Why Zermatt
No cars, no traffic, just electric taxis and horse-drawn sleighs gliding through a village of old larch chalets. Zermatt is one of the few places in the Alps where the setting is every bit as spectacular as the skiing, and the Matterhorn watches over almost every run.
It isn’t the cheapest week you’ll spend in the mountains. But between the snow-sure altitude, the mountain restaurants and the hotels, it’s one of the most complete winter destinations in Europe.
The skiing
Three areas make up the Swiss side: Sunnegga–Rothorn for sunny cruising, Gornergrat for the views and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, home to the highest lift-served point in the Alps. From there you can ski across the border to Cervinia and Valtournenche on the Italian side.
Thanks to the glacier, there is skiing in Zermatt all year round. The main winter season runs from late November into spring.
Marc’s insider tip Ski over to Italy for lunch, but check the time of the last lift back before you sit down. Missing it means a very long taxi ride home.
Getting there
Zermatt is car-free, so the last stretch is by train from Täsch. From Zurich or Geneva airport it’s roughly three and a half hours by rail. We arrange private transfers to Täsch, or straight to the village by train with your luggage taken care of.
Where to eat on the mountain
The hamlet of Findeln, on the Sunnegga side above the village, is home to some of the best-loved mountain restaurants in the Alps. Book ahead for the sun terraces and plan the afternoon’s skiing around a long lunch.
Après & evenings
Zermatt does both: a lively après scene at the bottom of the slopes and some of the finest restaurants in Switzerland for later. Tell us which side of the evening you’re after and we’ll make the reservations.