Verbier is a resort town in the east central part of the Swiss canton of Valais. It boasts cable car access to a huge network of ski trails which are perfectly suited for intermediate and advanced. There are also a couple of bunny slopes in town, as well as a huge amount of infrastructure for skiing and after skiing.

In the summer Verbier, like many mountain villages, becomes a base for the true Swiss national sport of hiking (''randonnee'').

How to get there...

By Plane

There is no direct plane connection to Verbier, as it has no airport. The nearest International Airport is Geneva Cointrin, 160 kilometres from Verbier. The airport of Sion, 50 kilometres from Verbier can be accessed by private aircraft and SWISS International Airlines has had flights to Sion from the United Kingdom ? the SWISS service is limited to the ski season and is infrequent. Access to Verbier from the airport can be made by train, by bus or by car.

By Train

There is no direct train service to Verbier. Passengers coming from Geneva will need to take a train to Martigny and then change trains to take the "St. Bernard Express" to Le Chable, the Verbier base station. From there passengers will need to take the cable car or the bus to get up to Verbier.

By Car

Verbier is just off the A9 Motorway and National Road 21 (European Road: E27), about 1.5 hours from Geneva. It is advised to have a car that can travel up steep gradients and that is equipped with snow tires, if visiting in the winter.

Get around

Verbier village is small enough to get pretty much everywhere on foot, even in ski boots. A free bus runs around the village until early evening. There is a cable car service between Verbier and Le Chable which runs from 08:30 until 18:30, and a bus which runs later, so you will want to make note of the bus schedule if your hotel is in Le Chable.

Do

The principal activity in Verbier during winter is skiing. The ski area is one of the largest in Switzerland, extending as far as Thyon and up to the Mt Fort glacier. Much of the best skiing is ''off-piste'' (off-trail), making the resort best suited to experienced, or at least enthusiastic skiers. The best sector for beginners is Savolyres. There is less infrastructure for snowboarding, but advanced boarders should consider a trip to Verbier for the magnificent ''off-piste'' possibilities

  • '''Ecole Suisse du Ski''', <!-- Address (''extra directions if necessary''), phone number (''email, fax, other contact if possible''). Days and times open. One to five sentences about why this activity is worth doing, things to pay special attention to, warnings, notes, historical or other background information. $entryprice (''extra price info''). http://www.activity.example.com/ -->
  • ES - European Snowsport - Verbier Ski School. S. ountain Air Rue de Medran. alf Way between Pl. Central and Medran. 41 (0) 27 771 6222. ttp://www.europeansnowsport.com. a.m. -7 p.m.. Verbier Ski School and Snowboard School
  • Cherries Walks. 41.79.239.2161. ttp://www.cherrieswalks.com/index.html. Walk, hike, or snowshoe the beautiful alps. Private, tailor-made trips with a certified mountain guide. info[at]cherrieswalks.com
  • Performance Verbier. ki Centre, Verbier. 41796909799. ttp://www.performanceverbier.com. Performance is a new division of Powder Extreme offering on-piste instruction in Verbier, and is made up of a group of friends who've been teaching here for years. We've deliberately kept it a small team because we want to offer the kind of professional, personalised service that_fs difficult to get at traditional ski schools. </do>

    Buy

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  • '''Mountain Show''', <!-- Address (''extra directions if necessary''), phone number (''email, fax, other contact if possible''). Days and times open. One to five sentences about why this activity is worth doing, things to pay special attention to, warnings, notes, historical or other background information. $entryprice (''extra price info''). http://www.activity.example.com/ -->
  • Eat

  • '''Relais du ski''', <!-- Address (''extra directions if necessary''), phone number (''email, fax, other contact if possible''). Days and times open. One to three sentences about the food, service, atmosphere, view, specialties, music, what have you. $lowprice-$highprice (''extra price info''). http://www.restaurant.example.com/ -->
  • '''La Grange''', Phone: +41 27 771 6431 lagrangeverbier@bluewin.ch''. Nice restaurant with two sections, the gourmet section is probably the best in town at the moment (2008), the other serves local specialities and is more relaxed. Excellent meat. CHF 30-$CHF 100 (''extra price info''). Reservations required. http://www.lagrange.ch/resto.php
  • '''Au View Verbier''', Phone: +41 27 771 1668 lagrangeverbier@bluewin.ch''.Nice and cosy, next to medran ski lift. Specialitie: Fish,La Potance (meat on spiked hot iron). CHF 20 - CHF 60 (''extra price info''). Hours Daily noon-3pm and 6:30pm-midnight. Reservations required for dinner.
  • Le Rouge. oute de Ransou 37. 41 79 577 26 05. ttp://lerouge-verbier.com/. 6.100733. .22998. Stylish, and rather expensive restaurant, featuring good French food with international touches, Lounge bar with balcony on the top floor.

    Drink

    The ''apres-ski'' nightlife is pretty happening at Verbier. In early evening the pubs and bars are jammed with skiers - many have a happy hour between 4pm and 5pm. Later on, most people return home or eat at one of the many restaurants, before hitting one of Verbier's nightclubs, which stay open until 3 or 4am in peak season. None of this is cheap!

  • Offshore. ue de Medran. 41 27 771 5444. ttp://www.offshorecafe.com. aily 8AM-9PM. Famous hangout with both apres ski, sandwiches, good breakfast and good vibes in this Californian styled joint

  • '''Pub Mont Fort''', Chemin de la Tinte 10, Phone: +41 27 771 4898, Email: info@pubmontfort.com. Legendary after-ski bar where local skibums and extreme skiers gather. Rumoured to serve most beers in Switzerland in the wintertime. Serves good and inexpensive foood (burgers etc) http://www.pubmontfort.com/
  • Farm Club. oute de Verbier. 41 27 771 6121 . ttp://www.kingsverbier.ch/farmclub/. 1PM-4AM. Run by two Italian brothers, this club doesn't get going until very late, and when it does it's for the 27+ crowd, but it does have a reputation for some outrageous nights out.

    Sleep

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  • '''Name of Place''', Address (''extra directions if necessary''), phone number (''email, fax, other contact if possible''). Days and times open. One to three sentences about the service, atmosphere, view, rooms, what have you. $lowprice-$highprice (''extra price info''). http://www.hotel.example.com/
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    Get out

  • Martigny, at the end of the valley leading down to Verbier is known for its extensive Roman ruins including an amphitheatre.
  • If a supplement is paid, one can ski in one of Switzerland's largest skiing domains ? the Quatre Vallees offers over 450 kilometres of piste and 92 lifts
  • Guides offer the possibility to "hike" on skis from Verbier to Zermatt as part of the "Haute Route", a journey of several days