Engelberg-Titlis

Our Take

Engelberg sits in a monastery valley in Central Switzerland, and the skiing above it reaches the Klein Titlis glacier at 3,020 meters via the world's first rotating cable car gondola -- the Titlis Rotair, which completes one full rotation during the ascent so everyone gets the view. The glacier at the top provides year-round skiing and the kind of altitude that keeps conditions solid when the lower Alpine stations are dealing with rain. The vertical drop from glacier summit to valley base exceeds 2,000 meters. The Engelberg skiing divides into the high-alpine glacier zone above 2,500 meters and the tree-line terrain in the middle mountain around Trübsee lake. The lower Brunni area has intermediate and beginner terrain with the charming monastery town as the backdrop. Engelberg is 90 minutes from Zurich by train -- accessible enough for day trips but substantial enough for a proper multi-day stay. The Benedictine monastery that founded the town in 1120 is still active and the combination of medieval religious institution, glacier cable cars, and serious skiing creates an Engelberg experience that doesn't have an equivalent elsewhere in Switzerland.

Nerd Stats

Fun Facts

• The Titlis Rotair is the world's first rotating gondola -- it completes one 360-degree rotation during the ascent to the glacier summit.
• The Klein Titlis glacier at 3,020 meters has year-round skiing -- there's a summer ski school operating above the permanent snowline.
• The Benedictine monastery in Engelberg was founded in 1120 and is still active -- monks and skiers coexist in the valley below the glacier.
• Engelberg is 90 minutes by train from Zurich -- it's the most accessible glacier resort to a major Swiss city.