Breathtaking scenery Lots and lots of runs Charming town Good snow World famous
Not So Good For...
Somethings a bit pricey Not so good for beginners Expensive lift pass Lift queues Walking to lifts
Getting There
Zermatt Travel
By Air Heading for a ski holiday in Zermatt? Fly to Sion for the shortest transfer time aprox 1 hour 30 mins Geneva 244km Transfer bus takes aprox 4-5 hours. You can also take a train transfer of 4 hours www.rail.ch By car you are looking at 3.5 hours Zurich - 248km - transfer by car aprox 3.5 hours Milan - 234km - 4 hour transfer by train and aprox 3 hours by car
By Train Wanting to take the train from London to Zermatt? London to Paris and then change to Zurich and Brig before arriving in Zermatt www.europerail.com
You can take trolleys on to the train up to Zermatt and wheel them off at the other end. Arrange with your hotel in Zermatt to meet you with an electric trolley
By Car
check out www.aa.com - it's about a 10 hour drive from Calais and you leave your car in Tsach which is 20mins by train away from Zermatt.
Zermatt is a stunning resort with a car free centre. The 38 peaks surrounding the town including the 4478m Matterhorn make for an impressive site. Most restaurants and hotels are owned by a few families and Zermatt is both a winter and summer destination of choice. On the down side the walking around can be a pain in the neck and that's without falling and avoiding the electric taxis! Take care when choosing where to stay in this sprawling town the best location for us at Snowbainer is near the Gonnegrat and Sunnegga railways because you are close to two lifts.
Resort Restaurants
Zermatt Restaurants
Looking for somewhere to eat out in Zermatt?
Zermatt has a huge choice of over 70 restaurants at different price levels to choose form but most are on the expensive scale. Yes they even have a MacDonalds!! Gramps for pizza Brown Cow Snack Bar - for burgers - good for those on a budget. Rua Tai - for Thai in pleasant surroundings
Stockhorn Grill or The Spaghetti Factory are other favourites
Fuji of Zermatt - if you simply can't live without sushi and tasty teppanyaki. (remember to bring your credit card - lets' face it you're eating quality raw fish up a mountain, it's not going to cheap! Whymper-stube - head hear for the obligatory fondue
Nightlife..
Zermatt Bars
Looking for some apres ski or nightlife in Zermatt?
Lively varied and take a credit card
Vennisoge for a quiet drink Grampi to see Elton John (impersonator) Papperla Country Bar - kaoriokee Hotel Poste
Other Activities
Zermatt Activities
There is actually loads to do in Zermatt for non-skiers Ice Grotto Bowling,
Fitness Centre,
Skating, Curling Night Sking, Helisking, Paragliding Squash, Tennis, Swimming Alpine museum
Miles of cleared winter trails for walking (check out the special walkers pass at the Tourist Office) Shopping in the stylish shops and boutiques
Accommodation
Zermatt Accommodation
Where to stay in Zermatt - well there is lots of choice but little on the cheap side. There are a total of 3 5* hotels, 36 x 4* and 28 x 2*. You pay your price and take your chance. For those who budget is small try the Youth Hotel which is located 400m from the centre of town. To the other extreme try the 5Star Mont Cevin T0041 27 966 8888 www/seilerhotels.ch
Looking for something totally different. Why not stay in an Igloo?
Yes Igloo accommodation at 2700m , spend a night high up in the mountain surrounded by snow. From around the 25th December through to mid April you can stay in a standard shared igloo or a romantic one for two! They even have an igloo kitchen, common area igloo and staff igloo. There is even a suana in Davos and Gstaad igloo villages and a whirlpool in Zermatt and Engelberg. Book online with Switzerand Experts on 0207 420 4932. or visit www.iglu-dorf.com
Hotel Julen Zermatt - four start hotel, beautiful furnishings. Perfect for anyone wanting a spa / ski break Romantik Hotel Julen, Daniela & Paul Julen, Riedstrasse 2, CH-3920 Zermatt Tel. +41 (0)27 966 76 00, Fax +41 (0)27 966 76 76, info@julen.com, www.julen.com
Le Petit Hotel Zermatt Metzggasse 28 3920 Zermatt, Switzerland Tel +41 27 967 5900
There are a lot of UK companies offering ski holiday packages to Zermatt with a mixture of chalets and hotels. So why not check out some of the following Zermatt Accommodation providers...
