15 Best Things to Do in Switzerland in Winter (Without Skiing) — 2026–27

By Elisa · Updated October 14, 2026

Half the people in a Swiss mountain village in winter aren't skiing. Here's what they're doing — and what you should do.

Soak & relax

1. Outdoor thermal baths in the snow — Leukerbad, Therme Vals, Tamina Therme in Bad Ragaz. Thermal baths guide.
2. A mountain mineral bath — Rigi Kaltbad at 1,440 m, reachable only by mountain railway or cable car. Rigi guide.
3. A spa-hotel day — book a hotel with a pool and do nothing. Spa hotels by canton.

Snow, without skis

1. Sledding — Switzerland has some of the longest sled runs in the world. Sledding guide.
2. Winter hiking — groomed paths with pink signs: Grindelwald First, Rigi, the Engadine.
3. Snowshoeing — marked trails in most resorts; rentals in every sports shop.
4. Husky sledding — offered in several mountain regions, a hit with kids.
5. Ice skating — natural rinks on frozen lakes in the Engadine, plus village rinks almost everywhere.

Views & trains

1. Glacier Express — Zermatt to St. Moritz, about 8 hours of panoramic train through the Alps.
2. Bernina Express — St. Moritz to Tirano, Italy, over the Bernina Pass.
3. Gornergrat railway — a cogwheel train from Zermatt facing the Matterhorn. Zermatt for non-skiers.
4. Jungfraujoch — the train to the "Top of Europe" station at 3,454 m.

Culture & food

1. Christmas markets — Basel, Zurich, Montreux and Lucerne, late November to December. 2026 dates & guide.
2. Fondue in a mountain hut — reach it on foot, by sled or by lift, then sled home in the dark.
3. Frozen-lake events in St. Moritz — including the White Turf horse races in February.

Where to base yourself

Pick a base where several of these activities are within easy reach:

• Grindelwald — sledding, winter walks, the Jungfraujoch train and spa hotels with Eiger views. Ski & winter guide.
• Zermatt — the Gornergrat railway, a car-free village and the Matterhorn. Zermatt for non-skiers.
• Leukerbad — the biggest outdoor thermal baths in the Alps, with cliffs all around. Thermal baths guide.
• Lucerne — a city base with Rigi, boats and a Christmas market. Lucerne at Christmas.
• St. Moritz — frozen-lake events, the Bernina Express and sunshine. St. Moritz guide.