Crans-Montana, Canton Valais, Switzerland: Sun, Snow, Golf and the Balcony of the Alps
Tour Name: Sun, Snow, Golf and the Balcony of the Alps
Crans-Montana in a Nutshell: A sunny balcony at 1,500 m above the Rhône valley in Valais, with one of the widest views of the Alps from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc. Born as a healing resort for tuberculosis patients, it became the cradle of alpine ski racing, home of a 1906 golf course where Europe's best play every September, and host of the 2027 Ski World Championships. Come for 140 km of slopes, a glacier at 3,000 m, four little lakes, vertigo walks along old water channels and the Valais wine at your feet. Arrive by funicular from Sierre in 12 minutes. Big sky, big views, pure Tranquillity.
Tour Name: Crans-Montana: Sun, Snow, Golf and the Balcony of the Alps
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Crans-Montana, Canton Valais, Switzerland: Sun, Snow, Golf and the Balcony of the Alps
Short Description: A sunny high plateau above Sierre in Valais, famous for its endless view over the Alps, its glacier skiing, its legendary golf course and its elegant village life, reached by a funicular from the vineyards of the Rhône valley.
Tour Summary: Crans-Montana is two villages that grew into one resort on a natural terrace facing south. More than a century ago doctors sent patients here for the dry air and the sun, which shines on the plateau more than almost anywhere in Switzerland. Then the British came with skis and golf clubs, and in 1911 one of the first alpine downhill races in history was held here. Today you find ski runs from the village up to the Plaine Morte glacier, three golf courses, lakes for walking and swimming, luxury shops and cosy mountain huts. In winter it is a top ski resort; in summer a paradise for hikers, golfers and bikers. And everywhere the same view: the Alps from the Weisshorn and Matterhorn to Mont Blanc, with the vineyards of Valais deep below.
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Location: Crans-Montana, canton of Valais, Switzerland. A south-facing plateau at about 1,500 m, above the town of Sierre in the Rhône valley. About 2 h 30 by train from Zurich, 1 h 45 from Geneva and around 3 h from Milan.
Local Map of Points of Interest: The resort climbs in levels: vineyards in Sierre, villages and lakes at 1,500 m, viewpoints above 2,000 m and the glacier on top.
How to get there (from Zurich, Milan and abroad):
Every route ends in Sierre, the sunny wine town in the Rhône valley. From the station you take the red funicular (SMC) that climbs through vineyards and forest up to Montana in about 12 minutes. A free resort bus links Montana and Crans in a few minutes.
From | By train | By car |
Zurich | Zurich HB to Visp through the Lötschberg Base Tunnel via Bern, then regional train to Sierre, about 2 h 15, plus the funicular. Total about 2 h 30 | Via Bern and the Lötschberg car train (Kandersteg to Goppenstein), then Sierre and the mountain road. About 220 km, 3 h |
Milan | Milano Centrale to Brig on the EuroCity through the Simplon, about 2 h, then Brig to Sierre, about 30 min, plus the funicular. Total about 3 h | Via Domodossola and the Simplon Pass to Brig, then down the Rhône valley. About 230 km, 3 h |
Geneva | Direct train along Lake Geneva to Sierre, about 1 h 45 to 2 h, plus the funicular | Motorway A9 via Lausanne and Martigny. About 190 km, 2 h 15 |
Abroad | Fly to Geneva (closest big airport), Zurich or Milan Malpensa and continue by train. Sion airport is 25 km away for private flights | Car hire at the airports |
From Zurich you go through the Lötschberg, from Milan through the Simplon, from Geneva along the lake; all meet in Sierre.
Out Tip for the Traveller: Leave the car at home. The funicular is a beautiful ride, and parking in the resort is expensive. Many hotels give a free guest card with local transport and discounts. Times are approximate; check the timetable on SBB before you go.
Quick Travel Itinerary in Short Form:
Morning: train to Sierre, funicular up to Montana, coffee with a view of the whole Alpine chain.
Cable car to Cry d'Er (2,263 m) for the 360° panorama, continue to the Plaine Morte glacier at about 2,900 m.
Lunch in a mountain hut such as Chetzeron, a former cable car station turned design hotel.
