Read All 100+ Zermatt Reviews
What Skiers Say About Zermatt
Zermatt attracts predominantly intermediate to advanced skiers and snowboarders seeking well-groomed pistes, efficient lift infrastructure, and high-altitude reliability. Reviewers consistently praise the extensive terrain, modern gondola systems, scenic runs with Matterhorn views, and the car-free village atmosphere. The ability to ski across to Italy (Cervinia) is frequently highlighted as a major advantage for varied terrain and cheaper dining. However, the resort is repeatedly criticised for high costs across accommodation, food, and lift passes. Several reviewers note limited beginner-friendly terrain, with blues sometimes feeling more challenging than advertised, and mention that lower runs can be narrow and congested, particularly at weekends.
AI-generated summary based on verified skier reviews
- Extensive terrain
- Efficient lift system
- Snow reliability
- Link to Italy
- Car-free village
- Mountain restaurants
- Well-groomed pistes
- Very expensive
- Limited beginner terrain
- Narrow lower runs
- Weekend crowds
Food and drink is pricey especially as a British tourist when the Pound Sterling and Swiss Franch are almost level. However, there is a good range of food and drink at the chalets, alcohol is at a premium however.
The lift system is possibly the best I've experienced in Europe, cannot fault the lifts at all, there are little to no drag lifts also which is a benefit for me personally.
ski tips: if you have any problems with boots there is ultimate ski shop in the village which is phenomenal. other than that there isnt a lot of powder or off pieste but the groomed runs are really good and often quite quiet so really good place to practice!
It's an incredible, beautiful, unique place for a holiday, but as a ski resort it absolutely sucks.
To start- we went late March. It was constantly closed for wind. In our one week stay we only got one bluebird day, the first. Every other day the entire glacier section was closed, so we completely missed that side of the resort, and forget about going to Italy! Most days only small sections of the Sunnega side were open... so the same few average runs only all week.
Maybe we just had an unlucky week, but we checked the app after we left, and it still was closing huge sections regularly. I've never seen so much closed so often.
Despite all this, we got to ski almost all red and blue runs in Sunnega and Riffelberg areas once, and there are some awesome pistes, but also a tremendous amount of flat traversal tracks. It seems 1/2 of the runs here are flat for large sections, especially the lower ones that are marked as red. The higher Riffelberg area was my favourite, but it was closed more than it was open.
The lift system has lots of variety, and getting the train up on a sunny day was an incredible experience. However, it's very limited, and if one lift shuts there is no other way up, so you'll have a long walk down back to town in ski boots- this happened twice to us in different sections, as there's no alternative lift up. You get stuck.
Walking in ski boots sucks, and I've never had to walk in ski boots as much as Zermatt. We actually had one of the closest accommodation to the Sunnega funicular, which still inexplicably has a 200m tunnel to reach. God bless you if you choose a hotel further away, you'll be ski boot walking kilometers every day.
Even the runs back to the town were terrible- a choice of two largely flat and boring runs, one with a sudden steep section so chopped up in to giant moguls by the end of the day that most people gave up and slid down. And then it just ends. No nice run through the village, just a sudden stop, and a mass of people waiting for an elevator to get down. Eventually you get to cram inside with 30 other skiers, and appear at the bottom of the funicular, to begin your long walk home.
The Matterhorn was incredible, Zermatt as a town is absolutely gorgeous and unique, but it's the worst week of skiing I've ever had, including lower rep places like Bulgaria and New Zealand. It made me truly appreciate the ski in, ski out and endless pistes and lifts of the French mega resorts. Zermatt was the most disappointing holiday I've ever had, and a huge waste of money.
Having the option to ski to Italy makes this resort even more enticing.
The town is perfect with plenty of shops and bars to enjoy.
Après is good fun with three main places if recommend -
Hennu stal - great fun and perfect for a proper party.
Cervo - often has a DJ and can be very good fun.
Adler Hitta - on the actual mountain at sunnega and is a good place to have lunch and/or have a boogey aswell !
It can be expensive compared to other European resorts but its truly worth every penny.
Head towards Sunnegga in the morning and follow the sun towards Gornergrat and Schwarzsee in the evening.
For Apres head to Iglu Dorf, Adler Hitta and Harrys Bar.
Make sure to book any restaurant in advance in the village!
The scenery is stunning especially the Matterhorn
The skiing is varied , not particularly good for beginners, with some very long runs
The village is very pretty and traffic free with lots of expensive shops and restaurants.
Zermatt is certainly one of the worlds best ski resorts
The slopes have something for every type of skier or snowboarder and the atmosphere on the slopes is calm and peaceful.
Overall its a beautiful resort.
The food/drink and Alprés is some of the best in the Alps.
Classic Swiss efficiency on the lifts
Bit expensive but 100% worth the money for the skiing, views and all round vibes.

