Car-free winter wonderland with skiing, sledging, delicious food and family friendly adventures. Braunwald | Canton of Glarus | Switzerland
The "it" factor
What makes it special:
Two ski beginners' villages: Hüttenberg & Grotzenbüel
3 km long sledge run
Great family hotels: Märchenhotel, Cristal & Berggasthaus Gumen
Beautiful area to explore on foot or by horse carriage
Things to Keep in Mind:
You need to park at the funicular bottom station and take it up
Consider organizing luggage delivery in advance—it’s easy!
Want the highlights? Skip the reading and dive into our video.
The fun factor
Braunwald village is a hidden gem tucked away in the mountains. It’s accessible only by funicular, which runs every 30 minutes, adding to its charm. Once there, you can explore on foot, take an electric taxi, or enjoy a ride in a horse-drawn carriage (Schumi-Trans GmbH or Schuler Transporte).
While not your typical high-Alpine mountain resort, Braunwald is still incredibly picturesque, especially when the hills are covered in snow. We visited in early January and absolutely loved it! It’s also a fantastic destination for families, offering Kinderlands, slopes to explore, a thrilling sledge run, and a peaceful, serene atmosphere.
Unlike some other ski resorts, Braunwald is not very busy, making it a perfect retreat if you’re looking to escape the crowds. You won’t find tons of wild après-ski parties here, but instead, you’ll enjoy a laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere—ideal for those who prefer quiet, nature, and quality time together.
To help you choose and plan, we’ve detailed Braunwald adventures below.
Snow adventures
Learn to ski in beginners village (Kinderland)
There are two kids' ski areas (Kinderlands) in Braunwald.
Hüttenberg, a bigger learning area, is easy to reach on foot (c. 15 minutes walk from the village, slightly uphill) or by gondola from Niederschlacht-Hüttenberg (c. 5 minutes walk from the village, mostly flat). It is located just next to the Hüttenberg gondola station. It has a magic carpet with fun obstacles, two tow rope lifts with mini jumps, and a sledding hill where you can rent sleds and “Füdlibobs” from the ski school. If your little ones need lessons, the ski school is right next door.
It is also next to Cristal Hotel & Restaurant, which has a playground and an indoor playroom, and a table-served menu with kids' options —perfect for little ones to take a break from the snow while parents enjoy a warm drink. We had lunch there (fitness-teller was great!) and really enjoyed it.
To reach the second area, Kinderland Grotzenbüel, you can take the gondola from Hüttenberg to Grotzenbüel. This area is slightly smaller and features a gentle practice slope, a 150-meter magic carpet, and fun elements like the Bartli-Parcours tunnels and other training aids. It's located next to the Chämistube Restaurant, which offers a cozy atmosphere with a fireplace, a self-serve buffet with typical mountain food, and a kids' menu. We also had lunch there (spaghetti, as always) and thought it was great!
Explore Braunwald’s 35 km of slopes
Braunwald has 35 km of slopes, and once our daughter felt more confident, we hit the three blue runs to practice. They were the perfect next step, giving her space to build skills at her own pace. Hüttenberg–Niederschlacht was our favorite at the start—short and straightforward. Just make sure the kids are confident, as some sections are narrow with drop-offs.
More confident skiers can hit the slopes in Gumen or Selbengrat, the highest stations in the area. One of our favorite ski runs was after an overnight stay in Gumen—it snowed all night, and in the morning, we had the first tracks on fresh powder, long before the gondolas started running.
3. Hit Braunwald’s 3 km Sledge Run
If your family loves sledging, there’s a 3 km sledge run from Grotzenbüel to Hüttenberg—actually, the first long run we ever did! The track is easy, but some sections are narrow and close to the edge, so it’s important to know how to stop and turn.
To reach the starting point, you need to take a gondola to Grotzenbüel, where the run begins (just next to the Chämistube Restaurant and Grotzenbüel Kinderland) :
🚡 From Hüttenberg – About 15 minutes from the village, with a slight uphill walk.
