Zermatt

Zermatt is widely considered to be one of the best ski resorts in Europe – if not the world – thanks to its endless on and off piste terrain, phenomenal snow record, charming village and astounding scenery.

Forecast today: Snow grains

Max temp: -2.4 °c
Min temp: -7 °c
Last snowed: Sat 02 Dec

Last Updated: Tue 05 Dec

Forecast today: Snow grains

Max temp: -2.4 °c
Min temp: -7 °c
Last snowed: Sat 02 Dec

Last Updated: Tue 05 Dec

Ski Club offerings

Freshtracks holiday

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This is a Rep Resort

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21%Beginner

61%Intermediate

18%Advanced

Zermatt offers some of the most impressive skiing in the world, stretching from 1,620m to a lofty 3,889m – all set against the backdrop of the awe-inspiring Matterhorn.

360km of slopes provide some of the most extensive intermediate and advanced terrain in Europe, and this is before you even take into account the off piste options. Skiing takes place in four main sectors – Rothorn, Gornergrat, the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and across the Italian border in Cervinia – all of which are connected by a fantastic lift system.

Zermatt is one of the few European resorts to feature skiing 365 days a year, based on the impressive Theodul glacier. Note that access is also available on the Italian side from Cervinia. As of late September, snow has returned to the upper slopes and temperatures have dropped once more, meaning skiing is back on this Autumn! From 11^th November 2023, Zermatt and Cervinia will link arms to host the first cross-border World Cup races; The Matterhorn Cervia Speed Opening.

The Ski Club’s Representative (Rep) Service will operate in resort, featuring two Reps. They’ll begin the season in early December and will be there until early April. Our Zermatt Facebook Group is incredibly active, with regular meet ups (both on and off snow!) planned by the 350+ members of the online Ski Club community. Our Zermatt group on the Ski Club App is your new home for the 2023/24 season, with regular updates and conversations from your Ski Club Reps and members in resort! There are four Freshtracks holidays visiting the resort this season, including the ever-popular Ski and Schnapps Peak Experience trips, a late-season powder adventure and a telemark weekend in April.

Beginner
Fast lifts
Intermediate
Resort Activities
Advanced
Aprés
Snow
Value

Pros and cons

Huge, snowsure ski area that straddles the Italian border
An excellent lift system with few queues
Spectacular high mountain scenery and views of the iconic Matterhorn
Charming village with a real buzz about it
Loads of terrain for intermediate and advanced skiers
World renowned mountain restaurants and hospitality on both the Swiss and the Italian sides of the border
Great winter walking for non-skiers
Child friendly – children up to 9 ski free and it’s up to 16 on Saturdays

Not ideal for beginners – although there are good downloading options from novice areas
Upper lifts can close during bad weather or in high winds – in particular the crossing to Italy
The exchange rate has pushed up the cost in Switzerland overall

Skiing and Snowboarding

The four main sectors all offer something different and are large enough in their own right to keep anyone happy. Snow reliability is fantastic – you can ski here 365 days a year – and the areas all link up quickly thanks to the slick lift system. The only issues are a lack of real beginner zones and steep resort runs, but take these away and you’re left with an incredibly varied paradise for intermediates upwards.

Total Pistes: 360 km
Blue: 21%
Red: 61%
Black: 8%
Off Piste Itineraries: 10%
Lifts: 53
Altitude: 1562m – 3899m

For Beginners

The main beginner area (with magic carpets and rope tows) is at Leisee, just below Sunnegga. There’s special pass to get you to and from that area and allow you to ski the blue run down to Findeln, but other than that progression to longer runs is difficult and the slopes are challenging for near-beginners.

Easier blue runs can be found in the Riffelberg area connecting with the Gifthittli chair. Skiers can return to the village on the train from this area.

For Intermediates

Where to start? The choice is almost limitless, with 295km of blues and reds Zermatt is one big playground for intermediates. Head to the snowsure runs on the glacier on a sunny day and drop over into Italy to Cervinia, where the rolling terrain is perfect cruising territory. Long reds can also be found by the Hirli chairlift and you can rack up over 1,000m of on-piste vertical from both the Rothorn and Hohtälli cable cars on runs that are often very quiet.

For Advanced/Expert & Off Piste

There is some great off piste when conditions are right, and the off piste itineraries include some excellent runs. The high altitude preserves the snow well, especially on the north-facing slopes, but much of the terrain is very rocky so a lot of the best itineraries need a few months of snow to fill in each winter. Ask your rep about hiring a mountain guide. The Skiguide Zermatt app (which is excellent) shows which itinerary runs are open as well as the status of the lifts and pistes.

Zermatt Resort

The resort is a mixture of ancient chalets and barns, grand 19th-century hotels and modern buildings, most in a traditional style. The oldest, most charming part of the village has narrow lanes and old wooden barns with slate roofs, but the resort now stretches a long way down the valley. It can feel busy, especially on the main street, but there is always a real buzz about the place – just watch out for the electric taxis that nip around the town.

For Families

The cost, the general inconvenience of the place and the challenges facing beginners and near-beginners make for what is not an ideal family destination.
There are lots of facilities for younger children in town, but to get the best out of the resort, we’d recommend coming when the kids are a bit older so they can really make the most of the vast ski area.

