How to Ski Zermatt + Where to Stay (Matterhorn, Swiss)
Sean Finelli
As an avid skier, I can tell you that skiing in the US is getting far too expensive. It’s gotten to the point where skiing in Europe is cheaper than in the US at some Vail resorts. It’s also far better for many reasons, including the quality of the food you eat on the mountain, but where do you start? This article details how to ski Zermatt and where to stay.
Cervo Apre-ski Zermatt
Zermatt is an unforgettable skiing destination. The town is car-free, which creates a peaceful atmosphere, but getting there takes a bit of extra effort. I’ve skied all over—from Chamonix to the Italian Alps—but Zermatt has been my favorite for both its conditions and the unique vibe of the Matterhorn. There’s a real energy you can feel, even if you’re not usually into that sort of thing, and some of my best photos were taken there.
The food and drink are far superior to what you’d find at US resorts, with small, family-owned alpine restaurants offering hearty meals like braised meats, soups, and delicious strudel. You can even ski over to Italy for authentic Italian cuisine, although the lifts are a bit rougher there. But who wouldn’t want to ski to another country?
European après-ski is another highlight—something I’ve never found in North America. The energy and fun make the experience so much more enjoyable.
How to get to Zermatt
Many airports are driving or train range to Zermatt. Most are between 2.5 to 3.5 hours away. Here are my favorites:
Milan MXP – less than a 3-hour drive. You’ll need to park right outside Zermatt and get a transfer into the city. This is so easy to do and you don’t need to plan ahead (from my experience). There were tons of garages that offered the transfer on-demand.
Zurich Airport (ZRH) – This a 3.5-hour drive, but there is also the possibility of getting a train from the airport, which also takes 3.5 hours. You may have to make one to two train changes, but it is definitely “the way to go”. The area is known for snow storms so train travel is the way around this obstacle.
Bern Airport (BRN) – the airport is only a 2 hour 20 min drive. There also appears to be a 3-hour+ train as well, but there are far fewer direct flights to Bern from the USA, making Milan or Zurich my choices.
Euro-Skiing Tips:
I have never bought a lift ticket in advance in Europe. I rock up and ask at the lift station – easy peasy
Direct flights are the way to go.
Pack your boots, rent your skis or snowboards – I like the way my ski boots fit, so I bring them, but rent skis. Why? I like to rent based on conditions and don’t want to lug big skis around on an international flight. If you’re an advanced skier, this is Europe, and ski shops always have advanced options.
Where to Stay + WHY
Zermatt is a tiny little village, completely pedestrian and full of fun. My key to the area is getting a hotel nearby to a lift so you can walk to and from the lift in the morning. Ill explain where all the action is in Zermatt and where to get a hotel. Here are my pointers:
Less than 500m from a lift (5 football fields)
Hotel with a sauna & spa – this is part of the experience
Walking distance from the après-ski or after-ski parties
Staying close (one-block off max) or on river is recommended for right side of river
Where are the lifts in Zermatt?
The last thing I want to do in the morning or EOD is lug my skis all over Switzerland. Being close to a lift is one of the most essential things in my selection process.
As I say in every where-to-stay article I write, always pick where to stay based on what you do when you wake up and right before bed. For ski vacations, that includes taking a chairlift.
There are two significant lifts in Zermatt. On my last trip, I stayed at Resort la Ginabelle, which was right by Sunnegga. That funicular lift is a bit claustrophobic, but it did the trick. If you look past that, you will see that it is a great walking distance from many bars, restaurants, and action in Zermatt.
Your other option is to stay in the southern area of Zermatt, where you’ll finish your day. Also a great option. I could always easily find a taxi from the southern lift back to the hotel for less than 10,€ so it was a non-problem. They are these little electric vehicles, and you can throw your preferred medium of snow riding on the top.
I most articles, I divide the city into sections based on what to expect. You can walk from the northern lift down to the southern lift in 18 minutes. Just know that the nightlife in Zermatt is in that orange area, which is a 5 to 10-minute walk from anywhere. Staying in that section isn’t really a problem since there is not much “late-night” action in a ski town. Everyone is exhausted.
You should know that the area to the right of the river is a steep hill. Staying one to two blocks from the river could mean a walk up or down hill. That said, it’s a non-problem. Staying close to the river is ideal.
My Favorite Ski Hotels in Zermatt
There are a ton of great hotels in Zermatt which makes planning easy. The Swiss are known for excellence so you’ll have your pick. Try to stay close to the river and close to a lift, that’s my advice. Below are the hotels I have visited and loved.
Cervo Mountain Resort is easily my favorite hotel in Zermatt. I am not rich enough to stay here, but if I was… I would. However, I did attend an apres-ski here, and it was awesome. Pretty laid back, less of a party than others, but they had warm mulled wine, live music, and great views!
€€€ | 4-star | Family Daycare | Spa/Sauna | 150m from Sunnegga funicular
I stayed here in 2024 and was seriously impressed. Hotel staff were really friendly and they had a vast array of heated pools and basically a full hammam. The price was better than right and we had a Matterhorn view room. I wanted to stay here in 2025 but it was already sold out.
€€€ | 4-star | Spa/Sauna | 150m from Sunnegga funicular
I didn’t stay here, but did have a drink in their lobby bar. The place was very swanky, everyone was friendly, and the crowd of people staying here looked high-end enough for me. Super close to Sunnegga funicular and had a spa. All boxes checked!
€€€ | 4-star | Spa/Sauna | 300m from Sunnegga funicular
I haven’t stayed here, but I do have a reservation for March 2025 and I am excited. Its a little bit high up on the hill, but I don’t forsee issues. What I like about this place is that I could get a 3 bedroom serviced apartment for me and my brothers who are traveling and the rate was reasonable. It also has all spa services you’d hope for!
€€€ | 4-star | Spa/Sauna | 150m from Sunnegga funicular
I really like Hotel Daniela and have it on my radar. It’s a really nice hotel but also maintains the classic Swiss vibes you want to feel when you’re in town. Great reviews online and good prices makes it a no-brainer.
Sean is a co-founder and owner of The Tour Guy and its subsidiary The Roman Guy. He studied finance and statistics, but that is his "Dr. Jekyll" side! His "Mr. Hyde" is in love with travel, art, history, and culture. Sean has read libraries of historical text and believes that all internet content should come from books. A practice he follows!
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