Afternoon: the flat lake circuit linking Étang Grenon, Lac Moubra and Étang de l'Ours.
Stroll and shop in Crans, look at the golf course where Europe's best play.
Sunset aperitif with a glass of Petite Arvine or Cornalin, the wines of Valais.
Evening funicular down to Sierre, or better: stay the night.
Total Walking Distance at this location: About 6 to 8 km for the lakes circuit and the village. Add 5 to 15 km for mountain hikes.
Interests: Skiing, golf, hiking, mountain biking, panoramas, wine, wellness, shopping, sport events, music festivals.
Tour Type: Alpine resort stay with nature, sport and lifestyle.
Recommended Stay Duration: One day as an excursion, a weekend for the Tranquillity of the plateau, a full week for skiing or hiking.
Physical Effort: Easy in the villages and around the lakes. Moderate to demanding on mountain trails and the bisse walks.
Adventure Type: From relaxed (lakes, spa, golf) to sporty (glacier skiing, downhill biking, paragliding, vertigo bisse paths).
Language Spoken: French. German is spoken just down the valley, as Sierre sits on the language border. English is common in hotels and shops.
Risks: Altitude and strong sun: use sunscreen even in winter. Avalanche danger off-piste, so ski off-piste only with a guide. Exposed sections on some bisse paths, not for those with vertigo. Prices are high in peak season.
Best Time to Visit: December to April for skiing; late June to September for hiking, golf and lakes; early September for the Omega European Masters; February 2027 for the Ski World Championships.
Weather Considerations: One of the sunniest places in Switzerland, with dry air. Summer days 18 to 25 °C on the plateau, cool evenings. Winter often sunny and cold, with good snow from December. Weather on the glacier changes fast: bring layers and sunglasses.
History: For centuries the plateau above Sierre was simple farmland: meadows, larch forests and summer pastures for the cows of the villages below. The farmers built bisses, narrow wooden and stone water channels hung along the cliffs, to bring glacier water to their dry fields. Some are still in use today and are now spectacular walks.
The sun cure. At the end of the 19th century doctors discovered that the plateau had dry air and sun almost every day. That was the best medicine of the time against tuberculosis. Sanatoriums and clinics opened in Montana, and patients from all over Europe came for months to lie on sunny balconies wrapped in blankets.
The British arrive. Healthy visitors soon followed. British guests brought two new hobbies: golf and skiing. In 1906 the golf club of Crans-sur-Sierre was founded, and today its course, named after the Spanish champion Severiano Ballesteros, is called one of the most beautiful in the world. On 7 January 1911 the Roberts of Kandahar Challenge Cup ran from the Plaine Morte glacier down to Montana. It is considered the first downhill ski race in history. Crans-Montana is, in a way, the birthplace of alpine ski racing.
A great sport resort. The Swiss Open golf tournament, today the Omega European Masters, has been played here since 1939. In 1987 the Alpine Ski World Championships came to Crans-Montana, and the Swiss team won 14 medals, 8 of them gold. World Cup races followed, including Alberto Tomba's 50th and last victory in 1998. In 2017 the old communes of the plateau merged into one municipality, Crans-Montana. In February 2027 the World Championships return, completing a circle that started in 1911.
A difficult moment. In the night of 1 January 2026, a fire in the bar Le Constellation killed 41 people, many of them young, and injured more than a hundred. All Switzerland mourned with the village. Visitors today will meet a community that is healing, and a quiet moment of respect is always welcome.
How Crans-Montana Became So Well Known
It all started with two hunters. Louis Antille and Michel Zufferey knew every corner of the plateau, and they believed that strangers would pay to enjoy its sun and its view. In 1893 they opened the Hôtel du Parc, the first hotel of Montana. People laughed at them: a hotel up there, with only a mule path from Sierre?
The answer came from a doctor. In 1896 Dr Stephani from Geneva began to send his patients to Antille's hotel for the pure air and the sun. He even built the first proper road up the mountain. Soon clinics and sanatoriums followed, and Montana became a famous "sun cure" for tuberculosis patients from all over Europe.
