If you are looking for a quality ski resort with a developed infrastructure, pay attention to Zermatt, Switzerland. Every year, outdoor enthusiasts gather here in order to conquer the steep mountain slopes, enjoy excellent Swiss cuisine and admire the unique landscapes of the Alpine Mountains. This is exactly the place where sports and nature merge together, a different dimension, which can only be comprehended by visiting thousands of mountain peaks. What is good about Zermatt and what opportunities does it offer?
General information
Zermatt is a village located in the southern territories of the canton of Valais in Switzerland, located almost on the border with Italy. It is a small community of 242 square kilometers with a population of only 5,865 people. Surrounded by the Penine Alps at a height of more than 4,000 meters, the village is located on the northern slope of the Monte Rosa mountain range near the famous Matterhorn. It is in the Monte Rosa chain that the highest peak in Switzerland, called Dufour Peak (4,634 meters), is recorded. There are a total of 38 peaks in the Zermatt area. The village itself is located at an altitude of just over 1,600 meters.
Thanks to its unique location, Zermatt has become one of the most prestigious resorts in Switzerland, where tourists from all over the world come to go skiing and snowboarding. It has been repeatedly recognized as the best ski resort in the world by various rating companies, including the prestigious organization “The Best of the Alps”. There are a lot of people here not only in the winter, but also in the summer season, when fans of hiking and mountaineering come here.
Zermatt has a highly developed tourist infrastructure, which allows you to organize an ideal vacation. The village offers a large selection of hotels, apartments, chalets, as well as a rich variety of cafes and restaurants, some of which are considered among the best in all the Alps. A special atmosphere prevails in the community on Catholic Christmas and New Year, when Zermatt is transformed into a smart and cozy town.
Interesting fact! Fuel-powered vehicles are not allowed in the village, so you can only find compact electric vehicles used by locals and taxi drivers. Such measures allow preserving the ecological situation of the area and not disturbing the purity of mountain air.
Technical characteristics of the ski infrastructure
Zermatt as a ski resort in Switzerland has a lot of advantages over other similar facilities. It is here that the longest trails with a total length of 310 km are located. The resort is equipped with convenient ski lifts that run at altitudes of various sizes (from 1600 to 3800 meters). An important advantage of Zermatt is its year-round access to the ski slopes.
If you are planning to go to this resort in Switzerland, you should take into account that the local mountain slopes are quite high and steep, so to overcome them you will need not so much courage as good physical and technical training. Zermatt does not have any trails for beginners, but there are routes of varying difficulty levels for those who already have experience in alpine skiing. Among the trails are::
- Blue tracks. Their total number in the resort is 110. The trails are designed for skiers with little skiing experience.
- Red tracks. Their number is 150. The trails are designed for more experienced skiers.
- Black tracks. The resort has a total of 50 of them. These are the longest and steepest trails designed for professional skiers.
There are 35 convenient lifts of various types in Zermatt:
- tow bars — 17,
- pendulum clocks — 10,
- chair seats — 4,
- gondola type — 4.
Among them there are many funiculars with closed cabins, so they are very comfortable to move even in the cold season.
For more information about the slopes, slopes, ski lifts and ski-pass, please visit the official website of the resort
Attractions
After climbing the steep ski slopes in Zermatt, it’s time to explore the map and explore some of the most interesting places. There are many cultural and natural attractions in the village.
Mount Matterhorn
The most famous mountain in Switzerland, whose peak reaches 4,478 meters, has long been the hallmark of the resort of Zermatt. The Matterhorn can be viewed from any point in the village and takes completely different images at different times of the day. Travelers who have visited it note its grandeur, harsh beauty and incredible views that open up at sunset.
For more information about the Matterhorn, mountain climbing, and accidents, see here.
Gornergrat Railway
This mountain railway, which dates back to the end of the 19th century, is the second highest railway in Switzerland. The final stop of the train, which runs daily through the mountain ranges, is the Gornergrat plateau, located at an altitude of approximately 3,100 meters. Many tourists go on a railway journey to contemplate the picturesque landscapes from the car window and capture a bird’s-eye view of the Swiss winter in Zermatt. Following its route, which takes about 40 minutes, the train makes five stops, where, if desired, you can get off and take a short walk, and then continue climbing.
The finished station offers a beautiful panorama of the eternal glacier and the surrounding area, which is impossible to see from the village. Some combine a trip to the top with a ski slope, while others use the railway as part of a guided tour of the resort’s unique nature. A train tour is best organized on sunny, clear days, otherwise you run the risk of not seeing anything due to high cloud cover.
