Engelberg-Titlis seriously great Swiss skiing

snow action team 03.12.2019

Engelberg-Titlis is an absolutely spectacular Swiss resort with 2000m vertical and runs up to 12km long. It’s central Switzerland’s largest winter destination, only just over 2 hours by rail from Zurich Airport, or 75 minutes drive. Did we mention they get slammed with snow? Yes, Engelberg-Titlis sometimes has more snow than anywhere in the World – more than Japan, Canadian heli skiing, wherever (as we reported in February of the 2018 season) – and the area is off to another excellent start to the 2019-2020 winter.

Even better, it’s also very affordable with everything from classic alpine hotels to a great range of apartments on offer. So put Engelberg (‘Mountain of Angels’ ) and Titlis on your Ski Swiss list soon. Bronwnen Gora reports.

Unlimited freeride options! © Brunni Enander / engelberg-titlis turismus ag

They offer so much that every skill level can find what they want. For a start, the region is filled with dramatic peaks that give Titlis ski field one of the biggest verticals in the European Alps. Snow reliability and quality is excellent, with a season that starts as early as October and runs as late as May.

The classic Hotel Bellevue © Engelberg-Titlis Turismus AG

Engelberg-Titlis skiing

The 82 km of pistes range from extreme off piste to nursery slopes.

Titlis’ main slopes, including the Jochpass and Trubsee areas, lie on one side of town below the 3030m Klein Titlis.

Plenty of perfect family ski slopes © Engelberg-Titlis Turismus AG

On the opposite side is Ristis and Brunnihutte, a mostly intermediate area, perfect for learners, children and families.

Modern lifts are another plus for Engelberg-Titlis (as well as terrific on-mountain eateries). From Stand the lift to the summit is the amazing Rotair gondola, the world’s first ski lift with a rotating floor to maximize views for all passengers.

It travels to the 3030m Klein Titlis peak, the region’s highest lifted point, where a multi-level top station holds a gift shop, café, and ice cream store.
Wander outside and before choosing a descent – anything from intermediate to off-piste glacier runs – take in the breathtaking 360 degree Swiss alpine panorama from the huge viewing platform. Test your mettle on Europe’s highest suspension bridge, which runs along one side of the viewing platform.

Ripping down past the Rotair © Denise Feierabend/Engelberg-Titlis Turismus

Descending from Stand top station are several mainly intermediate runs that lead to the gondola mid-station, or either of two chairlifts. Or keep descending and stop off at Trubsee’s large and rather lovely self-service cafeteria to tuck into delectable meats prepared in the smoker on the outdoor terrace.

Engelberg-Titlis trail map

Beyond the cafeteria, the slope leads to the Trubsee-Hopper chairlift which crosses its namesake, the 1800m-high lake. In winter it’s snow covered and in summer filled with boats. Right before the Hopper lift is a snow park area with snowmobiling and an Igloo hotel, where visitors after a novel alpine experience can spend a night on the mountain.
The Hopper lift runs passengers in both directions and is the link between the main face and the opposite ridge where two chairlifts access Jochpass, Jochstock and mostly intermediate runs. Below Jochstock is the long, winding enjoyable home run to town that almost everybody takes at day’s end.

Ride the Brunnibahn to Ristis © engelberg-Titlis Turismus AG

Adventurous advanced skiers and those who love their off-piste will find their nirvana on Titlis’ famous off-piste extreme run the Laub. Vast and imposing, the Laub is a near perfectly continuous 35-degree, 1200m-long slope found on skier’s right of the ski area boundary line and easily visible from the Titlis Xpress. Watch people descend while riding the gondola, and then hear their tales at après ski that evening

So many great places for lunch with a view like this at Trubsee © engelberg-titlis turismus ag

Engelberg Village

The historic town of Engelberg is cute, fun and quirky. There is loads to do and see, including a famous 12th century Benedictine monastery where monks still live, work, teach and make cheese, as they have done for hundreds of years. Cheese room tours are capped off by cheese making sessions where visitors can craft a block themselves to take home.

Everything a visitor needs is in walking distance, making it an ideal choice for families and anyone who wants to self-cater. Doing that makes for a very affordable Swiss snow holiday.

Central Engelberg is pedestrian only with plenty of atmospheric bars, cosy restaurants and late night venues plus delis and patisseries selling mouth-watering fare.

Getting to Engelberg-Titlis

Fly to Zurich www.swissair.com

Train: It’s from just over 2 hours train trip from Zurich airport to Engelberg, 1 hour and 50 minutes from Zurich, 45 minutes from Lucerne, 4 hours from Geneva and and Basel. Travel from Lucerne to Engelberg on the “Zentralbahn” railway.

Self drive: From Zurich Airport to Engelberg is as little as 75 – 80 minutes depending on conditions. Follow the A2 and take the Stans Süd exit before continuing along the main road to Engelberg. Car park next to the valley station.

more info
www.myswitzerland.com
www.myswitzerland.com/rail
www.engelberg.ch
www.titlis.ch

Zentralbahn runs from Lucerne to Engelberg in 45 minutes

Engelberg-Titlis Mountain stats

• Summit 3328m, vertical 1970m
• 6m snowfall
• 23 trails longest 12km; terrain 33% beginner, 57% intermediate, 15% advanced/expert
• 2 parks
• 21 lifts including rotating gondola, 6 gondolas & 8 chairs

Check out more Swiss resorts & the Glacier Express

• Jungfrau Region (Grindelwald / Wengen / MÜrren)
• Zermatt
• Villars / Gryon / Les Diablerets / Glacier 3000
• Gstaad
• Verbier / 4-Vallées
• Take a shot at the Murren Inferno race.
• Glacier Express

Check out a local’s view here