Zermatt - Ski, Snowboard & Summer Holidays

Where you stay in Zermatt really depends on the type of ski holiday you're looking for, but the good news is that the village is compact, traffic-free and easy to get around. Whether you're after quick lift access, lively après ski or a quieter family location, there's an area to suit.

Bahnhofstrasse – Best for convenience and atmosphere. If it's your first visit to Zermatt, staying close to Bahnhofstrasse is hard to beat. This is the village's main street, lined with cafés, restaurants, bars and boutique shops. It's a great place to soak up the atmosphere and you'll be within easy walking distance of both the Gornergrat Railway and the Sunnegga funicular. It's ideal if you enjoy wandering out for dinner in the evening or being in the heart of the action.

Around the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Lift – Best for keen skiers. If your priority is getting onto the mountain quickly, look for accommodation near the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise gondola in the southern part of the village. This lift gives access to some of Zermatt's highest skiing, links into Cervinia in Italy, and is often the best choice for experienced skiers wanting to make the most of a full day on the slopes.

Sunnegga Area – Great for families and intermediates. The Sunnegga funicular provides fast access to some of Zermatt's best blue and red runs, making it a favourite with families and intermediate skiers. Staying nearby means an easy start to the day and quick access back into the village after skiing. It's also convenient for ski schools and beginners progressing onto longer mountain runs.

Winkelmatten – Peaceful with stunning Matterhorn views. Just a little south of the village centre, Winkelmatten is one of Zermatt's prettiest neighbourhoods. You'll find traditional chalets, quieter streets and some fantastic views of the Matterhorn. It's perfect if you prefer a more relaxed atmosphere while still being only a short walk or electric bus ride from the lifts and village centre.

Oberdorf – Traditional Alpine charm. Oberdorf sits on the hillside above the centre of Zermatt and is full of beautiful old wooden chalets and narrow lanes. Many properties here enjoy panoramic mountain views and a quieter setting while remaining within walking distance of restaurants, shops and the ski lifts. It's a lovely choice if you're looking for an authentic Alpine feel.

Is it worth staying close to the lifts? Unlike many ski resorts, Zermatt is easy to walk around, so you don't necessarily have to stay right beside a lift. The village's electric buses also make getting around simple if you're carrying ski equipment. That said, if you're planning to ski every day, staying close to either the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise gondola or the Sunnegga funicular can make your mornings quicker and more relaxed.

For most visitors, staying within a 5 to 10-minute walk of the village centre offers the best balance. You'll have excellent access to the lifts, a huge choice of restaurants and bars, and the chance to enjoy everything that makes Zermatt one of the Alps' most iconic mountain villages.

Zermatt is one of the best family ski resorts in the Alps, particularly if you're looking for a traditional mountain village with excellent skiing, a safe atmosphere and plenty to keep children entertained both on and off the slopes.

One of the biggest advantages is that Zermatt is completely car-free. Electric taxis and horse-drawn carriages replace traffic, making it a much more relaxed place for families with younger children. Parents can happily wander through the village without worrying about busy roads, and the whole resort has a friendly, welcoming feel.

Excellent beginner and family skiing:
For families with children learning to ski, Zermatt offers some excellent beginner areas. The Wolli's Park children's area at Sunnegga is a favourite, with gentle slopes, fun features and a relaxed environment where youngsters can quickly build confidence.

As children improve, they can progress onto the wide blue runs around Sunnegga, Blauherd and Rothorn, which are some of the best intermediate cruising areas in Switzerland. These slopes are ideal for families wanting to ski together without tackling anything too demanding.

First-class ski schools:
Zermatt has several highly regarded ski schools offering lessons for children of all ages, from complete beginners to confident teenagers looking to improve.

Private lessons are available, but many families choose group lessons, which give children the chance to meet others of a similar age while learning in a fun, supportive environment.

Plenty to do away from the slopes:
A great family holiday isn't just about skiing. Zermatt has plenty to keep everyone occupied after the lifts close.

Families can enjoy:
Ice skating
Tobogganing
Winter walks with spectacular Matterhorn views
Swimming and wellness facilities
Shopping along Bahnhofstrasse
Horse-drawn carriage rides through the village
The famous Gornergrat Railway is also well worth experiencing, even for non-skiers, with some of the finest mountain views anywhere in the Alps.

