A charming and rather quiet village, located in a narrow valley, with minimal car traffic. You can take the opportunity to explore the endless slopes of the famous Silvretta Arena ski area, which unites the resorts of Samnaun and Ischgl.

In addition to the amazing nature, Samnaun is the only resort in Switzerland with a duty-free zone. In addition, it is believed that it is in Samnaun that perhaps one of the highest mountain shopping streets in Europe is located. This resort is more relaxed than its “Austrian” neighbor, which attracts families. However, lovers of parties, concerts and nightlife will also be able to find something for themselves here.

Samnaun is located at the very bottom of the Engadin Valley in Switzerland. The ski area is connected to the world-famous resort of Ischgl (Austria). In addition, Samnaun is the only duty-free zone in Switzerland. The resort is worth visiting both in winter and summer. In summer, mountain and bicycle tours are offered to your attention. Also, the valley has a unique diversity of more than 900 species of plants and animals such as marmots, roe deer, mountain goats, and eagles.

The resort became duty-free due to the fact that the valley could only be reached through Austria, since previously there were no access roads to the Engadin at all. This is why the people of Samnaun speak the Tyrolean dialect.

Getting there

From Zurich or Munich airports, it takes 3 hours to get to Samnaun by car. The nearest train stations are Skuol-Tarasp (public bus runs every hour) and Landeck (Austria).

Pistes, slopes and lifts

Ski resort Samnaun together with Ischgl are called Silvretta Arena, which includes 238 km of slopes. The highest point is Mount Palinkopf (2864 m), from where there is a long descent to Samnaun, and in the opposite direction, to Austria, there are “red” slopes to Hampenalp.

The height of the resort is from 1400 to 2875 m above sea level. The most red slopes here are 148 km. Beginner skiers have 48 km of blue slopes at their disposal, and extreme skiers can rush along 27 km of black slopes. In addition, the resort has 14 km of freeride areas.

Slope map of the Silvretta Arena ski area

Technical specifications

Altitude of the resort: 1400 m

Skiing area: 1400-2864 m

Trails:

– Total number of trails – 60

– Total length of trails – 80 km

– Blue – 20%

– Red – 62%

– Black – 11%

– Freeride – 7 km

– Cross-country skiing – 15 km

Number of lifts: 45 in total

17 tow lifts

20 chairlifts

5 gondola lifts

1 children’s lift

2 cable cars

The resort has 238 km of slopes (total ski area). It has 45 lifts, mainly chairlifts and gondola lifts. There is the Twinliner lift, which is the world’s first two-story cabin lift with a capacity of up to 180 people. The large area of the ski area offers many types of slopes: blue, red, black, as well as freeride slopes.

TWINLINER lift.

The resort has a large snow park in Idalpi for freestylers and snowboarders. There are also 3 skiing areas for beginners and professionals.

The Riz Val Grónda gondola lift, opened in 2013, takes tourists directly to the off-piste skiing area.

The Pardatschgratbahn lift opened in 2014. And the cable car takes skiers from Ischgl to Pardatschgrat in just 9 minutes.

Pardatschgratbahn

Guests of Samnaun can purchase a VIP ski pass at a reduced price. Ski passes are free for children under 7 years old. There are discounts for children from 8 to 16 years old and for seniors over 60 years old. In November and December, as well as in April, there are special offers at reduced prices for ski passes.

Ski schools

For beginners, there is Musella-hill with a beautiful ski kindergarten “Winter Dream Flower”. Children learn to ski or snowboard, close to the village. The fairy-tale path is open all year round.

Instructors always consciously approach the skills of each student and help to improve them on an individual level. Groups are recruited small under family mentorship. The goal of training, both children and adults, is a sense of success. Therefore, they will enjoy skiing, both on skis and on snowboards.

The season starts on November 26 and lasts until May 1. The weather is usually stable.

Where to stay

Zamnaun has around 2,600 hotel beds, half of which are located in 30 hotels and guesthouses, and the other half in 100 apartments.

All 3* and 4* hotels have a family atmosphere. The Chalet Montana is our recommended wellness hotel. Another highlight of the resort is the Ноmann Ноtel in Ravaiš with an outstanding restaurant serving fine cuisine. The Sроrt– und Wеllnеsshоtel Роst is a family-run 4* hotel with outstanding hospitality.

The Hasa Montana Hotel

Hotel Post Sport- und Wellness 4-star hotel

Located in the heart of Samnaun, just a few steps from the lifts and slopes, the Post Sport & Wellness Hotel offers rooms with a balcony and flat-screen TV, 2 restaurants, a wellness area and a sun terrace. Free WiFi is available in public areas.

All rooms at the Post Hotel feature a minibar, a laptop safe, and a bathroom with a hairdryer.

A rich breakfast is served daily, and dinner can be enjoyed in either the Pöstli restaurant or the Stammerspitze restaurant, which serves traditional Swiss and international cuisine. A wide range of drinks is available in the hotel’s 2 bars.

