Andermatt Sedrun Ski Resort Switzerland
Andermatt Sedrun in Switzerland is a powder and off-piste skiing mecca for serious freeriders, but also for lovers of extended journeys on groomers. Combine cold storms from all directions which ensure a deep alpine snowpack well into April with 1,500m vertical descents off Gemsstock, and you have one of the world's best freeride destinations. Add in the easy access to Andermatt-Sedrun ski resort via the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (train) and one the world's biggest lift, terrain & connectivity expansions this century, to make it a very tasty destination for families plus skiers & snowboarders of all abilities & predilections.
Andermatt is still a traditional Swiss mountain village, but its face has changed somewhat in the last decade. The massive expansion of lifts and intermediate terrain, inclusion in the Vail Resorts Epic Pass, addition of nearby Disentis ski resort to the lift pass, plus several huge hotel developments on the outskirts of town mean Andermatt is being slowly consumed. The ski area is now referred to Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis (or ASD for short). It’s still a fantastically fun place to ski, but get here sooner, because you will only be a year older if you leave it until later!
Pros & Cons for Andermatt-Sedrun
Pros
- World class off-piste & backcountry freeride terrain.
- Amongst the most reliable snowpacks in the Alps.
- Massive terrain & super-modern, fully integrating ski lifts.
- Great on piste terrain for all abilities.
- Excellent access by train in a spectacular setting.
- Modern lifts are seamlessly integrated with the train station.
- Traditional Swiss alpine village.
- New range of quality accommodation options.
- The train is part of the standard lift pass allowing easy returns from distant locations.
- Wonderful bars & restaurants in the village & on mountain.
- Non-ski activities available for the whole family, including the superb sled run on the closed Oberalppass road.
Cons
- Gemsstock cable car lift lines can get extremely busy on a powder day (but it does limit numbers on the mountain at any one time!).
- Overpriced lift pass in peak periods (but free for Epic Pass holders).
- Ski terrain is limited in periods of poor visibility.
- Andermatt village spends a lot of time in shadow for much of winter.
- Village of Sedrun disjointed from the main ski lifts at Dieni (but Sedrun is now lift-linked to Disentis!).
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)
- Becoming more popular every year (go there now!).
- ASD got rid of the ridiculous 'dynamic' lift pass pricing but replaced it with something equally as questionable!
- Après ski in Andermatt is ok, but nightlife is very limited after 9pm.
- A Vail Resort now, so Epic Pass is valid!
- Lift pass & ski lift linkages now with Disentis ski resort.
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain
There are several distinct sides to the Andermatt Sedrun ski resort, particularly since its inclusion of Disentis into the lift pass. One is the dark, north-facing 1,500m vertical face of the Gemsstock looming over Andermatt - one the best standalone lift-accessed freeride mountains in the world. The other is the sunny south-aspect slopes leading about 10km across the Oberalppass to neighbouring Sedrun. Next are Sedrun's slopes, colder and less travelled; and finally Disentis presents a completely different type of ski experience - more a reminder of the way things used to be!
Check out the ski trail map for Andermatt Sedrun Disentis below.
The Gemsstock is the natural habitat for the advanced & expert skier and snowboarder. The cable car to the top is generally packed with backcountry equipped snow riders looking to harvest some powder. Some good intermediate terrain exists mid-mountain & recent improvements to the valley trail make it approachable for higher intermediate skiers, as it no longer a black run! To the uninitiated, the Gemsstock freeride terrain is best explored with a guide for at least a day to understand its full potential. There are many possible pitfalls for those venturing out of bounds without an appropriate level of knowledge, so play it with caution until you get to know the hill.
To the east of Andermatt the sunny slopes have become an intermediate's paradise. New lifts, 6-pax chairs & gondolas have transformed the area from Nätschen to Oberalppass, making the train ride to Sedrun a novelty rather than a necessity. The resorts have been fully lift-interlinked since season 2018/19 and new chairlifts are still going in. For season 25/26 the 37-year-old quad chairs Val Val–Cuolm Val and Val Val–Calmut are being replaced by modern 6-seaters. Sedrun is linked to Disentis by cable car since season 2020, but a gap in ski lifts still exists between Dieni & Sedrun, necessitating taking the train (included in the standard lift pass, but the Epic Pass!). The newer ski lifts between Andermatt & Sedrun are also a boon for advanced & expert skiers, providing easy access to more off-piste terrain, and the nearby backcountry.
Unless you have an Epic Pass, getting reasonably priced lift passes here requires a little planning. Half-price day passes are available online, but there are only a cer6tain number at the lowest price AND you have to buy them in advance before the 21st of Dec....... All sounds a little too complex to be a reasonable proposition.
From detailed information on ski lifts, terrain, lift passes & trail maps, see our Andermatt-Sedrun Skiing & Snowboarding page.
Snow & Weather
Andermatt is blessed with a position in the Alps that guarantees a deep snow-pack well into April and May. Storms from all directions impact the area with their frozen goodness. Some of the best skiing & snowboarding here can be quite late in the season. Keep a watch on the forecasts.
