Skiing in Zermatt - Switzerland
The secret is well and truly out - Zermatt is one of the best ski resorts in the world! And it also happens to be our favourite ski resort in Europe!
365 days of guaranteed snow, 360km of skiable runs and a wonderful alpine village vibe - what more could you want from skiing in Zermatt?
Zermatt is home to the highest cable car station in Europe and the oldest open-air cog railway in Europe, and we haven’t even mentioned the iconic Matterhorn yet - arguably the most recognisable mountain peak in the world!
This wonderful Swiss Ski resort in Valais - Switzerland, is the perfect winter getaway destination in Europe. No wonder it makes our list of the best ski resorts in Europe for couples!
The views you experience while skiing in Zermatt
Known as the ‘Snow Sure’ Resort, thanks to guaranteed snow all throughout the year, Zermatt is a bucket-list ski resort for avid skiers and snowboarders across the globe, which is why we created this ultimate guide to skiing in Zermatt.
Here, we will outline the different ski passes available in Zermatt, highlight the different ski areas in Zermatt and even give you suggestions of where to stay in Zermatt for your skiing holiday.
Skiing (or snowboarding, in our case) is top of our list of what to do in Zermatt during winter, so we know you’ll love it!
So, let’s dive into: Skiing in Zermatt
Disclaimer - this blog post contains affiliate links where we can earn a commission, if you make a purchase through them (at no extra cost to you).
Disclosure: we were fortunate enough to be invited to visit Zermatt by Zermatt-Matterhorn, the official tourism board. While Zermatt-Matterhorn hosted us, all of the opinions and thoughts shared in this article are genuine and our own. We only recommend activities and places that we, ourselves, would pay to visit… and Zermatt is definitely one of those!
Skiing in Zermatt: Piste Map, Ski Passes and Quick Facts
Zermatt Piste Map
Below is our ‘expert’ attempt at splitting the Zermatt Ski Map so you can see the distinctive ski areas available in Zermatt.
Zermatt Piste Map edited by Ticket 4 Two Please.
Click here for the full unedited version of the Zermatt Piste Map
Zermatt Skiing Quick Facts: Things to Know Before Hitting the Slopes
Skiing in Zermatt is an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We loved every single second of it! That said, there are quite a few things to know before hitting the slopes in Zermatt.
So here are a few handy things to know for skiing in Zermatt, which we hope you will find useful:
Zermatt has no green-runs
Ski Area is split into Blue Runs (Beginner/Easy - 74km), Red Runs (Intermediate/Medium - 227km), Black Runs (Expert/Hard - 20km), Yellow Runs (Expert Only/Advanced - 36km)
3 main Ski Areas - Sunnegga-Rothorn, Gornergrat, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise - Schwarzsee (+ Italian resorts of Cervinia and Valtournenche)
360km of groomed slopes with international connections to Italy
Home to the Longest Downhill ski run in Europe (25km!!)
365 days of guaranteed snow
50+ mountain restaurants and bars to enjoy
Virtually no waiting times at lifts (except in town), even at peak times
Zermatt Ski Passes Overview
The Zermatt Ski Passes can become slightly confusing when you factor in all the different ski-pass options available. In general, though, remember that you get the better deal when you ski for a longer period of time. 1-day Ski passes always work more expensive (per day) than a 7-day pass for example.
So, we have done our best to break down the possible ski pass options below so you will have a good idea of which Ski Pass you need to buy in Zermatt.
Good to know: for the most accurate price breakdown, we suggest heading to the Matterhorn Paradise website and putting in your intended skiing dates.
Zermatt Ski Pass
Definitely the most popular option, the Zermatt Ski Pass is typically what people will be buying when skiing in Zermatt.
The Zermatt Ski Pass gives you access to all 3 ski areas - Sunnegga, Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise - Schwarzsee.
In total with the Zermatt Ski Pass, you have access to around 200km of slopes ranging from cruisy blues and reds, to significantly steeper black and yellow runs (yellow are off-piste).
Daily Zermatt Ski Passes begin at around 83 CHF for an adult.
International Ski Pass
For an extra 14 CHF per adult, per day, you can add International skiing to your Zermatt Ski Pass.
This grants you access to the Italian resorts of Cervinia and Valtournenche and an extra 160km of groomed slopes. This means that with an International Ski Pass in hand, you can ski on 360km of slopes - Zermatt is incredibly vast!