🚡 From Niederschlacht-Hüttenberg – Two gondolas (about 5 minutes from the village, mostly flat).
3. Ice skate next to the gingerbread houses
Next to the Märchenhotel Braunwald (c. 10 mins walk from Braunwald funicular station, slightly uphill), there’s an eco-friendly ice-skating rink—not real ice, but still a lot of fun! Skates are available for rent, and if you’re staying at the hotel, they’re free. The rink is open to non-hotel guests (at a fee), and if you’re up for a game of hockey, just grab a stick and start playing—just like we did.
What makes it special? The magical setting—surrounded by mountains and chalet-style houses that look straight out of a fairy tale. One of them is even home to llamas, alpacas, and goats, adding to the unique atmosphere.
Explore the area
Explore the area on foot
Braunwald is picturesque and perfect for walking.
If you just want to explore the village, we recommend just walking around the village —if there’s enough snow, you can even pull the kids on a sledge. If not, it’s an easy walk on foot.
For more challenging winter hikes, check out the list here. We have not tried them though as themed family hikes are only available in summer.
Explore the area by horse carriage
If walking isn’t your thing but you still want to take in the scenery, a horse carriage ride is a great option. We did a 1-hour ride around the village, and it was a beautiful experience.
The carriage is on wheels, so it runs regardless of snow conditions, and there are blankets inside to keep you warm. You can book a ride with Schumi-Trans GmbH or Schuler Transporte.
Where to stay: The comfort factor
If you're staying overnight, there are plenty of options to choose from. We checked out three and highlighted the best things about each to help you decide.
Step into a fairy tale at Märchenhotel Braunwald
We’ve stayed in a lot of family-friendly places, but Märchenhotel Braunwald truly blew us away. It’s not just a hotel—it’s a fairy tale world come to life. From the moment we arrived, it felt magical. Right by the entrance, bunnies live in a tiny castle, and just above it, goats have their own fortress in summer—but in winter, they move to gingerbread houses next to the ice rink. Because, of course, in a place like this, even the goats get a fairy-tale home! Our daughter (and us) were instantly hooked!
The elevator has aquarium walls, and in the middle of the hotel, a giant play tree stretches up, making the whole place feel straight out of a storybook. Everywhere we turned, there was something special—a kids' casino, room where you paint with light, llama walks, marble rolling constructs, aerial yoga, treasure hunts, kids' discos, and electric cars.
Then came the highlight of our stay—the 6 pm story-telling tradition. Parents and kids split into two groups: kids gather for bedtime stories with the hotel storytellers, while the adults head off for their own fairy tale—wine tasting!
Afterwards, the kids can enjoy a supervised dinner in the King’s Hall, followed by fun activities, while parents get to relax over a peaceful, five-course meal—a rare luxury in any hotel.
The storytelling tradition goes even further—it’s something you can actually see come to life. On selected days, kids can create drawings of themselves, which are then digitized into a video featuring the hotel. Their animated characters become part of a story, which is shown in the hotel cinema. Later, parents can watch the video at home, making it a truly special keepsake from their stay.
Breakfast is also an adventure on its own. There’s a tiny house where kids can make their own pancakes, flipping them just the way they like. And as a fun twist, there’s even a cow that you can "milk" over your bowl of cereals —a little magic to start the day.
And just when we thought it couldn’t get better, we stepped into the paradise suites—and there it was, a slide connecting the two floors! Of course, our daughter went straight for it.
But what really stood out was the blend of fun and luxury—elegant design and little details that made it feel special for both kids and parents. It’s rare to find a kids’ hotel that feels this refined, where magic and comfort go hand in hand.
You can find more info and book your stay here, or watch our video for a glimpse of the experience!
Enjoy family comfort at Cristal Hotel
If you're looking for something simpler, we can recommend Cristal Hotel. It’s right next to the Hüttenberg beginners’ village and ski school, making it super convenient if your main focus is getting the kids on skis.
The family rooms have a separate kids' bedroom, and there’s both an indoor playroom and an outdoor playground to keep little ones entertained.