Restaurants for every family:
Eating out is easy in Zermatt. You'll find everything from traditional Swiss mountain restaurants serving cheese fondue and rösti to family-friendly pizzerias and relaxed cafés. Most restaurants welcome children, and there are plenty of options to suit different budgets.

Is Zermatt suitable for teenagers?
Older children and teenagers often love Zermatt because the ski area is enormous. Once they're confident skiers, they can explore different sectors of the mountain, enjoy long cruising runs and even ski across into Cervinia in Italy for lunch before returning to Switzerland the same day.

Our view:
If you're looking for a family ski holiday that combines excellent skiing, outstanding scenery, a safe village atmosphere and activities for all ages, Zermatt is hard to beat. It may not be the cheapest resort in the Alps, but many families return year after year because it offers such a memorable experience for both children and adults.

While Zermatt is famous for its spectacular scenery and extensive high-altitude skiing, it's also an excellent resort for beginners. Learning here can be a little more expensive than in some smaller resorts, but the quality of the teaching, the snow reliability and the progression of the slopes make it a fantastic place to build confidence.

Great beginner areas:
Most beginners start around Sunnegga, where you'll find Wolli's Park, a dedicated learning area designed especially for children and first-time skiers. The gentle slopes, magic carpets and fun features create a relaxed environment where new skiers can develop their skills without feeling intimidated.

As your confidence grows, you can move onto the wide, forgiving blue runs around Sunnegga, Blauherd and Rothorn. These slopes are ideal for practising longer turns and getting used to skiing on the open mountain while still feeling in control.

Reliable snow conditions:
One of Zermatt's biggest advantages is its altitude. With skiing reaching almost 3,900 metres on the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, the resort enjoys one of the longest and most reliable seasons in the Alps.

For beginners, this usually means better snow conditions throughout the winter, making learning easier and more enjoyable than on icy or patchy slopes.

Excellent ski schools:
Zermatt has several highly respected ski schools offering lessons for complete beginners through to advanced skiers. You can choose between private tuition or group lessons, depending on how quickly you want to progress.

The instructors are experienced, patient and used to teaching nervous first-time skiers as well as families and adults returning to skiing after many years away.

Easy progression:
One of the things that makes Zermatt such a good learning resort is that you don't outgrow it. As your confidence improves, there is a natural progression from beginner slopes to gentle blue runs, then onto longer blue and red pistes without suddenly finding yourself on terrain that's too difficult.

Many people spend several holidays here gradually exploring more of the mountain without ever feeling overwhelmed.

A relaxed village atmosphere:
Learning to ski can be tiring, so it helps to stay somewhere you'll enjoy after the lifts close. Zermatt's beautiful, traffic-free village is perfect for wandering around, enjoying a hot chocolate or meal, and soaking up the atmosphere after a day on the slopes.

Our view:
If you're learning to ski and want a resort where you can start gently, enjoy excellent instruction and continue progressing year after year, Zermatt is an excellent choice. The combination of reliable snow, superb ski schools, well-designed beginner areas and stunning mountain scenery makes it one of the best places in Switzerland to take your first turns.

Absolutely. In fact, Zermatt is one of the best resorts in the Alps for intermediate skiers. Once you're comfortable on blue and red runs, you'll have an enormous amount of terrain to explore, with long, scenic descents and the chance to ski all the way into Italy.

Miles of cruising runs:
Most intermediate skiers spend their time around Sunnegga, Rothorn and Gornergrat, where you'll find wide, confidence-inspiring blue and red pistes. These areas are perfect for improving your technique while enjoying some of the most spectacular mountain scenery anywhere in the Alps.

Many of the runs are long and varied, so you can spend an entire day exploring without repeating the same piste.

Ski into Italy:
One of the highlights of skiing in Zermatt is the ability to cross the border into Cervinia in Italy. The link between the two resorts opens up even more gentle blue and red runs, making it one of the largest intermediate ski areas in Europe.

Many skiers enjoy spending the morning in Switzerland before skiing over to Italy for a leisurely lunch, then returning to Zermatt in the afternoon.

Confidence-building terrain:
Unlike some resorts where intermediate runs can suddenly become steep or narrow, Zermatt offers plenty of wide pistes where you can relax and enjoy your skiing. It's an ideal place to develop stronger carving turns, improve your confidence on steeper reds and simply cover plenty of miles.

