Zermatt is a charming, car-free mountain village in the Swiss Alps. Situated in the canton of Valais on the Swiss-Italian border, this picturesque ski resort has a glittering reputation as one of the best in the world. The luxury ski resort is nestled at the top of its valley, sitting at an altitude of 1,600m. Surrounded by dozens of peaks reaching greater than 4,000m, including the glorious Matterhorn, and with a fantastic snow record, Zermatt in winter is defined by striking, snowy landscapes. The authentic village has a classy vibe, with luxurious accommodation, gourmet restaurants, and excellent bars.
Whether you’ve been before, or are considering this incredible destination for a first time visit, our handy guide will be sure to teach you something new. Read on to discover some of the top reasons to visit Zermatt, and find out more about this enchanting resort…
#1: Ski Area
One of the top reasons to visit Zermatt is, of course, for all the wonderful skiing. Zermatt’s ski area, the Matterhorn Ski Paradise, is among the largest and most varied ski terrain in the entire Alps. There’s 360km of pistes to explore on a luxury ski holiday to Zermatt. Everything from beginner areas to hardcore itinerary runs, and that’s without delving into all the amazing off-piste opportunities for exploration. The ski area peaks at an altitude of 3,899m, the highest ski area in the Alps. Additionally, Zermatt has one of the longest ski seasons in Europe. A fantastic snow record makes it one of the best resorts for spring skiing. In fact, with the slopes on the Theodul glacier, Zermatt offers skiing year-round!
Matterhorn Ski Paradise
The Matterhorn Ski Paradise is a fully interconnected ski area, although if you visit Zermatt you will find that you can divide it into four distinct areas.
The Sunnegga area has an incredible variety of slopes for all abilities. From the Wolli Park Beginner’s Area to some of the best off-piste and mogul skiing on the Rothorn, there’s something for everyone. Additionally, when the weather is against you, Sunnegga is the best place to go. Serviced by a funicular that runs through the mountain means it’s less affected by winds, and the slopes here feature lots of tree-lined runs.
At the heart of Zermatt’s ski area is the Gornergrat, home to the historic century-old Gornergrat Mountain Railway. There are great itinerary routes to be found down the Stockhorn. Meanwhile, the main piste skiing is an intermediate’s dream, with plenty of long reds, along with easier blues to warm up on.
The final area on the Swiss side of the Matterhorn Ski Paradise is the Klein Matterhorn. There are red runs galore over here, with this area being where Zermatt’s pistes reach their highest altitudes. The Klein Matterhorn is also home to glacier skiing and a fantastic snow park. If on your luxury ski holidays to Zermatt, you want to ski in close proximity to the iconic Matterhorn, then head towards the often quieter pistes over by Schwarzsee and Hirli.
Lastly, you can find hundreds of kilometres of pistes that complete the Matterhorn Ski Paradise across the border in Italy. The Italian side boasts long, wide, cruisy pistes in the sun, heading towards the luxury ski resort of Cervinia. You’ll be treated to a different perspective of the Matterhorn (or Monte Cervino, in Italian), as well as a plethora of great Italian restaurants with extensive sun terraces. Just make sure you don’t miss the last lift back to Zermatt! For more information, check out our reasons to consider a Cervinia luxury ski holiday.
#2: The Matterhorn
You can’t discuss reasons to visit Zermatt without mentioning the Matterhorn. This iconic, legendary peak rises majestically over the village, with the mountain’s north and east faces positioned towards Zermatt. The Matterhorn stands at an impressive 4,478m tall. While this only makes it the 10th highest mountain in Switzerland, it is undoubtedly the most famous. The pyramid-shaped peak is claimed to be the most photographed in the entire world. A national symbol for Switzerland, the mountain featured for years as the logo of the chocolate bar Toblerone. For an up close and personal view of the magnificent peak, we’d recommend a helicopter tour over the area.
Around 3,000 people summit the Matterhorn each year, with the first ever being mountaineer Edward Whymper in 1865. Lucy Walker completed the first successful female ascent, just 5 years later. However, this guide to Zermatt would recommend sticking to photography of the peak. The climb is a challenging and dangerous one, for experts only. If you’re looking for things to do in Zermatt, the Matterhorn Museum in the centre of town delves into the fascinating history and culture of the mountain, village, and climbers.
