Andermatt
Winter Resort Report

ABOVE: Andermatt's Gemsstock mountain and cablecar.

Andermatt may not have the glitz of St. Moritz, the massive lift network of Davos, or the hip modernity of Crans-Montana, but this resort in Central Switzerland is popular with hardcore skiers who prefer alpine excitement to disco action.

The town lies only 67 km (41 miles) southeast of Lucerne and 140 km (87 miles) from Zürich near the junction of four alpine passes: the St. Gotthard, Grimsel, Susten, and Oberalp. The plateau setting isn't very spectacular, but the surrounding mountains are--and the Andermatt Tourist Office boasts of "guaranteed snow from November to May."

Skiing is geared toward intermediate and expert skiers, with 56 km (34 miles) of alpine runs and 40 km (24 miles) of groomed cross-country trails that run along the valley floor toward the beginners' alpine lift at Realp. Off-piste skiing is available for advanced or suicidal downhillers. Non-skiers won't find much to do in Andermatt during winter, except for sledding and ice skating on an outdoor rink.

Accommodations

Andermatt isn't a large resort, but it has a reasonable selection of two- and three-star hotels along with a few guesthouses and pensions. The Hotel Drei Könige & Post is worth investigating if your budget runs to 150 francs or more for a double room (including breakfast). This traditional hotel is on a square in the center of the village.

Hotel Drei Könige & Post
Familie A. + H. Renner
Tel. 041-887 00 01
Fax 041-887 16 66

Several of Andermatt's other hotels, most notably the Hotel Aurora (***) and the Hotel Monopol-Metropol (***), are glaringly modern and may not appeal to tourists who are looking for alpine charm.

For cheaper accommodations, see the Web links on page 2 or consult the Verkehrbüro (Tourist Office) next to the PTT bus depot after your arrival.

Transportation, Web links

Continued on page 2

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