Brigels Ski Resort Switzerland
Lovely Brigels is the small ski resort that skis BIG. Located in Grisons (Graubünden) canton near Chur, Brigels (or Breil, or Brigels-Waltensburg-Andiast!) delivers a fantastic ski & snowboard experience on uncrowded sunny slopes in a classic Swiss rural setting.
Brigels was rated by Powderhounds in the Top 10 best small ski resorts in Europe. Small being a relative term - Brigels has wide ranging terrain, over 1,300m skiable vertical & no one there to compete with you on a powder day. Put Brigels on your SSSPV list ('Sneaky Secret Ski Places to Visit’).
Pros & Cons for Brigels Ski Resort
Pros
- A local family ski resort that skis BIG.
- Rated in our Top 10 best small ski resorts in the Alps.
- Uncrowded.
- Quality piste trails for all levels.
- Sensational off-piste powder.
- Value for money.
- Particularly good range of non-ski activities.
- Beautiful local accommodation.
- Delicious restaurant food & drink on mountain and in town.
- Easy access by public transport.
- Exceptionally friendly staff and locals.
Cons
- Base area is low elevation.
- Slow lifts.
- No expert/extreme terrain.
- Day car-parking costs!
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)
- Sunny south-facing terrain.
- Quiet après & nightlife.
- Limited ski in/ ski out accommodation.
- Dynamically priced lift pass can be good or bad depending on the day!
- Alternative to nearby 'mega' resorts (i.e. Laax).
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain
The great pleasure of skiing or snowboarding Brigels is that it provides uncomplicated terrain and full skiable vertical while utilising only a small number of ski lifts. Not counting the main learn to ski area slightly detached from the main ski hill near the Pradas Resort, the entire mountain is effectively served by three chairlifts. Broad swathes of rolling intermediate piste trails stream down the entire 1,300m vertical from the high alpine into lightly wooded hay barn territory down low. The 50km of piste trails ski BIGGER than excepted & will keep one's interest for quite some time.
Check out the ski trail map for Brigels below.
Brigels chair lifts are on the slower side of the ledger, but there is no rush, so enjoy the ride & scenery. A fourth chair runs only rarely & is locally called the 'romantic' chair due to its lack of pace allowing ample time for relationship forming (or destruction!). The advanced terrain its serves is accessible via other lifts, so whether it runs or not is neither here nor there.
Every inch of Brigels is skiable off the piste. Ripping long, fast lines in alpine powder then picking one's way through light trees, past hay barns & into the valley is an absolute joy. Competition for fresh tracks is non-existent.
Brigels is generally snowboard friendly, with only one traverse & a couple of T-bars causing any potential issues.
For more information & photos on ski terrain, lifts and passes, see our Brigels Skiing & Snowboarding page.
Snow & Weather
The ski resort is in a high snowfall zone of south-east Switzerland; however, the Brigels resort base areas are reasonable low elevation & the slopes do face the sunny south.
The southerly aspect can affect snow quality down low, but most terrain is above 1,700m where the snow remains cold & crisp. Snow making is limited to major top to bottom trails & linking traverses, so Brigels can skied in even the leanest parts of the winter season.
Where is Brigels Switzerland?
Brigels ski resort is above the town of the same name in the Surselva region of canton Grisons (Graubünden) midway between Andermatt & the capital Chur. Just to confuse things, Brigels is also known as Breil!
Brigels is only 48km (50min) west of Chur by road. In winter, road closures to the west require the use of trains if coming from the direction of Andermatt.
Brigels is easily accessed on train services operated by the Rhaetian railway which connect to buses at the Tavanasa station. Gateway international airports are Zurich (ZRH) & Milan Malpensa (MXP). Zurich is the recommended point of entry. Search & book here for train tickets to Tavanasa (near Brigels). Buy a bus ticket to Brigels from the bus driver.
See the best ways to get to the ski resort on our Travel to Brigels page.
Brigels Accommodation
Brigels ski resort has three villages at its base, the largest of which is Brigels (Breil), the smaller being Waltensburg (Vuorz) & the hamlet of Andiast.
In Brigels several great hotels & guesthouses are in town a short walk or ski from the resort base. The closest accommodation is at the Pradas Resort Apartments, which is 'ski in' to the learn to ski area but 'walk in' from the main ski area! The excellent Hotel Vincenz is a short skate across the Plaun Rueun to the lift base & 'ski in' from the learn to ski area on the return. Further afield is the best rated hotel on the plateau, the Hotel La Val Bergspa Brigels.
At the Waltensburg lift base, the Hotel Ucliva is the absolute closest lodgings to the ski resort but is in a quiet area. Andiast has the excellent Hotel Postigluin, & whilst it is away from the resort can be skied to via off-piste meadows, plus a free ski bus stops at the door.
Search & book here for all Brigels accommodation.
Alternative locations to stay if one doesn't have their own transport are at hotels & guesthouses near the train stations of Tavanasa (like the Ustria Crusch Alva), Ilanz & Disentis. Further afield the large city of Chur provides oodles of choice.
Ski Rentals
Ski & snowboard rentals from our local partners are available at Brigels-Breil near the Prados Resort, just across from the main ski lift base and directly on the learn-to-ski area. Receive a discount when you search & book via our Brigels-Breil Ski & Snowboard Rental page.
Other Activities at Brigels
As with all good Swiss ski resorts, if you are not into hurtling oneself down the hill at a rate of knots on skis, Brigels has alternative forms of activity & entertainment. Two long sledding trails are available to hurtle oneself down the hill with all the family on a sled. Access is via chairlift from either the Brigels or Waltensburg base. Winter walking trails extend for many kilometres between the villages & across the ski resort up to the restaurant at Alp Dado. A small snow tubing area is free of charge at Brigels. An extensive network of beautifully groomed cross-country trails.
If all that fails to energise you from a winter slumber, you can have a crack at Eisstockschießen (ice stock sport) on the frozen Brigels Lake. Eisstockschießen is a local sport similar (but different) to curling!
Nearby Ski Resorts
Brigels is close to some of the largest & best known ski resorts in Switzerland including Andermatt Sedrun and Laax. Across the valley from Brigels is the local competition, the larger north facing Obersaxon Mundaun. The recently expanded Disentis 3000 ski resort is on the train line to the west.
From Chur, the wonderful ski resorts of Arosa, Lenzerheide, Davos Klosters & St Moritz are all close & will highlight the real strengths & weaknesses of lovely Brigels!
Reviews
The Powderhounds reviewed Brigels-Waltensburg-Andiast way too long ago, but it is still imprinted on our brains for all the right powder-seeking, freeriding, pleasurable reasons. We will be heading back soon. Click on the review link in the left column (or top of the page if on a mobile) to read all the reviews.
See how Brigels compares to the rest of the Swiss ski resorts on the Switzerland ski resort ratings page, or compare to the rest of Europe on the European ski resort ratings page.
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