Open-Air Ice Skating in Arosa

The floodlights come on at Postplatz, casting long shadows across the ice. Around the rink's perimeter, snow-covered peaks catch the last daylight while the first skaters test the surface. Open-air ice skating in Arosa sits at the center of village life through winter months, a gathering place that operates from early December until mid-April at 1,800 meters elevation.

What makes skating here distinct is the setting: you're surrounded by Graubünden's mountain architecture, with the Weisshorn and other peaks forming a natural amphitheater around the village. The Kunsteisbahn Ochsenbühl serves as the main outdoor facility, while the covered Eissporthalle provides shelter during storms. Both locations stay accessible throughout the season, adapting to weather while maintaining daily ice conditions that suit casual skaters and serious practitioners alike.

What Ice Skating Feels Like Here

The cold hits differently at altitude. Your breath forms clouds in the thin air as you lace up skates, fingers working quickly before the chill settles in. The ice itself responds to your edges with a clean, satisfying scrape that echoes slightly in the mountain stillness.

First strides feel cautious. The blade finds purchase, weight shifts forward, and you push into that familiar gliding rhythm. Around you, other skaters carve their own patterns: a child learning to balance near the boards, a couple moving in synchronized loops, someone practicing crossovers with focused precision. The rink at Postplatz accommodates this range without feeling crowded, giving everyone space to find their pace.

Evening sessions change the atmosphere entirely. When floodlights illuminate the ice surface around 19:00, the scene transforms. Shadows deepen beyond the lit circle, making the mountains feel closer and more immediate. During Ice Disco nights, choreographed lighting effects pulse across the ice while music shifts from contemporary tracks to Alpine classics. A bar serves drinks at rinkside; a grill sends up smoke that mingles with cold air. Skaters loop through colored light patterns, some serious about their technique, others simply enjoying the unusual combination of disco atmosphere and mountain setting.

The cold becomes noticeable when you stop moving. Hands go into pockets between skating intervals. Hot drinks from the bar help, as does keeping your core engaged through consistent movement. After 30 or 40 minutes of continuous skating, your legs register the effort. Calves tighten from the constant edge work; thighs burn slightly from maintaining balance. But the exertion feels purposeful, almost meditative, as your body settles into the repetitive rhythm of blade against ice.

Ice Sports Beyond Recreational Skating

Arosa's ice culture extends past figure eights and casual loops. The facilities at Postplatz and Ochsenbühl host curling matches where teams slide granite stones toward target circles, calling strategic instructions in Swiss German. Eisstockschiessen, a traditional Alpine sport similar to curling but played with handheld ice stocks, draws regular players who've perfected their release angles through years of winter practice.

Ice hockey sessions claim certain evening slots, with pick-up games that welcome competent skaters looking for faster-paced action. The crack of pucks against boards punctuates the usual gliding sounds, and the competitive energy shifts noticeably when players stake out their territory.

Ice minigolf presents a curious hybrid: 18 holes arranged across the frozen surface at Postplatz, each requiring players to putt a ball through obstacles and around corners. It's competitive without demanding athletic prowess, suitable for families or groups who want structured entertainment that doesn't involve continuous skating. The course layout changes periodically, keeping regular visitors engaged with new challenges.

Practical Context for Planning

Both the outdoor Kunsteisbahn Ochsenbühl and the covered Eissporthalle operate throughout Arosa's winter season. The outdoor rink captures the full alpine experience: mountain views, crisp air, natural light during afternoon sessions. The indoor facility provides reliable conditions regardless of snowfall or wind, maintaining consistent ice quality when weather turns difficult.

Rental skates cost CHF 6.00 to CHF 7.00 per person. Entry runs CHF 7.00 for adults, CHF 4.00 for children aged 6 to 16. These rates position ice skating as an accessible activity compared to lift tickets or guided excursions, though costs accumulate for families spending multiple days on the ice.

Ice Disco events run from 19:00 to 22:00, featuring the two-hour floodlit sessions that define Arosa's evening winter entertainment. These nights draw local residents alongside hotel guests, creating a mixed crowd that reflects the village's seasonal rhythm. Arrive before 19:00 to secure rental skates, as inventory depletes quickly once the event begins.

Groups can reserve the entire rink for CHF 180.00 per hour, which works for private celebrations or corporate events seeking something memorable beyond conference rooms and formal dinners. The booking includes ice access but not equipment or additional services.

