Winter in Neuchâtel has something reassuring about it. Everything feels close and accessible. In just a few minutes, you can move from the lakeside to snow-covered Jura landscapes, from an indoor ice rink to a sauna right by the water. You can come to stay active, to get some fresh air, or simply to change scenery for a couple of days, without overplanning.
That’s exactly what makes a stay here so pleasant: sleeping in the city centre, having a comfortable base, and deciding what to do day by day depending on the weather and how you feel.
The Hôtel Beaulac, located directly on the lake and just steps from the heart of Neuchâtel, fits perfectly into this way of travelling. Evenings are easy, mornings start smoothly, and everything is within reach.
→ To plan your stay (and book directly): https://www.beaulac.ch
Enjoy the snow when conditions are right: small ski areas with real character
As soon as the snow arrives, the Neuchâtel region reveals its winter side. Several small-scale ski areas become accessible, ideal for a few hours or a relaxed day on the slopes, without the pressure of large alpine resorts. La Brévine, Les Verrières, La Corbatière / La Roche-aux-Crocs, Crêt-Meuron (between Vue des Alpes and Tête de Ran), Sommartel, Le Pâquier / Crêt du Puy, La Robella, Brot-Plamboz and La Côte-aux-Fées all offer a surprising variety for a canton often associated first with its lake.
Before heading up, one simple habit makes all the difference: checking real conditions. The official snow bulletin is updated continuously by the ski areas and Nordic centres.
Sledging and bob runs: the winter activity that always works
There are days when skiing is not necessarily the plan, but getting outside still is. On those days, sledging or bob runs are a safe bet. They are simple, fun and effective. The page “Winter in the Pays de Neuchâtel” lists sledging areas across the canton, making it easy to find a slope that suits everyone — families, friends, or anyone looking for a light-hearted winter outing.
It’s also a great option if you’re staying in Neuchâtel. You can spend half a day in the snow, return calmly in the afternoon, and enjoy a warm, relaxed evening in the city.
For a full selection of winter ideas and locations: https://www.j3l.ch
Cross-country skiing and Nordic walks: the quieter side of winter
For those who prefer a slower, more rhythmic way to experience winter, cross-country skiing is often the best choice. Nordic centres are spread across very different landscapes: La Côte-aux-Fées, La Brévine, Vue des Alpes, Bugnenets / Savagnières, Les Ponts-de-Martel, La Sagne, Sommartel and the Creux du Van area near Couvet.
You don’t need to be a seasoned athlete to enjoy it. Some trails are ideal for beginners, others for longer, more demanding routes. And if you don’t have equipment with you, j3l.ch also lists rental providers for snowshoes, cross-country skis and downhill skis — the kind of practical detail that makes a winter weekend much easier to organise.
Ice skating: from frozen lakes to indoor rinks
Ice skating has something immediate about it. You lace up your skates and simply go.
Across the canton, several ice rinks are available, including the Littoral ice rinks in Neuchâtel right by the lake, as well as facilities in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Le Locle, Savagnier and Les Ponts-de-Martel.
And then there is the image that stays with you: skating on Lake des Taillères when conditions allow it, surrounded by a winter landscape that feels almost unreal.
Here too, winter sets the pace. And that’s perfectly fine.
Warming up properly: temporary saunas and lakeside wellness
Neuchâtel also knows how to make winter gentler. Several wellness spaces and temporary saunas are designed specifically for the cold season.
These include Sauna Finnika in Neuchâtel, a seasonal sauna right on the lakeshore, installations in Monruz and Hauterive (Phenix Sauna), as well as other options in Boudry, Cortaillod, Couvet and La Chaux-de-Fonds.
After a day outdoors, it’s often the best possible plan: warmth, slower moments, and a different rhythm that makes winter feel more welcoming.
Neuchâtel in winter: an easy destination with plenty of choice
What makes winter in the Neuchâtel region so enjoyable is this sense of freedom. You can have a very active day followed by a quieter one, without changing location or spending time on long journeys. Everything is close, and there is always an option that works, even when the weather changes unexpectedly.
If the idea is to enjoy winter without stress, staying in Neuchâtel itself is often the simplest solution. The Hôtel Beaulac offers exactly that kind of base: central, practical, and ideal for a winter break with a natural, unforced rhythm.
Bookings and information: https://www.beaulac.ch
