Best things to do in Crans-Montana, Switzerland
Located in the heart of the Swiss Alps, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that Crans-Montana, Switzerland, is one of the region’s most popular skiing destinations.
However, it’s not just the 140km of pistes that tourists and residents have on their doorstep. There are many more fun and interesting things to do in Crans-Montana if you want to take a break from the slopes.
A brief background of Crans-Montana
Located in the district of Sierre in the canton of Valais, Switzerland, the municipality of Crans-Montana has only existed since 2017. It was formed when Chermignon, Mollens, Montana and Randogne merged, an area approximately 60km². The name comes from the two distinct villages of Crans and Montana.
Although Crans-Montana has a population of just over 10,000, millions of tourists visit the area every year — and not just during ski season.
Activities to enjoy
Crans-Montana isn’t just a ski resort, and there are a number of activities to enjoy all year round. Let’s take a look at some of the best reasons for visiting this idyllic location.
Caprices Festival
Every spring Crans-Montana village is buzzing with thousands of electronic dance music fans who have arrived to watch some of the industry’s leading Dj’s.
Caprices Festival takes place across two weekends in a transparent tent, 2,200m up in the Swiss Alps. A unique experience in a unique location, the festival is a must attend event for dance music fans, and in 2021 the event featured the likes of Deborah De Luca, Paco Osuna and Guy Gerber.
Watch elite-level golf
Like your sport a little slower paced? In Crans-Montana, golf comes to town every summer for the Omega European Masters, the Swiss stop on the men’s professional European golf tour. For golf fans it’s an opportunity to witness one of the sport’s most prestigious competitions take place on one of the most spectacular courses on the European Tour.
The tournament — won in 2021 by the Dane, Rasmus Højgaard — has been held at the Crans-Montana golf course, Golf-Club Crans-sur-Sierre, every year since 1939.
Incredible natural beauty
Crans-Montana might be home to some of the most exciting ski runs in the world, but the region also boasts stunning scenery and natural beauty.
There are numerous hiking trails that offer breathtaking views of the Swiss Alps. We particularly recommend the Bisse du Ro that leads to lake Tseuzier.
The trail is made up of narrow footbridges that plot a course around the mountains and valleys. The official bisse trail is around 5km and takes about two hours to complete, but if you continue along the valley for a further 7km you arrive at lake Tseuzier and the Tseuzier dam (also known as the Rawil dam).
Fondation Suisse des Trains Miniatures
Switzerland is renowned for their excellent rail network, but Crans-Montana is also home to the Fondation Suisse des Trains Miniatures, a large and eclectic collection of model trains that represents 150 years of Swiss railroad history.
The museum is open all year round, and is a great family activity on a rainy day (or if you’ve picked up an injury on the slopes!).
Crans-Montana Art Museum
Located in the centre of Crans-Montana village, the Musée Art et Collections specialises in sculpture and ‘Objets d'art’ exhibitions.
It’s a relatively small museum and you probably only need a couple of hours to view all of the exhibitions, but at just CHF 8.00 (Swiss francs) it’s well worth including on your visit.
Crans-Montana swimming pool
Probably more of an activity for the summer months, the Crans-Montana swimming pool and water slide in the center of the town offers a relaxing break from hiking and skiing.
Skiing
Of course, it goes without saying that skiing is one of the best things to do in Crans-Montana, and considering the region offers some of the best slopes in Switzerland we can’t not mention it in this list. In fact, the Crans-Montana skiing resort is frequently nominated as one of the best in the world.
There are ski runs suitable for all levels of ability.
For beginners the nursery slopes at the bases of Cry d’Er and Les Violettes are perfect for finding your ski legs.
Some of the best skiing in Crans-Montana is to be found at the intermediate level. The gentle winding downhills of the Aminona side of the resort are relatively quiet, which is ideal if you still don’t feel ready for tackling busier pistes. The more challenging blue and red routes between Petit Mont Bonvin and Barzettes are great for more accomplished skiers who aren’t quite ready for the area's toughest slope—Plaine Morte.
The Plaine Morte black run is the most advanced slope in Crans-Montana. It tackles the steep section directly below Plaine Morte — a glacier located 2,700m above sea level — and is the resort's highest accessible peak.
Property hotspots
We’ve taken a look at some of the best things to do in Crans-Montana if you’re considering a visit to the region, but where are the best places to invest in Crans-Montana real estate?
We offer property in Crans-Montana village itself, as well as nearby Verbier and Zermatt. Our alpine luxury chalets boast incredible views of the surrounding area, as well as close proximity to the Crans-Montana ski resorts.
What do we have on offer?
At Steiger&Cie Sotheby's International Realty we pride ourselves on our extensive expertise in Crans-Montana real estate. This includes property acquisition and sales via our boutique brokerage services, consulting in luxury property design and development, as well as our discreet and bespoke concierge services.
Take a look at the Crans-Montana real estate for sale here, including the stunning Chalet Changtse in Verbier, and start dreaming of owning property in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Interested? Reach out to our team
To find out more about the great range of activities Crans-Montana and the surrounding area has to offer, check out the website of the region’s tourist office. It offers a wide range of information on things to do, the best places to eat, and the ski resort.
Alternatively, if you’re interested in finding out more about Crans-Montana real estate and what we have on offer, reach out to our experts by phone or email. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have about purchasing property in this incredible location.