Spotlight on Engelberg
Karen A, July 2024
90 minutes from a major airport, ski lifts that go up to 3,028 metres, a ski season that runs from October to May, hotels that offer flexible stay durations all winter, and a beautiful historic village? It might sound too good to be true, but you can find all of these things in Engelberg, Switzerland: new to Ski Independence for season 2024/25.
Read on for a short introduction to this impressive ski resort...
The Ski Area
The ski area is characterised by long, and fairly steep descents. Strong intermediate and expert skiers are particularly well catered for, while beginners can enjoy a dedicated area at Gerschnialp where there are gentle trails and a restaurant a short walk from the top of the funicular. On the other side of the valley the south facing slopes of Brunni are quiet and offer opportunities for family skiing and tobogganing too.
Overall there are about 82km of marked pistes and there’s a lot of off-piste to explore as well (with a guide). Any level of skier will find plenty of interest for a few days and the high altitude and long season make it a great option any time of the winter. There’s also considerable appeal for those just looking for a winter getaway, or seeking cross country and winter hiking trails.
The Town
The town won’t suit those looking for a 24 hour party. The pace of life is more gentle but like any ski resort you’ll find a couple of lively bars. There’s a great choice of restaurants with a surprisingly eclectic mix of cuisine on offer. Like almost everywhere in Switzerland you’ll find a strong emphasis on fresh ingredients with local provenance.
Seek out Geschnetzeltes (strips of veal in a creamy white wine sauce) and AlplerMagrönen (kind of macaroni cheese with roasted onions and potatoes) for authentic central Swiss fare.
Aerial view of the Kempinski Engelberg
Where to Stay?
We’re excited to be showcasing two wonderful hotels in the village. The Hotel Bellevue Terminus is a stylish 4-star in a perfect central location and the Kempinski Palace Engelberg offers true 5-star luxury with an incredible rooftop pool. Both hotels blend their historic architecture with modern comfort and style.
How to Get There
Flights to Zurich are available multiple times per week from London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol and Edinburgh, so it’s easy to get to wherever you are in the UK. Zurich Airport has its own in-terminal train station with departures to the main station in Zurich every 10 minutes.
From Zurich there are hourly trains to the pretty lakeside city of Luzern. Change there for the panoramic service to Engelberg which winds scenically past the lake and the towering Mt Pilatus in about 50 mins. Engelberg sits at the top of the valley meaning there’s no through traffic, so it’s peaceful and surrounded by mountains.
- Total journey time by rail: 2 hours and 5 mins
- Total by car: around 1 ½ hours
A Quick History Lesson
Engelberg has been home to a Benedictine Monastery since the middle ages with first recorded references to the town in 1122. You can visit the Engelberg Abbey (immortalised by Wordsworth) on certain days of the week, and there’s also a cheese shop there. In the Victorian age Engelberg became a fashionable hub for those in search of fresh Swiss mountain air, therapeutic glacial water and hiking, and our featured hotels were built in that Belle Époque.
Skiing became popular in the late 1960s and the high altitude slopes of Mt Titlis can be ascended by a gondola and a cable car. The cable car (called Titlis Rotair) rotates 360 degrees on its way to 3,028 metres above sea level which means skiers can enjoy around 2,000 vertical metres of descent down to the village! After all that skiing you’ll need a good lunch and happily there’s a great selection of mountain restaurants to choose from: the rösti at the Titlis Panorama Restaurant comes personally recommended and offers spectacular views!
You’ll also find that prices in Engelberg are very favourable and the destination offers excellent value for money. Definitely a fantastic new addition to check out!
Find out more about ski holidays to Engelberg by speaking to us on 0131 243 8097 on Enquire Online