Alpine Weekends, Chalet World Ski, Elegant Resorts. Inghams offer ski holidays to Zermatt
Interactive Resorts, Jeffersons, Kuoni Ski, Lagrange, McNab Ski, Oxford Ski Company, Powder Byrne, Scott Dunn, Ski Expectations, Fresh Track, Ski Independence, Thompson, VIP and White Rock
About The Mountain
Skiing Zermatt
Zermatt is often described as one of Europe's top skiing resorts and we think you will enjoy the vast area that also covers Cervinia in Italy. Zermatt has loads of marked runs and the piste map divides it into different sectors of which there are 4. (Stockhorn, Gornegrat, Glauer, and Schwarzsee) There are pistes back to the village from all the sectors although some of them maybe closed due to lack of snow - but fortunately snow cannons have helped enormously in trying to avoid this. This is a mountain where you just keep on having to stop to take in the beautiful scenery - it really is magnificent
Zermatt Snowboard
For Snowboarders in Zermatt the terrain park is one of Switzerland's best with 2 pipes one of which is a super. Backers, rails and a 1/4 pipe and wall ride should be able to keep ou amused as will your soft boots for getting around the village. For the most daring amongst you try the heli-boarding or get yourself a guide and head to the powder bowls and couloirs for a challenge.
Zermatt Ski
Beginners coming to Zermatt - wouldn't be our number one choice
Intermediates - ok this is a must resort for you BOOK NOW! There is mile after mile are mile of stunning runs
Advanced - oh yes you will love Zermatt - so try to go at least once in your life. Get yourself a guide to explore the couloirs and powder bowls or if you want to stay on path then go for Europe's most difficult mogul slopes The Trifti. Helesking is just the icing on the cake.
Cross Country - there is 9km of cross country trails
Mountain Restuarants
Zermatt Mountain Restaurants
They have been called the world's best. Do we need to say more? There are 38 restaurants
Chez Vromy- Sunnega
T: 027 967 2552
is amongst one of the best and they welcome children
Zum See, Matterhorn. (snowbrainer's favourite) great food, friendly atmosphere. If you love food and appreciate a cosy yet refined atmosphere
For computers and accesories - good if you find you've forgotten to pack your cables!
Top 5 Family Activities
Zermatt for Families
What's there to do in Zermatt for families?
Ice rink - head to the natural and artificial rinks in the centre of town. Check out the ice hockey games they hold here too.
Indoor Climbing Wall - for all those 10 years of age and over head to the climbing wall in the Triftbachhalle. A 7 m high wall area of 140 square metres. A mountain guide is present on Fridays.
Toboganning - The downhill toboggan journey from Rotenboden lasts between five and ten minutes – and is great fun for all ages. The trains of the Gornergrat Bahn are available to take you back up the mountain, and run about every ten minutes.
Wollis - Wolli Park close to the Sunnegga paradise station is the best place to learn to ski. Sunny and protected from the wind
Top 5 Runs
Zermatt Ski Runs
1. Trockener Steg – Zum See - made it to number one spot as we love the long red run down to our favourite restaurant Zum See
2. Rothorn - lovely views, empty in the mornings and some great runs to get your confidence up on
3. Abfahrtsrouten - for advanced skiers drop off-piste here, there's some great freestyle too
4. Klein Matterhorn - blues and reds with fantastic views
5. Stockhorn - freeriders heaven
Ski & Snowboard Hire Shop
Ski Hire Zermatt
Ski Hire, Snowboard Hire in Zermatt - look no further. We have three fantastic shops in Zermatt where you can rent skis and snowboards
We recommend you get your ski hire and snowboards at one of the following three shops in Zermatt
Matterhorn Sport 1 - situated in Bahnhofstrasse 78
Matterhorn Sport 2 Riva - situated in Matterstrasse 59
Matterhorn Sport 3 - Neudorf - situated in Steinmattstrasse 12
Matterhorn Sports Opening Hours The shops are open from 08:00 in the morning until 12:00 and then 14:00 to 19:00 hours in the evening
If you book online here at Snowbrainer you can make big savings on the recommended retail price for all your winter equipment. Your equipment will be reserved and waiting for you in the shop on your arrival in the ski resort.
Ski Books, Snowboard Books and Ski Holiday Information Books
Looking for some information before you go on holiday or looking for a book to read when you are there. Here's some books we recommend. They're worth a read before you head off on your winter holiday or they can make great presents for skiers and snowboarders.
