Ski to Grindlewald

From Wengen, take the train to the Kleine Scheidegg stop, then schuss down to Grindlewald, a charming Bernese-style town down valley. Visit the Velogemel factory, a 100-year-old manufacturer of handcrafted, wooden ski bikes that are unique to Grindlewald and were used as a common mode of transportation until the late 1980s. On super snowy days, you’ll still see people slashing around town on these classic snow bikes. Take the train from Grindlewald back to Wengen, or work your way back skiing via a series of trains and lifts.

Backcountry with a Side of Tea and Cake

Hire a guide and tap into some of the most scenic backcountry skiing in Europe. Swiss-born, American-based Markus Beck of Alpine World Descents will take you on the tour of a lifetime. You’ll ski from the top of the Jungfrau Joch, drop into the backside of the Eiger, and ski down the Aletsch, the longest glacier in Europe and an UNESCO World Heritage sight. Stop at the Konkordia hut for tea and cakes. Stay the night, continue on a multi-day tour, or ski down to the closet village and hop on a train back to Wengen.

Bring Your Cowbell

No ski race in North America—not even the Olympics— can hold a candle to World Cup ski racing in Europe. And nothing captures the Swiss devotion to their national sport better than the Lauberhorn, the longest track on the World Cup circuit at three miles. Held each January, the Lauberhorn oozes tradition including an air show put on by the Swiss Air Force to kick off the races.