Here we've assembled a roundup of sports highlights -- some of the very best ways to get outdoors and enjoy Switzerland's magnificent scenery. Most activities can be enjoyed independently, but if you like to have someone else sweat the details, we've also listed some of the region's best outfitters.
Ballooning
Balloon rides over Switzerland are even more spectacular than those in France. Contact Buddy Bombard's Europe (tel. 800/862-8537 or 561/837-6610; www.buddybombard.com).
Biking
Biking is a great way to see the Swiss countryside. Erickson Cycle Tours offers some of the best bike tours in Switzerland, through the Alps and past lakes and valleys.
Curling & Skating
Curling—played by sliding a large, smooth stone along the ice at a mark (called the tee) 35m (115 ft.) away—is especially popular in Davos, Villars, Gstaad, and Zermatt. Ice-skating is one of the leading winter sports of Switzerland, and nearly all major resorts have natural ice rinks. Also, there are dozens of artificial ones, of which Davos has the best.
Fishing
In this relatively small country, there are at least 32,000km (20,000 miles) of rivers and streams, as well as 1,349 sq. km (526 sq. miles) of lakes. These waters are situated at heights between 210m and 1,965m (689-6,445 ft.) above sea level, and vary in configuration and fauna as much as in altitude. Such a wide choice of conditions certainly puts anglers on their mettle, for they're presented with a fascinating range of challenges. For those who know how to adapt themselves, there is excellent sport in store. Angling techniques and bait must be suited to the particular water one happens to be fishing. With few exceptions, fly-fishing, spinning, and ground fishing, with natural or artificial bait, are permitted in most waters. Trout can be found in most waters up to altitudes of 1,800m (5,904 ft.), and lake trout have been known to weigh up to 10 kilograms (22 lb.). Regulations vary from place to place, so to be sure you're legal; inquire at a hotel or local tourist office.
Golf
Switzerland's golf courses are located strategically so that, wherever you happen to be, you're likely to find a course nearby—and one within a wide range of altitudes. The lowest course is in Ascona, which lies a mere 210m (689 ft.) above sea level; among the highest are St. Moritz, at 1,692m (5,550 ft.), and Riederalp, at 1,920m (6,297 ft.). All the local clubs cater to visitors, who have the advantage of being able to play on weekdays while the locals earn their daily bread. If you left your clubs at home, a set can be rented locally. Should you want to improve your swing, "pros" are available, too.
For more information, contact the Swiss Golf Association. Another resource is the Swiss Golf Network, which includes information on all major golf courses in Switzerland.
Some of the top courses include Golf Club Davos, Golf Club Verbier, and Golf Club Interlaken-Unterseen.
Hiking
With 48,000km (29,760 miles) of well-marked and well-maintained walking paths, Switzerland is a Valhalla for hikers. The paths lead through alpine valleys, over lowlands, up hills to meadows, and into the heart of the Alps. Whether you choose a gentle walk or a rigorous trek, you're sure to see miles and miles of unspoiled beauty.
Many hotels offer walking or hiking excursions, with a serious hiking tour possibly entailing 4 to 7 hours of hiking each day. A specialist in walking and hiking tours is Mountain Travel Sobek. You can wander with this adventure company across the full landscape of Switzerland, from alpine mountains of the Bernese Oberland to lakeside vistas in Mediterranean-like Ticino.
Mountaineering
Recognizing the allure (and the very real dangers) of climbing up the rocky crags that dot the surface of Switzerland, the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC), founded in 1863, promotes mountaineering and ski tours in the high Alps. In addition to organizing alpine rescue services, the club lobbies politically to protect the alpine ecology. Working closely with equivalent associations in Austria, Germany, France, and Italy, SAC has built mountain huts at strategic spots throughout the country, often hauling in building supplies by helicopter during the short summer season when construction is possible. The huts are modest, with bunk rooms sleeping 10 to 20 people. You can reserve space online.
The organization is affiliated with mountain-climbing schools throughout the country, including branches in Andermatt, Champéry, Crans, Davos, Les Diablerets, Fiesch, La Fouly, Glarus, Grindelwald, Kandersteg, Klosters, Meiringen, Pontresina, Riederalp, Saas-Fee, Saas-Grund, Schwende, Tasch, Zermatt, and Zinal. Guides that are accredited by the Swiss Alpine Club are available at many other resorts as well, and usually remain in close contact with the staffs at the local tourist offices.
Skiing
Skiing in Switzerland, a tradition that goes back 2 centuries, is big business -- an estimated 40% of the tourist dollar is spent on it. There are more than 1,700 mountain railways and ski lifts, and ski schools, ski instructors, and the best ski equipment in the world are available throughout the country.