Then came the British, and with them two new passions. Sir Henry Lunn, a travel pioneer, brought golf in 1906. His son Arnold Lunn brought skiing, and on 7 January 1911 he organised the Roberts of Kandahar Cup, a race from the Plaine Morte glacier down to Montana, celebrated as the first great downhill in ski history. The same year the 4.2 km funicular from Sierre opened, the longest in Switzerland at the time. A trip that took four hours by mule now took one hour by rail.
From there the snowball kept rolling. Elegant hotels, a famous golf tournament from 1939, the Ski World Championships of 1987 with 1,500 journalists from 35 countries, World Cup races and, in the 1960s and 70s, film stars, royals and the jet set of Europe who loved the sunny terraces of Crans. Today the resort is known everywhere for three things: sun, skiing and golf.
The Story of Golf in Crans-Montana
In 1905 the British owner of the Palace Hotel looked at the green pastures west of his hotel and saw a golf course. In 1906 two British designers, Freemantle and Gedge, laid out the first 9 holes, and by 1908 there were 18, called at the time "the highest golf course in the world". Before the First World War golf here was a game of British lords and ladies.
Then the war came, the British went home, and the course went back to the cows. It was the local hoteliers who saved it. In 1921 Élysée and Albert Bonvin built 9 holes for their guests, in 1924 the Golf Club Crans-sur-Sierre was founded, and in July 1929 a new 18-hole course opened, with the start and finish where they are today. A nice detail: the local children worked as caddies, started to hit balls themselves, and golf became a sport of the valley, not only of foreign guests.
In 1939 the Swiss Open was played here for the first time. In 1983 it became the European Masters, today the Omega European Masters, one of the longest running tournaments in Europe. The great names all came: Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Johnny Miller, Nick Faldo, Ernie Els, and a young Rory McIlroy who lost a playoff here at only 19 in 2008.
But one player became part of the course itself: Severiano Ballesteros. He won here in 1977, 1978 and 1989. In 1993, on the 18th hole, his drive hit a tree and stopped just behind a wall almost 2.5 m high. His caddie told him to chip out sideways. Seve saw a small gap between the wall and the trees, played over the wall, landed just short of the green, and then chipped in for birdie. He still lost by one shot, but his caddie called it "the best shot I've ever seen". A plaque on the 18th hole marks the spot.
In 1995 the club asked Ballesteros himself to redesign the course. The new layout opened in 1999, and in 2002 it was named the Severiano Ballesteros course. Next to it lies a 9-hole course designed by Jack Nicklaus in 1988, perfect for beginners and holiday players.
Year | Golf moment |
1906 | First 9 holes laid out by Freemantle and Gedge |
1908 | 18 holes, "the highest golf course in the world" |
1924 | Golf Club Crans-sur-Sierre founded |
1929 | New 18-hole course opens |
1939 | First Swiss Open in Crans |
1983 | The Open becomes the European Masters |
1988 | Jack Nicklaus 9-hole course opens |
1993 | Seve's miracle shot over the wall on the 18th |
1999 | Course reopens after the Ballesteros redesign |
2002 | Renamed the Severiano Ballesteros course |
More Sources:
Skiing in Crans-Montana
Skiing here is not just a sport, it is history. The first downhill race of all time started on the Plaine Morte glacier in 1911, and in February 2027 the best skiers in the world come back for the World Championships. In between, Crans-Montana grew into one of the sunniest ski resorts of the Alps, with long, wide runs and a view of the whole Valais chain on every turn.
Fact | Crans-Montana |
Altitude | 1,500 m (village) to about 2,930 m (Plaine Morte glacier) |
Vertical drop | About 1,400 m |
Pistes | 140 km: 55 km easy, 70 km intermediate, 15 km difficult |
Lifts | 24 |
Season | Late November to mid-April (2026/27: 28 November to 4 April) |
Lift hours | 08:30 to 16:30 |
Day pass, main season | About CHF 94 adult, CHF 73 youth, CHF 53 child |
Pass network | Part of the Epic Pass, with access to more than 90 resorts worldwide |
The three sectors. The ski area runs along the whole plateau, so you can start from almost any hotel door.
Crans and Cry d'Er. The heart of the resort, reached by gondola from Crans. Wide sunny slopes, the Chetzeron hut and the 360° view from Cry d'Er at 2,263 m. Ideal for intermediate skiers.