Top 5 Things To Take
Easy to use Piste Maps & Ski Trails Looking for high detailed piste maps for your GPS? Snowranger sells affordable quality digital maps that are great for any ski or snowboard trip. For those of you who’ve ever wondered which run gets you back to France from the Swiss side of Portes du Soleil or you’re racing the clock to get back from a Courchevel lunch to Val Thorens before the lifts shut this is invaluable kit. No more wrestling wet paper maps with frozen fingers! There are over 500 ski resorts piste maps in Europe and North America available. Go to Snow-Forecast Snowranger Film your Mates Jumps, Tricks & Shameful Ski / Snowboard Moments. We love the JAMCAM – it’s a head camera that allows you to capture your days skiing or snowboarding on the mountain. You can rent or buy the kit so for more details head to www.jam-cam.tv If you take the JAMCAM rental service in resort they include a host to record your day. The alternative is to rent before you leave, taking the equipment to the ski resort of your choice and posting back on your return. Gift vouchers are available via the website offering an unusual Christmas or Birthday present for your ski & snowboard mad friends.
What's an easy way to carry skis? Well we found the ‘THE HANDLE’ . This nifty little device allows you to carry your skis around without causing major injury to yourself and other members of the public. It’s incredibly easy to use – no Velcro just a click buckle. It’s also light and small enough to put in your pocket. www.ski-walker.com
Reviews
Zermatt is one of the most expensive ski resorts I have been to. The question is it worth it? Last season the with the falling pound against the swissy didn’t help, but not withstanding that , is the quality of the skiing, hotels, restaurants, food, bars and après ski worth it? Lets start with the skiing, the lift pass is expensive but it is a myth to think you have to be a good intermediate to enjoy Zermatt, I think anybody who has been skiing a few weeks will have a great time especially if they don’t mind the odd lift queue, not bad after paying around £255 for a 6 day pass.. However they will need to raid the cash point again before lunch with prices at around 60 to 70 SF for a bog standard lunch. After lunch you can then start to enjoy the views of the Matterhorn because you can’t afford an evening meal. Our hotel choice was the 3 star Best Western Butterfly Hotel which was good and more importantly good value. Drinks in the bars are as you would guess expensive to. Overall having just been a bit negative (mostly due to cost) but I have to say I love Zermatt, great skiing and a great time was had by the family and I guess we will return after trying Courchevel next year.
By B Turner on 23/10/2009 08:36:05
Great New Year this year in Zermatt and the skiing is as good as ever. A little expensive but at least we saved a bit by booking our snowboard hire through you at Snowbrainer. Matterhorn Sport were very helpful and said you send them loads of clients!
By Howard G on 11/01/2010 09:53:39
A world renowned resort and I think we like most people can see why. Ok the bad news first, you need deep pockets to ski here. The only real value was the ski hire at Matterhorn Sports through your good selves who gave us 23% off. I think that was the bargain of the week because my drink, food, lift ticket bills etc have never been higher. Having said that the skiing is awesome and that is why we go. Our hotel the Alpenhof is friendly with great service and no doubt the wife will book it again next year.
By Sam M. on 10/12/2009 11:48:59
Definitely recommend Zum See a small restaurant above Zermatt. Same owners for over 20 years. Good one for stopping in for a late lunch and then ski back home. You'll find it on the left hand side as you ski down from Furi towards Zermatt.
By M Shaw on 10/12/2009 11:51:10
A world renowned resort and I think we like most people can see why. Ok the bad news first, you need deep pockets to ski here. The only real value was the ski hire at Matterhorn Sports through your good selves who gave us 26% off. I think that was the bargain of the week because my drink, food, lift ticket bills etc have never been higher. But hey what a great place to ski over the New Year.
By R. Western on 04/01/2010 09:36:49
Our family stayed at the Riffelalp hotel in Zermatt and we had an incredible time. The hotel is amazing and the spa is incredible to chill and relax in after a long day on the mountains. The skiing in Zermatt is terrific, made all the more better with the gold skis from Snowbrainer. Very friendly service in the shop too…
By T Duncan on 28/12/2009 09:30:18
Sking is Zermatt is a treat but the real TREAT is the food. I think Zermatt has the worlds best mountain restaurants and I don't just mean one or two, there are loads of them. Did I mention the skiing and the views of the Matterhorn as well. You have to go.
Looking for somewhere to eat out in Zermatt?
Stockhorn Grill 
Zermatt is often described as one of Europe's top skiing resorts and we think you will enjoy the vast area that also covers Cervinia in Italy. Zermatt has loads of marked runs and the piste map divides it into different sectors of which there are 4. (Stockhorn, Gornegrat, Glauer, and Schwarzsee) There are pistes back to the village from all the sectors although some of them maybe closed due to lack of snow - but fortunately snow cannons have helped enormously in trying to avoid this. This is a mountain where you just keep on having to stop to take in the beautiful scenery - it really is magnificent
Chez Vromy- Sunnega
If you are looking to do some shopping in Zermatt there's a good array of stores to choose from
What's there to do in Zermatt for families?
