Guest guide · 2026/27
Winter in Gstaad
A winter guide to Gstaad and the Saanenland, put together by your hosts at Chalet Gruben and Casa Promenade. Find the right mountain for your group, a table to book and a few things worth setting a whole day aside for.
Winter 2026/27 · Gstaad, Switzerland
In this guide
Good to know
A winter stay is much easier to plan around the lift you’ll use, the village where you’ll have dinner and a second plan for a cloudy day. In Christmas and school holiday weeks, start with ski lessons and any dinner you especially want to book.
Gstaad Card. Eligible overnight guests can use designated regional trains and buses, including the train between Gstaad and Rougemont and the bus to Col du Pillon. Check the included routes and save the public transport QR code before you set off.
GoldenPass Express. The panoramic service between Montreux and Interlaken stops in Gstaad. A lovely way to arrive, especially if you’re coming from Lake Geneva. Check the timetable and reserve a seat if you want a particular class or departure.
Getting here and getting around. Use the train for Saanen, Schönried, Saanenmöser and Rougemont. For Lauenen or Glacier 3000, check the bus back before leaving. Winter service to Lauenen finishes in the village.
Lift and trail status. Check live lift, piste and winter trail openings each morning. The first local lifts are scheduled from 20 November 2026 where snow allows, with opening dates varying by sector.
Weather and webcams. Look at both the valley and summit webcams before committing to a glacier outing. If the tops are in cloud, spend the morning in Saanen or plan a gallery visit.
Magic Pass. Worth checking if you’ll ski on several trips this season. Confirm your mountains on the current partner list, or buy individual tickets from Gstaad’s lift operator.
Unforgettable moments
Pick one of these as the anchor for your day, then build lunch or a village visit around it.
Winter balloon flight. Take-Off Balloon flies from the Gstaad, Saanen and Château-d’Œx area from December to March. Wind determines the departure point and route. Ask about a private basket and leave some flexibility in your itinerary.
Ballons Château-d’Œx. Another local operator for a private balloon outing. Ask where to meet, how long to set aside for the entire experience and what happens if your flight is postponed.
Horse-drawn sleigh at Michel’s Stallbeizli. A winter ride through the Saanenland, followed by fondue or raclette at the farm restaurant near Wispile. Ask whether conditions suit a sleigh or carriage when you book.
Dog sledding at Glacier 3000. The operator lists a short introductory ride and longer outings on the glacier. From Col du Pillon, allow around 45 minutes for the cable cars, Ice Express chairlift and walk to the track. Reserve ahead and check weather and access on the day.
Peak Walk at Glacier 3000. A cable car outing from Col du Pillon with a suspension bridge between two summits. Save it for a clear day and check bridge, lift and sightseeing hours before leaving Gstaad.
Where to eat
Start with the meal you most want to have, especially over Christmas and New Year. Palace restaurants follow the hotel’s winter season, published as 15 December 2026 to 7 March 2027. The Alpina lists 11 December 2026 as its winter reopening. Confirm individual restaurant hours when reserving.
For a special dinner
Sommet and MEGU at The Alpina. Sommet for a long tasting-menu dinner and MEGU for Japanese cooking, sushi and sake. Pick your dining room before booking. Both are in the same hotel.
Le Grill at Gstaad Palace. An evening for dressing up a little. Check the Palace’s current winter dining pages and reserve directly through the hotel.
Leonard’s at Le Grand Bellevue. A good choice when you want a special dinner without leaving the village. Start with a drink at The Bar, then walk through to dinner.
16 Art-Bar-Restaurant in Saanen. An intimate room in a former bell foundry, with a changing menu. It makes a good reason to spend the evening in Saanen.
Fondue, raclette and Swiss tables
Saagi-Stübli at the Gstaaderhof. Order the raclette if you want to see the cheese melted by the wood fire. The winter menu also lists classic and truffle fondue.
La Fromagerie at Gstaad Palace. The Palace’s winter fondue room occupies a former wartime bank bunker. Book ahead and ask which dinner sitting suits your group.
Le Petit Chalet at Le Grand Bellevue. A small wooden cabin for fondue in the hotel grounds. Good for an evening when everyone wants to stay in the village.
Le Cerf in Rougemont. A village restaurant for regional cooking. Pair lunch with a look around Rougemont, or check the last train if you go for dinner.
The Pinte at Hotel Olden. Wood panelling and an old inn atmosphere on the Promenade. The Olden’s main restaurant is a separate option for a longer dinner.
Rössli in Feutersoey. A village inn towards Gsteig. Look at the current menu for the trout and plan your ride home before dinner.
Posthotel Rössli. Traditional Swiss cooking in a wood-panelled Stübli on the Promenade. Easy to work into a village afternoon.
Long lunches and mountain tables
La Bagatelle at Le Grand Chalet. Book lunch for the view over Gstaad. Ask about the terrace on a sunny winter day and keep an indoor table in mind if the weather turns.
