Cervinia

Cervinia Ski Resort

Located at the end of the Aosta Valley and on the Italian side of the Matterhorn, the high-altitude ski resort of Cervinia not only guarantees fantastic snow coverage but also gives access over the border to Zermatt.

The sunny slopes above Cervinia are perfect for intermediate skiers and that’s before you even include the vast options across in Zermatt, for which you will need an upgraded lift pass. You can notch up some serious vertical – the 22km route from the Klein Matterhorn to the village of Valtournenche has a drop of more than 2300m – all on well-groomed pistes that are now increasingly equipped with snowmaking to improve snow reliability even further.

Prices are significantly lower than over in Switzerland and the food is fantastic, both in terms of value but also quality. Accommodation is mostly within the compact village centre, but a collection of ski-in-ski-out hotels are located just above and to the east of the centre.

If you’re struggling to choose which of the network of blues and reds to tackle, or fancy a guided day trip across to Zermatt then there is no better solution than to take advantage of the Ski Club’s Leader Service – in resort this season from the 5th of January to the 30th of March.

Alternatively, post a question or check out the latest conditions on the Ski Club’s Cervinia Facebook Page – a group of 150+ members and non-members, all of whom will be happy to help!

Our Cervinia Resort Ratings

• Beginner ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
• Intermediate ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
• Advanced ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
• Snow Reliability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
• Fast Lifts ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
• Resort Activities ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
• Après ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
• Value ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Cervinia Skiing and Snowboarding

The slopes are high, open and mostly very sunny thanks to their westerly orientation. When the weather is bad however, visibility can be poor and wind closures are a possibility – especially for the lifts crossing to Zermatt. But the high altitude does mean you don’t need to worry about the snow as most of the pistes lie well above 2000m, giving the resort one of Europe’s longest seasons.

• Total Pistes: 150km (360km in linked area with Zermatt)
• Blue: 31%
• Red: 58%
• Black: 11%
• Lifts: 19 (53 in in linked area with Zermatt)
• Altitude: 1524m – 3480m (extends to 3883m in Zermatt)

For Beginners

A limited day pass covers the village nursery slope, with its long magic carpet and a chairlift to progress to right nearby. Complete beginners should start there before graduating to a great flat area around Plan Maison and the gentle blues above. It is common for fast learners to have reached the top after a couple of days, using the network of blues to return to the resort.

For Intermediates

Cervinia was almost designed for intermediate skiers and pretty much the whole area can be covered comfortably by early intermediates. Wide, rolling pistes drop down from the Swiss border, whilst the epic runs down to Valtournenche are more than in reach and always prove popular with Ski Club members. Stronger intermediates should definitely purchase the Zermatt lift pass upgrade to explore the full 295km of blues and reds in the Matterhorn Ski Paradise.

For Advanced/Expert & Off Piste

Sadly this is not really a resort for experts, but this does mean that when it does snow, the off piste remains untracked for longer than most resorts. High winds and the rocky terrain can also limit the off piste options, especially early in the season. The resort is home to a huge terrain park – the highest in Europe – and of course there is the option to head over to Zermatt.

Cervinia Piste Map

The local area map can be downloaded here.

Cervinia Ski Pass Prices

A local pass is available for Cervinia only, but intermediates upwards will want to explore the slopes across the border in Zermatt – the prices are significantly cheaper than if bought over the border too, but you do need to start your day in Cervinia. Note that the prices vary throughout the season and those listed below may change slightly, so check with the resort for the latest or give the Ski Club’s expert info & advice team a call on 020 8410 2009.

An adult Cervinia season pass can be bought for €815, whilst a pass covering both Cervinia and Zermatt costs €980 – see the resort’s website for more details. 

Cervinia Season Dates

• Cervinia: 27th October 2018 – 1st May 2019
• Matterhorn Glacier Paradise: Open 365 days
• Sunnegga/Gornergrat: 24th November 2018 – 23rd April 2019

For full details see resort's website and note that these dates are subject to change. The Ski Club’s expert info & advice team are also on hand to help – call 020 8410 2009.

Cervinia Resort

What was an old climbing village has grown in to a full-blown ski resort. The cobbled main street is traffic free and whilst it is not the most picturesque, the surrounding scenery is impressive. Much of the evening action happens in hotels, but there are some decent bars and restaurants – serving excellent Italian food.

For Families

As a snowsure destination for families this is a good bet, however when the weather is bad the slopes can be inhospitable for younger ones. The ski school is right in the village centre and there is a natural ice rink with a view that most can’t claim – it looks up directly at the Matterhorn. Many of the hotels have good facilities for children.

For Après

Cervinia is relatively quiet on the après front, but happy hours are a popular feature at bars in resort including Lino’s and The Yeti, especially during the spring months when the resort basks in evening sunshine. To explore the best that the entire resort has to offer, the Ski Club Leader’s social hour rotates on a weekly basis.

How to get to Cervinia

The easiest way to get to the resort is via a transfer. Turin airport is under two hours away and Milan Malpensa lies around two and half hours away. Arriving by public transport is more complicated and takes almost twice as long – catch the train to Chatillon and then get the bus up to the resort. All times listed below are for road transfers.

• Turin airport: 2 hours
• Milan Malpensa airport: 2.5 hours
• Milan Linate airport: 3 hours
• Calais: approximately 15 hours driving (733 miles)

Cervinia Contact Details

• Website: www.cervinia.it 
• Email: info@cervinospa.com
• Telephone: +39 0166 94 43 11
• Facebook: @BreuilCerviniaValthournenche 
• Instagram: cerviniavalt 
• Twitter: @CerviniaValt