Samnaun

Samnaun Ski Resort

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.

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.

Our Samnaun Resort Ratings

• Beginner ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
• Intermediate ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
• Advanced ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
• Snow Reliability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
• Fast Lifts ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
• Resort Activities ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
• Après ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
• Value ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Samnaun Skiing and Snowboarding

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.

• Total Pistes: 239km
• Blue: 20%
• Red: 60%
• Black: 20%
• Additional Ski Routes: 15km
• Lifts: 41
• Altitude: 1377m (Samnaun is at 1840m) – 2872m

Samnaun Piste Map

The local area map can be downloaded here.

Samnaun Season Dates

21st December 2019 - 3rd April 2020

Samnaun 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.

How to get to Samnaun

It is actually easier to access Samnaun via Austria, with the drive up taking around an hour and a half from Innsbruck via the Serfaus valley. Access via Switzerland and with public transport is appreciably longer and in fact it is quicker to drive via Austria to get here from Zürich airport.

• Innsbruck airport: 1.5 hours
• Zürich airport: 3 hours
• Calais: approximately 13 hours driving (667 miles)

Samnaun Contact Details

• Website: www.samnaun.ch
• Email: info@samnaun.ch
• Telephone: +41 08 18 61 88 30
• Facebook: @SamnaunEngadin
• Instagram: @samnaun_ch
• Twitter: @ScuolSamnaun