Montana and Plaine Morte. From Montana you reach the high sector and the gondola to the Plaine Morte glacier at almost 3,000 m. Up here you find the best snow of the resort and a glacier plateau that feels like the North Pole, with the Alps all around.
Aminona. The quieter eastern sector, with longer, calmer runs through the forest. Good on busy days and for families.
Suns with a story.
The Nationale. The World Cup downhill piste for the men, steep and fast, and the stage of the 2027 World Championships. Ski it slowly and imagine the racers at over 120 km/h.
Mont Lachaux. The women's World Cup piste since 2016, where Lindsey Vonn won the first race in 2008. Wide and perfect for strong intermediate skiers on a quiet day.
The Plaine Morte descent. The longest run of the resort, from the glacier down to the village, about 1,400 m of vertical drop in one go, following the route of the 1911 Kandahar race. Your legs will remember it.
La Toula. The black run for experts, short but steep.
For families and beginners. With almost 40% easy runs, the resort is gentle with beginners. Ski schools in Crans and Montana offer lessons for children from about 3 years and for adults, in French, German, English and more. Sunny nursery slopes near the villages make the first days easy.
Special experiences.
First Tracks. Go up with an instructor before the lifts open and ski fresh corduroy at sunrise.
Ski by Night. Evening skiing with an instructor on selected dates.
Off-piste. Great powder around Plaine Morte and Cry d'Er, but only with a certified mountain guide.
Watch the World Cup. Races take place most winters, usually in late January or February. In 2026 the Audi FIS World Cup ran from 30 January to 1 February.
Lunch on the slopes. Chetzeron, Cry d'Er and the restaurant Signal 2.0 serve great food with even better views.
Tips for the skiing Traveller:
Go early, ski the sun. The slopes face south, so the snow is best in the morning. After lunch, move higher towards Plaine Morte.
Protect yourself. The sun at 3,000 m is very strong. Sunscreen and goggles even on grey days.
Buy online. Lift passes are usually cheaper when bought online in advance.
Avoid the peaks. The Christmas holidays and February school holidays are busy. January and March offer the best mix of snow, sun and space.
2027 World Championships. Some slopes will be reserved for the races in February 2027. Check the lift company's website before you plan your days.
Sources: Skiresort.info: Crans-Montana, Vail Resorts: Crans-Montana 2025-26, Crans-Montana 2027: history timeline.
Why visiting
The view. From the plateau you see a chain of peaks of more than 200 km, from the Weisshorn and Matterhorn to Mont Blanc. Breakfast never looked so good.
Sun, really. One of the sunniest places in Switzerland, with crisp dry air in every season.
Two seasons in one. World-class skiing in winter; golf, lakes, hiking and biking in summer.
History you can ski. Ride down where the first downhill race was held in 1911, and where the World Championships come in 2027.
Valais below your feet. Vineyards, wine cellars and the old town of Sierre are just 12 minutes down by funicular.
For every Traveller. Luxury hotels and Michelin cuisine for some, simple mountain huts and picnic spots for others.
Main Objectives and Extended Explanations
1. Plaine Morte Glacier. A large flat glacier at almost 3,000 m, reached by a fast gondola. In winter it is the top of the ski area; in summer you can walk at its edge and admire a view that reaches across the Alps. A great lesson on climate too: the glacier is shrinking fast, and its meltwater lake has become famous.
2. Cry d'Er. A cable car viewpoint at 2,263 m with a 360° panorama. In winter the meeting point of skiers, in summer the start of many hikes.
3. Chetzeron. A former cable car station at 2,112 m turned into a design hotel and restaurant. Perfect for lunch on the terrace, by ski, by bike or on foot.
4. The plateau lakes. Étang Grenon, Lac Moubra, Étang de l'Ours and Lac Grenon form a flat circuit of about 2 hours. Lac Moubra has a beach and is good for a summer swim, paddleboard or a family picnic.
5. Golf Club Crans-sur-Sierre. The 18-hole Severiano Ballesteros course, built in 1906, home of the Omega European Masters, with a 9-hole course designed by Jack Nicklaus. Even non-golfers enjoy a walk along it and a drink on the terrace.
