Best Wintersports in Verbier

Catch the latest films and releases in Verbier on your winter or summer holiday. Some cinemas open their doors early on a bad weather day, otherwise you'll find most screenings in the evenings. Look out for VOST for English speaking films. 

Verbier has four designated cross-country skiing circuits, which vary in length from 2.4km to 6km and are suitable for skating of classic style cross country skiing.  You can hire XC ski boots and lightweight skis and poles fairly inexpensively from most sports shops in Verbier. If you're new to this sport, why not book a group or private lesson to learn the basics from one of the ski schools or private instructors. A number of adventure companies also offer cross-country skiing guiding, tours and lessons too. Find your way around with the cross country skiing maps. 

A public gym & fitness classes can be found at the main sports centre in Verbier. *Please note that the sports centre is not currently open, due to a fire in summer 2017*

Sit back and admire the mountains from even higher up! Daily panoramic helicopter flights are available (weather permitting) with a number of local flight companies. Relax and enjoy the stunning views as you fly over the snow-capped mountain tops, glaciers and alpine forests of the Swiss Alps. 

Enjoying the thrill of being on the pistes need not escape you if you're less mobile or have special physical needs. Resorts all over the Alps offer equipment and fully qualified guides to help you get the most out of your experience. Sit-ski, taxi ski, Vertiski, Handiski.. whichever method you're used to, or would like to try there will be at least one ski school or activity company in Verbier that offers this service.

Skiers, snowboarders and telemarkers can take a helicopter ride into the very heart of the Swiss Alps and enjoy an original and challenging descent of Verbier's mountains. You'll be under the supervision of a qualified guide who knows the area well and can recommend the best places to go. 

Heliskiing isn't legal in neighbouring France, so a lot of people will cross the border to enjoy the experience. The most popular destinations in the region include Rosablanche (3314m), Petit Combin (3670m) or on the Trient glacier (3295m). For those wanting to explore deep into the backcountry, try heli-touring with a guide. 

Enjoy the panoramas of Verbier's mountains from a husky sled. Drive your own sledge around the designated trails in resort. It's a very popular winter activity, so booking at least 48 hours in advance is a must. They run from early December to the end of April (snow-permitting) and you can even take a team of dogs out in the summer months too, for a snow-free experience. 

If you want to try something different in Verbier, other than hitting the slopes, then why not try Ice Climbing. Whether you are an experienced climber or a beginner you can have a go at ice climbing on Verbier's frozen waterfalls in the well known area of Val des Bagnes. If you are a beginner and have never climbed before then a mountain guide can teach how to climb the slightly scary but incredibly beautiful looking ice waterfalls. With a professional mountain guide on hand to help you learn how to ice climb you will be making your way up the icy waterfalls in no time. You can also tackle the ice waterfall as an experienced climber as there are many different falls with varying levels of difficulty in the area. 

In Verbier you have the chance to do some Go Karting on ice. Definitely something to do with a group of friends and having the added thrill of being on ice it adds a new touch to Go Karting. The karts have been especially designed for the snow, they have studded tyres, seatbelts, adjustable bucket seats for children, roll bars and a fitted safety remote control which allows the staff at the track to control the speed of the karts if necessary (only for used for safety reasons and especially handy for when children race on the track). We recommend booking in advance as it can get booked out quickly as it is popular activity. 

Verbier has an indoor climbing wall at the Medran and is open as long as the cafe there is open. You can hire harnesses on site or bring your own. It costs 5 CHF to use the wall for one hour. 

There are a number of companies who can take you mountaineering in both summer and winter, from local guides to ski schools and activity companies. Explore Verbier's 4000 metre peaks or trek across the icy expanses of the glaciers. 

The Verbier area offers a whole host of museums and galleries. To learn more about the region's history and customs, head to the Alpine Museum and the Saw & Mill in Verbier or the Forge Oreiller, an old cowbells workshop in Le Chable. You can also visit the Saint Bernard Dogs Museum in Martigny to discover the history of the role of these rescue animals. If it's art you're after, there is a gallery showcasing Inuit art and sculpture in the heart of the resort, the Nanuq Art Gallery, while the Musée de Bagnes in Le Chable organises photography and fine art exhibitions.

You can enjoy tandem paragliding flights in winter and summer in Verbier. Flights typically take off from either the Croix de Coeur or Ruinettes, from where you'll glide around the skies enjoying the views of Verbier resort below. Some paragliding companies offer different types of flying experiences, from flights by helicopter to learning how to fly by yourself. 

Take to the skies and see the majestic mountains of Verbier on a scenic flight in a helicopter. Fly over glaciers, wave at people on the mountain tops and take in the breathtaking scenery around you. 

