Zermatt Luxury Chalets

Being car free makes Zermatt unlike any other resort. The fresh mountain air feels even more pure and the lack of traffic provides a feeling of tranquillity. The town is very walkable, but you can still get around via electric buses or quirky etaxis. If you are swept up by the nostalgic romance of the town, why not enjoy a ride on a traditional horse drawn sleigh back to your chalet in Zermatt?

The road to Zermatt is closed to public traffic, but the journey into the mountains boasts impressive landscapes and will be a memorable start to your holiday.

Travelling by car
You will be asked to park your car at the garage in Täsch. The terminal here has a range of facilities and ample parking spaces that can be booked online or on arrival. You will travel the remaining 5km by taxi, helicopter or shuttle train, which departs every 20 minutes.

Travelling by train
Trains to Zermatt are a convenient, comfortable and incredibly scenic way to travel. Geneva and Zurich offer the most seamless routes, allowing you to collect your luggage from the airport and go straight to the platform.

Airports
Geneva (GVA) – 128.7 km
By car – 3 hours
By rail – 4 hours
By heli – 45 minutes

Zurich (ZRH) – 248km
By car – 4 hours
By rail – 3 hours 40 minutes
By heli – 1 hour

Sion (SIR) Airport – 38 km
By car – 1 hour 30 minutes
By rail – 2 hours 30 minutes
By heli – 15 minutes

Private transfer
There are a range of transfer options into Zermatt, including taxis, limousine, and helicopter services. Heli transfer is always the quickest and best way to enjoy mountain views. Please be aware that motor vehicles won’t have licences to enter Zermatt so you may need to change to another mode of transport at Täsch. Don’t forget, our concierge team can always book a private helicopter tour once you’re inside your Zermatt luxury ski chalet.

Whether you love to sip mulled wine on the terrace or dance late into the night, Zermatt is known worldwide for glamourous nightlife and mountain parties. The resort’s many bars offer elegant settings for sipping cocktails and wine, and its iconic live music venues provide endless entertainment.

A hot drink, live music and panoramic views, there is an array of options to quench your thirst before your descent into town.

• The stylish Cervo is a must stop on your way back down the mountain. Their large outdoor terrace and variety of live music offer a sophisticated end to a day on the slopes.
• If you seek a guaranteed party, Henuu Stall will provide a cheerful atmosphere and endless opportunities for table dancing.
• Or for a more relaxed and intimate finish, wrap yourself up in a fur blanket at The Champagne bar.

If you would prefer to relax back in Zermatt, there are plenty of venues to take you from your ski boots to your evening wear.

• An unusual boat shaped building, The Snowboat Bar and Yacht Club Restaurant offers a touch of novelty while also being one of the most chic après spots in town.
• The sociable Papperla Pub is popular with tourists and locals for its Irish themed interior and lively parties.
• For a warm and traditional atmosphere, curl up by the fireplace at Chami Bar, or head to Elsie’s Bar for a great wine selection served alongside 20’s decadence.

For those that want to continue the party, there are many late-night options that will have you struggling to make the first lift.

• Hidden in the catacombs below Hotel Post, the legendary Broken Bar hosts one of the most famous discos in the alps.
• Music lovers will appreciate Pink Live Music Bar, which attracts international bands playing jazz, funk and R&B.
• Vernissage is worth visiting just to experience the unique décor. It has an opulent cinema, wonderfully creative lounge bar and a nightclub that hosts international DJs

The slopes of Zermatt are made for cruising, relaxing and taking in stunning views. Beginners can expect excellent facilities, intermediates can expect to be challenged, and there are plenty of exhilarating and technical options for the advanced thrill seeker. While the altitude provides excellent snow conditions, you can be snow sure 365 days a year thanks to the Matterhorn glacier.

The ski area

Our Zermatt luxury ski chalet rentals have acces to an excellent system of 53 lifts, which will transport you between ski areas in record time. Why not take the Plateau Breithorn and reach heights of 3,899m?

The Swiss side offers 4 main ski areas.