Beginner’s Ski Pass
Another popular option, particularly for those that will be skiing in Zermatt for the first time, is to buy the Beginner’s Ski Pass.
The beginner’s pass is designed to be used in the Sunnegga-Blauherd area that is full of nice and wide blue runs - great for learning those first turns!
It also includes access to the ‘Wolli’s Beginner Park’ , just below the Sunnegga Funicular Station, which has 5 magic carpets that are perfect for first-time skiers.
Zermatt Ski Lessons
Zermatt is renowned for being a trickier hill for beginner or novice skiers. It isn’t the kind of ski resort where you can simply strap on your skis (or board) and head to the slopes and see what happens.
For this reason, if you are new to skiing/snowboarding or just fancy a bit of a refresher on your first day back on the hill, we recommend booking a short private ski or snowboard lesson in Zermatt.
These particular lessons are organsied by the Zermatt Ski School and the price is per group, so it’s particularly cost-effective if you’re travelling as a couple, or in a big group.
Top tip: Buy a great Switzerland eSIM before arriving in Zermatt to get a phone signal on the slopes!
Sunnegga-Rothorn Ski Area - Best area for Beginners inc. Wolli Park
Orla strapping in at Wolli Park
The ski area to the furthest left of the Piste Map is Sunnegga-Rothorn. This area is definitely the best area for beginner skiers in Zermatt as it is home to Wolli Park.
As we mentioned earlier, Wolli Park is great for beginners because it is accessed via a small funicular, so you don’t have to worry about skiing down to the entrance.
Wolli Park is home to 5 magic carpets, which makes it nice and easy to get back to the top of the shallow slopes ready for your next practice run.
Non-skiers can also access Wolli Park - great for people wanting to watch their friends or loved ones practising skiing for the first time.
Away from Wolli Park, Sunnegga-Rothorn is home to many long blue and red runs, which are ideal for your first runs of the day.
Best Restaurant/Aprés Bar in Sunnegga-Rothorn - our choice is definitely Adler Hitta, we could have stayed here all day long! It's home to a wonderful sun terrace overlooking the Matterhorn that has an extensive, sit-down menu. Or, if you’re like us, it’s a great place to relax in a deck chair with a Zermatt Beer and a Hugo Spritz Cocktail.
Good to know: Sunnegga-Rothorn gets the most sun of all the ski areas in Zermatt which makes great skiing conditions! Just don’t forget your sunscreen…
Orla riding the chairlift on the Sunnegga-Rothorn Ski Area
How to get to Sunnegga-Rothorn Ski Area
To get to the Sunnegga-Rothorn Ski Area, you simply take the underground Sunnegga Funicular from the Vispastrasse station in Zermatt (next to the river).
The funicular ride up to Sunnegga takes around 4 and a half minutes.
From here, you can hop on a small funicular to Wolli Park, ski straight down on blue runs, or jump on the Blauherd Chairlift to access higher red and yellow terrain.
Gornergrat Ski Area: Blue and Red Ski Runs for all Abilities
Enjoying a spot of Aprés Ski at Iglu Dorf on the Gornergrat Ski Area
The Gornergrat Ski Area is probably our favourite place to ski in Zermatt (or in our case, snowboard) because it’s got runs suitable for all abilities.
Want to test yourself on some tricky reds? Gornergrat can provide. Want to have a nice gentle morning skiing on cruisy blue runs? Gornergrat has got you covered.
It also happens to be home to Iglu Dorf - our favourite Aprés Ski Bar in Zermatt.
Iglu Dorf is actually a hotel, which means staying overnight in an igloo is one of the most romantic things to do in Zermatt! But during the day, it is a lively Aprés Ski Bar that has unrivalled views of the Matterhorn. We particularly love the ‘Hot Frog’ drink they serve - it’s a wonderful mix of vodka and hot peppermint tea!
Best of all, you can ski directly in and out of the Iglu Dorf as it is halfway down the Gornergrat Ski Area. Mercifully, it’s found on a blue run (Run 45), so you can still make it safely back to the Gornergrat station if you’ve had one too many Aprés drinks.
Ski run in the trees at Gornergrat
How to get to Gornergrat Ski Area
The easiest way to access the Gornergrat Ski Area is via the world-famous Gornergrat Cog Railway. The 125-year old cog train that stops at 4 stations up the mountain and provides absolutely stunning, panoramic views of the Matterhorn.
It is consistently voted one of the most scenic train rides in the world and is certainly the coolest way we’ve ever reached the top of a ski slope!