- A round trip costs 116 francs, free travel for children under 6 years of age, and after lunch during the so-called happy hours, you can buy discounted tickets.
- Website: www.gornergrat.ch.
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Observation Deck
The observation deck, located at an altitude of 3,883 meters, offers unforgettable views of the Alpine Mountains. The ascent here takes place in several stages: your journey begins with a small funicular ride, which will quickly take you to the highest ski lift in Switzerland. Then you will slowly climb up the cliff tunnel and find yourself at the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise complex. Here you have the opportunity to visit a small cinema, look into the ice cave, drink coffee in a local cozy cafe and, in fact, climb to the observation deck.
- A standard ascent and descent ticket costs 104 francs per person, with a 50% discount for children aged 9-15.
- Lift opening hours: daily from 9: 15 to 15: 45.
Tourists who have visited here are advised to go on this tour only on sunny days, otherwise you can simply not see anything because of clouds and fog. Remember that it is always cold at altitude, so be sure to wear warm clothes. Be prepared for the fact that it is difficult to breathe at the top, and you may have a rapid heartbeat and dizziness, but do not panic: this condition should pass within 10-20 minutes. Please note that in the cafe near the complex prices are much higher. If possible, take the first flight to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, as there will be a lot of people on the observation deck later.
Gruyere is a medieval town and the birthplace of the famous Swiss cheese
Matterhorn Museum-Zermatlantis
In between skiing and contemplating the scenery in the Zermatt ski resort, we recommend visiting the small museum of local lore. The gallery’s exposition is dedicated to the history of the conquest of the Matterhorn Mountain, in which visitors are invited to watch a thematic film. Here you can see mountaineering equipment from different years, a model of the mountain, and learn about the daily life of the inhabitants of Zermatt in Switzerland since the 19th century. The museum presents various historical interiors, utensils and household items of the first conquerors of the mountain.
The Matterhorn Museum also covers tourism, highlights the resort’s summer and winter activities, and provides information on the nature of Zermatt.
- Address: Kirchpl., 3920 Zermatt, Switzerland.
- The facility is open daily from 15: 00 to 18: 00.
- The ticket price is 10 francs. If you have a Swiss Pass, admission is free.
- Website: https://www.zermatt.ch/museum.
Gorner gorge
The ancient Gorner Gorge, located a 15-minute walk south of the resort, was formed as a result of thousands of years of river flows trying to break through the rocks. Before the eyes of the traveler following the mountain route, bright landscapes and picturesque waterfalls open up. Walking along the numerous wooden steps and paths through the rocks is quite time-consuming, so when going on this tour, prepare special shoes and gain strength.
It is best to explore this attraction in the summer: in winter, the waterfalls freeze, the canyon loses its charm, and it is closed. Mid-September is considered ideal for visiting the gorge, namely the time from 15.00 to 16.00, when the waters rushing here acquire a juicy turquoise hue.
- The entrance fee to the Gorner Gorge is 5 francs for adults, 45 francs for a group of 10 people, 2.5 francs for children up to 16 years (up to 6 years free of charge).
- The gorge is open daily from 9: 15 to 17: 45 (closed in winter).
Weather and climate
Zermatt is beautiful at any time of the year. If in winter it is a popular ski resort, in summer it is covered with flowery meadows, ideal for mountain hiking and mountaineering. But even in the hot summer months, no one cancels skiing here: after all, there is still snow on the peaks, which means you can continue to ride. Take a look at the chart below to get a clear picture of the weather conditions in Zermatt, Switzerland.
| Month | Average daytime temperature | Average temperature at night | Number of sunny days | Number of rainy days | Number of snow days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -6,3 °C | -12,5 °C | 7 | 0 | 9 |
| february | -5,4 °C | -12,6 °C | 4 | 0 | 11 |
| March | -1,9 °C | -9,6 °C | 4 | 0 | 12 |
| april | 1,3 °C | -5,9 °C | 4 | 4 | 10 |
| May | 5,1 °C | -2,4 °C | 5 | 11 | 7 |
| June | 10,9 °C | 1,9 °C | 9 | 18 | 1 |
| July | 13,6 °C | 3,7 °C | 13 | 18 | 0 |
| august | 13,5 °C | 3,9 °C | 15 | 16 | 0 |
| september | 9 °C | 1,2 °C | 10 | 9 | 1 |
| october | 4 °C | -2,5 °C | 11 | 3 | 4 |
| November | -1,3 °C | -7,1 °C | 9 | 3 | 6 |
| december | -4,9 °C | -11,9 °C | 11 | 0 | 7 |
How to get to Zermatt from the largest cities in Switzerland-Zurich and Geneva-see this page.