#3: Cuisine
Gourmands will find many reasons to visit Zermatt, both in the village and on the slopes. Indulge in traditional fondue and Raclette in cosy Swiss mountain huts. Explore the extravagant flavours on offer at the best restaurants in Zermatt, right in the heart of the charming village. Zermatt restaurants are without doubt amongst the best in the Alps. The ski resort is home to four different Michelin Star restaurants, with many more featured in the Michelin guide. There are restaurants of all types of cuisine; creative gourmet tasting menus, local regional specialities and all manner of international options. This range is vast, including French, Italian, Swiss and even Peruvian and Asian fusion!
There are too many fantastic restaurants in Zermatt to name them all. Although one highlight is the fabulous Michelin-starred After Seven, situated in the stylish Backstage Hotel, designed by legendary Zermatt artist and architect Heinz Julen. Additionally, for Zermatt mountain restaurants, Chez Vrony is a particular favourite for regional cuisine, situated in the Gornergrat area.
It is not only the restaurants that will tantalise your taste buds. Zermatt is one of the premier ski destinations in all of Europe. As such, it features a stellar selection of luxury catered ski chalets. On our Ultimate Luxury Chalets brand, read our Ski Specialist’s guide to catered ski holidays in Zermatt to find out what to expect from the food in these stunning properties.
#4: Zermatt Luxury Chalets
On the topic of chalets, staying at some of the world’s best luxury ski accommodation is another of the key reasons to visit Zermatt. There are a plethora of accommodation options in town; from luxury self catered apartments to glamorous 5* hotels, and incredible fully catered chalets with Matterhorn views. Furthermore, these luxury ski chalets in Zermatt feature a wide range of styles. There are the avant-garde offerings that have the aforementioned Heinz Julen’s signature style stamped all over them. You can choose from modern luxury apartments to chocolate box Swiss chalets, dripping with authenticity and rustic charm, to ultra-luxurious, glamorous mountain homes. Zermatt has something to suit all tastes.
As expected by a world-class luxury resort, many of the higher end chalets come with impeccable levels of service. Not to mention all the superior facilities. While it is rare to find many chalets with swimming pools in the village due to building regulations (although they do exist!), you will still find some incredible private spas in these gorgeous alpine homes. In fact, Zermatt features a good assortment of chalets in our ultimate luxury collection, showcasing the 100 best chalets the Alps has to offer.
#5: Non-skiing Activities
Another reason to visit Zermatt is the wide-ranging amount of activities in resort. Part of the resort’s appeal is that there are so many things to do in Zermatt for non-skiers. The spellbinding village is ideal for multi-generational family groups, or for friend groups with less avid skiers among them. Whether you’re interested in history and culture, looking for other adrenaline-fuelled excitement outside of skiing, or are all about experiences that will create lifelong memories, Zermatt has it all.
The nature of the lifts in the ski area means that there are still many accessible places up the mountain without the need to put on a pair of skis. The Gornergrat Railway leading up to the observatory, and the Glacier Palace at the top of the Klein Matterhorn express, are two such incredible experiences. They even ended up featuring in our ultimate bucket list guide to non-skiing activities. You can also take to the skies for a better view of the surrounding towering peaks. Or alternatively, closer to the ground, take part in magical snowshoe hikes through the picturesque forests.
Additionally, for those who love a party, Zermatt après-ski is among the best in the Alps. Whether you’re looking for a crazy European disco or a sophisticated Champagne bar, the resort covers all bases. Furthermore, in the month of April, the village and slopes transform into a festival site, where for 5 days they host the spectacular Zermatt Unplugged. Celebrating acoustic music in all forms, with both popular stars and up-and-coming acts, this is the perfect time to visit for a late-season ski holiday.
So there you have it, 5 top reasons to visit Zermatt. Whether you’re a passionate skier or a more easygoing holidaymaker, there’s something for everyone at this magical mountain resort. And this blog has only just begun to scratch the surface of what’s on offer.
For more information on this brilliant resort, or to start planning your luxury ski holiday to Zermatt, speak to one of our Ski Specialists today. Either give us a call on +44 1202 203650 or send us an email.