Bergrestaurant Eggli. A convenient meeting point for skiers and pedestrians arriving by gondola. Reserve if your group is large, and check the last descent before settling in.
Berghaus Wispile. Pair lunch with a morning on Wispile. Look up gondola and restaurant status before you go, especially at the start and end of the season.
Berghotel Hornberg. A mountain lunch above Saanenmöser. Ask the hotel which winter approach is open for pedestrians and whether the Hüttli is taking fondue reservations.
Bergrestaurant Wasserngrat. Choose a clear day for a mountain lunch. The restaurant lists daily service from 18 December 2026 to 21 March 2027. Check the lift for pedestrian access.
On the Promenade and nearby
Restaurant Olden. The chalet-fronted institution on the Promenade for a Mediterranean dinner and a long wine list. The hotel lists daily winter opening from 3 December 2026 to 14 March 2027.
Rialto. An easy village stop for an apéritif, a light bite or dinner. Check the restaurant and bar menus separately.
Restaurant Valrose in Rougemont. The current restaurant by Rougemont station serves seasonal dishes with local and Mediterranean influences. A practical lunch stop if you’re arriving by train or finishing a ski day in the village.
Charly’s coffee shop and tea room. A Promenade stop for coffee and pastry, particularly convenient if you’re staying at Casa Promenade.
Culinary journeys
The cheese grotto and an outdoor fondue are easy to pair. For a private masterclass, ask the venue about dates and the group size before planning around it.
Cheese Grotto at Molkerei Gstaad. Gstaad’s former water reservoir holds more than 3,000 wheels of alpine cheese. Ask the dairy for a guided visit with tasting. Bring a layer and expect steep steps down to the grotto.
Fondue backpack. Order the day before from a participating dairy. The backpack includes cheese, bread and the cooking kit. Pick a winter route and check access to the outdoor fondue pot before setting off.
Heated fondue carriage. A covered horse-drawn carriage with fondue supplied by Michel’s Stallbeizli. Ask about the route and group size when booking.
Thursday night fondue at Eggli. On Thursdays from 7 January to 25 February 2027, pedestrians can take the evening gondola to dinner while skiers use the floodlit run. Book your table with the mountain restaurant.
Sushi at MEGU. For a dinner built around sushi and sake, reserve at MEGU. If you want to arrange a private sushi lesson, ask The Alpina whether a session is available during your stay.
Drinks and bars
A quiet apéritif and a night out are both easy to do in the village. Check event nights and seasonal hours, especially in early December or late March.
The Bar and Cigar Lounge at Le Grand Bellevue. Start in the Art Deco bar for a cocktail before dinner. Ask the hotel about its cigar lounge and current opening hours if you’d like to stay on.
Lobby Bar at Gstaad Palace. A place for a quiet drink on the hill. Check hotel season dates before going up.
GreenGo at Gstaad Palace. The Palace’s late-night club, with its 1970s interior still part of the appeal. Check the event calendar for DJ nights and ticket or table details.
Alpina Lounge and Bar. An evening drink with views over the Bernese Oberland. For sake or Japanese whisky, ask what is available at MEGU.
Arts and culture
Several of Gstaad’s galleries are worth planning around, particularly on a day when the mountains are in cloud. Check the current exhibition before making a special trip.
Gagosian. The gallery at Promenade 79 lists visits by appointment. Email ahead and ask what will be on during your stay.
Hauser & Wirth in Gstaad. The gallery’s Gstaad exhibitions have used several venues, including the Vieux Chalet. Check the current programme for the venue and visit arrangements.
Tarmak22 in Saanen. An exhibition space at Saanen airport with views across the runway. Go when the published programme confirms a show is on.
Gstaad Gallery. A contemporary programme in the village, with painting, works on paper and installations. Check the current exhibition and visiting hours before you go.
Almine Rech. Check the Gstaad gallery page for current exhibitions and hours before walking over.
Studio Naegeli. A contemporary gallery and an archive of Gstaad photographer Jacques Naegeli in his former studio. Contact the studio ahead for winter hours.
Scherenschnitt workshop in Schönried. Ask the atelier about a session in traditional paper cutting. It’s a hands-on way to spend a morning indoors and you can take your piece home.
St. Niklaus Chapel. The small historic chapel on the Promenade is worth noticing on a village walk. Ask us if you’d like help exploring a private classical recital and venue availability.
Skiing and snowboarding
Pick a sector before buying your ticket or booking a lesson. Some lifts run on limited dates and links between sectors depend on conditions.
Eggli and La Videmanette. Start from Gstaad’s Eggli gondola, from Saanen or from Rougemont. La Videmanette to Rougemont is the region’s longest piste. Check the connecting lifts and your route back before crossing.
Wispile and the learning slopes. Use the easy Zückerli and Rütti valley runs for first turns. The higher Wispile descent has more demanding terrain, so agree on where to meet after lessons.
