Villars-Gryon

Switzerland · Alpes Vaudoises · 104 km of pistes · 1,200m-2,113m · 31 lifts

Summary

Villars-Gryon-Les Diablerets are three villages in the canton of Vaud linked by the same ski domain of 104 km of pistes and 31 lifts, between 1,200 and 2,113 metres. Villars sits on a sunny plateau at 1,300 m and is the gateway; Gryon is the quiet village of wooden chalets; Les Diablerets holds the highest terrain and the competition piste.

It is not a resort of altitude records. It is a sunny resort, for families and for arriving without a car: the mountain railway climbs from Bex to the foot of the pistes.

Technical data

Source: Télé Villars-Gryon-Diablerets (tvgd.ch), consulted 21-08-2026.

Location and access

The reference airport is Geneva. From there, the Valais line train stops at Bex or Aigle, and from either one a mountain railway departs:

• Bex → Villars → Bretaye (BVB line of TPC): around 40 minutes to Villars, and the same train continues uphill to Bretaye, which is already piste terrain.
• Aigle → Les Diablerets (ASD line of TPC).

It is one of the few Swiss resorts where the train reaches the pistes literally. For a client who does not want to drive in winter, this is the argument.

The three villages

Villars-sur-Ollon (1,300 m)

The largest and most lively. Sunny plateau, terraces, international schools and over a century of mountain tourism. Sectors of Roc d’Orsay and Bretaye, with Grand Chamossaire as the summit.

Gryon

Traditional village of chalets, linked by lifts to Villars. Quiet and family atmosphere; access via the Barboleuse cable car.

Les Diablerets

The most alpine of the three. Here is the Willy Favre piste, venue for international competitions and the 2020 Youth Olympic Games. And from here the ascent to Glacier 3000 begins.

For whom

Families and beginners: the three villages have their own snow garden with instructors. There is even a cheaper beginner lift pass (45 CHF/day) that only opens the learning lifts.

Intermediate skiers: the bulk of the domain is wide and sunny pistes.

Expert skiers: the own domain falls short. With the Alpes Vaudoises pass you add Glacier 3000, which goes up to 3,000 m and extends the season.

Lift passes

The 6-day Alpes Vaudoises pass costs 379 CHF (~402 €). The Magic Pass gives unlimited access to the domain. Children born in 2021 or later ski free (you must collect the travel document at the ticket office). The destination guest card, the Carte Bienvenue, gives a 20% discount on transport tickets.

Rates for the season published on tvgd.ch on 21-08-2026. Confirmed when booking.

Beyond skiing

• Sledging at Les Diablerets: 7 km descent between high mountain and forest, one of the longest sledge runs in Switzerland. With hire and cable car ascent.
• Sledging at Villars: the Col de Soud run, 1.6 km through the forest, accessed via the Bretaye train.
• Nocturnal ski touring: Thursdays, along a marked route, departing from Villars.
• Mountain restaurants reachable by train or cable car, without skis: Maison de Montagne de Bretaye (1932 building), Rocco Cantina Italiana, Roc Star, L’Étable in Gryon and BarBu at the top of Diablerets Express.

How we sell it

Villars enters our catalogue for three specific reasons:

1. It is the “car-free” resort par excellence of the Alpes Vaudoises: flight to Geneva, direct train, and the mountain train drops you at the pistes.
2. It is one of the best for families: three snow gardens, beginner lift pass and wide pistes.
3. The Alpes Vaudoises pass addresses the strong skier’s objection: for 14 CHF more per day you add a glacier at 3,000 m.

Sheet created on 21-08-2026. Technical data and rates verified against the official website of the lift company (tvgd.ch). The breakdown of pistes by colour is not published in the official source and therefore does not appear here.