For visitors staying near the village center, the walk to Postplatz takes less than ten minutes from most accommodations. Arosa's car-free layout means pedestrian routes stay clear of traffic, though packed snow can make footing tricky after fresh snowfall. Bringing your own skates eliminates rental lines, but most travelers find the on-site options adequate for recreational use.

When to Skate

Afternoon sessions between 14:00 and 17:00 offer the best natural light, particularly in January and February when sun angles illuminate the surrounding peaks. Ice conditions stay firm through these hours, and crowds remain manageable outside school holidays.

Evening skating after 19:00 appeals to those who prefer cooler air and the dramatic effect of floodlighting. The temperature drops noticeably once the sun disappears behind the mountains, but the atmosphere gains intensity. Ice Disco nights represent the peak of this evening energy, worth experiencing once even if the concept sounds gimmicky.

Morning sessions suit serious skaters seeking empty ice and optimal surface conditions before daily use roughens the rink. The village stays quiet until mid-morning, when shops open and foot traffic increases. If you want solitude with your skating, arrive when the rink opens.

Weather impacts the outdoor experience significantly. Heavy snowfall can temporarily close the Kunsteisbahn Ochsenbühl, redirecting skaters to the indoor Eissporthalle. Wind creates additional challenges, making balance harder and reducing enjoyment. Check daily conditions before walking to the rink, particularly during unstable weather patterns that move through Graubünden's valleys.

Connecting Ice Skating to Your Arosa Stay

Open-air ice skating slots naturally into the rhythm of a winter visit. It requires less time commitment than a full day skiing, making it suitable for recovery days or afternoons when you want activity without intensity. Families with young children find the accessibility appealing; learning to skate on stable ice feels less intimidating than navigating ski slopes.

The location at Postplatz integrates seamlessly with other village activities. Skate for an hour or two, then move to nearby restaurants for lunch or warm drinks. The compact geography means transitions between activities happen quickly, without lengthy walks or shuttle buses. This convenience encourages spontaneous decisions: if weather looks good after breakfast, head to the rink; if you finish earlier than planned, explore the village center.

For those interested in traditional Alpine culture, watching curling or eisstockschiessen provides insight into sports that have shaped mountain communities for generations. The technical precision and social rituals around these activities reveal a different dimension of Swiss winter life, one that predates modern ski tourism.

After a few hours on ice, wellness arosa becomes particularly appealing. Saunas and thermal facilities counter the deep cold that settles into muscles during outdoor skating. The temperature contrast creates a satisfying physical reset, warming you thoroughly before evening activities.

What Makes This Worthwhile

Ice skating at Postplatz won't transform your winter or create stories you recount for years. It's simpler than that: a reliable, enjoyable way to spend time outdoors when you want movement without technical demands. The alpine setting elevates what would otherwise be standard recreation, adding visual drama and crisp mountain air to an activity most people learned in childhood.

Ice Disco nights inject novelty into the experience, particularly for guests who appreciate Arosa's willingness to blend tradition with contemporary entertainment. The light show and music create an atmosphere that exists nowhere else in the valley, a strange and satisfying collision of disco culture and Swiss mountain reserve.

For families, the combination of skating, ice minigolf, and accessible village dining creates an uncomplicated day that keeps everyone engaged without requiring extensive planning. The costs stay reasonable, the time commitment remains flexible, and the car-free environment eliminates logistical friction that complicates many family outings.

Regular skaters find quality ice conditions and enough space to work on technique during quieter sessions. The altitude adds a subtle cardiovascular challenge, making familiar movements slightly harder than at lower elevations. If you skate frequently at home, Arosa's facilities meet standards without exceptional features that demand special mention.

What persists after you leave is the memory of moving across ice with mountains all around, the specific cold of that elevation, the sound of blades and voices carrying in thin air. These details accumulate into something worth the modest time investment, particularly during those floodlit evening sessions when the village settles into winter darkness and the rink becomes its own illuminated world for a few hours.

Access from Hotel Altein

Hotel Altein sits within easy walking distance of Postplatz, making spontaneous skating sessions entirely practical during your stay. The short walk through Arosa's car-free village center takes you directly to the rink, where you can rent equipment and step onto the ice without complicated logistics. After an evening Ice Disco session or afternoon on the outdoor rink, you're back at the hotel within minutes, ready to warm up in comfortable surroundings. The concierge can provide current ice skating schedules and weather conditions to help you plan your visits around optimal rink times.