Samnaun

For high-altitude, cross-border cruising, look no further than the Swiss ski resort of Samnaun – linked by the world’s best lift system to neighbouring Ischgl.

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20%Beginner

60%Intermediate

20%Advanced

Vertical drop

Pistes

Runs

Lifts

Terrain by difficulty

Ischgl might grab most of the headlines, but Samnaun shares the same incredible ski area as its more famous neighbour.

Expect kilometre after kilometre of snowsure, perfectly groomed slopes and to be whisked back to the top again via what has to be the world’s most advanced, and comfortable, lift system.

What is different here however is the peace and quiet that the resort of Samnaun brings. Its location, right at the head of a remote valley, makes it harder to get to than other Swiss resorts and as a result it has remained delightfully quiet. You really get the best of both worlds here and if that wasn’t enough, it is also duty free – so bring a spare suitcase to fit in all your shopping! Check out the Ischgl resort guide for a more in depth guide to this ski area and to find out more about the Ski Club’s Rep Service at the resort.

Beginner
Fast lifts
Intermediate
Resort Activities
Advanced
Aprés
Snow
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Pros and cons

Shares an incredible high-altitude ski area with Ischgl
Fantastic lift system – even the local access from Samnaun is great
Quiet village surrounded by stunning scenery

Relatively limited accommodation options
Crowds from Ischgl do spill over into the Samnaun sector
Tricky place to get to without a car

On the Slopes

The 41 high-tech lifts (a new lift has been built here almost every year for the past two decades) serve a fantastic ski area linked to Ischgl that covers 239km of groomed runs. Our only complaint with Samnaun concerns the beginner slopes – which are relatively steep and located in Samnaun Dorf, making access from the other bases a little tricky. From this point on however, intermediates will find the options in the ski area pretty much limitless – and the home run (piste 80) at the end of the day is arguably one of the Alps’ finest descents.

More advanced skiers and riders will enjoy the steeper slopes towards the Greitspitze and then down from there into Austria. The long, relatively steep reds to Gampen are amongst our favourites and if there has been fresh snow, Piz Val Gronda is an epic zone, filled with steep drops and open powder fields.

In the Resort

There are four bases to choose from in Samnaun. The biggest and home to the best variety of accommodation is Samnaun Dorf – this too is where the village nursery slopes are, so anyone with absolute beginners would be advised to stay here. For the quickest access up to the slopes, then base yourself at the foot of the two cable cars at Ravaisch.

Duty-free shopping is one of the more peculiar ski resort pastimes, but in Samnaun a quirk in the local laws means that this is a major post-skiing activity. Winter walking and snowshoeing is also a very popular activity here away from the slopes, making the most of the peace and quiet that the snow- filled valley’s remote location provides.