Swiss Ski School

Switzerland is a great place to learn to ski for both adults and children. Every ski resort in Switzerland offers ski lessons for all ages and abilities, with highly trained instructors that usually speak English.

Group lessons

Most resorts offer group lessons for kids and adults. But these are often only offered during the school holiday weeks like Christmas break and the Skiferien school holidays, which occur between the last week of January and the first week of March.

During this time, most resorts offer week-long group lessons, starting on Sunday or Monday and running for five to six days.

These group lessons often book out months in advance. Best to call in early December to reserve a spot.

Private lessons

Most resorts offer private lessons both on weekdays and weekends. Although sometimes you can book on the spot, it is best to call ahead to see what is available and reserve. Do not expect to just show up and find an instructor.

Private lessons are priced per student per hour and you typically for 1-2 hours. If you have more than one participant, the price per person goes down slightly. 

It’s best to pre-book these lessons by calling ahead and talking to the ski school directly. Some resorts allow you to book ski lessons on their website.

What does ski school cost in Switzerland?

For children’s group lessons, expect to pay about CHF 35-55 for half day (2-3 hrs), CHF 60 – 90 for full day (4-5hrs).

For private lessons, expect to pay about CHF 90-100/hr for one person. Usually there is a small fee to add on additional people, decreasing the per person price.

In most cases, lift passes and ski equipment are not included in the cost of ski school.

What language is spoken at Swiss ski school?

At most mid-sized and large ski resorts, ski instructors usually speak English in addition to German, French, and/or Italian (and usually more languages).

Group lessons are typically run in the local language (German or French), depending where you are in Switzerland. But instructors are usually good about speaking to individual children in their mother tongue as needed.

For private lessons, request an instructor in your preferred language.

Picking a ski school

Since most Swiss ski schools are quite good, I would focus more on picking a ski resort that has good facilities for beginners. This might include:

• snow garden with magic carpets

• easy practice hill that is not steep

• discounted prices for beginners (covers only practice lifts)

• easy access to beginners area so parents and more advanced skiers can meet up for lunch

See my favorite beginner ski areas near Zurich.

Cultural differences

In general, the Swiss culture prizes self-reliance and expects both children and adults to be responsible and take care of themselves. As a result, Swiss ski schools can appear a little loosely supervised. It is not babysitting.

As an example, children routinely ride ski lifts with strangers. Children are expected to manage bathroom breaks and meal times on their own. It would not be unusual for a ski instructor to leave a young ski student unattended at a restaurant if they refused to participate in the lessons.

If that makes you uncomfortable, perhaps Swiss ski school is not for you. In any case, I suggest making a point of leaving your phone number with the ski instructor in case of emergency and getting their number in exchange. This is not typically the routine at Swiss ski school.

Accident Insurance

You are expected to have your own accident insurance that covers any incident during ski school or at the ski resort. It is unusual for Swiss people to sue organizations or individuals in case of an accident. Make sure your travel insurance covers you for these activities.

Schweizer Skischule – Official Swiss Ski School organization

The official "Schweizer Skischule" organization runs over 170 ski schools across Switzerland. Their website is in English explaining their services. Many ski resorts are affiliated with this organization and use their ranking system to organize their classes.

If you take their classes and go to a different resort in Switzerland (or Europe), you can show your booklet and they will immediately know which level to book you for.

For more details, read my full article on Swiss Ski School.