Snow reliability:
With slopes reaching almost 3,900 metres, Zermatt enjoys one of the longest and most snow-sure seasons in the Alps. Good snow conditions make a real difference for intermediate skiers, helping you progress without having to battle icy or worn slopes.

Easy to explore:
The lift system is modern and well connected, making it straightforward to move between different sectors of the mountain. Whether you're skiing around Sunnegga, heading towards Gornergrat or exploring the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, it's easy to navigate and discover new areas each day.

If your legs are beginning to tire, there are plenty of routes back towards the village, and the mountain restaurants provide the perfect excuse to stop for lunch or simply admire the views of the Matterhorn.

Improve your skiing:
If you're looking to move from intermediate to advanced, Zermatt is an excellent place to do it. A private lesson or a morning with one of the local ski schools can make a huge difference, helping you refine your technique before heading off to enjoy the rest of the mountain.

Our view:
For intermediate skiers, Zermatt has almost everything you could want: miles of beautifully prepared blue and red runs, reliable snow, an outstanding lift system and the unique experience of skiing between Switzerland and Italy. It's the sort of resort where you can ski somewhere different every day and still come home wanting to explore even more.

Yes – Zermatt is one of the finest destinations in the Alps for advanced and expert skiers. With over 360km of linked pistes shared with Cervinia in Italy, high-altitude terrain, steep descents and some legendary off-piste routes, there's enough variety to challenge even the strongest skiers for an entire week.

Challenging on-piste terrain:
Advanced skiers will enjoy exploring the steeper red and black runs around Rothorn, Stockhorn, Gornergrat and the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. Many of the pistes are long, varied and beautifully maintained, allowing you to ski from high alpine terrain all the way back towards the village.

One of the joys of Zermatt is covering huge distances in a single day. It's perfectly possible to ski into Italy for lunch before returning to Switzerland in the afternoon, all without repeating too many runs.

Outstanding off-piste skiing:
Zermatt is renowned for its off-piste terrain. From wide-open glacier slopes to long powder itineraries and more technical descents, there are countless opportunities once the snow conditions are right.

However, this is serious high-mountain terrain. Glaciers, hidden crevasses and avalanche risk mean you should never venture off-piste without the right knowledge and equipment.

Hire a mountain guide:
If you're planning to explore beyond the marked pistes, hiring a qualified mountain guide is one of the best investments you can make.

A local guide will; Take you to the best snow on the day. Choose terrain that matches your ability. Manage avalanche and glacier risks. Show you hidden routes that most visitors never discover. Many experienced skiers say a guided day is one of the highlights of their Zermatt holiday.

Avalanche safety:
If you're heading off-piste, everyone in your group should carry and know how to use:

Avalanche transceiver (beacon)
Probe
Shovel
An avalanche airbag backpack is also recommended for more adventurous terrain. Good equipment is important, but it's no substitute for sound judgement and local knowledge, which is another reason why many visitors choose to ski with a guide.

Reliable snow all season:
Thanks to skiing that reaches almost 3,900 metres, Zermatt enjoys one of the most reliable snow records in Europe. The high altitude means advanced skiers often enjoy excellent conditions from early winter through to late spring, with glacier skiing extending the season even further.

Our view:
If you're an advanced skier looking for long descents, varied terrain and some of the best off-piste opportunities in the Alps, Zermatt is an outstanding choice. Add breathtaking Matterhorn scenery, the ability to ski into Italy and the expertise of local mountain guides, and it's easy to see why so many experienced skiers return year after year.

Yes. One of Zermatt's biggest attractions is the ability to ski directly into Italy. The resort is linked to the neighbouring Italian resort of Breuil-Cervinia via the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and Plateau Rosa lifts, giving access to an extensive international ski area with more than 350km of pistes. Many skiers spend the morning on the Swiss side before crossing into Italy for lunch and returning to Zermatt in the afternoon. Just make sure your lift pass includes the international ski area, as some local passes do not.

You should carry your passport whenever you cross from Zermatt into Italy, even if you're travelling on skis. Switzerland is not part of the European Union, while Italy is, although both countries are members of the Schengen Area. Border checks on the ski slopes are extremely rare, but you may be asked to show identification, so it's best to have your passport with you.
Many skiers cross into the Italian resort of Breuil-Cervinia for lunch or to enjoy its wide, sunny pistes before skiing back to Zermatt later the same day. As long as the lifts are open and your lift pass includes the international ski area, it's easy to ski between the two countries.

