Saas-Fee

Ski & snowboarding in Saas-Fee: A complete guide to the Swiss ski resort

Ski resort figures

Slopes

100

of slopes

ski pass

75

Day ski pass for adult

Slope difficulty

25

of blue slopes

Blue slope

40

of red slopes

Piste rouge

35

of black and yellow slopes

Black slope

Altitude

1800

village

3500

peak

Snow cover

50

of the ski resort is snow-sure

Our review of Saas-Fee

A ski resort between sky and earth

You can hardly tell where to look when you exit the Alpine subway in Mitelallalin at 3’500m. At this altitude, it takes a few minutes to get used to the rarefied air and the feeling of floating between earth and sky. On one side, you are facing the blue Allalin glacier, on the other, a dozen peaks of more than 4’000m for a breathtaking 360° spectacle. The wonder of this raw beauty of nature is followed by a single urge: to race down the track from the glacier to the bottom of the valley.

Facing north, the ski area benefits from guaranteed snow cover, ideal for skiing at the beginning and end of the season or even in summer on the glacier. The car-free laid-back, family-friendly village and its wooden chalets have kept all their charm. The ski resort also draws snowboarders and freestylers thanks to its winter and summer snowpark.

Allalin revolving restaurant in Saas-Fee
Play Video

Video by Roman Roth

Our review of the skiing area

Year-round snow guarantee

Saas-Fee’s main advantage is its guaranteed snow cover throughout the season. Most of the ski slopes are located above 2’500m, facing north. In addition, the glacier and its 20km of pistes are also open to skiers during the summer, mainly in the mornings.

Ski slopes and lifts

Modern, high-capacity cable cars and the express metro provide efficient access to the summit and its revolving restaurant, the highest in the world. From there, red and blue runs allow both advanced beginners and intermediate skiers to enjoy top-quality snow and a breathtaking landscape.

The last part of the ski run that connects Morenia to the valley is narrower and will suit advanced intermediates. However, the snow here is sometimes poor. It is possible to stop in the middle of the run and take the cable car down to the valley.

Photo: PPR/Saastal Tourismus AG

Ski pass prices

Saas-Fee was the first resort to offer discounted season tickets, which are available in pre-sale until the beginning of the season.

At the beginning and end of the season, the ski area may only be partially open. The price of the season ticket remains the same.

Good to know

Despite its strengths, the ski area remains relatively small. It will satisfy skiers who have nothing against going down the same slope several times in a row for several days. The ascent to the summit is also long, with frequent changes.

However, skiing in Saas-Fee is still an excellent choice, especially when the other resorts do not have sufficient snow cover.

Photo: PPR/Saastal Tourismus AG

Snowpark

The facilities for snowboarders and freestylers are of very good quality and draw a young public to Saas-Fee. In Winter the fun park is located in Morenia. Here hips, boxes and kickers of various sizes are available for beginners and advanced riders.

In summer the snowpark is open on the glacier. Its half-pipe and chill-out area mainly attracts professionals who wish to continue training during the summer months.

Freeride

Due to the hazard of crevasses on the glacier, safe freeriding is limited to about 20 kilometres.

Photo: PPR/Saastal Tourismus AG/Vernon Deck

How to get to Saas-Fee?

Location and access

Saas-Fee is located at 1’800m in the German-speaking Valais (Wallis), at the end of the Saas Valley, next to the valley of Zermatt. The ski resort has no access by train. However, it is easy to reach Saas-Fee from Visp by road and postal bus.

  • Take the direction of Visp: From French-speaking Switzerland via the Rhone valley (Vevey – Sion), or from Bern via the Lötschberg tunnel (transfer from car onto the train required).
  • Just before Visp, leave the main road and follow the direction of Saas-Fee to the station.

Car park
Car traffic is not allowed inside the village. You can leave your car in the covered car park or in the open air car park at the entrance to the village (19 CHF/day). Some hotels offer discounts on the price of car park. Ask for information when you make your reservation.

Distance by car to Saas-Fee

From
Travel time
Lausanne
2h15
Fribourg
2h15
Berne
2h30
Geneva-Airport
2h45
Zurich-Airport
4h
Lyon
4h15
Paris
7h30

  • Take the train to Visp. From French-speaking Switzerland, trains run along the Rhone valley via Sion. From Bern, they pass through the Lötschberg tunnel and arrive directly in Visp.
  • In Visp, change for the yellow post bus number 511 to “Saas-Fee, Busterminal”. From there you can either reach the nearby village centre or go directly to the Alpin Express cable car in 5 minutes on foot or with electric bus.

Distance by train to Saas-Fee

From
Travel time
Changes
Lausanne
2h45
1 x
Fribourg
2h30
2 x
Berne
1h50
1 x
Geneva-Airport
3h30
1 x
Zurich-Airport
3h15
1 x
Lyon
6h30
3 x
Paris
7h15
2 x

SBB train timetable

Luggage
If you are travelling with bulky luggage and ski equipment: SBB can transport your luggage or skis from Switzerland’s major cities and airports for CHF 12 per piece of luggage per journey. You can then pick them up at the bus terminal in Saas-Fee. Please note, however, that there is a two-day delay between the handover of your luggage and its arrival in Saas-Fee. Check with an SBB station ticket office beforehand.

By public transport, Saas-Fee is approximately at the same distance from the international airports of Zurich (3.15 hours) and Geneva (3.30 hours). Zurich airport is the most modern and the waiting lines are often shorter.

By car, Geneva airport is closer and easier to reach.

From Zurich Airport
From Zurich airport Get off at the airport’s underground station and then take the InterCity 8 train, direction Bern/Brig, to Visp in Valais. From there, change and take the yellow post bus number 511 to “Saas-Fee, Busterminal”.

The adult single journey without reduction costs CHF 109.
Travel time: 3h30

From Geneva-Airport
The train ticket is cheaper from Geneva than from Zurich. However, the journey is longer and you have to change trains in Lausanne and Visp.

The adult single journey without reduction costs CHF 82
Travel time: 4 hrs 15 min.

As the village of Saas-Fee is relatively small and car-free, it is possible to reach the different parts of the village and the ski lifts on foot. Electric buses also run within the village and connect the Alpin Express cable car to the post bus terminal and the car park.

Hotels in Saas-Fee

The best hotels of the ski resort

Most of the hotels are clustered in the centre of the village. The infrastructures (car park, bus station and ski lifts) are located a little apart. They can be reached either with the hotels’ electric shuttles or by using thefree buses.

Do you like Saas-Fee?

Share it on

Facebook
Pinterest
WhatsApp
Twitter