Zermatt for the holiday? End in Zurich for NYE? Tips on catered chalets for Christmas dinner? We enjoy culture and such but for a low key winter trip do not mind if museums and things are closed more. We cross country ski but do not downhill. Although I wouldn’t be opposed to a lesson somewhere.
Posted by
Thun, Switzerland
486 posts
Hopefully there will be some here who can answer your specific questions.
You could also take a look at the winter sport destinations recommended by Switzerland tourism. Last year we had a lot of snow, even at lower elevations but as I recall a year or two before that they had to cancel some of the cross country skiing events due to lack of snow.
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/destinations/holiday-destinations/winter-ski-resort/winter-sport-destinations-search/
You can find cross-country ski trails here
https://www.schweizmobil.ch/en/cross-country-skiing.html
Posted by
Los Angeles
4412 posts
To me the real question is, how does Switzerland handle Christmas? In some places like Germany and France it seems to have become a big merchandising/tourist opportunity. Rick in his London book warns that the city pretty much shuts down on Christmas so dining, lodging and tourism options are few.
Do the Swiss care about Christmas and NYE and if so, is it a religious or civic holiday?
Posted by
Paris
6916 posts
It might be difficult to find accommodation for less than a full week in Zermatt around Christmas/NYE, so first of all, check availability!
Zermatt can be a bit dark around Christmas time and does not have any good XC skiing, though (there are tracks at Täsch, but that's lower in the valley and snow can be iffy). May I suggest the Engadine? I.e. the region centered around St. Moritz (avoid St. moritz itself as a base, though). It is higher still than Zermatt and has excellent cross-country skiing + beautiful scenery. You can still combine it with Zermatt, using the Glacier Express between the two.
Posted by
Bern, Switzerland
981 posts
Do the Swiss care about Christmas and NYE and if so, is it a religious or civic holiday?
We close down for Christmas, it's a big family affair.
The ski resorts will be open for sure and public transport will run as Sunday. The rest you need to check out carefully.