Zermatt - Ski Area Guide

Zermatt, Switzerland

Ski Resort in Swiss Alps - 394km245 miles of Piste (1,620m5,315ft to 3,900m12,795ft). Rated: 4/5 (from 6 ratings)

Who is Zermatt good for?

Zermatt Ski Area

Zermatt Ski Area Height

Zermatt

The Swiss Ski Resort of Zermatt is one of the larger Ski Resorts in Switzerland and has direct access to 394km245 miles of downhill skiing, with 59 individual pistes, served by 40 ski lifts. Zermatt is directly linked by Ski Lift to the ski areas of Breuil-Cervinia.

The ski resort itself is at 1,620m5,315ft, so skiing or boarding back to the resort is usually possible. With ski lifts as high as 3,900m12,795ft, skiing and snowboarding is assured throughout the season.

There is an airport within two hours drive, so ski weekends, snowboard breaks and short ski holidays to Zermatt are perfectly feasible.

Skiing in Zermatt

Zermatt offers some of the best skiing in the world and one of the world's biggest lift inter-linked ski areas with more than 70 lifts, including an underground funicular railway, together offering an uplift capacity in excess of 50,000 skiers per hour. The ski area is in three sections, one of which is shared with Cervinia and Valtournenche over the border in Italy.

Although the resort has a deserved reputation, like Chamonix , as a serious mountain sports mecca, the choice is so vast that there is plenty on offer for skiers and snowboarders from beginner level up. The gentlest slopes are found on the Gornegrat 's slopes, whilst intermediates and experts will find something to entertain them on Sunnegga, especially the long Triftji black run for the latter. Key routes back down to Zermatt have snow making and the high altitude means snow down to resort level is the norm.

A haven for wintersports connoiseurs, almost 50 different special ski programs are on offer on fixed dates (contact the Tourist Board for more information). These include skiing with language courses, skiing with classical music and gastronomic specialities, skiing with indoor golf or even with dance classes. For full-time skiers there are special courses in powder as well as hard packed snow and the option of taking the 'Haute Route' ski mountaineering and back country ski routes with guides to other classic resorts such as Chamonix and Saas Fee. Heliskiing is also very popular around the resort with a huge range of options for serious skiers with guides.

Snowboarding in Zermatt

Increasingly recognised as one of the world's top snowboarding destinations in the way that it already is for skiers, the resort's terrain offers plenty to keep even the most experienced boarder happy.

Created facilities include The Gravity Park on the glacier (one of the very few in the world normally open every day of the year) which has an incredible 200m superpipe, large and small kickers, big rails, a wall ride, curved twin rails, kicked box, double kicked rainbow and s rail, c rail and straight rails.

Zermatt's three snowboarding schools are one of the easiest ways to get to know the best parts of the mountain for Boarders.

Zermatt Aprés Ski

Zermatt is able to offer some of the most sophisticated night life in the Alps, as well as some of the liveliest.

Straight after the lifts close Hennu Stall on the lower part of the Furi descent (Schwarzee - Klein Matterhorn ski area) is usually lively. There's a big bar and terrace, sometimes live music and gluhwein, beer and shots a plenty. It can also be reached on foot from the village. The Olympia Stubl on the route down from Sunegga has live bands every day and a good terrace.

The Papperla pub in the village can be reached by ski if the snow is good enough. It has a lively atmosphere, DJs and a huge drinks selection.

The Hotel Post with its various bars, discos and dance club is most popular spot in town and an institution in its own right. Known as the 'Postli' to the locals, there's Papa Caesar's wine, whisky and cocktails bar, the Brown Cow snack bar and pub, The Pink live music bar, the Broken Bar (disco) and the Village Dance Club - so this one place has more nightlife that the total combined in many other ski resorts!

Other options are the Pollux discothèque which has two bars and is open to 4am and the Grampis Pub on three floors.

The Vernissage Bar and cinema was built and decorated by Heinz Julen, Zermatt's most famous artist and includes a lounge bar on the upper floor and a cinema on the lower where parties and concerts take place.

Folklore and live music are performed at Dancing Simi. There's also a cinema in Zermatt along with more than 40 public bars and nine night spots for dancing through to 3.30am closing.

Zermatt in brief

Zermatt Ski Resort is:
Excellent for Expert Skiers.
Excellent for Intermediate Skiers.
Good for Beginners.
Very good for Snowboarding.

Zermatt Season Dates

 Open from : December 1, 2018.

 Closes : April 23, 2019.

Usual opening - Year Round.

Usual closing - Year Round.

NOTE:- Opening subject to Snow Conditions in Zermatt.

Zermatt Webcams

The Webcams in Zermatt are not always up-to-date. Please check the date on the image to ensure you are seeing current snow conditions.

Zermatt Webcams

Zermatt Webcams

Zermatt Webcams

Snow Forecast for Zermatt

Zermatt Piste Map

Where is Zermatt?

Zermatt Snow Making

Snowmaking :- Zermatt is able to augment natural snow, with 350 Snow Cannons.

Zermatt Ski Lift Capacity

Ski Lift Capacity :- The 40 Ski Lifts of Zermatt are able to uplift 75,180 skiers / snowboarders per hour.