Comfortable Alpine Home With Modern TouchesN°001
Villars, Switzerland
Garden
From $7,630 per night
Photo by Ewa SchabVillars is a sunny, family-friendly ski and golf resort in Switzerland's Vaud Alps, perched above the Rhone Valley with sweeping views of the Dents du Midi. Renting a luxury chalet in Villars pairs walk-to-village convenience and the Villars-Gryon-Diablerets ski area with privacy, space and concierge ease.
- Linked to the Villars-Gryon-Les Diablerets domain, with access to the Glacier 3000 year-round snow
- South-facing, sun-drenched terraces with panoramas over the Dents du Midi and Mont Blanc massif
- One of Switzerland's most renowned international school towns, with a relaxed, cosmopolitan feel
- An 18-hole alpine golf course, hiking and mountain biking through the summer
- Direct cog railway connection from Bex on the main Geneva-Valais line
Known forSunny family ski resort, golf, the Villars-Gryon-Les Diablerets ski area and Glacier 3000
Best time to visitDecember to March for skiing; June to September for golf and alpine hiking
Nearest airportGeneva Airport (GVA), roughly 90 minutes by car or rail
Ideal forFamilies, multi-generational groups and skiers wanting an easygoing, scenic alpine base
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Villars in pictures
Events not to miss in Villars
- Late June or early July
IFSC Climbing World Cup
Villars-sur-Ollon regularly hosts a stage of the sport climbing World Cup, bringing the world's best climbers to a purpose-built wall in the resort. A gripping free spectacle for families.
- First two weeks of July
Montreux Jazz Festival
One of the world's great music festivals plays out on Lake Geneva at Montreux, around forty minutes below the resort. An easy, glamorous evening excursion from a Villars chalet.
- 1 August
Swiss National Day
Villars celebrates the national holiday with mountain bonfires, lantern processions and fireworks over the Rhône valley. Alpine patriotism at its most charming.
Villars through the seasons
- Winter (December – April)
Family-friendly skiing above Lake Geneva
The linked Villars-Gryon-Les Diablerets area offers sunny, panoramic pistes with views to Mont Blanc, plus glacier runs at Glacier 3000. Chalets here suit multigenerational ski weeks.
- Spring (May – June)
Alpine meadows and empty trails
Narcissi and gentians carpet the slopes as the snow retreats and mountain restaurants reopen for walkers. A serene window before the summer season.
- Summer (July – August)
Hiking, golf and lake excursions
High trails, an 18-hole alpine golf course and quick descents to Lake Geneva's shore fill warm, clear days. Cool mountain nights are a relief from the lowland heat.
- Autumn (September – November)
Golden forests and vineyard terraces
Larch and beech forests turn gold while the UNESCO-listed Lavaux vineyards below celebrate the harvest. Crisp days for final hikes before the lifts reopen.
The Area
Villars-sur-Ollon sits on a sunny terrace above the Rhone Valley in the canton of Vaud, around 1,300 metres up, looking south across to the Dents du Midi and, on clear days, Mont Blanc. It is gentler and greener than the high-altitude resorts further east, which gives it a year-round, lived-in character rather than a purely seasonal one. The resort is well known internationally for its private schools, lending the village a polished, multilingual atmosphere. Chalets here range from traditional timber farmhouses to contemporary builds with floor-to-ceiling glazing, many positioned to capture the long valley views and afternoon sun. The pace is unhurried and family-oriented, making it a natural choice for those seeking alpine beauty without the intensity of the better-known names.
Luxury Chalets: Where to Stay
Smiling House offers a curated collection of luxury chalets and villas in and around Villars, from ski-in or walk-to-lift properties near the village centre to secluded homes on the slopes above. Staying close to the resort centre puts the cog railway station, shops and restaurants within strolling distance, ideal for car-free, family-friendly holidays. For greater seclusion, chalets on the upper terraces and toward Arveyes deliver wider views and quiet, while the neighbouring hamlet of Gryon offers a more rustic, traditional feel. Many properties feature private pools, spa rooms, log fires and generous terraces. Our concierge team can arrange ski hire, in-chalet chefs, transfers and lift passes before you arrive.
Things to Do
In winter, the Villars-Gryon-Les Diablerets ski area offers varied pistes suited to families and intermediates, with the option to ride up to Glacier 3000 for high-altitude runs and the Peak Walk suspension bridge. Beyond skiing there is sledging, snowshoeing and a scenic mountain railway. Summer transforms Villars into a golf and hiking destination, with its 18-hole course, extensive marked trails, mountain biking and the via ferrata routes nearby. The Col de la Croix and the Diablerets massif provide spectacular drives and walks. Families gravitate to the gentle valley paths, the alpine pastures and the easygoing village atmosphere, while the spa at the local hotels and wellness facilities round out quieter days.
Dining & Nightlife
Villars keeps its dining relaxed and alpine rather than flashy. Expect mountain restaurants serving fondue, raclette and local Vaud specialities, alongside a handful of more refined tables in the village and at the resort hotels. Slope-side buvettes and pasture restaurants are part of the day's rhythm, perfect for a long lunch in the sun. Nightlife is low-key and convivial, centred on a few bars and the easy sociability of a small resort rather than late clubs. For wine lovers, the Lavaux and Chablais vineyards of the Rhone Valley sit just below, producing the crisp whites that pair beautifully with the region's cheese-led cuisine. A private chef in your chalet is the natural choice for special occasions.
When to Visit & Getting There
The winter season runs roughly December to early April, with February the liveliest and brightest for skiing. June to September brings golf, hiking and warm, clear days, while late spring and autumn are quiet and good value. Villars is unusually accessible: Geneva Airport is about 90 minutes away by car, and the resort connects by rail to the main Geneva-Valais line at Bex via a scenic cog railway, making car-free arrival genuinely easy. Lausanne and Montreux lie under an hour away for lakeside excursions. Smiling House can arrange private airport transfers, so you step from the terminal straight to your chalet door without the logistics.