Guide to: Verbier

By: I. Weber

​Verbier is a village in the canton of Valais in Switzerland, known for being the greatest resort in the 4 Vallées, the country’s biggest ski area. For years, Verbier has attracted families and young, sporty customers, due to its amazing scenery, panoramic views, year-round sun, and thriving nightlife. On top of that, tourists have easy access to the resort, being only two-and-a-half hours (by car) from Geneva Airport.
 
Regarding the skiing, Verbier has more than 400km of linked pistes, accessed by over 90 different ski lifts, definitely enough to keep even the most active and professional skiers out there entertained for weeks. Every year, Verbier, one of the most challenging and demanding alpine ski resorts, known for its off-piste trails, also hosts the final of one of the most renowned freeride snowboarding and skiing competitions in the world, Xtreme Verbier.
 
For those who are regular skiers, get ready for some unique, legendary off-piste opportunities, including a nearly 2000m off-piste drop from Mont Fort to Verbier. For those who are just getting started with ski, Verbier has 39% beginner, groomed pistes, although none of which are green (the easiest level). There’s no sugar-coating it: the standards of skiing in Verbier are incredibly high, but don’t panic – Verbier alone has almost 15 ski schools and organisations that will help you advance from skiing at Les Esserts, the learner area at the base of the mountain, to black and off-piste slopes by the end of your stay.
 
For the food-lovers, Verbier is the place to go. There are around 20 restaurants in the mountains that serve amazing Swiss cuisine, a great way to lunch when skiing. My personal favourite was one called Le Carrefour (highlight: meat cooked on a hot stone), one of the oldest mountain restaurants in Verbier, offering panoramic views of both the village and the slopes. The city centre, although small, offers a wide variety of lounges, bars, cafés, and restaurants for tourists to try, serving traditional plates like Fondues and Rostis, all the way to the classic French steak frites, Italian pizzas, and a variety of dishes for children.
 
For those who love a good party, Verbier is also famous for its lively nightlife, featuring bars, pubs, lounge cafés, live bands, and nightclubs, where you can find anything ranging from DJ’s to pool tables and cosy fireplaces. Verbier is also celebrated for all of the renowned major indoor and outdoor après-skis of the area, with unforgettable Swiss hot-chocolate, food, and music.
 
All-in-all, an amazing trip that I would surely recommend to everyone!