Zernez

The gateway to the Swiss National Park also makes an ideal base for exploring the whole of the delightful region where Switzerland, Italy and Austria come together.

Undisputed number-one attraction, however, is Switzerland’s only national park, at 170.3 square kilometres (66 square miles) the country’s largest nature reserve. In winter, it lies under a thick blanket of snow and is closed to the public, but the visitor centre in Zernez with its fascinating multi-media exhibition remains open all season.

The attractive Engadin village also makes a peaceful base for exploring the region’s various large ski areas, while from the doorstep a network of cross-country ski trails leads into the expansive valley of the Upper Engadin, down into the wild and romantic Lower Engadin, and around Zernez itself. Anyone seeking a very special experience of nature can book a guided snowshoe tour – for example up at the Ofen Pass. Livelier thrills, meanwhile, are on offer on the Munt Baselgia toboggan run, the artificial ice rink and the wonderful natural ice rink.