For Après

There’s a good mix of sophisticated and informal fun, though it definitely helps if you have deep pockets. There are lively places on the mountain including Hennu Stall and Cervo at the base of the return run from Sunnegga.
Back in town you can’t beat the Ski Club’s social hour at the Hotel Pollux bar – get there early to get a good seat and keep your dinner plans flexible as the hour has been known to extend to several…

Getting There

Zürich airport: 3.5 hours
Basel airport: 3.5 hours
Geneva airport: 4 hours
Calais: approximately 11 hours driving (571 miles)

Zermatt is located right at the end a deep alpine valley and cars are only allowed past Täsch if you’re a resident – a Park+Ride service is offered Taesch station with trains, buses and taxis available. The best way to get there is via the train – it is just under four hours from Geneva and around three and a half from both Zürich and Basel; all routes require a change at Visp for the local service up the valley, via the Park+Ride station at Täsch, to Zermatt station which is located in the heart of the village.

Plan your journey online via the SBB Railways website.

Ski Pass Prices

A number of options are available, but anyone wishing to ski across in Cervinia will need to purchase the International Pass. Sadly prices are expensive but you do get a huge amount for your money, children up to 16 are free on a Saturday and there is a 5% discount for booking online. Please note that the prices listed below vary throughout the winter and may change, so check with the resort for the latest – by clicking here – or give the Ski Club’s expert info & advice team a call on 020 8410 2009

Season passes begin at 1,680 CHF for Zermatt or 1,780 CHF for the entire Zermatt-Cervinia area, or an annual pass can be bought for 2,200 CHF, giving you year round access to the slopes of both Zermatt and Cervinia – remember you can ski here 365 days a year.

Category	Day Ticket	3 Days	6 Days
Zermatt
Adult	79 – 87 CHF	209 – 224 CHF	384 – 411 CHF
Youth (16-20)	67 – 74 CHF	178 – 190 CHF	326 – 349 CHF
Child (5-16)	40 – 44 CHF	105 – 112 CHF	192 – 205 CHF
Zermatt & Cervinia (International)
Adult	92 – 98 CHF	204 – 248 CHF	380 – 462 CHF
Youth(16-20)	78 – 83 CHF	174 – 211 CHF	323 – 393 CHF
Child (5-16)	46 – 49 CHF	102 – 118 CHF	190 – 231 CHF

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Resort holidays

Zermatt

Ski & Schnapps

From £2150

Holidays details View dates & prices

Zermatt

Zermatt Telemark Weekend

From £949

Holidays details View dates & prices

Zermatt

Bank Holiday Off Piste

From £1099

Holidays details View dates & prices

Zermatt Piste Map

Zermatt FATMAP

Top (3832m)

	Tue 5 Dec			Wed 6 Dec			Thu 7 Dec			Fri 8 Dec			Sat 9 Dec			Sun 10 Dec			Mon 11 Dec			Tue 12 Dec			Wed 13 Dec			Thu 14 Dec
	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Occasional snow	Broken clouds	Snow flurry	Snow flurry	Snow flurry	Generally clear	Mainly fair	Partly cloudy	Broken clouds	Light snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Generally clear	Partly cloudy	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Snow shower	Snow shower	Occasional snow	Snow grains	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	0.3 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	9.4 cm	4.8 cm	1.1 cm	0 cm	0.4 cm	2.5 cm	1.8 cm	2.3 cm	1.6 cm	7.2 cm	4.4 cm	0.9 cm	1 cm	1.1 cm	0.2 cm	1.8 cm	1.9 cm	1.9 cm	1.3 cm	1.2 cm	1.1 cm
Max temp	-14.4°c	-16.1°c	-16.9°c	-17.5°c	-17.5°c	-15.3°c	-9.7°c	-9.5°c	-8.2°c	-9.2°c	-10.2°c	-10.2°c	-12°c	-11.9°c	-7°c	-7°c	-5.9°c	-4.4°c	-4.1°c	-5.9°c	-5.4°c	-4.8°c	-6.2°c	-5.9°c	-5.8°c	-7.8°c	-7.7°c	-9.5°c	-12.8°c	-13.1°c
Min temp	-16.1°c	-17.6°c	-17.5°c	-18.6°c	-18.7°c	-18.2°c	-13.6°c	-10.4°c	-9.5°c	-10.8°c	-10.7°c	-10.9°c	-13°c	-13°c	-11.9°c	-7.6°c	-7.6°c	-5.9°c	-5.9°c	-6.5°c	-6°c	-6.6°c	-6.8°c	-6.2°c	-8.1°c	-8.5°c	-8.1°c	-12.8°c	-13.7°c	-13.6°c
Feels like temp	-14.4°c	-23.3°c	-25.3°c	-25.2°c	-24.2°c	-25°c	-19.4°c	-9.7°c	-9.5°c	-9.2°c	-15.8°c	-15.2°c	-18.2°c	-16.9°c	-16.8°c	-11.7°c	-12.4°c	-10.2°c	-8°c	-10.9°c	-10.7°c	-8.9°c	-11.4°c	-10.4°c	-9.5°c	-8.1°c	-12.1°c	-15°c	-20.6°c	-20.6°c