Getting to Zermatt, Switzerland

Nearest airports Geneva (approx 150 miles, 3.5 hours)
Zurich (approx 160 miles, 4 hours)
Milan (approx 130 miles, 3.5 hours)

Arriving by car
Roads and motorways within Switzerland are well maintained and fairly uncongested, making it easy to navigate from your chosen airport to Zermatt.  Cars can be taken as far as the village of Täsch and you will then need to park at the railway station and continue the last couple of kilometres by either train or taxi.  Taxis have the advantage of taking you direct to your hotel/apartment making it easier for you to unload your luggage but sleighs and electric taxis are also available to transfer you from the railway station.  If you make arrangements well in advance, some hotels can provide private transfers from the railway station or Täsch.

Driving in Switzerland
Remember that you need a vignette to travel on the Swiss motorways
Seat belts are compulsory, front and rear
Do not drink and drive – Switzerland has strict drink-driving regulations
Speeding is subject to an on-the-spot fine and radar traps are commonplace
Children must use seat belts or travel restraints suitable for their size and age
Children under 7 years old should not travel in the front
You are required to use dipped headlights during the day and use your headlights in tunnels
Ski chains are recommended in the winter months
If you wear glasses for driving you must always carry a spare pair
Do not park where you see a sign that reads Stationierungsverbot or Interdiction de Stationner.
Parking on the pavement is illegal except where signs indicate otherwise.
Watch out for Blue Zones that restrict parking.  Parking disks must then be obtained (usually available in newsagents, tourist offices and garages)
Remember trams have priority and buses have priority when leaving a bus stop.
Traffic going uphill has priority.

Car hire Switzerland

Zermatt, Switzerland

Weather in Geneva

About Zermatt

Zermatt - Village facilities

The village itself is fairly compact but there are ample facilities including a good selection of shops, restaurants and bars.  There is certainly plenty of choice when it comes to eating out and the overall quality of food is high – most restaurants post a menu outside so you can check choice and prices beforehand.  Out on the mountain, there are yet more restaurants, offering simple and hearty food to recharge your batteries after being out on the slopes.  Apres-ski is lively with a good range of cafes and bars, including jazz clubs and pubs.

The centre of Zermatt is a car-free zone and pedestrians happily bustle about, mingling with the locals as they go about their business. But don’t worry if the walk home is too much after a day on the slopes, as horse-drawn sleighs are available.  This is truly a picturesque spot – wooden chalets, heavy with snow, nestle along cobbled streets, beneath the majesty of some of Europe’s tallest mountains.  With the lack of traffic noise and a friendly bonhomie everywhere you go, it’s like stepping back in time – take an evening stroll along the main street and soak up the atmosphere.

Local activities
Away from the slopes you will find indoor swimming pools, skating rinks, tobogganing, horse-drawn sleigh rides, a fitness centre and bowling alley.  Those looking for something a little more adventurous, might enjoy the heli-skiing, ice climbing or paragliding.

Snow Sports

Matterhorn Ski Paradise covers an immense area from Rothorn Paradise, through the Gornergrat and onto the Klein Matterhorn (and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise).

From the Klein Matterhorn, not only can you enjoy fantastic views but you also have access to the Italian ski resort of Cervinia whilst higher up, glacier skiing is the name of the game.  And it’s thanks to this glacier that Zermatt is able to boast year round skiing – in the summer there are 20km of runs, rising to 313km in the winter season.

Electric buses serve the 3 resort stations (included in the ski pass) The resort is also served by a number of chair lifts, gondolas and cable cars as well as the Gornergrat Bahn and an underground funicular railway to Sunnegga paradise.

Beginners:
Although Zermatt is probably best suited for intermediate and advanced skiers, there are several wide, gentle runs suitable for beginners.  There are easy blue runs available across the Matterhorn Ski Paradise area but if you are keen to progress, take the short train journey up the slopes of Gornergrat for more of a challenge and follow the red runs.

There is a good choice of private instructors and ski schools, including a British school with small English speaking groups for both adults and children.

Intermediate skiers:
Intermediate skiers will be in their element here with a great variety of runs amongst beautiful scenery.  Ski over to Cervinia, take the Rothorn Paradise cable car or the Riffelberg Express for more challenging red runs.  Many of the intermediate runs are long and varied – you can even ski between countries

If you want to brush up on your skills, then a variety private or specialist lessons are available.

Advanced skiers:
There are 9km of challenging black runs including Hörnli (Schwarzsee) as well as some fantastic off-piste skiing opportunities such as Stockhorn – Triftji.  And enthusiasts are also known to head straight for Europe’s most famous mogul fields. 

The longest run is from the Klein Matterhorn all the way into Zermatt (13km and 2200 vertical metres of varied terrain).

And finally...

Zermatt boasts:
All year ski-ing (including the longest winter ski season from late November to early May)
The highest ski lift in Europe
The highest cable car in the world
A stunning location, surrounded by 29 of Europe’s highest mountains (over 4000m)
High altitude ski areas with excellent snow conditions

Useful links

• Official Zermatt website
• Zermatt web-cams
• Winter driving tips
• Car hire winter hotspots
• Images of Zermatt
• Transportation in Zermatt
• British consulate in Switzerland
• Read about Verbier, Switzerland
• Guide to family Ski-ing

Useful Info