Alternatively, Gornergrat can be reached by taking the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Gondola to Furi, before transferring to the Riffelberg Chairlift. This option is best for those who are staying closer to the South of Zermatt Village.
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise - Schwarzsee Ski Area: Best for Advanced Skiiers
First ski run from the top of the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise - Schwarzsee Ski Area
The best ski area in Zermatt for advanced skiers is definitely the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise - Schwarzsee Ski Area.
This area is home to very few blue runs and instead popular with intermediate-advanced skiers that want to test their skills on steeper terrain.
Remarkably, there is 365 day ski access from the top of Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. If you visit Zermatt in August, for example, it isn’t unusual to see people walking about carrying skis, despite it being the middle of summer!
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is Europe’s highest Cable Car Station at a whopping 3883m above sea-level, and starting your ski day with views of the Alps from this high up is truly remarkable!
Skiing down from this area isn’t super easy though, there are only red runs that take you across to the Italian border or down to the Trockener Steg skiing area.
With the International Ski Pass, skiers can cross into Italy from Matterhorn Glacier Paradise to access the ski resorts of Cervinia and Valtournenche.
You can ski all the way from Klein Matterhorn to Zermatt Village - an impressive uninterrupted 25km ski run that makes it the longest continuous ski run in Europe!
Good to know: Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is also home to the wonderful Glacier Palace - a wonderful icy experience that takes you 15m deep into the glacier! Entrance is free with your ski pass.
Glacier Palace - a wonderful stop-off between ski runs at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
How to get to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise - Schwarzsee Ski Area
Take the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Cable Car from the station in Zermatt. The ride to the very top takes around 40 minutes and you will have to swap gondolas at least once (depending on which gondolas are operational on the day).
The views on the way up to the top of the Ski Area are pretty insane - we’re not afraid of heights but we even felt it in our legs when we were on the final ascent to the top of the glacier!
Pros and Cons of Skiing in Zermatt
Pros of Skiing in Zermatt:
360km of skiable runs - making it one of the most expansive in Europe!
Incredible panoramic views of the Alps and the iconic Matterhorn as you make your way down the slopes
Zermatt Village itself is super cute - real Alpine vibes to it!
The skiing areas are large, so at times, it will feel like you have runs to yourself because everyone is spread out all over the mountains
Extensive, high-tech ski list system, so the queues/lines are usually minimal!
Cons of Skiing in Zermatt:
It’s no surprise to learn that Zermatt is expensive - in fact, it’s one of the most expensive ski resorts in Europe
The Chairlifts can take a long time because the area is so vast. E.g. from Zermatt Village to the top of the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is around 40 mins
Lack of varied terrain for beginners - no green runs
Zermatt Aprés Ski Scene
The Zermatt Aprés Ski Scene is very lively - with over 50 bars to choose from in the village and on the slopes. Below we’ve highlighted a few of our favourite Aprés Ski Bars in Zermatt so you can know where to head first.
Adler Hitta - towards the bottom of Sunnegga-Rothorn ski area - our favourite place to relax with a drink on the sun terrace
Iglu Dorf - midway down the Gornergrat - lounge in the deck chairs and wander around the Igloo Hotel
Harry’s Bar - popping little bar in the village, by the river, close to the Sunnegga funicular entrance. Open daily until 12am and is the best Aprés Ski Bar in Zermatt!
A spot of Aprés at Adler Hitta
Where is Zermatt? How to get to Zermatt!
Zermatt is found in South-West Switzerland - in the Southern part of the Valais canton. Famously, Zermatt is a car-free village and it is only accessible via Train. It is possible to drive and park in nearby Täsch, but you will still have to jump on the train for the final leg of the journey.
Many people ask us, does the Swiss Travel pass cover Zermatt? Well, yes it does, which is why we recommend to buy a Swiss Travel Pass to save money on train fares when travelling in Switzerland. It is unlikely to save you money on 1 return trip to Zermatt, but will definitely save you money if you plan multiple train journeys in Switzerland.
Below we have highlighted the transfer times between nearby major International Airports and the town of Zermatt:
| Major Airport | Train | Car (to Täsch) | Helicopter Ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zurich | 3.5 hours | 3.5 hours |
1.0 hour |
| Geneva | 4.0 hours |
3.0 hours |
45 mins |
| Basel | 4.0 hours |
3.5 hours |
1 hour 10 mins |
| Milan | 4.0 hours | 3.5 hours | - |
| Sion | 2.0 hours | 1.5 hours | 15 mins |
| Bern | 2.0 hours | 2.5 hours | 35 mins |
Ski Accommodation in Zermatt
A hot topic before skiing in Zermatt - where is the best place to stay in Zermatt?
