How to plan a Saas-Fee vacation
Saas-Fee, also known as the “Pearl of the Alps,” offers skiers and snowboarders a pristine winter wonderland experience. With its car-free streets, stunning glacier views, and exhilarating ski slopes, it’s the perfect destination for those seeking a snow-filled adventure.
To help you make the most of your Saas-Fee trip, we’ve gathered essential information on accommodation, dining, ski lessons, and transport, allowing you to experience this charming Swiss village like a local.
Where to stay: top Saas-Fee hotels for every traveller
Photo credit: Saas-Fee Tourism
Montela Hotel & Resort - Located in Saas-Grund, Montela Resort boasts 76 holiday apartments and 16 hotel suites. Just a few minutes' walk from the Hohsaas mountain railway, you can hit the slopes in no time. And if you want to check out the bright lights of Saas-Fee, the village is easily accessed by the free ski bus.
Each of Montela’s spacious apartments and suites feature a balcony with breathtaking views and a great space for relaxing. Families will enjoy the indoor playground and cross country skiing right next to the hotel, and those with four-legged friends will note that this is a pet-friendly hotel.
Photo credit: Montela Resort
Park Hotel Saas-Fee: Park Hotel provides a cosy, traditional Swiss ambience and cuisine with modern amenities. Boasting a central location and affordable rates and ski packages, the Park Hotel is popular with skiers travelling on a budget.
Schweizerhof Saas-Fee: One of Saas-Fee’s most popular hotels with spa services, the Schweizerhof specialises in ‘Swiss bliss’. If you love to swim, sauna and take massages after long days on the slopes, this 4* superior hotel will not disappoint.
Dining options: Saas-Fee’s best restaurants for every palate
From traditional Swiss cuisine to Asian fare and gourmet dining, read on to check out the best restaurants in Saas-Fee that capture the essence of Alpine flavour.
Chämi Stuba: This is the Cirkel Team’s favourite restaurant to visit when we’re
meeting our local partners in Saas-Fee. Featuring authentic Chinese cuisine packed
full of fresh ingredients and flavour. This is also a great restaurant for vegetarians
(plenty of options), and the spiciness of the dish can be adjusted to your taste.
Restaurant La Ferme: Known for its traditional Swiss food, La Ferme is a local
favourite, with standout dishes like raclette and fondue. Its cosy wooden interior and
warm ambiance make it perfect after a long day on the slopes.
Essstube: For a more modern twist on Swiss and international cuisine, Essstube
offers creative dishes with a focus on fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Their hearty
venison stew and truffle pasta is highly recommended.
Saas-Fee skiing: the best ski trails for all levels
The ski resort is largely north facing so the snow stays cold and in great condition long after a storm. Saas-Fee offers something for everyone, from gentle beginner slopes to advanced glacier runs:
For Beginners: Saas-Fee’s beginner slopes are close to the village area. These wide and gentle pistes offer a relaxed environment for mastering the basics and taking their first turns skiing or snowboarding.
Intermediate Trails: The Felskinn area provides intermediate skiers with exciting challenges, offering beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding Alps. The runs here are scenic, with moderate difficulty, making them ideal for building skills.
Advanced Runs: Head up to the glacier for thrilling high-altitude descents with sweeping views. The Plattjen and Mittelallalin areas are popular with seasoned skiers looking for steeper and more challenging runs. With more than 80km of black and red runs, expert skiers and snowboarders will never get bored in Saas-Fee.
Snowpark: Saas-Fee is internationally renowned for their impressive park. World-class athletes train their freestyle skiing and snowboarding specialties here: slopestyle, halfpipe and big air. Even if huge jumps and rails are not your thing, be sure to stop by and check out the jaw-dropping action.
Rent ski and snowboard clothing and equipment
The northern aspect of Saas-Fee means that temperatures are often chilly and high-quality ski clothing - including some warm insulation - is a must.
While everyone is well accustomed to renting skis and boots, not many travellers know that you can rent ski clothes in Switzerland. Ski clothing rental is a great travel hack that allows you to save money while lowering the environmental impact of your trip.
Cirkel Supply ski clothing rental has you covered with top brands like Patagonia and
Mammut. Rent ski jackets, pants, ski suits and accessories for the whole family on Cirkel’s website, and it will be ready and waiting at your Saas-Fee hotel upon your arrival. Be sure to order at least 3-days before your arrival in the resort so that your ski outfit rental can be safely delivered to Saas-Fee.
Photo credit: Namuk Kidswear
Saas-Fee has a wealth of ski rental stores with excellent skis, boots, and snowboards. These rental stores are always well stocked, so it’s not necessary to book in advance. However, booking in advance will save you time and money: many Saas-Fee stores offer ski rental discounts to those who rent skis online before they travel.
Ski schools: finding the right ski lessons in Saas-Fee
Saas-Fee has several excellent ski schools, each with its own unique strengths:
Swiss Ski School Saas-Fee: The most established school in the area, Swiss Ski School is ideal for families and beginners. They offer group lessons at competitive rates, and their instructors are multilingual, ensuring a comfortable experience for international visitors.
Eskimos Ski School: Known for its high-end, personalised instruction, Eskimos Ski School is the go-to for private lessons or advanced technique coaching. Their experienced instructors cater to intermediate and advanced skiers who want to refine their skills.
Saas-Fee family-friendly activities and resources
Kids Snow Park: Designed for young skiers to practice their skills in a safe and fun environment. It includes mini-slopes and beginner-friendly obstacles, perfect for building confidence.
Sledging and Snowtubing: Saas-Fee has dedicated sledging trails and snowtubing areas, adding extra excitement for families looking for alternative snow activities.
Saas-Fee Childcare: Rosie’s Babysitting Agency comes highly recommended as the best childcare service in Saas-Fee. You can book easily online, and they have a great cancellation policy that allows families a little added flexibility. Whether you’re headed out for dinner or looking for a ski day care so that you can take some laps, you can rest assured your child is in good hands with these nannies.
Photo credit: Saas-Fee Tourism
Transport options - getting around Saas-Fee
Underlining their commitment to sustainability, Saas-Fee is a car-free village. The quiet streets bring a little extra tranquillity to your mountain escape, and getting around on foot is easy as the hotels and amenities are quite centrally located.
That said, Saas-Fee has electric taxis and buses that make it more accessible for every ability.
Photo credit: Saas-Fee Tourism
Ready to book your Saas-Fee ski holiday?
With world-class pistes for all levels, the charm of a high alpine village, and family-friendly activities, Saas-Fee has everything you need for an unforgettable winter holiday.Follow our guide to plan your vacation to this breathtaking Swiss mountain village, so that you can enjoy an extraordinary and stress-free ski holiday.
