It takes skiers to the Unterrothorn area, where a new snowmaking system also began last season. Opened for the 2020/2021 season, the 10-person Kumme gondola is the first gondola in Switzerland that can run without staff. The world's highest 3S cableway, the Matterhorn Glacier Ride, carries 2,000 skiers an hour to the Matterhorn Glacier, at 3,883 meters altitude, where you can ski year-round. The other side of the Matterhorn is in Italy, and one of the greatest moments in a skier's lifetime is skiing over the Theodul Pass and down into the Italian trail system. The bold pyramid of the Matterhorn rises directly behind the town and is visible from much of the mountain's 360-kilometer trail system, which connects two countries and three resort towns. The highest winter sports area in the Alps, with ski terrain at altitudes between 2,500 and 3,900 meters and more than 2,133 meters of vertical drop – Switzerland's greatest – it seems almost unfair that Zermatt should also have Europe's most iconic mountain. Note: Some businesses may be temporarily closed due to recent global health and safety issues. If you plan to travel from outside Switzerland, check for updated information from the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health.įind the best slopes for your next winter vacation with our list of the top ski resorts in Switzerland. Online advance ticket purchase is advised to minimize personal contact and lines. Nightlife and après-ski venues may also have more limited capacities. Caution: Backcountry terrain is unpredictable and should not be attempted without a qualified and well-equipped backcountry guide.Ĭhanges for the 2020/2021 Ski Season in Switzerland: Due to health and safety concerns, the Swiss government has introduced some country-wide mandates, but more detailed restrictions may vary among the 26 cantons. Likewise, whether it's the adrenaline rush of a narrow piste at dizzying heights or a broad cruiser with a panoramic view, you're never far from a Swiss mountain that offers it.Įveryone loves great scenery, dependable snow conditions, and a good network of lifts Switzerland promises all these and a choice of resorts to appeal to every taste. Some skiers love first tracks in fresh powder, others prefer groomed trails – both will be happy skiing in the Swiss Alps. And while après-ski may be lively in some larger ski centers, Swiss ski resorts are equally well tuned to the needs of families, with family-friendly lift passes, lodgings, and packages. Many have dedicated slopes and lifts just for learners and beginners. Most resorts have easy cruising terrain and excellent learning programs. Contrary to what you may have heard, not everyone here skis like James Bond, and these majestic mountains are not just for experts. Moritz or the dazzling vision of the Matterhorn towering above Zermatt's classic chalets, every skier has dreams of skiing the Swiss Alps. Their celebrations were joined on the day of the game by Swiss captain Stephan Lichtsteiner - an act that got him a $5,050 fine from FIFA on June 25.We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( ) The gestures also prompted a rebuke from Switzerland's coach and triggered the FIFA investigation.īut both players defended their celebrations on the field as spontaneous and personal outpourings at a moment of high emotion for them and their team. Relations between Kosovo and Serbia have been strained by the independence issue and ethnic rivalries for years.Īfter the game on June 23, the online version of the Serbian newspaper Blic wrote that the players' gestures "shamefully provoked our fans." Kosovo has an ethnic Albanian majority and many people there identify with the flag, but Serbs view it as an act of defiance. The two players made gestures that evoke the double-headed eagle of the Albanian flag after scoring goals against Serbia, which has never recognized Kosovo's independence despite its recognition by 116 other countries. Switzerland on June 22 defeated Serbia 2-1 on goals by Xhaka and Shaqiri, both of whom are ethnic Albanians with roots in Kosovo, a former province of Serbia that declared independence in 2008.įIFA's disciplinary panel had the power to impose two-match bans on the players if their actions were judged to have provoked the public. Soccer's world governing body FIFA has fined two Switzerland players for making politically and ethnically suggestive hand gestures to celebrate World Cup goals against Serbia, but the two were cleared to continue playing soccer.įIFA, which bans all political messages or symbols in stadiums, said on June 25 that Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri received warnings and fine of $10,100 each for unsporting behavior.