Make a holiday rental chateau or ski chalet in Villars, Switzerland your home away from home

Located between the plains and the mountains, the small village of Villars, Switzerland, is a wonderful place to be. The compact centre is surrounded by picture-postcard scenery, with the snow capped scenery adorned with lush meadows, still lakes and charming chalets. Villars is not only a picturesque mountain village in the stunning scenery of northern Switzerland; it is also a first class skiing resort.

Things to do on a skiing holiday in Villars, Switzerland

Best known for its exceptional skiing weekends, Villars offer over 120km of skiing terrain. There is a train and a cable car which takes skiers from the centre of the village to the Villars-Gryon-Glacier 3000 ski area above the village, which is a wonderful domain for intermediate skiers. Ski passes allow you onto the whole Alpes Vaudoises ski area which has 220km of piste, wide enough for beginners to recover and taxing enough to keep even expert skiers and snowboarders happy during their holiday or weekend ski break to Villars. There are some great runs from the top of the glacier to the village itself (a thigh burning 12kms) and two taxing snow parks for those with a long snow sports record. There is also a ski school and 57kms of cross-country skiing trails surrounding the village.

Villars is a perfect place to get pampered too. There are some remarkably luxurious Villars chateaux on the outskirts of the village, and it is hard to avoid the temptation of taking a day away from the slopes and relaxing in the thermal baths in Lavey-les-Bains. There are some excellent options on the Villars/Gryon Family Programme for children, meaning the whole family can have a truly relaxing yet invigorating holiday in a ski chalet in Villars. In the evening, there are numerous delightful bars and restaurants to be enjoyed, and although there are not usually many high octane nights out to be had, you can easily have a great evening out in the bars and clubs of Villars.

During the summer months, Villars still bustles with activity. Summer skiing on the high altitude glaciers is perfect for those suffering from withdrawal symptoms after the end of the traditional skiing season. Also available from a Villars ski chalet in summer are golf (on the highly scenic, 18 hole Villars Golf Course), hiking and mountain biking (on some of the 300km of marked walking trails and 150 km of mountain biking routes throughout the mountains). Riding holidays also thrive from a ski chalet in Villars during the summer and the three small mountain lakes which surround the village are perfect for a refreshing swim when the sun is out.

Places to visit on holiday in Villars, Switzerland

During your Villars holiday, a quick trip to neighbouring Leysin is a great option. There are five international ski schools in the town, which makes it an obvious destination if you need to brush up your skiing skills during your stay in a Villars ski chalet, and Leysin is also a wonderful place to spend an evening as there are regular live music events hosted here.

Weather in Villars, Switzerland

In winter, conditions are obviously quite cold, with temperatures hovering between 5 and -5˚C. In summer however, temperatures average a marvellously warm 23˚C, which makes walking, riding and cycling in the Alpine scenery even more delightful.

Flights to Villars, Switzerland

The closest airport to a ski chalet or chateau in Villars is Geneva Airport (GVA), located 120km away. There are regular flights from the UK on a range of airlines, and upon your arrival at the airport there are a number of transfer options. Taking a hire car is a great option as it gives you the express freedom to really explore the Alps of Vaud region without restriction. There are transfer busses and a reliable train network if you would prefer not to drive during your Villars skiing weekend or holiday.