• Rothorn, accessed by underground furnicular, and Gornergrat, accessed by train, are spread across the Findel valley and are interconnected by some more demanding blues and long reds.
• The Schwarzsee area, which can be found by taking the gondola via Furi, has some quiet and pretty runs in excellent condition.
• The Matterhorn Ski Paradise sits on the glacier, is Europe’s highest destination for piste skiing, and is in the world’s top 10 biggest ski areas.
• Resting on the border with Italy gives skiers the opportunity for a wonderful treat- spending an afternoon on a clear day in the Italian resort of Cervinia.

Boarders

While it may be hailed as a skiers paradise, Zermatt has slopes for all levels that are ideal for riding. Wide blues and reds are perfect for practicing turns and the snow park on the Klein Matterhorn is one of the best freestyle parks in Europe.

There are some nice runs for newer boarders between Gornergrat and Riffelalp. Rothorn has varied terrain and good snow conditions on and off piste. For the more advanced, the black run under the Patrullarve chairlift will be sure to get your adrenaline pumping.

Beginners

With children under 10 skiing free, Zermatt is a family friendly option for your child’s first time on the slopes. The Wolli park nursery area in Sunnegga is sheltered from the elements and separated from other runs so that beginners can concentrate on learning new techniques. It is easily accessible by the Leisee shuttle train and close by to restaurants, making it the perfect meeting point after ski school.

When ready to progress from the nursery slopes, there are some flatter runs on the glacier that offer a pleasant experience for new skiers. The green run Eisfluh, can be found at Sunnegga. It is one of Zermatt’s slow slopes and gives beginners a chance to ski alongside views of the Matterhorn.

Our recommended ski schools:

• Zermatters was established in 1929 and is the largest ski and snowboard school in Zermatt, with around 200 instructors. They offer private or group lessons for adults, teenagers and children at a range of levels.
• Stoked comes highly recommended and was founded in 1994 as the first private ski and snowboard school in Zermatt. They specialise in private lessons and guiding, but also have group lessons for children and teenagers.
• The Snowli Kids Village will make your child’s first memories of learning to ski even more special. Children aged 3-6 are transported on a magic children’s train to a 3,500m ski area that has been transformed into a mystical fairytale land.

Intermediates

Finding your snow feet again? The glacier has wide and open runs for cruising away those first day nerves. There are also 3 wide blues running from the Italian border into Cervinia.

When you want to progress to reds, there is a long red stretching from the peak of Rothorn all the way down to Gant. Skiing down here will give you majestic views and an eerie feeling of isolation. If you are looking for a thrill, the Stafelap run curves around the foot of the Matterhorn and is steep but very wide. For some more difficult reds, there is a varied selection in the Gorneergrat area.

Advanced

The run from Breitboden to Riffelalp is an equally nerve wracking and scenic route that includes skiing along a vertical cliff. The most well-known black in the resort is the Obere National. It is steep and has some sections running through forest. It is one of the longest black runs in the alps so will certainly test your fitness. For a slow burn, why not try Europe’s longest slope? It stretches 25km all the way from Klein Matterhorn back to Zermatt.

Zermatt is well known for fantastic off-piste itineraries. To make the most of the area’s varied choice of off-piste options, we highly recommend booking a ski guide to help you safely discover some of Zermatt’s hidden gems. They will also be able to organise some exceptional heliskiing for you. Summit Ski School have a great selection of ski guides and will be able to maximise your time on the slopes.

The glacier makes skiing in Zermatt possible year-round, and the high altitude allows for a long and successful winter season. The ideal snow conditions fall between early December and the middle of April. However, Zermatt is a stunning destination any time of the year and there are plenty of reasons to visit outside of the winter months.

November/ December
By the end of November, snow has covered the main ski areas. Just in time for the festive rush.
Average snowfall: 78cm
Snow days: 6

January
The new year usually comes with excellent snow conditions but is very cold.
Average snowfall: 94cm
Snow days: 6

February
There will be lots of snow fall and it is still cold, but the days are getting longer and there is a higher chance of sunny days.
Average snowfall: 71cm
Snow days: 5

March/ April
Longer days and snow sure conditions thanks to the altitude. Towards the end of April, some ski areas will start to close.
Average snowfall: 43cm
Snow days: 4