Verbier is best known for the 4 Vallées, one of the largest ski areas in the Alps, and for the off-piste terrain that hosts the Freeride World Tour final each spring. But the village also offers gentle beginner slopes, legendary après-ski, 950 km of hiking trails in summer, a bike park, golf and a world-class classical music festival.
From Hotel Vanessa, 350 m from the Médran lifts and 50 m from the central square, everything below is on foot or a free shuttle ride away. Here is our guide to the best of Verbier, season by season.
Winter in Verbier
The season runs from mid-December to mid-April, with 400 km of pistes between 1,500 and 3,330 m. Verbier is the main gateway to the area: the Médran gondola rises to Les Ruinettes and Les Attelas, and from there to Mont-Fort, Savoleyres and the linked resorts of Nendaz, Veysonnaz, Thyon and La Tzoumaz.
Skiing and snowboarding in the 4 Vallées
One lift pass covers more than 400 km of marked runs and over 80 lifts. The Attelas and Lac des Vaux sectors are the heart of the Verbier area, Savoleyres offers wide, sunny cruising runs, and the summit of Mont-Fort, at 3,330 m, rewards you with a view from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc. Our ski room with heated boot dryers means you start every morning with warm boots.
Freeride and off-piste
Verbier's reputation was built on its off-piste: the itineraries from Mont-Fort, Mont-Gelé and Tortin, and the Bec des Rosses, where the Xtreme Verbier closes the Freeride World Tour every spring. Go with a mountain guide or a ski school freeride group, check the avalanche bulletin and carry a transceiver, shovel and probe.
Beginners and ski schools
Verbier is kinder to first-timers than its reputation suggests. The nursery slopes at Les Moulins, in the village, and the gentle runs at Les Esserts and Savoleyres are ideal for learning, and several ski schools offer group and private lessons for children and adults, with meeting points a shuttle ride from the hotel.
Beyond the pistes
Snowshoe and winter walking trails start at the edge of the village, the 10 km toboggan run at La Tzoumaz is one of the longest in Switzerland, tandem paragliding flights take off from Savoleyres and Les Ruinettes all year, and the sports centre has an ice rink and a swimming pool. Back at the hotel, the sauna and jacuzzi are open from 15:00 to 21:00.
Après-ski and nightlife
Verbier's après-ski is among the liveliest in the Alps, from bars at the foot of the slopes to live music late into the night in the village. For a quieter evening, our own bar serves Valais wines and cocktails, and Brasserie le V is a few steps from your room.
Summer in Verbier
From July to the end of August, Verbier turns into a mountain playground with hiking, biking, golf and music. The lifts run in summer too, carrying walkers and bikers to the high meadows and, on clear days, up to Mont-Fort for one of the finest panoramas in the Alps.
Hiking and mountain lakes
Some 950 km of marked trails fan out from the village: the easy walk along the Bisse du Levron, the Lac des Vaux and the Cabane du Mont-Fort for a half-day with a view, or the Pierre Avoi summit for the ambitious. Our reception can suggest a route to match your legs, and the spa is waiting when you return.
The Verbier Festival
For two and a half weeks from late July, the Verbier Festival brings the world's great classical musicians and young talents to the village for concerts, masterclasses and free events. The hotel is a few minutes' walk from the concert venues, and rooms for the festival period are best booked early.
Golf, paragliding and the high lifts
Verbier has an 18-hole golf course at Les Esserts and an 18-hole pitch-and-putt course at Les Moulins, both minutes from the hotel. Tandem paragliding flights are a summer highlight, and the lifts to Les Ruinettes and Mont-Fort open to walkers and sightseers. Overnight guests receive the Verbier Infinite Playground pass, which includes the lifts and many activities in summer.
Bike park and e-bike
The Verbier Bike Park, reached by the Médran lifts, has downhill trails for every level, and hundreds of kilometres of signposted routes suit cross-country and e-bikes, which can be hired in the village. We store bikes safely overnight, and our garage is free for guests who bring their own.
With children
Families appreciate Verbier's village scale: the beginner slopes and sledging in winter, the playgrounds, pool and easy lakeside walks in summer. Our family suites and duplexes of 45 to 115 m² give everyone room, cots are available, breakfast is included and the shuttle saves little legs on the way to the lifts.
When to visit
The ski season opens in mid-December and runs to mid-April; Christmas, New Year and the February school holidays are the busiest weeks, while January and March offer quieter slopes and, in spring, long sunny days and the Xtreme Verbier. The hotel's summer season runs from mid-July to the end of August, with the Verbier Festival in between.
Whenever you come, the practical side is simple: check our guide to getting here, pick the suite that fits your party and book direct for the best rate, breakfast included.
