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Verbier Areas & Maps
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This section should give you enough information about the Verbier area for you to be able to find your way around town on foot or by public transport. Many Alpine resorts are now trying to discourage visitors from using their cars on a daily basis and offer buses and shuttles as an alternative.
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Verbier & its Surroundings
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Sitting in a sun-drenched south-western facing bowl, perched high up on a mountainside at an altitude of 1500m, Verbier has it all. Boasting a wide array of sporting and leisure activities during both the summer and winter months, the resort also has a great nightlife, and stunning scenery which can be enjoyed at whichever pace suits you. And if peace and quiet is what you’re after…you never have to venture too far to get it!
Situated in the south-western part of Switzerland in the canton of the Valais, Verbier is bordered by France to the west and Italy to the south. During the summer months the resort is home to the Verbier Festival, a classical music festival of international acclaim, the Grand Raid Cristalp mountain biking competition and the Grand Concours Hippique horse show; and in the winter, the resort plays host to the world famous Nissan O'Neill Xtreme freeride contest, which takes place on the Bec des Rosses, and the renowned Verbier Ride freeskiing competition.
Verbier draws its alpine charm from it's traditional chalet-style buildings harmoniously nestling in the hillside and it's natural setting. It's south-westerly orientation means that it maximises sun exposure so there are many sun terraces for you to kick back and relax on. The resort is best known for its chalet style accommodation, with dozens of tour operators and select Chalet companies offering all-inclusive holidays to self-cating apartments. There are also many hotels that will suit all budgets. If you fancy something a little more 'quirky' and are on a tight budget, there's always The Budget hostel. It used to be an underground atomic shelter it opened it's doors in 1999 and has been welcoming the general public ever since. There's no windows so it probably not advisable if you suffer from claustraphobia!
We believe you can't get much better than Verbier in the summer with it's stunning 'picture postcard' views (we're biased of course!). There's so much to do, check out our summer activities pages to see what Verbier has to offer. Whether you're taking a stroll through the alpine pastures, hiking around the 400kms of walking trails or riding the 200kms of mountain biking trails you'll undoubtedly discover the mountain flora and fauna and experience Verbier's natural beauty at its best. It's not all sporting and extreme activity in Verbier though; there are concerts, recitals and street performances for you to enjoy too. Our Resort Events guide and what's on calendar will keep you up to date with resort life.
During the winter, Verbier becomes a skiers paradise. Verbier forms part of the 'Four Valleys' ski area, the four valleys being Thyon, Veysonnaz and Nendaz which together offer over 410 kilomtres of ski runs and 93 state of the art lifts, all covered in one (hands-free) lift pass. (Apparently if you want to show a love of all things Swiss, you can buy a Swatch Snowpass watch and load up your personal details!) The season normally runs from the second week in December until the end of April, with New Year and February/March being the busiest times. The valley is located at 1500m, and right up to the summit of the Mont-Fort glacier (3300m) the views extending across the breathtaking Swiss valleys are fantastic. Snow is guaranteed in Verbier due to it's high altitude and glacier skiing, and this 'mountain playground' means that there is guaranteed to be something to suit skiers and boarders of all levels. If the off-piste is more your thing, then Verbier is also recognised as one of the premiere "off-piste" resorts in the Alps and in the world, with great Heli-skiing opportunities too.
The area around Mont Gélé is popular with many beginners and intermediates alike however it can be busy. If you are a little more experienced and want to try something with a slightly steeper gradient, take the cable car down to Tortin (2050m) where it is quieter, and there are a number of red intermediate runs for you to enjoy. On the oppotiste side of the valley, Bruson (1080m) is an excellent area for intermediate skiers. There's fewer crowds here and the North East facing orientation means that the snow (and powder!) stay good for longer.
If you are an expert or advanced level skier then the world of Val de Bagnes is your oyster! You have to try out the classic black runs in areas such as Mont Fort and Combatzeline. The weather can usually be a major stumbling factor here and if visibility is good, expect the lift queues to replicate that. If you're a confident off-piste skier then take a mountain guide, and explore some of the off-piste potential in the Tortin, Mont-Gélé and Chassoure areas. There are many ungroomed, former black runs in the valley which offer some good off-pisting. They're usually quite busy, but you should still use the services of a mountain guide and ensure you carry (and know how to use) suitable off-piste equipment when skiing these areas.
Verbier has an excellent snowpark. The 1936 Neipark is located at La Chaux (2260m), with all the rails, jumps and corners you need to get off. It's the steep freestyle skiing opportunities that make this valley a favourite with many professional skiers. Many top skiers have settled down there in order to profit from these steep slopes and freestyle skiing which Verbier offers in abundance.
However, if there's a whiteout that keeps you off the slopes then there's always the Alpine Museum, art galleries, indoor swimming pool, saunas and plenty of shopping to keep you busy and Verbier's nightlife is almost as famous as its skiing! With 12 bars and discotheques, Verbier boasts some of the best après-ski and nightlife in the Swiss Alps. For bars and nightclubs in Verbier see here. The Pub Mont-Fort is a favorite with the British crowd visiting Verbier. The Casbah Club plays techno-music, largely for a younger crowd of 20- somethings and has a great party atmosphere. There's regular party nights which themes such as Playboy and James Bond to name but a few! The Farm Club in the Hotel Rhodania caters to an older, 'riche' and sophisticated crowd with many Swiss regulars who come back to Verbier at the weekends. |
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Maps & Timetables for Verbier
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To help you get your bearings, in this section you will find area maps showing you the layout of the land, detailed street maps, activity area maps, and lift & piste maps for the whole valley. ... see "Verbier Maps & Timetables" for more |
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