The Alpine Specialist guide to Villars, Switzerland
The ski resort
One of the nearest major ski resorts to Geneva airport, the charming mountain village of Villars is a perfect weekend destination - there is excellent motorway access and a regular train service between the two. The ski resort sits on a sunny ledge in a linear sprawl of traditional wooden chalets. More like a small town than a village in feel, resort life centres on the main street by the train station and bustles with visitors year-round. Evenings are relaxed in feel and suit a family-orientated clientele.
Skiing in Villars
Snow is guaranteed for skiers and snowboarders as Villars' pistes link into the high altitude Diablerets Glacier 3000 ski area. The ski slopes directly above Villars are served by a gondola at one end of town and a cog railway at the other. The lower runs are pleasant and easy tree-lined descents. Expert skiers will find a surprising amount of challenging off-piste, which is generally overlooked. The Verbier and Portes du Soleil ski areas are also within easy reach.
Summer in Villars
Summers in Villars are long and sunny with a wide range of outdoor activities from hiking and climbing to parapenting and tennis. Day-trips to the thermal springs of Lavey les Bains and to the lake-side towns of Montreux and Lausanne are an interesting possibility.
Buying luxury ski property in Villars
Most ski properties in Villars benefit from magnificent views onto the peaks of the Portes du Soleil across the Rhone valley. Development has spread from the resort centre to the outlying villages of Barboleuse and Gryon. The rules for foreign property investment are more relaxed in Villars, as part of the Vaud canton. There is a wide choice of mountain chalets and spacious ski apartments available and the lack of re-sale restrictions makes this Swiss ski resort a good choice.
Read our guide to buying luxury ski property in Switzerland.
Guides to other ski resorts
Switzerland: Crans Montana, Gstaad, Verbier, Nendaz, Saas Fee
France: Chamonix, Courchevel, Megève, Meribel, Morzine, Les Gets, Val d’Isère