Switzerland skiing

Switzerland is home to some of the best ski resorts in the Alps, with high mountain peaks, stunning scenery, challenging runs, and quick access to the slopes from nearby airports. Whatever your level of experience, a ski holiday in Switzerland is a fantastic way to get away from it all.

Where do we start? A ski holiday in Switzerland has it all; from picture perfect settings to full-on adventure on skis or snowboards...

Resorts in the Swiss Alps really do deliver high quality ski and snowboard holidays with fantastic modern facilities, well maintained and efficient transport and lift systems, as well as some of the most iconic ski locations in the world. Mountains such as the Matterhorn and the Eiger act as the backdrop to your adventures on the slopes, while you can find every kind of après-ski, cuisine and style of ski holiday on offer from beginners' apartments through to luxury high-end chalets.

The atmosphere is fairly traditional as the resorts grew around original mountain villages as opposed to the purpose built resorts such as many found in France. However, you'll still find designer shops and boutiques in mountain resorts catering for the wealthy, as well as nightclubs and plenty of après-ski.

Zermatt and Verbier offer some of the most glitzy and glam resorts in Europe. You'll need deep pockets to ski here, however the quality is high and the runs are challenging for experienced skiers. If you want to catch a glimpse of the seriously wealthy or the odd Royal, then head to Klosters or St Moritz. Davos plays host to the World Economic Forum each winter, taking over the resort during late January, so avoid those dates or you won't get a room.

Chocolate box Swiss Alp scenes are found in Wengen. The resort is closed to traffic, making it safe to wander the pretty streets and soak up the more traditional atmosphere of a ski resort.

You'll find standards of food high, with many mountain top restaurants, as well as busy resort centres catering to all types of skier, including those who prefer to self-cater. However, you may want to stock up on food items before heading to the resorts to keep food costs down.

Accommodation is available for all types of skiers. However, the country is probably most famous for its chalets, many of them offering high-end luxury with Jacuzzis, pools, your own chef and personal maid service as standard. Hotels are of a high standard and are known for their high levels of service and hospitality and there is good quality self-catering as well.

With a huge number of resorts to pick from, we've highlighted the most popular for ski and snowboard holidays in the Swiss Alps region...

Here are the main resorts we feature in the Swiss Alps, with handy guides to help you select the right destination. Not only do we give you an overview of the resort, but we rate each one out of 10 for:

• Suitability for beginners, intermediates and advanced skiers and snowboarders

• Après-ski

• Non-skiers

• Cost of living

• Attractiveness of the resort