This world renowned resort lies at the foot of the Matterhorn. There is no motor traffic although the silent electric trolleys and taxis run around the resort at the beck and call of visitors and the old world atmosphere is reflected in the narrow winding streets, the wooden buildings and the horse drawn sleighs. Without doubt this is one of the world's premier ski resorts attracting 'the great and the good' due to its chic ambience and reputation but at the same time you will find a cosy little bars filled with teenage snowboarders as well as an ample supply of more modest priced hotels. A feature of Zermatt is its mountain restaurants which are almost as famous as the Matterhorn and there are few resorts that can boast such fine cuisine at over 3,000m whilst for a genuine pasta lunch you can ski down to Cervinia in Italy.

Children under 9 years ski for free!
With over 160km of prepared pistes and Europe’s highest cable car it is little wonder that Zermatt is considered to be one of the premier resorts of Switzerland. Add Cervinia for another 95km of pistes to enjoy!

Gornergrat & the Stockhorn The cogwheel railway from the village takes you up to 3,100m at Gornergrat although there are several stops en route where you can get off the train and start your day's skiing. Here there are superb slopes for beginners and intermediate skiers. A cable car carries you across to Rote Nase and the Stockhorn where there are a series of runs and lifts although the first part of the run from Rote Nase is not for beginners! You can ski down to Gant and take the gondola up to Blauherd for the Sunnega ski area or there’s an 11km run back to Zermatt. There is also a long run from the restaurant at Riffelalp that will bring you down to Furi where you can take the cable car up to Schwarzsee and then on up to the Klein Matterhorn.

Klein Matterhorn & Schwarzee Cable cars from the edge of the village take you up to Furi from where there’s a choice of routes. One to Schwarzee at the foot of the Matterhorn where the runs are probably for the better skier. Otherwise continue to Trockener Steg where the highest cable car in the Alps takes you to the Klein Matterhorn (3,880m) from where you ski down to the glacier. You can also ski over to Cervinia in Italy for a spaghetti lunch! Superb 13km run back to Zermatt with several cosy restaurants to tempt you to stop on the way down.

Blauherd, Rothorn & Sunnegga One of the sunniest haunts for skiers and a funicular with 2,000 persons per hour capacity provides easy access from Zermatt. A new combination cableway from Sunnegga, half gondola half six-seater chair, brings you on up to Blauherd where there is fine skiing for the intermediate skier and another cable car can take you up to the Rothorn from where there are several runs back to Sunnegga or all the way down to Zermatt.

Resort Facilities

A feature of Zermatt is its mountain restaurants which are almost as famous as the Matterhorn. Few resorts can boast fine cuisine at over 3,000m. You can even ski to Italy for a pasta lunch!

Top of the World Heli-skiing can take you to the parts that the average skier "cannot reach" and is possible on the Monte Rosa and the Alphubeljoch. Enquire at the ski school for details.

Walking 32km of paths kept open all winter.

Cross Country Skiing 8km piste up at Furi.

Snowboarding Several half pipes in the main ski areas and great snowboard pistes everywhere.

Toboggan There are three approved runs, Sunnegga via Findeln to Zermatt, Furi to Zermatt and Rotenboden to Riffelberg.

Sports Facilities Ample possibilities if you fancy a change from skiing with ice rinks for skating & curling and indoor tennis & squash. Several hotels have pools that are open to the public.

Kindergarten 'Kinderparadies' situated on the main street, 7 days a week from 09.00 to 17.00 for children from 2 years. 5 days about 500sfrs including lunch. Single days and half days also possible. Also a kindergarten at the Hotel Nicoletta for children age 2 - 8 Mon to Fri about 75sfrs per day including lunch. There is also a ski kindergarten for children from age 4, details from the ski school. Advance booking is recommended for all kindergartens.

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