6. The bisses. Old irrigation channels turned into walking paths. The Bisse du Roh is the most spectacular, with wooden walkways fixed to a cliff above the void. Others, like the Bisse du Tsittoret, are easy and shaded, ideal for families.
7. Crans and Montana villages. Crans is elegant, with luxury boutiques, galleries and cafes; Montana is more relaxed and family oriented. The free bus links them, or you walk along the lakes.
8. Ycoor. The modern sport and wellness complex next to the lake, with an ice rink in winter, pools and fitness. A good plan for a rainy day.
Special Events over the Year
When | Event | What to expect |
December to April | Ski season | 140 km of runs from 1,500 m to the Plaine Morte glacier, festive Christmas and New Year in the villages |
February to March | FIS Ski World Cup | Women's and men's speed races on the Mont Lachaux and Nationale pistes |
February 2027 | FIS Alpine World Ski Championships | Two weeks of world-class racing, the biggest event in the resort's history |
Spring | Caprices Festival | Music festival with concerts in the village and on the mountain |
Summer | Crans-Montana Classics | Classical music concerts with international soloists |
June to October | Golf season | Three courses open, weather permitting |
3 to 6 September 2026 | Omega European Masters | Europe's top golfers on the Ballesteros course, with the Alps as backdrop |
September to October | Wine harvest in Valais | Grape picking and harvest festivals in Sierre and the villages below |
The Omega European Masters, up close. Every early September the plateau turns into a golf stadium. The course sits at about 1,500 m, so the ball flies farther in the thin air, and players love it. Walk along the fairways with the spectators, pick a spot near the 18th green, and enjoy what many call the most beautiful view in professional golf.
The World Championships 2027, up close. More than a century after the first downhill race of 1911, the best skiers in the world come back to where it all began. Book your room very early, and remember the funicular from Sierre to avoid the traffic.
Accommodation in Crans-Montana
Crans-Montana has a bed for every Traveller, from five-star palaces with Michelin cuisine to a youth hostel in an old sun-cure clinic. The rule of thumb is simple: Crans is the elegant side, with boutiques, golf and the most luxurious hotels; Montana is more relaxed and family friendly, and closer to the funicular. A free bus links the two, so you can't go far wrong.
Luxury: for a treat
Hotel | Area | Why we like it |
Six Senses Crans-Montana | Crans | Ski-in ski-out at the foot of the slopes, a large spa with indoor and outdoor pools, close to the Omega European Masters |
LeCrans Hotel & Spa | Above Crans | Only 15 rooms and 3 suites, Michelin-starred restaurant, pools and spa with views over the Valais peaks |
Guarda Golf Hotel & Residences | Crans, on the golf course | Next to the Jack Nicklaus course, Japanese restaurant and a famous Sunday buffet |
Crans Ambassador | Crans | Modern rooms with big south-facing windows and a panoramic view |
Le Royal | Crans centre | Classic five-star, steps from the shops and cafés |
Hostellerie du Pas de l'Ours | Crans | Intimate chalet with 15 rooms, gourmet and bistro restaurants |
Hotel Chetzeron | 2,112 m on the slopes | A former lift station turned design hotel with 16 rooms. Ski-in ski-out and a view that stops your breath |
Mid-range: comfort and good value
Hotel | Area | Why we like it |
Hotel Art de Vivre | Crans | Family-run with 24 rooms, spa, pool and outdoor jacuzzi |
Hotel l'Etrier | Crans | Large rooms, indoor and outdoor pools, a children's nursery and a Swiss cheese restaurant |
Hotel Elite | Crans | Refurbished, south views, cosy lobby bar with fireplace |
Hotel Olympic | Montana centre | Friendly family hotel, spacious rooms, easy access to the slopes |
Hotel La Prairie | Near Lac Moubra | 33 rooms with family options and a lively bar, close to the lake beach |
Budget and groups: smart choices
Place | Type | Why we like it |
Bellalui Youth Hostel | Hostel | Inside a converted 1930 clinic, a living memory of the sun-cure era. Shared, family and double rooms |
Hotel du Lac and Lago Lodge | Small hotel and lodge | By Lac Grenon, house beer and coffee, Lago Lodge good for big groups, a few minutes from the gondola |
Sport Palace | Residence | Studios and small flats with kitchenette and a large swimming pool |
Apartments and chalets. Many visitors rent a flat or chalet, ideal for families and longer stays. Residences like Helvetia Intergolf offer studios to 3-bedroom apartments with a restaurant and pool, and local agencies rent chalets with extras such as ski passes, meal delivery and airport transfers.
