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Voykit pocket guide · Switzerland
Crans-Montana
Spend 2–3 days: one day for ski or summer sport lifts, another for town shopping, dining and a short hike; optional extra day for golf or spa.
Crans-Montana is a high‑altitude resort on a sunny south‑facing plateau in Valais. It offers winter sports, summer golf, hiking and upscale shopping. Most activities fit within a half‑day, so a 2‑day stay covers the main lifts and town, with a third day for golf or spa if desired.
- Country
- Switzerland
- Best months
- Dec–Mar for snow; Jun–Sep for hiking and golf
- Avoid
- Apr–May (variable snow) and Oct–Nov (short daylight)
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CHF
- Money
- Currency is the Swiss franc (CHF). Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere; euros are sometimes taken with change in francs.
- Daily spend
- Budget CHF 120–180 excl. bed · Mid CHF 180–300 excl. bed · High CHF 300+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Swisscom, Sunrise and Salt sell prepaid SIMs (ID needed); Swisscom covers the most mountain terrain.
- Emergency
- Police 117 · Ambulance 144 · Fire 118 · Rega 1414
- Plugs
- Types J, C · 230 V · 50 Hz · Swiss three-pin sockets are recessed: thin two-pin (type C) plugs fit, but thick German Schuko plugs do not — bring a Swiss adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Service included; round up or leave 5–10% for good service.; Café or bar: Round up.; Taxi: Round up.; Hotel: Optional; CHF 2–5 for porters.; Mountain guide: CHF 20–50 for a day, optional.
- Water
- Tap and fountain water is excellent. Restaurants usually charge for bottled water; ask for 'Hahnenwasser' / 'eau du robinet'.
- Toilets
- Station toilets cost CHF 1–2; restaurants and department stores are free for customers.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee in café | CHF 4–6 |
| Alpine lunch (sandwich + drink) | CHF 12–20 |
| Ski lift ticket (1 day) | CHF 70–120 |
| Golf green fee (18 holes) | CHF 120–180 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | CHF 30–45 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GVA · Geneva Airport
- 2 h 30 min train to Sierre, then funicular
- ZRH · Zurich Airport
- Change at Brig, then train to Sierre
Typical fares
- Sierre → Crans‑Montana funicular
- CHF 25 round‑trip, 12–20 min (check)
- Free resort bus (until 23:00)
- No charge, frequent service
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Free resort bus runs until ~23:00; funicular from Sierre (12–20 min) to Montana Gare; private car parking requires a "macaron" disc for free 60‑90 min, otherwise fine.Free resort bus runs until ~11:00 PM; funicular from Sierre (12–20 min) to Montana Gare; private car parking requires a "macaron" disc for free 60‑90 min, otherwise fine.
See and do
Known for
- Skiing and snowboarding
- European Golf Championships (Sept.)
- Luxury shopping
- Funicular from Sierre
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sierre town | Walk 5 min to funicular station, then 12‑20 min ride | ≈ 30 min total |
| Val d'Anniviers (Grimentz) | Bus from Crans‑Montana to St‑Maurice, then local bus | ≈ 1 h 30 min |
| Saas‑Fee | Train Sierre → Visp → Saas‑Fee (≈ 1 h 30 min) | ≈ 2 h |
Sleep
- Guarda Golf Hotel Crans-Montana
- 5‑star, 25 rooms, close to golf course and centre
- LeCrans Hotel & Spa
- 4‑star, spa, rooms CHF 550–9 000 per night
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | EntschuldigungEntschuldigung |
| Thank you | MerciMerci |
| How much is it? | C’est combien?Say |
| Where is the funicular? | Où est le funiculaire?Say |
| Can I pay by card? | Puis-je payer par carte?Say |
| Where is the toilet? | Où sont les toilettes?Say |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; three cheek kisses among friends; avoid: Skipping the greeting in shops
- Punctuality: Be exactly on time; avoid: Running for the train expecting it to wait
- Language: Greet in the local language, then ask for English; avoid: Speaking German in Geneva as a default
- Quiet: Low voices in trains; quiet carriages are marked; avoid: Speakerphone calls
- Money: Keep financial talk discreet; avoid: Asking people's salaries
- Recycling: Separate PET, glass and cans; avoid: Leaving rubbish in hotel or flat bins unsorted
Scams and watch-outs
- Parking without a macaron disc incurs heavy fine.
- Lift‑pass prices vary; buy in advance for cheaper dynamic pricing.
- Winter sledging at Aminona costs CHF 35 even with a ski pass.
Crans‑Montana is safe; main risks are winter avalanches on backcountry routes and parking fines for improper disc use.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Crans-Montana yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Skiing and snowboarding
- European Golf Championships (Sept.)
- Luxury shopping
- Funicular from Sierre
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Crans-Montana: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Crans Montana, revision 5230041 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5230041
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/crans-montana). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.