Crans-Montana travel guide

Why visit Crans-Montana

Switzerland has many mountain resorts, but Crans-Montana occupies a particular niche: a large, sunny plateau at 1,500 metres above the Rhône valley, facing due south and receiving more sunshine hours than almost anywhere else in Switzerland. The twin resort — Crans and Montana are adjacent villages that have grown into each other over the decades — sits on this shelf of land with the Alps stretching behind, the Rhône valley below, and on clear days a view that extends southward across Italy and northward to the Bernese Alps.

In winter, Crans-Montana offers 140 kilometres of marked ski runs across one of the most varied ski areas in the Valais, including the high terrain accessible from the Plaine Morte glacier at 3,000 metres. In summer, the area transitions into one of Europe’s most celebrated golf destinations — the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, host to the European Masters tournament since 1939, occupies an extraordinary position at 1,500 metres with an alpine panorama that no lowland golf course can match.

The resort also has a history of luxury tourism stretching back to the late nineteenth century, when European aristocracy discovered its sunshine and its views. That heritage shows in the architecture of the older hotels, the quality of the restaurants, and an atmosphere that is simultaneously sporty and somewhat glamorous — more French than German, more resort than village, and proud of both.

Getting to Crans-Montana

By funicular and train

The most convenient approach is from Sierre (or Siders in German) on the Bern–Geneva main line in the Rhône valley. The CMA funicular (Funiculaire Sierre-Montana-Crans) departs from a station adjacent to Sierre train station and climbs to Montana in around 12 minutes, with a second station at Crans a few minutes further. From Zurich, allow around 2 hours 30 minutes (train to Sierre, then funicular). From Geneva, approximately 1 hour 45 minutes. The Swiss Travel Pass covers the train to Sierre; the funicular receives a discount for pass holders.

By road

The resort is accessible by road from Sierre via a series of switchbacks that climb the south-facing slope in around 20 minutes. Parking is available throughout the resort. A golf luggage and ski transport service connects the resort to Sierre for those with heavy equipment.

Top things to do in Crans-Montana

Ski the Crans-Montana area

The ski area covers 140 kilometres of marked runs and extends from the village at 1,500 metres to the Plaine Morte glacier at 3,000 metres. The Plaine Morte gondola (the fastest gondola in the Alps when it opened) provides rapid access to the upper mountain, where wide, high-altitude runs offer good snow conditions into spring.

The ski area is particularly well-suited to intermediate skiers — the majority of the runs are blue and red, with long cruising routes descending through varied terrain. The La Toula black run and the World Cup downhill course (the Piste Nationale, venue for the Omega European Masters ski event) challenge advanced skiers. Beginners have a dedicated zone near the village with gentle slopes and easy lifts.

The panorama from the Plaine Morte — the Monte Rosa, Matterhorn, Grand Combin, and Mont Blanc to the south; the Bernese Alps to the north — is one of the finest high-altitude views in the Valais.

Play golf at altitude

Crans-Montana has three golf courses on the plateau, of which the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club is the centrepiece. Founded in 1906, it has hosted the European Tour’s Omega European Masters consistently for decades and is considered one of the most beautiful golf courses in Europe. The fairways cross open plateau land at 1,500 metres with mountain views on all sides and the Valais Alps as a constant backdrop.

The courses are open from May to late October, subject to snow clearance. Visitors can play the championship course by advance reservation; handicap documentation is required. The Club House restaurant is a pleasant lunch stop with terrace views regardless of whether you are playing. The resort also operates a golf academy for beginners and those wanting to improve.

Hike to the Plaine Morte glacier

The Plaine Morte glacier sits at 2,927 metres on the plateau above the resort and is accessible in summer by gondola or on foot. The glacier walk — from the cable car station across the edge of the ice plateau — requires no technical equipment but does cross snow year-round, so boots and layers are essential. The views from the glacier edge southward across the Valais to Monte Rosa and the Italian Alps are extraordinary.

