The demand for car-free ski resorts is on the increase. Environmental concern, child safety, and the desire for noise-free holidays are behind it. If you are looking for a quiet, scenic atmosphere without those vehicles all over the place, we’ve got you covered.
Car-free ski resorts in Switzerland
Swiss ski resorts are striding ahead: Zermatt has electric-powered buses, mini cars for hotel guests and even electric taxis. Also listed as Swiss car-free ski resorts are Bettmeralp, Braunwald, Mürren, Riederalp, Rigi, Stoos and Wengen. Wengen and Rigi boast mountain racks and pinion railways. Rigi in particular has the oldest mountain railway in Europe, installed in 1871 with sweeping mountain views.
Saas Fee is another Swiss resort that needs a mention. It is very family-friendly and the kids won’t have to dodge vehicles in the resort. When Saas-Grund and Saas-Fee were connected in 1951, the town fathers felt it was a bit like home. Leave your cars at the entrance. You will only see pedestrians and e-taxis today.
Car-free ski resorts in Italy
In Italy there is the attractive village of Chamois in the Aosta Valley with cable car access only. Courmayeur, Italy also has a fine old cobbled car-free centre. In the Austrian Tyrol, Serfaus is renowned for the world’s smallest underground railway built in 1985. The Dorfbahn Serfaus is 1280 metres long and can carry 1500 passengers an hour. The resort is linked to the Serfaus Fiss Ladis snow fields is thus able to keep the village entirely car free.
Serfaus Fiss Ladis in the South Tyrol is unique because it hosts an Underground Railroad. Besides that, it’s geared to attract families. Green and fun for all.
Serfaus resort uses an Underground Railroad to keep green.
Car-free ski resorts in France
Avoriaz is the one French ski resort that claims that it is totally car-free. It boasts that “the children can fetch the bread” because there are no cars. From an environmental point of view it was designed with electric heating only thanks to award-winning architect Jacques Labro in the 1960s. One resort out of 200 in the entire country is not a lot. But Les Arcs, La Plagne, Valmorel, Valmeinier, Plagne Soleil, Belleplagne and La Norma are also listed as car-free.
It is all a question of exactly what is meant by car-free ski resorts. Many of the modern French resorts separate the cars from the people to a large extent anyway. If you can put your skis on in your accommodation and get straight to the lifts it usually means no cars to worry about. At Flaine for example you are only allowed to park your car outside your accommodation for 1.5 hours to load or unload your luggage. Otherwise you must leave it in one of the car parks both free and paying. That is not quite car-free, but it is getting close.
It is important to differentiate between “car-free” and “no car needed”. “You don’t need your car” is not the same as “you are not allowed to use your car”. Environmental concerns apart, resorts are increasingly trying to separate cars and people. Tourist authorities across Europe are aware of the growing focus on the issue and over the next few years the number of resorts banning cars will grow.
December 14, 2024
