Bettmeralp Skiing: Christmas in the Swiss Alps 2024/25

Ever wondered what it’s like to ski above the clouds? Skiing in Bettmeralp transforms this fantasy into reality, especially during the enchanting Christmas season when the crisp air is filled with the sparkle of frost and the laughter of families.

If you’re seeking a Christmas skiing getaway in Switzerland, look no further than the picturesque village of Bettmeralp. Nestled high in the Swiss Alps, where the pristine snow blends seamlessly with the cloud-kissed sky at 2000 metres.

Getting to Bettmeralp from Zurich is surprisingly easy. It offers you a perfect pretext to delve into the festive spirit at Zurich’s unique Christmas Markets, renowned for their vibrant stalls and heartwarming holiday treats.

For more magical experiences and to truly capture the essence of Swiss winter charm, don’t miss our dedicated post on Swiss Christmas Markets.

Bettmeralp Switzerland

Bettmeralp is in the Valais region of Switzerland and looks across to the famous high peak of the Matterhorn.

We visited this incredible Swiss village both in the summer while motorhoming through Switzerland and in the winter for our ski trip, and its beauty blew us away both times.

Due to its particularly high altitude, Bettmeralp stands out as a great choice for a skiing holiday. When Switzerland sees its first snowfall, Bettmeralp is often among the first to be blanketed in its pristine beauty.

Bettmeralp village is car-free and can only be reached by cable car from Betten Tall Station in the valley. The closest village, Riederalp, is also car-free and just a 30-minute walk away.

Bettmeralp is part of the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch region, one of the first Alpine UNESCO World Natural Heritage sites.

The Great Aletsch Glacier is part of the UNESCO site, which is 23 kilometres long and the largest in the Alps.  

Fun fact: If the Aletsch Glacier melted, it could supply every single person on the Earth with a litre of water every day for 4.5 years.

Bettmeralp is just on the fringe of the Jungfrau Region, a fabulous winter holiday destination and the perfect spot to explore the beauty of the Swiss Alps — for skiers and non-skiers alike. 

Why Choose Bettmeralp: Discover the Unique Charm

Bettmeralp stands out as a premier ski destination for several compelling reasons:

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: Nestled in the heart of the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch region, Bettmeralp offers skiing and a chance to immerse yourself in a landscape so outstanding that it has been granted UNESCO World Heritage status. This recognition ensures the preservation of its natural beauty and offers a unique backdrop for your ski adventures.
• Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Bettmeralp’s car-free policy ensures families a safe and tranquil environment. The resort is designed to be stress-free for parents and a wonderland for kids, with special kiddy slopes and activities tailored for young skiers.
• Accessibility and Safety: The entire village can only be reached by cable car, which enhances its exclusivity and charm and significantly increases safety, making it an ideal choice for families and beginner skiers.

Bettmeralp Skiing – Fun for all the Family

Bettmeralp ski resort is particularly special at Christmas when the whole village comes alive with festivities and fun. The ski season starts just before Christmas, and plenty of winter sports are available for both young and old. 

We chose our Bettmeralp skiing holiday because we were meeting up with my three sons, (all flying in from different countries), for Christmas and this was the perfect holiday to keep everyone entertained.

Although I have older boys, the resort is equally suitable for younger children. As Bettmeralp is car-free, the resort is family-friendly, so no worrying about cars and traffic.

There are also special kiddy slopes and activities just for the little ones. Checking the available facilities for your younger children is always important if you are booking your first skiing trip with your toddler.

There’s not only skiing in Bettmeralp. You can also snowboard, snowshoe, cross-country ski, or enjoy the ambience and beauty of nature in the Swiss Alps.

Is Bettmeralp Good for Beginners?

Bettmeralp is an excellent choice for beginner skiers. The resort offers a variety of gentle slopes, perfect for beginners.

