10 July 2025
Crans-Montana has positioned itself as a family destination for several years now,to the delight for parents looking for holidays which are adapted to families: Can you get there with a pushchair? Where can you go to eat with children? What activities are suitable for our little ones? What if I need a bit of time to myself?
We'll answer all these questions for you here, and guide you through a tailor-made holiday to suit the age of your children. All you have to do then is make your choices, knowing you’ll be heading home afterwards with plenty of wonderful family memories.
Whether you arrive by bus, funicular or in the car, every stop and bend in the road provides a new opportunity to enjoy the exceptional views from Crans-Montana. Children will love counting how many peaks they can see, while parents can try to name each one. Enjoy it!
Arrival at your hotel
Two hotels in Crans-Montana have been officially awarded the «family» label: the Etrier and the Helvetia Intergolf. L'Etrier has a cosy mountain charm and fine dining, while Helvetia Intergolf is located in the heart of the resort and also has apartments offering hotel service. Both are very comfortable 4-star hotels with swimming pools, and they’re ideal for families with children.
In all, Crans-Montana has over 30 hotels to suit all tastes and budgets though, so don't hesitate to browse the the accommodation list to find one that's right for you. They will all welcome your family in the best possible way.
Pick up your "My Explorer Card"
When you spend at least a night in Crans-Montana, you can enjoy special advantages with the My Explorer Card. Thanks to this card, a number of activities which children love are completely free, or available at reduced prices. And parents aren’t left out either, as they can also enjoy themselves with or without kids! So don't forget to ask for it at your hotel reception,or collect it from the tourist office if you're staying in a holiday apartment.
Evening meal at the Beach Club
There's nothing like a meal at sunset with your toes in the sand to get you into the holiday mood straightaway. At the Beach Club on the shores of Lake Etang Long, parents can enjoy a cocktail on a deckchair while children play in the sand, or on the WaterGames, or perhaps in the play area right next door. There are cold or hot tapas, platters to share, savoury and sweet crêpes, not forgetting a choice of ice cream…everything you need for a wonderful aperitif together. And why not round off the evening with a leisurely stroll around the lake (easily accessible with a pushchair) to enjoy the pink sunset hues over the mountains before going to bed.
After a good night's sleep in the mountain air, the whole family will be ready to pack their rucksacks and put on their hiking boots. The idea on the second day is to recharge your batteries in nature, then have some fun with friends and family.
Walk along the bisse du Tsittoret
After breakfast, it's time to head to the nearest bus stop to catch the free shuttle bus to Colombire Hamlet. It's an idyllic spot, right in the heart of nature, and it’s one of the starting points for the magnificent Bisse du Tsittoret. The section between Colombire and the buvette Cave du Sex is an easy 30-minute walk along the hillside,and it’s suitable for little ones. At both ends of the walk, there are refreshment stands with animals and/or a play area, where you can enjoy a nice meal or refreshments. If your children are happy walking for longer, you can extend the walk and head up along the waterfalls to reach the protected Tièche valley: an area of wild, authentic natural surroundings. Either way, on the way back, have fun building boats out of bark, branches and leaves so your little walkers can race their rafts down the ‘bisse’ stream.
Visit the Maison de Bibi
When you get back to the centre of Crans-Montana, visit Bibi the Marmot, Crans-Montana's mascot, in his house at Place d'Ycoor. This children's area area offers free games and entertainment every afternoon throughout the summer, all supervised by Crans-Montana Tourism and Congress staff. There are crafts, reading, drawing, giant games... your children will be able to enjoy themselves while you enjoy the sunny terrace at the Café d’Ycoor. They're sure to join you for a delicious pancake, waffle or homemade smoothie for an afternoon snack.
Nearby, the lush green Jardins d’Ycoor also offer plenty of activities: a lovely shaded play area, picnic tables, little electric cars and free mini-golf for My Explorer Card holders.
Treasure hunt
Before heading back to the hotel, go to the tourist office to pick up everything you need for Bibi's Treasure Hunt. Armed with your game booklet, the treasure map will lead you to various family-friendly locations to collect clues and find Bibi’s treasure trove full of treats. The advantage is that you can do it whenever you like, even in several stages, throughout your stay.
Evening meal at Le Chaudron
What could be better than trying some local specialities during your stay? Le Chaudron restaurant at Hôtel la Prairie, offers a Valais menu, with tempting dishes for little ones. As a bonus, there’s a children's corner and a pool table for a fun way to round off the evening, as well as the option of dining on the terrace next to the swimming pool and a garden area – which is perfect for letting the kids run around between the main course and dessert. This family-run establishment is ideal for a quiet, friendly summer meal.
Holidays are for parents too. And although a parent’s love for their little ones is unconditional, they sometimes need a break too. Crans-Montana understands this and offers a nursery for visitors, which will look after children from 18 months old up to 6 years old, 7 days a week, between 8.30am and 5.30pm. This is a chance to let your children enjoy a half day, with or without lunch, at "Croc’Montagne" and treat yourself to a morning of wellbeing in one of the destination's spas. On the programme: swimming pool, sauna, hammam, massage and relaxation. A precious moment to relax together.
Gourmet meal at LeMontBlanc
If you want to take a bit more time just for the two of you, knowing that the children are being looked after in the meantime, why not try one of the resort’s two Michelin-star restaurants: LeMontBlanc by chef Yannick Crepaux. The special “Bistronomise Me” lunchtime menu is a tribute to the chef's seasonal childhood memories. Enjoy exceptional views of the Alpine peaks from the dining room or the terrace at the LeCrans hotel.
An active afternoon at La Moubra
Once you’ve collected the children from the nursery, and so they’re not jealous, continue with some more aquatic activities at La Moubra. This lake, one of the largest and most unspoilt in the centre of Crans-Montana, welcomes you on a beautiful grassy beach. With your My Explorer Card, you can even hire a pedalo for free and go for a swim in the middle of the lake. In the surrounding area, a plethora of activities await: a playground and mobile fitness centre in front of the campsite café, ‘accrobranch’ in the treetops at Fun Forest, running and exercise on the Parcours Vita trail, mountain biking on the Family Forest Loop, Pumptrack or climbing, tennis, padel, table tennis, snooker, badminton or beach volleyball at the Crans Montana Sports Center…one thing is certain, you won’t be bored!
Evening meal at La Plage restaurant
While you're there, why not make the most of being at the water's edge and stay to have your evening meal at La Plage restaurant, where the seaside cabin style setting and refreshing menu offer a change of scenery . There are meat and fish specialities to choose from, and no shortage of choices and flavours. Vegetarians will also find what they’re looking for, as will children, with tailor-made options just for them too.
«Screen» night
There are no smartphones or tablets to be seen here, we promise… just family fun! Crans-Montana is lucky enough to have two fun entertainment venues: a bowling alley and the cinema. So you have the choice between a game of bowling in front of big screens which will show your best strikes, or a great film on the big screen with the whole family, and some popcorn.
It's already departure day... but if you still have a little time left and you feel like it, you could also...
... explore the world of action sports at Alaïa Chalet
... visit the Fondation Opale exhibition and then enjoy its terrace on the banks of Lake Louché
... stroll around Lake Miriouges and along its ‘bisse’ stream (all accessible with a pushchair), then have a picnic by its playground
... visit the Equi-El riding school and go for a guided ride
... borrow children's books from the Crans-Montana Library
… take the Cry d'Er gondola to follow the Marmot Path
... explore the Model Train Foundation and its impressive exhibition with over 1,300 model trains
... and much, much more!