Many people would not automatically think of Verbier as a place to shop, however, the town boasts some great stores. As you would expect from an outdoor sports resort, there are plenty sports stores where you can get your hands on some of the top mountaineering, ski and snowboard brands but there are also some fashionable clothing stores, and plenty of shops selling traditional mountain goods.

Verbier has seven designated ski touring itineraries and a plethora of backcountry options for the more experienced, or those heading out with a guide. A number of ski schools, private instructors and companies can show you their favourite touring itineraries, or if you've got all the necessary equipment you can head out in your own group. 

The main draw for people coming to Verbier in winter is of course the skiing and snowboarding. With the whole of the 4 valleys to ski in, as well as a wealth of off-piste areas and a handful of beginner zones, Verbier has something for every level of experience.  

You can enjoy a tandem skydiving experience in Verbier with incredible views of the Val de Bagnes and the Grand Combin. You'll take a 15 minute helicopter flight and then jump in tandem with your instructor from 4000 metres. Freefall lasts around 40 seconds where you could reach speeds of up to 200 kmph, before the parachute opens and you glide back down to earth. No previous experience is necessary. 

Verbier is home to the longest sledge run in French-speaking Switzerland, with a vertical descent of 848 metres. The run takes you from the top of Savolyeres all the way down to La Tzoumaz and you can hire sledges from the top of the Savolyeres cable car or any of the sports shops in resort. Don't forget to wear a helmet and goggles and warm, waterproof clothes. It's typically open from 09:00 - 15:30. 

Snow-shoeing is a perfect activity for bad weather conditions or for non-skiers and Verbier has 16 different marked itineraries which you can enjoy either with or without a guide. Snowshoes and ski poles are provided by most companies offering this as an experience, or you can hire snowshoes from most Sports Shops or Ski Hire Shops, grab a trail map from the Tourist Office and head off on your own adventure. Be sure to check the weather forecast before you go and don't forget to wear warm, sturdy winter boots.

Where to go to jib, bonk, spin and pop in Verbier.

Verbier offers a large range of day spas, massages and treatments for those looking to unwind and indulge themselves. Sports therapists and masseurs can also pay you a visit in your home or accommodation, at any time of year. Wellness centres and spas can be found in all of the luxury hotels and are open to outside visitors. 

The idea behind speed riding is to combine the sensations of skiing and paragliding into one activity, and then descend off-piste sections of the mountain using a mini-wing to enable you to access areas that you might not normally go. Learning and having fun with speed riding comes very fast as long as you are a competent skier; you need to be able to ski red pistes with confidence in any type of snow. Speak to one of the companies offering this activity who can show you the ropes (literally).

You can play squash on one of two courts in the main sports centre in Verbier, year round. *Please note that this is currently unavailable due to the fire at the sports centre in summer 2017*

Whether you like to take a dip indoors or outdoors, you'll be able to find somewhere to go for a swim in Verbier. Most hotels, lots of chalets and apartments have their own swimming facilities, however there are also municipal swimming baths that you can visit, which often come free with your lift pass purchase. In summer and winter you should be able to find somewhere to take a dip, so don't forget your towel and your swimming costume or shorts. 

Telemarking is a form of downhill skiing where you are only attached into the binding at the toe, so to turn, you have to lunge and bring your heel upwards. Talk to one of the ski schools or private instructors who can teach you how to telemark and take you out on excursions using this technique. 

There are four winter walking routes to discover in Verbier which are great for non-skiers and families; Les Ruinettes to La Chaux, Les Creux to Le Chateau, Perin to Les Planards and Sonalon to La Marlene. All of the routes are wide paths on the snow and vary in duration from just under an hour to nearly three hours. You can pick up a map of the routes from the tourist office in the centre of resort. 

Don’t forget to check the weather forecast before you set out as conditions can change rapidly in the mountains. You do not need any particular equipment, just a pair of sturdy boots and layers of warm clothing that you can take off or put on as necessary. Top tip: buy grippers for your walking boots to prevent slipping which you can buy from most local Sport Shops.

There are around 6 different companies offering yoga in Verbier, all year round. Whether you're looking to join a group class or book a personal session you'll be able to find someone who can provide this for you. 

Escape rooms are a new live entertainment phenomenon sweeping the globe. Players come as a team to challenge themselves with the puzzles in the rooms. Each puzzle takes a different kind of clever to solve and teams of friends, family and work colleagues interact with each other in unique ways to create a unique and unforgettable experience. The rooms are not scary or unpleasant in any way just a great way to have fun, test yourself and build relationships with the people you come to the rooms with. The clock is ticking, will you solve the room in time?