Additionally, Bettmeralp features several ski schools, such as Snow Passion, which provide lessons for all ages and skill levels. These schools are staffed by experienced instructors who are adept at helping new skiers gain confidence and improve their skills.

Bettmeralp Skiing Resort Map

The map shows various points of interest in Bettmeralp, such as the grocery shops, ski area, ski equipment hire and gondola points for Bettmeralp.

[The map can be expanded by using the broken square in the top right-hand corner and you will then be able to view the key on the left]

Christmas Skiing in Bettmeralp

The Swiss Alps ski season begins just before Christmas, so Bettmeralp was already becoming a vibrant hub of fun and festivity when we arrived. The main street was abuzz with skiers, snowboarders and children being cheerily pulled along on toboggans.

Rustic and authentic Swiss chalets lined the snow paths, and Christmas decorations adorned the streets, with fairy lights hanging from the chalets and restaurants.

The perfect picture postcard Christmas scene.  

The little church at Bettmeralp has a twenty-four-hour webcam pointing at it, so you can check the snow and weather conditions any time. Check out the Bettmeralp Chapel Webcam here. 

Bettmeralp Skiing: Getting Started

The only way to arrive for your skiing holiday at Betteralp is by cable car.

The view of the Swiss Alps on the gondola ride up to the village is amazing. Stepping out of the Tall Station at the top, felt like we were walking out onto a different planet. 

You can either hire a snowmobile taxi (recommended) or walk with your luggage. If walking, the best way is to hire a toboggan and load it with your luggage to tow behind you. 

Ski Equipment Hire

There are two Ski/Snowboard Equipment Hire shops in Bettmeralp:

Mattig Sport
3992 – Bettmeralp, Tel: +41 (0) 27 927 13 01, Email: [email protected]

Derby Sport AG,
3992 Bettmeralp, Tel:  +41 27 927 11 40, Email: [email protected]

Both stores sell and hire out equipment for beginners, experienced skiers or snowboarders.

With the Ski and snowboard equipment being so quick and easy to hire, we were ready to go in no time. The boys were off on the slopes, snowboarding and already competing on who could handle the steepest slope.

Bettmeralp Skiing and Snowboarding Video

Here’s a quick snippet of our Bettmeralp skiing and snowboarding – and you can see how accomplished we are at the end 😉 

Bettmeralp Skiing: Resort Information

• Bettmeralp access is by cable car only.
• 35 lift facilities provide access to the pistes, and skiers can ski to and from their doors.
• Bettmeralp Resort has been awarded the “Families Welcome” quality certificate and has a children’s activity programme.

Bettmeralp Ski School

Snow Passion  (We highly recommend this Bettmeralp ski school for young and old alike) — we are not affiliated with it.

Chalet Schwarzbueb, CH 3992 Bettmeralp,
Tel: +41 27 927 30 39 ,
Email: [email protected],
Website: www.snow-passion.ch

Bettmeralp Ski Pass

The Aletsch Arena ski pass covers  Bettmeralp, Riederalp and Fiesch-Eggishorn. 

Tickets can be purchased at the Bergbahnen Cableway ticket offices or online.

You can purchase the following tickets for skiing in Bettmeralp:

• Four-hour passes
• Daily passes
• Multi-day passes up to 21 days
• Season passes
• Annual passes
• Valley – viewpoint single tickets (single or return)
• Baggage carts (single or return)

Bettmeralp Snowboarding

On the Kanzel/Salzgäb piste, there is the TFI Snowpark — with kicker lines, rail lines and halfpipe

Perfect Swiss Alps Skiing Holiday

Spending Christmas skiing in Bettmeralp was a perfect family holiday. 

The boys were off having fun in no time, and we were learning to ski, a feat that proved quite challenging with our not-quite-so-young muscles and limbs.

Luckily, we had kept fit on our ‘Europe year in the van‘ trip, so the muscles weren’t too sore, and they generally stood up to the test. Our technique, however, left much to be desired. 

