Zermatt

Zermatt Ski Resort

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.

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.

The Ski Club’s new Representative (Rep) Service will operate in resort this season, with two Reps in town for most of the winter. They’ll begin the season before Christmas and Reps will be in town right through until Easter. 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.

There are also no fewer than four Freshtracks holidays visiting the resort this season, including the ever-popular Ski and Schnapps Peak Experience trips and a late-season powder adventure.

Our Zermatt Resort Ratings

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

Zermatt 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.

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 1000m 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. Hire a mountain guide or ask your Ski Club Rep for advice on how to really make the most of the area’s vast potential for off piste and advanced riding.

Zermatt Piste Map

The local piste map, covering both Zermatt and Cervinia can be downloaded here.

Zermatt 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 can be bought for 2100 CHF, but this does give you year round access to the slopes of both Zermatt and Cervinia – remember you can ski here 365 days a year. A slightly cheaper version covers only Zermatt and this can be bought for 1800 CHF.

Zermatt Season Dates

• Matterhorn Glacier Paradise: Open 365 days
• Sunnegga/Gornergrat: 30th November 2019 – 20th April 2020
• Cervinia: 26th October 2019 – 1st May 2020

The opening times and dates are slightly complicated for Zermatt – for full details see resort's website and note that the dates listed above are subject to change. The Ski Club’s expert info & advice team are also on hand to help – call 020 8410 2009.

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…

How to get to Zermatt

• 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. Therefore by far 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. Plan your journey online via the SBB Railways website.

Zermatt Contact Details

• Website: www.zermatt.ch 
• Email: info@zermatt.ch
• Telephone: +41 27 966 81 00
• Facebook: @zermatt.matterhorn 
• Instagram: zermatt.matterhorn 
• Twitter: @zermatt_tourism