We stopped for lunch here and had a great à-la-carte meal. You can find more info or book your stay here.
Stay at 2'000 meters in Gumen
Well, 1901 to be exact. On our final day in Braunwald, we decided to take on the adventure to stay in a mountain hut, Berggasthaus Gumen—and it was absolutely worth it for the breathtaking views alone.
Getting there is part of the experience—you need to take the Gumenbahn gondola from Burstberg to Kleiner Gumen. Depending on the snow, there might a short walk to the gondola that the electric taxi can’t cover (which was our case), plus a brief 1 min uphill walk from the gondola to reach Berggasthaus Gumen, so check in advance and pack only what you can carry.
Once we arrived, we were greeted by panoramic mountain views that stretched endlessly. Waking up to the sight of snow-covered peaks glowing in the morning light was pure magic.
One important thing—watch the gondola operating times. If you miss the last ride up, there’s no way to get there!
Inside, there’s a restaurant with a cozy fire, making it the perfect spot to warm up after a day in the mountains. Every night, there’s one set meal—we had cordon bleu, salad, and potatoes, which was simple but really good. If the kids want something different, they’re happy to organize it, which is a nice touch.
After dinner, we discovered a drawer full of games and spent the evening playing cards—which, as usual in our family, got pretty competitive.
The rooms are upstairs—a mix of family rooms with private bathrooms (double bed + bunk bed) and larger dorm-style rooms with bunk beds and shared bathrooms down the hall. They’re simple but comfortable, just what you need for a cozy mountain stay.
And if you’re a skier or snowboarder, one of the biggest highlights is being the first on the slopes. We were lucky—it had snowed overnight, and we got to carve through untouched powder, even before the ski lifts even opened. That's a different kind of luxury!
You can check out stories from our stay or book here.
There’s also Hotel Tödiblick—we haven’t stayed there ourselves, but we’ve heard great things about it!
The value factor
Funicular from Linthal Braunwald to Braunwald (SBB ticket)
Full price: Single: 7.60 CHF | Return 15.20 CHF
Half-Faire / Kids 6 - 16 years old: 3.80 | Return: 7.60 CHF
Kids below 6 years old: FREE
Ski passes:
Adults (20–63 years): Full day - CHF 54 | 4-hour pass - CHF 41
Youth (16–19 years): Full day - CHF 44 | 4-hour pass - CHF 33
Seniors (64+ years): Full day - CHF 44 | 4-hour pass - CHF 33
Children (6–15 years): Full day - CHF 27 | 4-hour pass - CHF 21
Kids below 6 years old: FREE
Multiple days discounts and other passes available
Braunwald Adventures - Practical Info
Braunwald
Arrival by car: Park at the Linthal Braunwaldbahn parking (Stachelberg 2, 8783 Linthal) and take the funicular to Braunwald | More info
Arrival by public transport: Take the direct S25 Train from Zürich HB to Linthal Braunwaldbahn The funicular to Braunwald departs right next to the train station | More info
Braunwald is a car-free village, accessible only by funicular from Linthal. To ensure smooth luggage transport, here are some tips:
Free Transport for Strollers & Bikes: The Linthal-Braunwald funicular and Grotzenbüel gondola allow strollers and bikes on board for free. A ramp and elevator in Linthal make access easier—staff are available to assist.
Luggage Handling for Car Travelers: Drop off your labeled luggage at the baggage counter in Linthal for transfer. Free transport back to Linthal is also available—just hand over your luggage to station staff in Braunwald. Luggage can also be shipped directly to and from Braunwald within Switzerland and abroad - check SBB for details.
Hotel Guests: Attach the luggage tags sent by your hotel for direct delivery to your accommodation (some hotels may charge a fee). If you don’t have a tag, you can request one at the Linthal baggage counter.
More info: Ski Map | Webcams | Open facilities | Winter Activities | Arrival | Taxi: Schuler-Transporte | Taxi: Schumi-trans GmbH | Ski School