Tips for booking:
Book early for the big weeks: Christmas and New Year, February holidays, the Omega European Masters in September and, above all, the Ski World Championships in February 2027.
Shoulder season is the sweet spot. Late June and September bring lower prices, fewer people and stable weather.
Ask for the guest card. Most hotels and flats include it, with free local buses and discounts on lifts and activities.
Stay in the valley to save. Hotels in Sierre or Sion cost less, and the funicular brings you up in 12 minutes.
Watch the off-season. Many hotels close between seasons, usually in May and November.
Prices change a lot by season.
Check current rates directly with the hotels or on Crans-Montana Tourism.
Source for the hotel list: InTheSnow: Where to stay in Crans-Montana.
List of important Local Tours
The Lakes Circuit. A flat 2-hour walk around the plateau lakes, perfect for families and an easy first day.
Bisse du Roh. A breathtaking path on wooden walkways along a cliff, about 2 to 3 hours. Not for those with vertigo.
Bisse du Tsittoret. An easy, shaded walk along a still flowing water channel, through larch forest.
Cry d'Er to Chetzeron. Cable car up, lunch at Chetzeron, and an easy hike down to the village.
Plaine Morte Glacier walk. Gondola to almost 3,000 m and a walk along the glacier edge; the bold continue down towards the Tseuzier lake.
Golf and Lunch. A round on the Nicklaus 9-hole course, followed by lunch on the club terrace.
Mountain biking. Downhill and cross-country trails from Cry d'Er and around the plateau, with bike transport on the lifts in summer.
List of important Tours in the area
Sierre and the Wine Trail. The funicular takes you down to Sierre. Walk the vineyard path to Salgesch, with the Valais wine museum at both ends and tastings on the way.
Lens and the Christ-Roi. A large statue above the valley and the Fondation Pierre Arnaud art museum in the neighbouring village of Lens.
Sion. The capital of Valais with its two castles, Valère and Tourbillon, on two hills above the old town. About 15 minutes by train from Sierre.
Pfyn-Finges Nature Park. A wild pine forest and river landscape on the language border, great for walks and birdwatching.
Val d'Anniviers. Traditional villages like Grimentz, Zinal and Saint-Luc, with dark wooden chalets and views to five 4,000 m peaks.
Leukerbad. The largest alpine thermal resort in Europe, about 45 minutes away. Perfect after a ski day.
Zermatt and the Matterhorn. About 1 h 30 by train via Visp, for a day with the most famous mountain of Switzerland.
Extra Tips for Your Visit
Ask for the guest card. Many hotels and holiday flats give it for free, with local buses and discounts on lifts and activities.
Use the funicular. Faster and nicer than the mountain road, and you avoid expensive parking.
Sun protection always. At 1,500 m and above, the sun is strong even in January. Sunscreen and sunglasses are a must.
Taste Valais. Raclette, dried meat (viande séchée), rye bread, apricots in summer, and local wines like Petite Arvine, Heida, Cornalin and Humagne Rouge.
Shoulder season is cheaper. Late June and September have fewer people, lower prices and stable weather.
Book ahead for big events. Rooms for the European Masters and the World Championships 2027 sell out early. Sierre and Sion are good alternatives.
Swiss francs. You are in Switzerland: prices in CHF, cards accepted almost everywhere.
Photography. Go up early: the morning light over the Alpine chain is best before the clouds build up in the afternoon.
Closing Statement
Crans-Montana is a place where the sun was the first doctor, where skiing learned to race and where golf meets the glaciers. You come up from the vineyards of Valais in a little red funicular, and the whole Alpine chain opens in front of you like a stage. Ski, walk, play, taste or simply sit on a terrace and watch the light move over the peaks. Whatever you choose, you leave with a fuller heart and a bit more sun on your face. Bon voyage, dear Traveller, and see you on the next 4BTravelGuide journey.
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