Fortunately, we had an excellent ski instructor, Markus Rahm, from Snow Passion. He collected us daily from the chalet in his snowmobile, making us feel confident and comfortable on the slopes.

By the end of the week, we were skiing back to our apartment — well, sort of. This was no mean feat, given our starting point of not knowing how to put on our boots. 

 I thoroughly recommend ski instructors, Markus and his wife Innes, who also speaks many European languages. They live in Bettmeralp and teach both beginners and the most experienced skiers.

Winter Scenery in the Swiss Alps

When we weren’t skiing, we took beautiful walks and became increasingly enchanted by this mystical place.

Snowploughs regularly cleared most of the main routes, but if you walk off these areas, you could find yourself knee-deep in the powdery snow. On a few occasions, we were waist-deep—such fun. 

Bettmeralp Skiing: Good to Know

Latest Bettmeralp Snow Falls:

Check this Snow Report Website for the latest snowfall.

Bettmeralp Skiing: Christmas Opening Hours

Skiing Season Dates: Winter season 2024: 7th December to 21 April, 2025

The restaurants, bars and shops were open daily, including Christmas Day.

Supermarkets in Bettmeralp

Two small supermarkets stock most of the foods you would need. Bear in mind, however, that Swiss Christmas customs may differ from yours.

In our case, we could not find Christmas puddings or cranberry sauce. Adjusting to new customs is part of the fun of travel, though. 

Bettmeralp Accommodation

We booked our Bettmeralp chalet in July for the December visit but surprisingly found that many were already fully booked.

Hence, we recommend arranging your accommodation well in advance. Chalets and hotels are reserved over a year beforehand, showing Bettmeralp’s immense popularity as a skiing destination at Christmas.

Here are a few of the best places to stay in Bettmeralp. They have great reviews and ratings from guests who’ve stayed there.

Find More Deals for Bettmeralp Accommodation on Booking.com here

What Other Visitors Love About Bettmeralp Skiing:

Isabel P. from Switzerland – “Breathtaking”
“The beauty cannot be described, nor pictured. Just go, walk, breathe, enjoy and keep it inside your brain and heart… forever.”
(Visited Feb 2024, Family Trip)

A_Baden2014 from Baden, Switzerland – “Fantastic holiday place”
“Another fantastic New Year celebration and winter sport in the snows of Bettmeralp. Excellent ski slopes, mostly broad with a lot of space which enables safe skiing and a lot of joy.”
(Visited Jan 2020, With Friends)

Ingrid D. from Vosselaar, Belgium – “Nice skiing area”
“The other skiing area… no cars only people! Quiet, quiet, quiet! The air is so fresh you almost can smell it! Nice, mostly easy slopes.”
(Visited Mar 2019, Family Trip)

Travelling to Bettmeralp, Switzerland

Travelling to Bettmeralp by Swiss Rail

• Route: Zurich → Brig → Betten Talstation → Bettmeralp
• Duration: Approx. 2.5 hours from Zurich to Brig, plus a short connection to Betten Talstation.
• Cable Car: From Betten Talstation to Bettmeralp, immerse in the scenic ascent to the car-free village.
• Saver Day Pass: Book online a month prior via SBB for up to 50% savings. This pass covers unlimited travel on trains, buses, and trams across Switzerland for one day.

Travelling to Bettmeralp by Car

Parking is at Betten Talstation, where you can leave your car and take the cable car up. The drive from Zurich takes about 4 hours.

Bettmeralp Skiing … That’s a Wrap

Bettmeralp stands out as a serene, family-friendly retreat among the myriad of winter wonderlands in Switzerland.

With its idyllic settings and snow-filled activities suitable for all ages, it promises an enchanting Christmas skiing holiday high above the clouds.

We hope this guide helps you plan an unforgettable holiday in Bettmeralp. Feel free to reach out if you have any more questions or need further tips. We’re here to help you make the most of your Bettmeralp ski adventures!

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