Skiing in Arosa Switzerland
Today I want to share with you a place my family has been going to for more than fifty years. We go skiing in Arosa, Switzerland, for as long as I can remember and I have amazing memories tied to this place. Hope this post will inspire you go visit it one day as well.
Arosa, Switzerland, is a small town in the Graubünden Region of Switzerland. It is a town known for skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer. It is a cute town to spend a week and enjoy nature.
Arosa, Switzerland, can be easily reached by car or train. It takes about one hour and 360 curves up the mountain from Chur. The road is normally well cleaned; however, if you have no experience driving in the mountains, I would suggest you take the train.
The train takes also about one hour from Chur. The tickets cost around 15CHF one way. Chur is also easy to reach from most big cities or airports via. Zurich. The train station is Arosa is also in the middle of the town, so you can easily reach your accommodation via foot or taxi.
During the week, you will not need a car. You can mostly get around walking or by bus. Since you will be spending most of the time on the mountain, you will not need other forms of transport besides cable cars and chair lifts.
Skiing in Arosa
Now, since it is currently winter, the main activity is skiing and other snow activities. Arosa has a good range of slopes mostly blue and red. There are a few black slopes, but nothing too difficult. It is a great skiing area to come with the whole family. Your children can enjoy the short slopes closer to the bottom, the more adventurous ones can go on the longer slopes which are still more manageable.
Arosa also offers ski schools. They have normal groups for children from beginners to advanced, but also offer private teachers for both children and adults. Normally if you have children, ski schools are perfect to allow you a few hours exploring on your own, and then have lunch and spend the afternoon with your kids. Like that, you can go on the more difficult slopes in the morning without your children and in the afternoon, do something together.
Also since a few years, they Arosa and Lenzerheide (the ski area one valley over) have fused and are now joined by a cable car. So if you are looking for steeper and more challenging slopes, you can go try the ones in Lenzerheide. Just make sure you catch the last cable car back, otherwise, you have to travel two hours down and up the mountain back to Arosa.
Walking in the winter in Arosa
One of the great things about Arosa is that they also offer great tracks to walk even in the winter. The hikes are mostly flat and not too difficult and suited for all ages. So if you are someone who doesn't ski or are traveling with someone who doesn't, you can also walk and reach most of the same destinations. So you could agree to have lunch in one of the cabins and while you ski there, they could walk.
My family did this a lot. My grandma normally comes with us and we agree to have lunch together somewhere that day. So we go on the slopes and she walks and we meet at the agreed point at the agreed time. This is a very helpful thing since it allows everyone to be together and nobody feels excluded.
Where to eat on the slopes?
How there are exactly two places that are worth visiting. Of course, there are other cabins, but these two are the nicest ones and the best in terms of reachability and sunlight (so you don't freeze).
A note to about cabin etiquette. It is common if not expected to sit next to other people at the same table. Since there is limited space, this makes getting a seat faster. Also, most people will not use overly formal language, which in English you will not notice much, but if you speak German or French you might be surprised.
Tschuggen hütte
This is the most popular cabin since it is the easiest to reach. Located only about 10-15 minutes walking from the Weisshorn Cablecar and on one of the easiest slopes, this is a favorite of many skiers and families. If you here for lunch, you might have to wait a bit to get a seat and be served. If you come before 12 or after 2 pm you will be fine, but in between, it is somewhat hectic. Still, the food is great and the service friendly, so definitely worth checking out at least once.
Carmenna hütte
This one is less crowded due to the fact that it is a bit trickier to reach. First off, you cannot get here from the Carmenna list. Well, you can but not if you get out in the middle like most people. You have to over to the Plattenhorn lift and take that slope. You can also walk here from the Weisshorn Cablecar in about one to two hours. This cabin is also very nice and has a gorgeous view of the mountains and the slopes. You can sit inside and outside most days and enjoy some great food. Do not expect any complicated dishes, but simple filling ones that will
While Arosa is a skiing destination, there are many other winter activities that you can also experience here. They have a nice ice skating ring in the center which can be fun. You can also go cross-country skiing in one or two places. Also, they have two sledding slopes you can enjoy. Most accommodations have sleds you can use, so don't worry about that. So if you are not a huge skier, there are many other activities to fill your days away from the slopes.
This really depends on you. There are many hotels and BnBs in town, the most famous one being the Valsana. However, I would suggest getting an apartment if you are more than two people. It allows you more freedom with timing and more independence. You can find big apartments as well for up to 10 or even more people, so don't worry if you are a big group. If you are planning to come in February (during Swiss ski break) make sure you book way in advance (as in July or August). Many apartments have return guests for specific weeks so keep that in mind as well. If you are planning to go in January, that is not such a concern since there are fewer people and therefore more available accommodations.
Arosa, Switzerland, my family's ski destination for the last five decades or more. Hope this post insired you to visit as well, or at least find some slopes close to you and enjoy skiing for a day or two.