Horneggli, Saanersloch and Rinderberg. The biggest linked ski area in the region. Start at Horneggli in Schönried or pick Saanenmöser or Zweisimmen to suit where you’re staying.
Glacier 3000 ski area. A high-altitude option with a scheduled season of 7 November 2026 to 30 April 2027. Check the operator’s live report for which runs are actually open.
Lessons and private guides. Book lessons first for busy weeks. When requesting a private lesson or ski tour, give the instructor your group’s experience, preferred starting village and how long you’d like to be out.
Winter walks and Nordic skiing
Look up the route number and check the official winter map before leaving. Signposted winter walks and snowshoe routes are different outings, and the approach can change when a lift or trail closes.
Schönried to Gstaad via Gruben · Route 772. Take the train to Schönried and walk back down through Gruben. The full route is about 4.4 km and 1 hour 15 minutes. End with lunch or coffee on the Promenade.
Eggli winter loop · Ww27. Look for the Eggli–Front Eggli loop in the winter trail list. It’s about 3.1 km and 1 hour 15 minutes, with the gondola and mountain restaurant at the start and finish.
Lauenen and Rohr · Ww34. A flatter valley circuit of about 5.4 km. Search for Ww34 in the winter route list and take the bus to Lauenen village if you’re coming from Gstaad.
Sparenmoos via Schiltenegg · Route 770. A longer option above Zweisimmen, about 7.2 km and two hours. Check the winter approach to Sparenmoos before setting out.
Private snowshoe tour. Give the guide your group’s pace and ask about half-day options or a lunch stop. If you want an evening outing, ask whether a guided option is running.
Cross-country skiing in Rougemont · L90. A 3.6 km loop for classic and skate skiing with Rougemont Castle as the backdrop. Check grooming and trail status, and use a local instructor if you want to work on technique.
With children
Keep the first day simple. A lesson, one outing and a warm lunch usually make for a better day than trying to fit in three different mountains.
Swiss Snow Kids Village and family skiing. Find a learning area close to your accommodation, then book lessons and rentals together so everyone knows where to meet.
Village ice rink. An easy outing in the centre of Gstaad. Check current public skating hours and rental availability before heading over.
Toboggan runs. Choose the run after checking its difficulty and the current snow report. Ask at the valley station where to rent sledges and how to get back to the lift.
Sportzentrum Gstaad. The indoor pool is a good option for a snowy afternoon or a break from skiing. Check the current hours for the pool and family facilities.
Glacier 3000 with children. Check the operator’s age guidance and weather before planning a trip with younger children. If conditions are right, combine the cable car and viewpoint with one activity.
Spa and wellness
For a recovery afternoon, check whether access is included with a treatment and book before travelling to the hotel.
Six Senses Spa at The Alpina. Ask about treatment availability and whether spa access is included for day visitors during your dates.
Le Grand Spa at Le Grand Bellevue. Check the hotel’s current day-spa and treatment options. A good afternoon to pair with a quiet dinner in the village.
Palace Spa. Reserve with the hotel and check the current day guest policy. The Palace lists its winter season as 15 December 2026 to 7 March 2027.
Sportzentrum wellness. A straightforward local option for sauna and steam. Check the wellness timetable separately from the pool.
Winter dates 2026/27
These are published dates. Outdoor events can change with conditions, so use the organiser’s page for the final programme.
26 December to 10 January · Gstaad New Year Music Festival. Browse the individual concerts and book the evening that works for your village and dinner plans.
7 January to 25 February · Thursday evenings at Eggli. Night skiing and fondue at the mountain restaurant. Dinner is also open to pedestrians arriving by evening gondola.
23 to 31 January · International Hot Air Balloon Week. A day trip to Château-d’Œx. Check the daily programme and flight announcements before travelling.
23 January and 20 February · Night sledding at Saanersloch. Two evening sessions with sledge hire by reservation and fondue at the mountain restaurant. Check snow conditions and the last descent.
29 January to 6 February · Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad. Chamber music in venues around Gstaad, Saanen and Rougemont. Check the location on your ticket before choosing where to eat.
12–14 and 19–21 March · Caprices Festival. Two weekends of electronic music at Eggli. Check the festival’s current programme, ticketing and evening lift arrangements.
Where to stay
We put this guide together for guests at our two family stays in Gstaad. If you need help with a table, a ski instructor, a transfer or an outing for the whole group, get in touch before your stay.
Chalet Gruben. A quieter base up in Gruben for up to ten guests, with a fireplace and an outdoor wood-fired hot tub. Good for evenings when everyone wants to get together at home.
Casa Promenade. A village stay for up to eight guests, directly on the Promenade. Step out for coffee, shops and dinner, and ask us for the brochure or availability.
Villa Mou, Spetses. Our family’s summer address on Spetses, with a pool, a garden and terraces overlooking the sea.
Contact us. Tell us your dates and what you’d like to do, and we’ll help you put your stay together.