The Stella Aqua Spa features a sauna, steam bath, hot tub and fitness centre. Various massages and beauty treatments are also available.

Shops are within walking distance of the hotel. Guests staying at the hotel can enjoy discounts at all Hangl shops.

Scenic hiking and mountain bike trails start right outside the hotel. Garage parking is available on request and at an additional cost. Limited free private parking is available on site (first come, first served).

Hotel Haus Homann 3-star hotel

Haus Homann enjoys a quiet location, 300 metres from the Samnaun-Ischgl Cable Car. It features a fine à la carte restaurant and a sauna. Free WiFi is available throughout the hotel.

The country-style restaurant has been awarded 2 Michelin stars and 18 Gault Millau points. A rich breakfast buffet is served daily.

All rooms offer scenic mountain views and a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. The private bathroom includes bathrobes and a hairdryer. Some rooms have a south-facing balcony.

Guests can also relax on the sun terrace, and children can play on the outdoor playground. There are many outdoor activities in the area, including skiing, sledding and hiking in winter, and hiking, mountain biking and climbing in summer.

The local bus stop is 100 metres from Haus Homann. Free private parking is available, subject to availability.

Boutique-Hotel Laret 3-star hotel

The family-run boutique hotel Laret enjoys a quiet location on a south-facing slope in the village of Laret in the Swiss Samnaun Valley. Guests can enjoy fine cuisine and take advantage of the ski bus.

Boutique Hotel Laret is located in a beautiful Alpine village, close to the ski slopes. The hotel’s ski bus provides easy access to the Samnaun-Rafaisch cable car with its double-decker cabins, which leads to the Silvretta Arena ski area.

All rooms at Hotel Laret are decorated in a traditional Alpine style. They feature a TV and a private bathroom with hairdryer.

The cosy restaurant serves fine cuisine, including various game specialities, fondue and raclette.

Free parking is available on site. The Samnaun-Compatsch bus stop to Scuol is just 500 metres away.

Chasa Castello relax & spa 4-star hotel

The Chasa Castello relax & spa is quietly located in the centre of Samnaun-Dorf. It offers an indoor pool and a spa area. Most rooms offer wonderful views of the surrounding mountains. The ski slopes are a 3-minute walk away. The ski bus stops 50 metres away. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.

The newly renovated rooms feature Swiss pine wood furniture, a balcony with mountain views, a large flat-screen TV with hundreds of satellite channels, a minibar, and a bathroom with free toiletries and a bathrobe. A selection of teas are provided free of charge in each room.

Chasa Castello features an indoor pool with counter-current and a modern infrared room with a new design. The saunas and relaxation area with water beds offer panoramic views. The pool and spa area are free of charge.

Samnaun is a duty-free area, offering discounts at petrol stations and some shops. Free parking is available on site.

From mid-June to mid-October, guests can use the cable cars and public buses for free, visit the public swimming pools in the Samnaun Valley for free, and participate in various activities for free.

Entertainment and active leisure

Compared to Ischgl, the resort is quieter and more family-friendly. Although fans of parties, concerts and nightlife will find something for themselves.

Sporty young people will be delighted with the ski area. There are also several bars and après-ski huts in the ski area itself, as well as in the village. The Silvretta Arena is a venue for concerts and events, especially in spring.

The night show takes place every Monday from January to March, the atmosphere of the show is truly impressive, especially when the ski instructors show their skills.

On November 28th, the “SlauWau” – the championship of Santa Claus, who come from all over the world. Candidates have to demonstrate their skills. In the evening, the final part with an open-air concert takes place in Samnaun. The Easter concert takes place in Idalp on March 28th. Later, on April 24th, the Spring Snow Festival on the Alpe Trida with a concert is held, as well as the 2nd European Synchronized Skiing Championship. The winter season ends in Idalp, with a concert on the mountaintop on April 30th.

Santa Claus Championship “СlauWau”

Usually, guests of the resort are residents of Switzerland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, the Netherlands or France.

The resort has a variety of bars, including the most famous Аlmrausch in Samnaun-Laret, Schmugglerаlm in the village.

Samnaun is the only duty-free zone in Switzerland at an altitude of 1,800 m. There are more than 50 shops where you can buy branded items such as perfumes, watches, jewelry and alcohol at attractive prices. It can be great when you have a great selection of top brands at your fingertips in a small area.

Top brands at the best prices in Samnaun

The territory of the Samnaun resort is a duty-free zone with a large number of shops (with prices 15-30% lower than in other resorts), with fewer tourists. Restaurants, bars, cafes, discos, cinemas – here you will find everything that will allow you to ski in Switzerland, dine in Austria and spend your free time from skiing wonderfully. In addition to the standard “apreski” in Samnaun, the Alpenkell spa center deserves attention – the highest mountain spa center in Switzerland. There are no tennis courts at the resort. But cheese lovers will be able to go on excursions to the local cheese factory. Here you can swim in the pool, relax in the jacuzzi, sunbathe in the solarium, and steam in the sauna.