You have a few factors to consider before choosing where to stay in Zermatt, including your budget and whether you want ski-in ski-out access.
Thankfully Zermatt Village is relatively small, so you can pretty much walk to all the Ski lifts from anywhere in the village, or at the very least you can hop on one of the free eco-buses.
When deciding where to stay in Zermatt, you should try to find a hotel that fits all this criteria:
Close to all 3 major skiing areas
Great views of the Matterhorn
Wonderful, relaxing spa to enjoy after the slopes
Walking distance from the restaurants in town
Swiss Alpine Hotel Allalin
With this in mind, we absolutely recommend staying at the Swiss Alpine Hotel Allalin. It is a cosy, boutique Alpine hotel in the very centre of Zermatt. Its location means you are no more than a 10 minute walk away from each of the 3 major stations that give you access to the slopes.
It is where we stayed in Zermatt and its hands down one of the best hotels we’ve ever stayed in, anywhere in the world!
The Swiss Alpine Hotel Allalin also has underground Ski Lockers that include heated boot racks so your boots will be nice and toasty when you want to use them the next day! How great is that?!
Enjoying a cocktail on the terrace at Swiss Alpine Hotel Allalin
CERVO Mountain Resort
For those that prefer ski-in, ski-out access, we recommend the CERVO Mountain Resort - a boutique hotel made up of 7 unique chalets that has direct ski-in access from the slopes.
CERVO Mountain Resort is renowned for its Aprés Ski Scene, with regular DJ sets and live musicians to enjoy after a busy day on the slopes!
CERVO Mountain Resort - best ski-in ski-out accommodation in Zermatt
Frequently Asked Questions about Skiing in Zermatt
How much do ski passes for Zermatt cost?
1 Day Ski passes for an adult start from 83 CHF, with an additional 14 CHF per day for an International Ski Pass. This price reduces per day when you buy multi-day passes. You can view the latest ski pass prices for Zermatt here.
Can you ski into Italy from Zermatt?
Absolutely! Provided you have an International Ski Pass, you can ski into the Italian resorts of Cervinia and Valtournenche from the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise - Schwarzsee Ski Area in Zermatt.
Is Zermatt good for beginner skiers?
As mentioned, Zermatt isn’t the best European resort for beginner skiers. The Sunnegga-Rothorn ski area is home to Wolli Beginner’s Park, which is a great place to start, and thankfully, a lot of the blue runs are nice and wide. But in general, Zermatt isn’t the easiest place for beginner skiers.
Can you snowboard in Zermatt?
Absolutely! In fact, we snowboarded the entire time we were in Zermatt. The snow conditions and groomed slopes make it easy to be a snowboarder in Zermatt. The only thing we didn’t tackle as a snowboarder was the 25km run from Klein Matterhorn to Zermatt Village - we’ve heard there are a lot of flat sections, and they’re never fun on our boards.
What is the best month to ski in Zermatt?
Zermatt has ski access 365 days a year, making any month a great time to ski in Zermatt. With that being said, however, we’d recommend skiing in Zermatt in either late January or early March. Both times will give the best chance of great snow conditions without the crowds of February and the busy festive period.
Is Zermatt good for non-skiers?
100%! Zermatt is a magical winter wonderland, regardless of whether you want to ski or not. From underground glacier experiences to Europe’s highest open-air cog railway, there is plenty to see and do in Zermatt for non-skiers.
Is Zermatt worth visiting? Even if you’re a non-skier, it’s still one of the best winter resorts to visit worldwide!
There we have it, folks, our round-up of everything you need to know about skiing in Zermatt. This town is considered by many to be the best ski resort in the Alps, and once you get the chance to visit for yourself, it’s easy to see why. Incredible, year-round snow conditions, panoramic views of an iconic mountain peak, and a wonderfully quaint alpine village - what more could you want for skiing in Zermatt?
Disclosure: we were fortunate enough to be invited to visit Zermatt by Zermatt-Matterhorn, the official tourism board. While Zermatt-Matterhorn hosted us, all of the opinions and thoughts shared in this article are genuine and our own. We only recommend activities and places that we, ourselves, would pay to visit… and Zermatt is definitely one of those!
