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Family holidays in Verbier
Discover insights about Verbier family holidays
Whether you come to Verbier in the winter or summer, you and the kids are sure to leave with a big smile on your face. From world-class skiing to rafting, biking, hiking and climbing, there are loads of things to do as a family here.
Why Verbier is good for families
- Verbier is only a couple of hour’s drive from Geneva airport - which means fewer shouts of “are we there yet?”
- The resort is compact and easy to get around with the free bus service
- There’s lots of childcare available
- The summer climate is great for kids - warm but not scorching in the day and cool at night
- From nursery slopes to some of the best off-piste in the world, Verbier has terrain to suit skiers of all abilities
Accommodation for families
If you’re coming for a ski holiday with a young family, look for accommodation near any of the lifts. The fewer steps your little people have to take in ski boots, the better (for all concerned!).
Verbier is popular with families:
- the area by Esserts and Rouge ski lifts is a good place to stay to be close to the nursery slopes
- for ski-in/ski-out accommodation look at both Les Creux and Savoleyres
- staying in La Tzoumaz and Nendaz for direct access to children specific ski zones
Lift passes for families
Lift passes make up a significant portion of the cost of a family holiday to the mountains, so it pays to check you’re buying the right ticket for your group.
Here in Verbier there are various concessions to help you keep your costs down, such as:
- kids under 8 use the lifts for free
- kids between 8 and 14 pay a reduced ('youth') rate
- there are reduced-price ski passes if you only want to use the beginner areas
- you can buy a pedestrian pass - if maybe you or your partner don’t ski, but you still want to go up and watch the kids
You can buy half day lift tickets if a full day on the mountain seems too long for the kids. It’s not a lot cheaper than an all day ticket, but it’ll save you a little bit.
Lift passes in Verbier for families of four or more
If you're a family you'll be able to save money on the regular ticket price by buying a 'family lift pass'.
Ski schools for families
If you have designs on raising the next Shaun White or Chemmy Alcot, then getting your children into ski school will be a priority!
The main ski schools all cater for young children:
- full and half-day sessions
- English speaking guides
- take your kids to a dedicated area where they can learn how to snow plough, stop, turn and glide safely
Ski schools usually take weekly bookings, so if you’re only here for a few days it’s good to check if there’s any space for your children.
What age can children start ski lessons
One school in Verbier will take children from 2.5 years, although for the majority it's 4 years and over. At this age, the focus is on having fun in the snow, so there are normally inflatables and games to play.
Most beginner areas also have a ‘magic carpet’ travelator (a bit like the ones you get at airports) to get kids and beginner adults to the top of the slopes without having to contend with lifts.
Whether you’re a kid or an adult, half-day lessons are normally more than enough if you’re a novice.
What’s included in the price of a lesson
The price you pay for a ski lesson is for tuition only. Ski passes are not included.
So for those aged 5 and over, you’ll need to make sure they have:
- a valid ski pass (you can get discounted passes if you're only using the nursery slopes)
- skis, helmets, goggles - you can hire these from one of the many ski hire shops in the resort
- appropriate clothing, like salopettes and a jacket, warm layers and gloves
- sunscreen
A ski pass isn’t necessary for kids under eight, but you'll still need to buy a hands-free card for them to use on the turnstiles. You can get one of these from any lift station, take ID to prove their age.
Ski areas for families
A decent mix of terrain should keep all the family happy.
Verbier: try Les Esserts and Le Rouge to start with and build yourself up to the beginner area up the mountain at La Chaux.
Le Tzoumaz and Nendaz: nursery slopes with children play areas.
Family skiing
For more advanced skiers, you have the whole of the 4 Vallées to explore. Over 400km of pistes link the valleys of Thyon, Veysonnaz , Nendaz and Verbier. They are all linked by an excellent ski lift system and are packed with blues and reds. Advanced riders will enjoy classic black runs such as Mont Fort and a whole world of off-piste skiing (please hire a guide!).
Activities for families
Verbier is a year-round resort, and it’s a great place to come whether it’s winter or summer. It all depends on what you love doing.
If you’ve got children, here are a few things you might want to try.
| Activity | Where | Time of year | What it is | Cost |
| Snow tubing | Bottom on the Nendaz lift | Winter | Sliding down the slope on an inflatable tube | - |
| Sledging | lower nursery slopes | Winter | Sledging | - |
| Luge | Savoleyres sector | Winter | 848m track suitable for children aged 7+ | - |
| Ice skating (indoor) | Sports centre | All year | Indoor rink with skate hire | - |
| Ice skating (outdoor) | La Tazoumaz | Winter | Outdoor rink with skate hire | Free |
| Cinema | Centre of Verbier | All year | Shows films in English (look for VOST) | |
| Swimming | Sports centre in Verbier and La Tzoumaz | All year | Sessions on Saturday mornings | From €11 |
| Indoor climbing | Sports centre, Verbier | All year | Indoor climbing wall | - |
Childcare services
There are several options for childcare.
The main winter establishments to help with childcare include the ski schools who cater for children who are three years and older. You can book your child in for full or half day programmes and lunch can also be provided for an extra charge.
If you're here during summer
You may find that the main sports centre of each town host a kids club during the summer holidays, with activities such as swimming, climbing, tennis, basketball, ice-skating, etc. and organised hikes and picnics.
