Engelberg Ski Resort Switzerland
Engelberg Switzerland is one of the top powder & freeride destinations in the world. In the shadows of Titlis, Engelberg ski resort is renowned for freak storms pewking heaps of fresh snow, gnarly descents of up to 2,000 metres vertical & easy accessibility from Zurich (and other major cities like Lucerne) by train. It was definitely on the Powderhounds bucket list; make sure you put it on yours as well.
The Powderhounds ticked Engelberg off our bucket list and have returned a few times to repeat the dose. We can confirm that this mountain is indeed beautiful, fun, challenging & intimidating all at once. Cannot wait to go back!
Pros & Cons for Engelberg Ski Resort
Pros
- Huge skiable vertical of 2,000m.
- World class freeride & powder skiing - home of the BIG 5 ski routes and a whole lot more.
- Deep, reliable & quality snowpack.
- Fabulous piste trails for all levels with a longest run of 9km.
- Majority of terrain above 1,800m altitude.
- Awesome views when the sun shines.
- Full-service town with everything one requires on a snow holiday.
- Amazing range of non-ski activities in a spectacular setting.
- Superb access by train and connections to Zurich airport & lovely Lucerne.
- Excellent value for what you get.
Cons
- Incredibly busy on weekend powder days.
- Engelberg town can be without snow for long periods during winter.
- Topography of Titlis & Jochstock means disjointed pistes & lifts.
- Beginner terrain is sperate to the rest of the ski terrain and being much lower elevation than most of the resort, the snow can be poor.
- Some piste trails carry heavy skier traffic (i.e. near Jochpass & Laubersgrat).
- Intermediate skiers may find the piste terrain limiting after a couple of days, and you may have to 'up your game'!
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)
- Engelberg township has lost much of its authentic character.
- Limited range of 'high-end' accommodation.
- Relatively quiet nightlife.
- A bucket list destination for all freeriding powder lovers!
- It is in Switzerland, so things are a bit more expensive (but everything works!).
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain
Engelberg Titlis is 'world class big mountain skiing' in the truest sense of the words. The 2,000m skiable vertical is imposing enough........... and then you ski it. The off-piste freeride terrain can be super intimidating to the uninitiated. Even on the more popular routes (i.e. Laub, Steinberg, Sulz et al), avalanche danger & crevasses on the glaciers are ever present. If intending to tackle the ‘Big 5’, Depending on your level of experience, Engelberg may be best sampled (at first anyway) with a guide, particularly on day's on low visibility and/or high avalanche danger.
For those not interested in chasing powder, Engelberg's topography means it has an awkward & disjointed arrangement of lifts & piste trails. After half a day it makes enough sense though. Even new skiers will feel a sense of adventure as trails wind down valleys to the base. The beginner areas are somewhat cut off from the rest of the terrain up higher. The best slopes for novices are not even in the main resort, but near the town on a sunny slope above the historic Kloster (monastery) in the ski area called Brunni-Klostermatte. The Brunni ski area consists of the lower 'learn to ski' novice area (Klostermatte) plus a small amount of mixed on-piste trails on about 440m of skiable vertical accessible via cable car. An alternative to Brunni is the expanse of lifts on a broad mountain terrace below Trübsee (Untertrübsee and Gerschnialp). Whilst more shaded, the lift pass is more affordable, and the location is spectacular.
Check out the ski trail map for Engelberg below.
Engelberg's ski lifts are an intriguing mix of old & new. Several ancient cable cars throughout the valley appear to have more to do with summer & winter walking than skiing. In the Titlis ski area, surface lifts appropriately serve beginner areas, whilst modern chairs & gondolas, plus the iconic Titlis Rotair cable car provide the uphill oomph for the rest. Replacement of the painfully slow Engstlenalp chair was completed for season 2020, improving movement for intermediates on-piste & freeriders coming down into the area. Two new chairs plus a terrain expansion are in the wings for below the Schafberg peak, but it appears to have come to nothing in recent years. Instead there is a second cable car going in next to the Rotair up to Titlis. Maybe its specifically for tourists and the old one will be for skiers (or vice versa). We will know in season 24/25.
For more information on all the above, see our Engelberg Skiing & Snowboarding page.
Snow & Weather
Engelberg is renowned for freak storms pewking heaps of fresh snow on the 3,239m Titlis. With an average upper mountain snowfall of over 10m, the snow quality tends to be excellent on & off piste making Engelberg one of Europe's most sure ski resorts. The upper mountain can be subjected to some extreme weather during winter storms but is amazing when the sun comes out. Note that inversions can make it seem cloudy when in the village, but Titlis may be in sunshine - always check the web cams!
