The A to Z of Zermatt: Facts, tips and info in a handy alphabetical list

A ski trip to the Swiss resort of Zermatt to ski on its slopes, play in the town and sleep in its luxury accommodation is a must for any winter sports enthusiast.

To help anyone heading to Matterhorn ski area we have put together this handy A to Z of Zermatt guide of things you need to know about this legendary resort.

A is for Altitude

Zermatt has the highest ski lift in Europe at 3883m which whisks you up to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.  

B is for Best Ski Resort in the World

In the last five years, Zermatt has been voted the best resort in the world twice. The award involves a survey of 50,000 international skiers and snowboarders. When has the public ever been wrong!

C is for Cervinia

Cervinia is an Italian resort located on the opposite side of the Matterhorn to Zermatt and the ski areas are linked up to make one of the biggest ski areas in the world.

D is for Downhill

Sometimes it is good to be going downhill. In Zermatt, there are 100 km of mountain bike trails in the summer and 360 km of pistes in the winter.

E is for Electric Cars

The town of Zermatt is car free. Anyone driving must leave their car at Täsch and catch the shuttle train into the resort. There are exceptions: hotels and taxis can operate electric cars in the town. 

F is for Food

One of the biggest draws to Zermatt is the culinary experience the town and the ski area is packed with award-winning restaurants.

G is for Glacier

Zermatt is surrounded by glaciers and these are often attributed to creating its unique climate and outstanding snow conditions. It is also home to some of the best glacier skiing in the world!

H is for Holiday

One of our favorite things about Zermatt is its unique way to make you truly feel like you’re on holiday. Unlike many purpose-built ski resorts, Zermatt has a natural charm and tranquility make a perfect place to escape and relax.

I is for International

Due to the iconic Matterhorn and a long history of mountaineering Zermatt is an all-year-round international destination. This is reflected in the population too – 40% are non-nationals and the second biggest language after German is Portuguese.

J is for Journey

Traveling to and around Zermatt is one its greatest pleasures, from the modern lift system to the iconic Gornergrat cog railway every journey is a pleasure!

K is for Kamaliza

Kamaliza is an Australian based musician who has written and track inspired by the ski resort.

 

L is for Luxury Accommodation

Zermatt is famous for its accommodation.  From world famous hotels to the luxury catered ski chalets, there is a room for everyone.

M is for Matterhorn

The mountain that made the resort. The iconic shape and inherent danger of its face was part of the original draw to the area for mountaineers. Since then it has gone on to inspire and capture people’s imagination.

N is for Nightlife

Zermatt is a great place to party and enjoy après ski. Our favorite is the Hotel Post – head there for a variety of evening entertainment.

O is for Off-piste

The Zermatt ski area has some of the best off-piste skiing in the world! There is plenty of easily accessible powder, but for the real stuff book a guide and let them take you on some of the most stunning and enjoyable backcountry experiences on the planet.

P is for Pennine Alps 

The Pennine Alps is the range in which Zermatt is found. It runs through Italy and Switzerland and contains the majority of central Europe’s 4000m peaks, including the Matterhorn and Breithorn.

Q is for Queue

Or lack of queue. Due to the resort’s continual investment in infrastructure and modern lifts you will spend minimal time waiting to get up the mountain and more time skiing it.

R is for Riffelberg

A trip to Zermatt isn’t complete without a stop at Riffelberg. You will find one of the best views in the resort as well as Zermatt’s oldest mountain hotel.

S is for Sun 

The Swiss Meteological office has declared the area the sunniest in the country. The claim is based on the lack of cloud obscuring the sun due to the resort’s high altitude.

T is for Tobogganing

There are great tobogganing areas located in Täsch, Rotenboden and Randa.

U is for Unplugged

Zermatt Unplugged is an annual music festival held every April in the resort. It features world-class musicians and artists, past headliners include James Morrison, Nelly Furtado and Simple Minds.

V is for Visp

Visp is the feeder town to the resort. Located in the valley below it is the place drivers turn to head up and train travelers switch trains to start making their ascent.

W is for Wolli

Wolli is the resort’s mascot. He is an adventurous and friendly black-nosed sheep, that can often be found wandering the streets of the town or encouraging children to ski on the nursery slopes.

X is for (e)Xpress

This is one for Michael Portillo fans. The Glacier Express is a train service that connects the resort of Zermatt in the west to another of Switzerland’s famous mountain resorts of St Moritz in the east.

Y is for Year round

Yes, you can ski all year round in Zermatt. The glacier is open 365 days a year!

Z is for Zur Matte

When the town first began to grow it was called Zur Matte which means ‘at the meadow’. Over the years it became Zermatt.

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Come and visit this Award Winning Resort

If you’d like to come and visit this award-winning resort, then please contact the Matterhorn Chalets team.

We can help you select the right accommodation for you, whether it’s a luxury catered chalet, self-catering apartment or hotel, our small team of specialists will be able to help every step of the way.

Contact us via our website or call us on +41 79 247 15 88 and we will be delighted to help.