To ski between Zermatt and Italy, you'll need a lift pass that includes the international Matterhorn Ski Paradise area. This gives you access to both the Swiss slopes around Zermatt and the Italian resort of Breuil-Cervinia, allowing you to cross the border on skis and explore the full interconnected ski area. If you think you'll want to ski into Italy during your stay, it's worth checking the available lift pass options when you book. Day tickets can be purchased with international access, while multi-day pass options vary, so ask at the lift pass office if you're unsure which ticket best suits your plans.

If you're visiting from North America, it's also worth checking whether your Ikon Pass includes access to Zermatt. Eligible Ikon Pass holders can enjoy skiing in the Matterhorn Ski Paradise without buying a standard multi-day lift pass, although blackout dates and access vary depending on the type of Ikon Pass you hold.


Whichever pass you choose, skiing between Switzerland and Italy is one of the highlights of a Zermatt ski holiday, combining spectacular scenery, varied terrain and the chance to enjoy two countries in a single day's skiing.

Although Zermatt doesn't have its own airport, it's well connected by rail and road, making it easy to reach from several major international airports. Because Zermatt is a car-free resort, the final part of your journey is by train from Täsch, adding to the unique experience of arriving in one of the Alps' most beautiful villages.

Geneva Airport – The most popular choice. Distance: Around 230km. Transfer time: Approximately 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours by train.

Geneva is the most popular airport for visitors travelling from the UK thanks to its excellent flight connections and frequent services from many regional airports. The journey is straightforward, with trains running directly from Geneva Airport to Visp before changing for Zermatt. If you're hiring a private transfer, you'll travel to Täsch before taking the short shuttle train into Zermatt.

Zurich Airport – Excellent rail connections. Distance: Around 250km. Transfer time: Around 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours by train.

Zurich is another excellent option, particularly if you have a wider choice of flights or are travelling from further afield.

Swiss rail services are fast, comfortable and extremely reliable, making the journey part of the holiday rather than simply a transfer.

Milan Malpensa Airport – Great if combining Italy and Switzerland.

Distance: Around 190km. Transfer time: Approximately 3½ to 4 hours. Milan Malpensa is often overlooked but can offer competitive airfares, especially outside peak holiday weeks.

It's also a good option if you're planning to combine your ski holiday with time in northern Italy before or after your stay.

Sion Airport – The closest airport.

Distance: Around 80km

Transfer time: Around 1½ hours

Sion is by far the closest airport to Zermatt. However, it has relatively few scheduled international flights, so it's mainly useful for private aviation, charter flights or limited seasonal services. If you can fly into Sion, it's certainly the quickest transfer.

Yes. Zermatt has excellent rail connections and is one of the easiest major Alpine resorts to reach by train. As the village is completely car-free, every visitor arrives by train for the final section of their journey.

From Switzerland's major airports, you can travel by rail with just a few changes:
Geneva Airport: around 3 hours 45 minutes
Zurich Airport: around 3 hours 30 minutes
Basel: around 3 hours 30 minutes
Most journeys involve a change at Visp, where you transfer to the scenic Matterhorn Gotthard Railway for the final climb through the mountains to Zermatt. This last section is one of Switzerland's most spectacular train journeys, passing deep valleys, forests and traditional Alpine villages.

If you're travelling from the UK or elsewhere in Europe, it's also possible to reach Zermatt entirely by rail. High-speed services connect to Switzerland via Paris or Lille, making train travel an increasingly popular and environmentally friendly alternative to flying.

Once you arrive at Zermatt station, most hotels and chalets are within walking distance or offer electric taxi or hotel shuttle transfers.

Zermatt offers one of the best après ski scenes in the Alps, with everything from lively mountain bars and sunny terrace parties to cosy pubs, cocktail lounges and Michelin-starred restaurants. Whether you're looking to dance in your ski boots, enjoy live music or relax with a glass of Swiss wine while admiring the Matterhorn, there's something to suit every taste.

Popular mountain venues such as Hennu Stall and Cervo Mountain Resort are known for their lively afternoon atmosphere, while the village itself comes alive in the evening with stylish bars, traditional restaurants and late-night entertainment.

Unlike some purpose-built resorts, Zermatt combines vibrant après ski with a charming, historic village, making it just as enjoyable to wander its car-free streets after the lifts close as it is to celebrate on the slopes.