Where is Engelberg Switzerland?
The Engelberg ski resort is in central Switzerland is just 35km south of the beautiful city of Lucerne (Luzern). The main international gateway airport is Zurich (ZRH), only 85km north of the town & resort.
Engelberg is connected to Lucerne, Zurich and the rest of Switzerland by the wonderful Swiss railway system, making it the recommended mode of transport to the ski area. Trains to Engelberg from Lucerne take only 45min and leave every hour. Search & buy train tickets to Engelberg.
For more info on the best ways to get there, see our Travel to Engelberg page.
Engelberg Accommodation
The Engelberg ski resort has the sprawling village of the same name at its base providing plentiful hotel, apartment & guesthouse lodging options. The town has all the shops & services one could desire for a snow holiday. The centrally located train station & free village buses make getting around between any locations simple & efficient.
For something completely different the Berghotel Trübsee & the higher Barghuis Jochpass Hotel provide the best ski in ski out accommodation in Engelberg. The Hotel Iglu Dorf at Trübsee involves sleeping in an ice hotel & whilst not for the fainthearted, is a wonderful ski lodging experience. The bar at the Iglu-Dorf is sensational - definitely the place to have a celebratory drink after an epic powder laden freeride route.
In town, the centrally located Ski Lodge Engelberg, Hotel Schweizerhof & Hotel Crystal are close to the train station, town centre & ski lifts. The basic, but good, Hotel Cathrin is the closest to the Titlis ski lifts. In the town centre, the beautifully decorated Alpenclub Hotel is a stand-out. The H+ Hotel & SPA Engelberg, located behind the train station, will satisfy most groups with its diversity of rooms & facilities. Best value accommodation that includes private & shared rooms are the Pension St Jakob & Spannort Inn. For cracking views across town, the art deco Hotel Terrace is a perennial favourite for those looking to save a penny & take a bit longer to get to the lifts in the morning! Some of the best located & fitted out apartments in Engelberg are the Alp Apartments, right on the town centre and just 50m from a ski bus stop.
Search & book all Engelberg ski accommodation.
With the regular train from Lucerne taking only 45min, staying in this delightful city is a definite overnight option when skiing Engelberg. Search & book here for Lucerne accommodation. Lake Lucerne is only 25min drive from Engelberg. Beautiful towns along its lakeshore such as Beckenried (at the base of nearby Klewenalp ski resort) provide all services, great hotels and restaurants plus offer an alternative to staying in Engelberg.
Powderhounds partner, Mountain People, provide a simplified method to book your Engelberg ski holiday. Book everything in one place including transport, lodging, lift passes, gear rentals, insurance & more..
Engelberg Après Ski & Bars
For a Swiss ski resort, Engelberg is not too bad when it comes to après ski. The Iglu bar up on the mountain near Trübsee is sensational, the Chalet at the gondola lift base a local standard and the Core Irish bar in the town centre is excellent. All three can be combined in the one afternoon.
Ski Rentals, Lessons & Guiding
Ski & snowboard equipment rentals options are throughout the centre of Engelberg, near the main day car park & at the base of the lifts. Receive a discount when you search & book via our Engelberg Ski & Snowboard Rental page.
Numerous ski & snowboard instructors, ski schools & guides ply their trade in the Engelberg ski resort. To narrow down the field, search & book a private lesson or resort guide with our partner providers on our Engelberg Ski Lessons & Guiding page.
Non-Ski Activities
For those not interested in skiing at all, Engelberg is one of the world's best ski resorts to visit - ironic! As if the stupendous cable car ride on the Rotair over the Steinberg glacier and up to Klein Titlis at 3,028m is not enough. At the top there are the added attractions of a cliff walk on a suspension bridge, an ice walk through the glacier, wonderful views, paragliding plus a quality restaurant. Lower down the mountain there are sledding trails, winter walking trails, snowmobiles & snow tubing (to name a few) to keep you busy. On nearby Brunni more sled & winter walking trails await, along with the requisite mountain huts for some fine alpine dining.
Review
The Powderhounds first reviewed Engelberg several seasons ago and recently returned in March 2024. We had an awesome time freeriding deep powder. Click on the review link in the left column (or top of the page if on a mobile) to read the various reviews!
See how Engelberg compares to the rest of the Swiss ski resorts on the Switzerland ski resort ratings page, or compare to the rest of Europe on the European ski resort ratings page.
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