A longer walking option descends from the glacier via the Tseuzier reservoir lake and the high trails above Ayent — a full-day excursion covering significant terrain and elevation change.

Walk around the plateau lakes

Four lakes sit on the Crans-Montana plateau — the Étang de l’Ours, the Étang Grenon, the Lac Moubra, and the Lac Grenon — and a well-maintained path connects them in a pleasant circuit of around 2 hours. The walk is almost entirely flat, easily accessible to all ages, and offers close-up views of the mountains in every direction. The lakeside restaurants are good for a lunch break. In early summer, the meadows between the lakes are full of wildflowers; in autumn, the larch forests above the village turn gold.

Take the gondola to Cry d’Er

The Cry d’Er cable car from the village rises to a viewpoint at 2,263 metres, where a 360-degree panorama reveals the Rhône valley far below, the Bernese Alps to the north, and the high Valais peaks to the south. A restaurant and sun terrace at the top is popular for long lunches on clear days. From Cry d’Er, trails extend toward the Bella Lui and the Chetzeron mountain hut — the latter, a converted old funicular station at 2,112 metres, is one of the more unusual mountain restaurants in Switzerland.

Explore the Ycoor wellness area

Crans-Montana has developed a wellness offer in recent years centred on the Ycoor thermal baths and the wellness facilities at several major hotels. The Ycoor complex offers indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, and treatment rooms in a purpose-built facility at the edge of the village. It is less dramatic than Leukerbad — there are no natural hot springs here — but it is a good option for a rest day between skiing or hiking.

Where to stay in Crans-Montana

Crans-Montana has a wide range of accommodation from apartments and chalets to five-star hotels. The LeCrans Hotel and Spa (five stars, with panoramic mountain views) is the flagship address. The Hotel de la Forêt and Hotel Aida Castel are well-regarded four-star options. The resort has a large supply of holiday apartments, which are widely used by families and groups.

Prices in Crans-Montana are high in peak ski season (Christmas and February) and substantially lower in summer. Golf season (June to September) is increasingly popular and can fill the better hotels on competition weeks.

Where to eat and drink

The resort has a good concentration of restaurants across all price points. Chez Annette in Montana is a reliable address for traditional Valais cooking — fondue, raclette, air-dried beef from the valley. Le Vieux Bisse in Crans serves French-Swiss cuisine in a more formal setting. Roadhouse Restaurant Montana is a popular choice for burgers and casual meals. The Chetzeron mountain hut at 2,112 metres is one of the most atmospheric lunch stops in the resort.

The after-ski bar scene is centred around the Amadeus and the Balmain Bar. The atmosphere is more restrained than at Verbier — Crans-Montana has a more family-and-golf-focused clientele.

Practical tips for visiting Crans-Montana

The resort’s French-language character means that restaurant and hotel staff generally speak good English but conduct daily life in French. This is a different atmosphere from the German-speaking Valais resorts and feels notably closer to French resort culture.

The plateau location — at 1,500 metres, not in a valley — gives Crans-Montana its famous sunshine and also its mild climate relative to high-altitude resorts. Snow cover at village level can be inconsistent in warm winters; the upper ski area around the Plaine Morte generally holds snow better. Check conditions before committing to a mid-season ski trip.

The Swiss Travel Pass covers the train to Sierre and provides partial discounts on the funicular. For a broader Valais itinerary, the Rhône valley connections from Sierre make it easy to connect Crans-Montana with Leukerbad (one stop west at Leuk), Verbier (via Martigny), and Zermatt (via Visp). The Glacier Express passes through the Rhône valley and can be joined at Sierre for the journey across to Graubünden. You can book Glacier Express tickets in advance to secure a seat on this popular route.

For families considering multiple Swiss destinations, a combination of Crans-Montana (sunny plateau, golf, moderate skiing) with Grindelwald (dramatic Eiger scenery, adventure) and Lucerne (city culture, lake) covers three distinct facets of Switzerland efficiently.