Travel Tuesday: skiing in Klosters

Whatever your opinion might be of the British Royal Family, you can't deny that they've got excellent taste in ski resorts. For years, the Windsors have been the most celebrated winter residents of Klosters, displaying a loyalty to the Swiss resort that's easily justified by its seamless blend of charming rural scenery and seven-star hotels. Despite its well-established reputation as a favoured Royal holiday destination, Klosters has never yielded to the temptation of over-expansion, preserving its village feel and adding to the air of exclusivity. Even more remarkably, this hasn't resulted in excessive inflation, either: Klosters is still one of the most reasonably priced resorts in the Alps. Unsurprisingly, chalets and apartments here don't tend to stay on the market for long, but if you're fortunate enough to purchase local property you're almost guaranteed a secure and fruitful long-term investment.

When paired with neighbouring Davos, Klosters boasts a total of almost 200 miles of slopes and some excellent off-piste terrain, providing opportunities for skiers of all ages and abilities to feel as challenged or comfortable as they choose. This variety goes some way to explaining the spell that Klosters seems to cast on its visitors, with many families choosing to make this their only stop for the season and returning year after year. The Royal Family is just one example of this: it's long been a tradition for them to visit once a year, with Prince Charles in particular becoming so associated with the resort that one of the ski lifts has been named 'The Prince of Wales' in his honour. However, Klosters' reputation as destination of choice for the world's elite even pre-dates the Windsor patronage, with 1950s Hollywood stars from Gene Kelly to Rex Harrison staying at the resort and dining at the legendary Chesa Grischuna.

Unlike many modern ski villages, Klosters has kept its après ski options focussed on gourmet dining rather than all-night parties, which has also helped to keep it from being overrun with groups of students. Shops here reflect a similar ethos, with small designer boutiques lining the village streets. Non-skiers can spend their days relaxing in the spas, or keep themselves busy with a wide variety of other winter sports, including ice skating, snowboarding and sledding. Although the hotels here are famously opulent, the fact that most visitors to Klosters find themselves lured back there again each and every winter makes property here a particularly worthwhile investment. Despite being most celebrated as a skiing destination, visitors with homes in the village might easily find themselves just as smitten with Klosters in the summer, when the lido pool opens and the spectacular mountain trails are cleared for walkers, hikers and even cyclists.

If you’re considering adding a chalet or apartment in Klosters to your property portfolio, contact Engel & Völkers for expert assistance in your search. Our international agents have extensive experience in helping buyers from all over the world to navigate the local market, thereby ensuring that your transaction runs as smoothly as possible from start to finish.