Zermatt

About Zermatt

A ski vacation at Zermatt Matterhorn is a fantastic opportunity to dive into this Swiss mountain village’s unique culture. Zermatt has a rich history as a mountaineering and skiing destination, and visitors can explore the town's traditional architecture, local museums and galleries. The village also has a vibrant après-ski scene for those looking to keep the fun going once they’re off the slopes for the day, with over 50 bars and clubs, many of which offer live music and dancing.

The first thing you’ll notice when arriving in Zermatt is a remarkable, and probably welcomed, lack of noise. Since 1891, the local doctor is the only person allowed to have a car in Zermatt. So, you, and everyone else, will be traveling to and from Zermatt by train, which is a highly enjoyable and convenient experience. The only in-town transportation is by horse-drawn sleighs, electro-taxis or ski buses.

Fortunately, Zermatt is a destination resort, meaning the village is difficult enough for weekend skiers to reach and keeps the crowds to a minimum. Plus, the vast terrain—more than 223 miles of marked ski trails (including Breuil-Cervinia) and a resort lift capacity of nearly 92,000 people per hour—easily absorb any crowds. Even during the busiest holiday season, lift lines are not impossibly long and uncrowded slopes are there for the taking.

How to get to Zermatt

Getting to Zermatt is quite convenient, the resort is located just a couple hours away from three major hubs: Geneva, Zurich and Milan. Geneva is the most convenient and just over two hours from Zermatt, receiving international flights daily. Both Geneva and Zurich are well integrated with the Swiss railway, so there’s really no need to rent a car on a Zermatt ski vacation, especially since the resort is car-free. 

Cars are not permitted within the last four miles of the resort and must be parked. Cars are charged a night rate to park, and guests then must transfer to a train for the last couple of miles. So instead, take the celebrated Swiss railway. Traveling by train offers unparalleled convenience and efficiency, with hourly connections to Zermatt from all major gateways. You can start your ski vacation the moment you board and settle in, all while enjoying breathtaking views along the way.

Getting around Zermatt is easy with a variety of eco-friendly options. The town offers electric and solar-powered buses on two lines: the Green line connects major lift stations, and the Red line serves the resort area. Zermatt is car-free, so walking, cycling, and horse-drawn carriages are popular ways to explore.

Skiing in Zermatt

There are a number of reasons why Zermatt Matterhorn is considered the best ski resort in the area, one of the most recent being the unlimited number of days at the resort for Ikon passholders. Zermatt also claims the title of home to the highest ski lift in Europe at 12,739 feet above sea level, which accesses Europe’s longest piste with a vertical drop of 7,463 feet and as the sunniest corner in Switzerland. If this weren’t enough to convince you, the number of luxury dining options on the mountain, including the highly acclaimed Chez Vrony, will serve your cravings for authentic Swiss culture for a meal or aperitif during the ski day.

Beginner Skiing in Zermatt, Switzerland

Beginner skiers can ski Zermatt, however, the variety of terrain for them is limited. In Zermatt’s Sunnegga area, there’s Wolli Park which caters to young beginners with its multiple surface lifts, different attractions for improving ski abilities and fun characters perfect for photo opportunities. There are multiple areas that offer wide, on-piste runs but what Zermatt is known for is its challenging terrain. Zermatt also offers multiple ski schools that have lessons for skiers of all ages, making the transition from beginner runs to intermediate slopes go smoothly.

The resort’s new Wolli Park—in the Sunnegga area—is an unforgettable experience for beginner children. The resort has recently to design more adequate beginner areas all over the resort, focusing most of their efforts in one main area in Leisee, which includes three surface lifts (magic carpets) and two rope tows. Once beginners are ready to graduate from the “learn to ski” zones to longer green runs, they’ll find a couple options, but they’ll likely end up mainly skiing or snowboarding on intermediate runs. Luckily Zermatt has several exceptional ski schools that can help new skiers quickly transition. So, if you’re looking to pick up skiing in a quick manner, Zermatt is actually quite ideal.

Expert Skiing in Zermatt, Switzerland

Looking at a trail map you’ll see lots of red terrain spread out over the mountain, which is generally advanced intermediate terrain. Starting from looker’s left, i.e. if you’re facing the mountain, you’ll want to head to 10,000-plus foot Rothorn area. Here you can access several long, sustained groomers. If you head left off the chairlift you can enjoy three-mile-long Kumme/Tufternkumme, which drops skiers and snowboarders off at the Patrullarve chair. If you head right from the top of Rothorn you can enjoy an almost equally long run to the bottom of the Gant chairlift. The Gant chairlift access the Gornergrat area, which is littered with exceptional red and blue trails and offers quick runs, ideal for warming up the legs early morning.

The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise area also offers intermediates some great terrain, but getting there from the other side of the resort is a little cumbersome. You’ll have to ski back to the village and hop on a chairlift at the South end of the village, or ski to Furi and make your way up the lift to Trockener Steg. Once you’ve arrived at the near 13,000-foot summit, take in the up-close views of the Matterhorn. From here you have your pick of red runs, many of which intertwine with easier blue runs. You can ski this area of the glacier year-round most of the time, and the area offers a summer slopestyle park and halfpipe.

Most of the Zermatt expert skiing, or “black” runs, could be “red,” which is good news for the advanced intermediate, but for expert skiers and snowboarders looking to really challenge themselves, they’ll want to head off-piste afterwards . And when there’s fresh snow in Zermatt, the off-piste skiing is unbeatable. Ski.com recommends that skiers or snowboarders looking to explore off-piste areas hire a guide for safety and navigation reasons, especially in glacial terrain. Rothhorn, Stockhorn and the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise all offer expert skiers access to some of the Alps best off-piste terrain. Zermatt is home to the famed “Haute Route,” which is an exhilarating 111-mile ski mountaineering route between Zermatt and Chamonix. Of course, a guide service is mandatory.  The route takes expert skiers and snowboarders along a network of high alpine, hence the “haute” nomenclature, mountain huts, inns and hotels. 

Ski Schools & Tours

In Zermatt, Switzerland, there is an abundance of top-tier ski such as the local Zermatt ski school, with a rich history dating back to 1929 providing professional instruction in skiing, snowboarding, and more, ensuring a safe and enjoyable mountain experience. For those seeking more personalized lessons, international schools from France and Belgium offer private and group sessions with multilingual instructors, ensuring tailored guidance and a deep connection to the local slopes.

Zermatt also caters to families, with programs like Family Skiing Zermatt focusing on family-friendly lessons and experiences. For those looking to challenge themselves, off-piste coaching and advanced performance lessons are available, making Zermatt a premier destination for skiers of all ages and abilities. Whether you’re learning the basics or refining expert techniques, Zermatt's ski schools offer something for everyone.

Family vacations in Zermatt

As a popular resort for advanced intermediates and expert skiers, a large sprawling town and host to a monied culinary scene, Zermatt’s family friendliness isnt immediately noticed. However, the resort has gone to great lengths to smooth over any challenges for families, including many children’s playgrounds, facilities, activities and easy access to childcare in many of the lodges and hotels.

A great place to bring the kids is Wolli’s park for beginners at Sunnegga. If your children have only skied a couple times or are first timers, learning to ski at Wolli Park will be an unforgettable experience. This zone is well protected from wind, warm and sunny. Plus Sunnegga Restaurant is great place for the whole family to grab lunch together.