All Alpine clichés come together in Switzerland's most famous seaside resort, from the view of the most photogenic mountain in the world, the Matterhorn, to the narrow streets full of shaky, weathered chalets.
Zermatt has 200 km of its own pistes and is also connected by lift and piste to Cervinia in Italy, providing a further 160 km of pistes. For families, advanced skiers, experts and ski tourers, it rivals the best resorts in the world.
Keep up to date with the key facts about the resort below and scroll down for our insider's guide to a day on the slopes, expert reviews and advice. For more Zermatt inspiration, check out our guides to the resort's best accommodations, restaurants and après-ski.
Within the resort
Surrounded by 38 peaks above 4,000 meters, the car-free city of Zermatt is full of life all year round. Its 5,500 residents are supplemented by a steady stream of visitors from all over the world who come all year round to climb the surrounding mountains, hike, cycle and ski or simply admire the scenery.
Strolling through the car-free city is a pleasure, but there are bicycles and electric buses and taxis to look out for. There's a busy, affluent atmosphere in central Zermatt, with couples strolling around in fur coats and Japanese and Chinese tour groups rubbing shoulders with purposeful mountaineers. Particularly beautiful is the Hinterdorf district with its narrow streets behind the Monte Rosa hotel on the main street, lined with a jumble of blackened, weathered, wobbly-looking chalets, some dating from the 16th century.
There is often good natural snow cover in the resort's ski area from early December, but the main ski season runs from late November to late April. Because the slopes on the Zermatt glacier are open all year round and thanks to artificial snow cannons, there is no official "opening". The first cross-border World Cup races took place in the resort in November 2023.
The story continues
Zermatt really comes into its own from February onwards, when the sun rises higher, the challenging slopes of the Stockhorn open up and the restaurant terraces beckon. Heli-skiing or ski touring are good to try in March and April when the crevasses are well filled. Spring also brings Zermatt Unplugged, the resort's music festival, which takes place every April.
Zermatt has snow-sure slopes, several high-altitude mountain stations (the Matterhorn glacier paradise at 3,883 m is the highest station reachable by cable car in Europe), 360 km of pistes covering all aspects (including the interconnected resorts of Cervinia and Valtournenche in Italy ), a slick lift system that improves every year, extensive off-piste, excellent mountain restaurants and a vibrant, cosmopolitan city.
The 25-cabin gondola lift that connects the Trockener Steg with the Klein Matterhorn is one of the highest of its kind in the world. It climbs from the base station (2,923 m) to the mountain station (3,821 m) in nine minutes and makes short work of queues - each hut seats 28 people and offers panoramic views.
In July 2023, the new Matterhorn Alpine Crossing between Zermatt's Klein Matterhorn in Switzerland and Cervinia's Testa Grigia in Italy opened at a cost of approximately CHF 45 million. The ten-cabin cable car takes an hour to complete the 1.6 kilometer journey and allows pedestrians to cross the Alpine border (previously this was only possible by skiing or snowboarding to Testa Grigla).
On the slopes
From satisfying reds and wavy blues to hectares of off-piste, Zermatt has it all. The resort has 200km of slopes spread over three interconnected sectors - Sunnegga-Blauherd-Rothorn, Gornergrat-Stockhorn and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise-Trockener Steg-Schwarzsee - with top stations at 3,103 and 3,286 meters respectively. and 3,883 m.
Zermatt's 200km ski area is linked to that of Cervinia in Italy, and the Italian side is easy to reach, although it does take a while to get there. While it's important not to miss the last lift home (the return journey is a long way by road), you can take a whole day to make the most of Cervinia's 160km of pistes. It's also useful to have some euros, as paying in Swiss francs will negate the cheaper prices on the Italian side. All sectors of Zermatt are well connected and there are two routes into Italy: the ridge at Testa Grigia and the Theodul Pass.
However, all this changed in July 2023 with the opening of the new Matterhorn Alpine Crossing between Zermatt's Klein Matterhorn in Switzerland and Cervinia's Testa Grigia in Italy, at a cost of approximately CHF 45 million. The ten-cabin cable car takes an hour to complete the 1.6 kilometer journey.
At first glance, Zermatt's slopes are not ideal for beginners and small children, as the practice slopes are spread far and wide across different parts of the mountain. However, there is a ski park for beginners in Sunnegga and on the plus side the slopes are high enough to provide reliable snow and great views; they are well separated from the main slopes and close to restaurants where you can meet friends or family; the ski park has conveyor belts, tunnels and lots of fun obstacles; and the glacier slopes are a good place to rack up some nearly flat (though sometimes cold) miles. Best of all, children under 10 do not pay for a ski pass.
For advanced skiers there are plenty of long, scenic, satisfying runs, plus plenty of challenges and easily accessible, uncrowded off-piste areas. Two-thirds of the runs are red; some, such as the red of the peak of Hohtälli in the Gornergrat sector, are strong enough to be described as "dark red". The whole of Cervinia is a mediocre paradise, with wide and mostly deserted pistes, including the long descent to the village of Valtournenche, where just getting onto the piste will make you feel like a downhill racer.
The main attraction for experts are the off-piste and yellow routes (avalanche-controlled descents but not controlled by ski patrols). The usually deserted Stockhorn section is often bulldozed and opens from February (it needs better snow cover than other areas). The forest routes at the Schwarzsee and two from the Rothorn are also a challenge.
Off-piste options are expanded with a mountain guide; even more so for those willing to hike up using touring skins or go heli-skiing. In addition to the lift system, there are mountain huts for overnight stays or hut-to-hut tours, such as the gleaming modern Monte Rosa hut (visible from the Gornergrat) and the traditional Schoenbiel, a few hours' walk up the valley from Stafelalp.
Who should go?
There aren't many boxes Zermatt doesn't tick: the resort caters for almost everyone. The high-altitude slopes are ideal for an early or late season trip and the elegant charm of the resort wins the hearts of those looking for luxury and gourmet dining. Experts and advanced skiers will enjoy the ski area most, but at the other end of the spectrum there is plenty to do for non-skiers, including a museum, spas and shops (don't miss Fuchs Bakery with local specialties such as the Valais Roggenbrot (bread ) and Swiss chocolate).
Know before you go
Essential information
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British Embassy/Consulate: 00 31 359 77 00
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TOURIST OFFICE: See zermatt.ch, the Zermatt tourist office website, for weather reports, lift status, webcams, traffic information and local event listings. Collect maps, leaflets and other information from the office next to the train station.
