Saanenland (Winter)

The Saanenland region offers most of the same attractions as the nearby Jungfrau region, but on a smaller scale. The mountains here are not quite as lofty and spectacular, the resorts are smaller, and the crowds are smaller as well. The Saanenland is far from undiscovered — tourist facilities are excellent — but here you’ll find more upscale travelers, and no tour buses. The largest resort in this region is Gstaad, an enclave of the very wealthy. There are several five-star hotels, and private jets use the small airport. Nearby Schönried and Saanen are smaller and more laid-back. Crossing from the German-speaking into the ...

The Saanenland region offers most of the same attractions as the nearby Jungfrau region, but on a smaller scale. The mountains here are not quite as lofty and spectacular, the resorts are smaller, and the crowds are smaller as well. The Saanenland is far from undiscovered — tourist facilities are excellent — but here you’ll find more upscale travelers, and no tour buses. The largest resort in this region is Gstaad, an enclave of the very wealthy. There are several five-star hotels, and private jets use the small airport. Nearby Schönried and Saanen are smaller and more laid-back. Crossing from the German-speaking into the French-speaking area brings you to Chateau d’Oex, the center of the hot-air balloon scene. All these resorts have extensive ski slopes, which are linked together into one vast area, so wherever you stay, you have a huge selection of pistes to choose from. The Montreux Oberland Bahn, one of Switzerland’s most scenic railways, runs through this region, connecting all the resorts with Bern and Interlaken to the east and Montreux to the west.

About the Expert

Charlie Morris is the author of the Open Road guidebooks Best of Honduras, Best of Costa Rica, Best of Belize, and Switzerland Guide.