Once a Swiss spa destination (back in the 1870s), the beauty of this town went unadmired for many years, following the building of the Gotthard Tunnel in 1882, which made the area into one of Europe’s biggest transport hubs. But Andermatt is enjoying a brand new heyday. The only surprise is that no one spotted its potential before now. The pretty Alpine town, encircled by trees and then snowy mountains, the look of a village in a snow globe viewed from above – you can’t quite believe it’s real. It’s not chocolate box beautiful in the way many ski resort towns are, but its stunning location is its real charm, alongside world-class luxury ski chalet and hotel suites. Andermatt has an atmosphere all of its own.
At the heart of the new Andermatt is the Chedi, a stunning 5* luxury hotel, laid out around what becomes an ice-rink in winter.
In summer the town is transformed into a pretty, pastoral idyll, where you can enjoy golfing, hiking and mountain biking.
Outdoor enthusiasts will find something to do here at any time of year. In summer, the golf, hiking and mountain biking opportunities are great and you will find that luxury chalets are much less expensive at this time of year. If you’re coming for the snow, however, it is guaranteed in winter and Andermatt’s slopes are open for business from the start of December to mid-to-late April.
What We Love About Andermatt
We love the fact that Andermatt is still a hidden gem, escaping from the mass of crowds and allowing you to enjoy Andermatt’s exquisite natural setting.
Getting to Andermatt
The closest airport to Andermatt is Zurich, a 1.5-hour drive away. Milan airport is 2 hours away. The Glacier Express Railway which connects Zermatt and St Moritz also stops here.
The Skiing in Andermatt
Skiing is as good as it has ever been, with deeper powder than you’ll find in many Swiss resorts and the awesome and enormous Gemsstock mountain overlooking it all, ideal for die-hard skiers, with acres of off-piste space.
There’s something for every age and ability here though, with the Natschen Mountain, perfect for families and beginners, as well as the Winterhorn, which is great for off-piste skiing for intermediates.
The Best Places To Eat and Drink in Andermatt
The new star of the show in Andermatt has to be The Chedi Hotel, which features some stunning luxury suites, and some wonderful eateries including ‘The Restaurant’ serving authentic Swiss and European dishes with a modern twist, and ‘The Japanese Restaurant by Hide Yamamoto’, serving spectacular sushi, sashimi and tempura, among other things.
On the chef’s night off at your luxury ski chalet, Restaurant River House on Gotthardstrasse is certainly worth a visit for the local fayre. And if you’ve had your fill of fondue and its ilk, Baeren is a lovely Italian restaurant that does great seafood and pasta.
For drinking, a must-do is The Chedi’s private wine tasting, with gourmet snacks in its private wine dining room, which can be hired for up to eight people at a time. And it would be impolite not to stop for a cocktail in front of The Chedi’s roaring fire in the bar on the way out before heading back to your luxury ski rental.
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