The upper slopes of the Gemsstock hold cold, deep powder for longer than the rest of the resort, hence its attraction to many Powderhounds. When the weather is at its fiercest, the lower terrain in Sedrun plus between Nätschen & Andermatt provide ample opportunities.
Where is Andermatt Sedrun Switzerland?
Andermatt Sedrun ski resort is located high in the Swiss Alps in the canton of Uri, 100km south of Zurich. The incredible city of Milan in Italy is 186km by road to the south & Geneva is only 4½hr by train away to the west. Andermatt Sedrun can be accessed from all directions by rail - the recommended transport to the ski resort & a sure way to POW (Protect Our Winters). The train line at Andermatt links directly with the iconic Zermatt ski resort in under 3hr.
Search & book train tickets to Andermatt.
The closest international airports for Andermatt Sedrun ski resort are Zurich (ZRH) & Geneva (GVA) in Switzerland, plus Milan Malpensa (MXP) in Italy. Trains efficiently link the entire region, with intercity trains going via nearby Goeschenen, itself only a 10min train ride to Andermatt. More recent train tunnel construction between Switzerland & Italy has diverted some of better trains off the line a little earlier than just a few years ago, so a changeover in places like Altdorf are now part of most journeys!
For more information on the best ways to get there, see our Travelling to Andermatt Sedrun page.
Andermatt Sedrun Accommodation
With a ski resort based on two separate villages & very efficient train transport links, Andermatt Sedrun has a great range of accommodation available. And now more than ever, a true mix of traditional & ultra-modern lodging options define Andermatt.
The traditional village of Andermatt is compact & wonderful with a full set of shops & services. Its only downfall is the lack of sunshine as it sits in the shadow of the Gemsstock for much of winter. As such the village is as cold as the coldest ski resorts in Europe. If you like to live in the sun, wait until February at the earliest. Like us, if you don't care about the sun, forget what you just read!
In addition to the many traditional hotels & guesthouses, Andermatt has an increasing number of contemporary hotels & apartments now available. An added bonus is that some of them are in the sunny part of the valley, only 5 min walk from town. The Chedi best epitomises the direction Andermatt is heading, but it is the brand-new Radisson Blu Hotel Reussen that brings real choice to the people & sets a standard for everyone else to aspire.
Search & book Andermatt accommodation.
The village at Sedrun has a sunnier disposition, but the main town is separated from the major ski lifts at Dieni. Accommodations are spread across three areas - Sedrun, Dieni & Rueras in between. All have a train station making access easy. Recent lifts developments at nearby Disentis ski resort have seen ski lift connections put into Sedrun, making it a far more attractive proposition than previously.
Search & book Sedrun accommodation.
Other nearby villages can also make a convenient base - all train travel to & from them is included in the ski lift pass. Göschenen is only a short train ride away & is the main railway station if heading to either Milan or Zurich. Otherwise Disentis, Realp & Hospental can all be utilised, but at the cost of travel time.
For more info & recommendations on the best places to stay, see our Where to Stay in Andermatt & Sedrun page.
Food, Après, Bars & Nightlife
Andermatt has been transformed in recent years. The transformation has improved mountain dining options like the excellent Schneehüenerstock above Oberalppass. Coincidentally, in the Andermatt ‘old town’ & village outskirts, there has been a subtle increase in style & quality of bar & restaurant offerings too - not a bad thing. The bars & restaurants of the Chedi & Radisson Blu Hotels are complemented by the likes of Enoteca 1620 & Emporium (253). Old favourites in town are still thriving, but sadly the unique Après Ski Train (an experience like no other) ran its final journey at the end of the 2023 winter season. If you never experienced it, you will now just have to spend time on the deck of the Biber Bar watching the trains go by and wonder about the possibilities!
See our Food & Nightlife page for detailed information.
Ski Rentals, Lessons & Guiding
Ski rentals are available throughout Andermatt in the centre of the village & near the train station/Nästchen gondola with our local partners. Receive a discount when you search & book via our Andermatt Ski & Snowboard Equipment Rental page.
Some off-piste ski lessons & guiding can make all the difference to a stay at Andermatt - particularly on the iconic Gemsstock. For more info & options, see our Andermatt Sedrun Ski Lessons & Guiding page.
Nearby Ski Resorts
The train system allows for easy transfers to a host of other ski resorts in Switzerland. Why not do a Swiss Rail Ski Safari? Ski resorts accessible by train & local bus to the east include Disentis 3000 (incl. in the standard ASD lift pass), Laax and the unknown, but excellent Brigels. Further afield, you can catch the Glacier Express all the way to fabulous St Moritz via the major transport hub of Chur.
To the west towards the city of Brig, a festival of ski resorts including Aletsch Arena, Belalp, Crans Montana (another Epic Pass resort), Grimentz-Zinal, Lauchernalp, Saas Fee, Zermatt & Verbier-4 Vallees are all within easy reach.
Review & More Info
The Powderhounds have reviewed Andermatt Sedrun on multiple occasions, the last time in early February 2023 to check out the resort after the lifts were purchased by Vail Resorts. We loved it & always will (we think!). Click on the review link in the left column (or top of the page if on a mobile) to read all the reviews.
See how the Andermatt Sedrun compares to the rest of the European ski resorts on the Europe ski resort ratings page.
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