Switzerland, which faces heavy competition from Austria (for a complete guide to resorts in that country, see Frommer's Austria), has been called Europe's winter playground. What were once simple alpine farming villages have been transformed into bustling ski resorts, and there are more than 200 throughout the country. Nearly all of them have ski-rental shops.
All the cantons have skiing centers, but most are in the Bernese Oberland, the Grisons, and the Valais. The ideal ski season is from January to late March. At the very highest resorts, the season begins around mid-December. Even at some of the resorts at lower elevations, there is a ski season that begins before Christmas if there are suitable weather conditions and snow is adequate. February is the peak month, in which reservations are most difficult to come by.
Most slopes are nothing short of spectacular in Switzerland, as are the facilities, which cater to every type of skier from the beginner to the Olympic champion.
Europeans have always sought out family-oriented villages for inexpensive ski vacations, whereas Americans have traditionally preferred the more famous meccas such as St. Moritz and Gstaad. Happily, that is changing now, and many Americans (and Canadians) are choosing ski packages in the smaller alpine villages.
Be sure to familiarize yourself with the resort's signs before hitting the slopes. Obviously, avalanche zones are particularly important to learn.
Swiss Ski and Snowboard School is the most famous institution of its kind in Europe. Federally run, the organization provides onsite instruction for beginners as well as advanced skiers. The majority of instructors speak English and can be found at all major resorts.
Warning: Always carry plenty of sunscreen, even in winter. The reflection of sunlight off the snow is intense.
Cross-country skiing, or langlauf, is another popular sport, especially at St. Moritz, Pontresina, and Montana. You go at your own speed and are not at the whim of slope conditions. There are no age limits or charges for use of the well-marked cross-country trails.
From mid-December through March, you can get information on conditions in major Swiss ski areas by linking up with the Switzerland Tourism Office's snow report at www.myswitzerlandtourism.com.
The best ski resort for families is Arosa. It's very family-oriented and offers runs suitable for every level of skier, especially beginners. Most of the runs, however, are intermediate.
Expert skiers head for the resort of Zermatt. In just minutes, skiers can be more than 3,600m (11,800 ft.) up on the Klein Matterhorn. Zermatt claims that it can guarantee a skier a vertical drop of some 2,700m (8,850 ft.), regardless of the snowfall.
Beginning skiers, often those with families, find the resort of Grindelwald ideal, the best base for skiing the Jungfrau area. The resort offers cable cars, lifts, funicular railways, and more than 160km (100 miles) of downhill runs.
A great center for intermediates is the resort of Davos along with its twin resort of Klosters. The ski terrain at Davos extends for some 35km (22 miles) in a relatively sheltered valley floor. Of course, these resorts have peaks for the more daring expert skier but offer miles of easy terrain for the intermediate as well.
The chic resort of St. Moritz in the Engadine has more nightlife possibilities than most of the other resorts in Switzerland. All the major ski resorts have an active après-ski life, but St. Moritz offers more diversity, from pubbing to high casino action.
In a virtual ski valley, Verbier is ideal for early or late-season skiing. Its upper ski area, which culminates at Mont-Fort at 3,255m (10,676 ft.), is filled with a widely varied set of pistes.
For the Nonskier: Most resorts offer a host of other activities, such as sunbathing on mountain terraces, day hikes in the forest, sleigh rides, sightseeing excursions, and, of course, partying in the local bars and clubs. So if some of your family members ski and others don't, everyone will still be happy and entertained.
Snowboarding
All the resorts mentioned under skiing offer snowboarding. The best centers are Celerina, Grindelwald, Gstaad, Kandersteg, St. Moritz, Wengen, and Zermatt. However, the top snowboard resort of Europe is Davos, which offers ideal slope conditions, snowboard schools, and a snowboard hotel. The resort also hosts national and international snowboarding events. Snowboarders will find a wide range of equipment to hire in all the resorts mentioned, with the largest concentration of sports shops in Davos.
Spa Vacations
Switzerland has numerous resorts with natural curative springs. All the spas offer various treatments, along with Turkish baths, mud baths, whirlpools, exercise/weight-loss programs, anti-stress programs, massages, and diets.
For very specific data about individual spas, phone Great Spas of the World (tel. 800/SPA-TIME [772-8463] or 212/889-8170; www.greatspas.com).
For a spa vacation in Switzerland, one resort towers over all the rest -- chic St. Moritz in the Engadine. Its thermal springs were known 3,000 years ago. St. Moritz-Bad was the original spa resort lying at the base of the lake, although modern housing has spoiled much of its former character.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
