Expert guide to Zermatt
It’s essential to think carefully about location when picking accommodation, as the town of Zermatt is spread out. The three lift stations, which access different parts of the mountain, are the Gornergrat railway (next to the main railway station), the Sunnegga funicular, beyond the river, and the Matterhorn Express towards Furi and Matterhorn glacier paradise, upriver more than half a mile from the station.
Zermatt is car-free apart from the electric taxis and buses, and although there are efficient buses to all parts of town, walking distances can be long and there’s no ski-in/ski-out, centrally located accommodation.
Hotels
22 Summits
Well-located in the resort centre, three minutes from the Matterhornbahnen, appropriately enough the 22 Summits has 22 comfortable rooms and suites plus a two-storey spa with Finnish sauna, Alpine hay bath and massage room.
Price: ££
Hotel Gornergrat Dorf
One of the oldest hotels in Zermatt, the Gornergrat Dorf is in the middle of town, close to the train station and the Gornergrat lift. Bedrooms are simple but cosy, and the hotel has a sauna and heated boot room.
Price: ££
Hotel Cervo
Modern Swiss in style, the Cervo is themed around deer and accessed by an elevator in the Sunnegga tunnel. Rooms are spacious and arranged in six five-room chalets, each with a sauna, steam room and outdoor hot tub.
Price:££
Hotel Alphubel
Comfy, modest and quiet, and set back from the main street, the Hotel Alphubel is a family-run two-star that’s hard to beat for value, and its three-course set dinner is generous and tasty.
Price: £
Hotel Bella Vista
The three-star hotel Bella Vista has 21 bedrooms, and has plenty of character with modern twists. Set a little above Zermatt, it has great views from its floor to ceiling windows, and is a five-minute walk into the centre of town, and to the Sunnegga lift. There’s a good spa and wellness area, including a sauna with views of the Matterhorn.
Price: £
Hotel Walliserhof
Unmistakably Swiss yet fresh, the Hotel Walliserhof is a friendly four-star place on the main street offering good food in its Theodors Stuba restaurant.
Price: ££
Hotel Alex
A characterful Zermatt institution near the station, Hotel Alex has colourful, warm, sometimes eccentric décor, excellent food, a 25m pool, a spa, gym, squash court, badminton and indoor tennis.
Price: ££
Mont Cervin Palace
The giant five-star Mont Cervin Palace is bang in the centre of town, and has a rich history, a grand interior and an attractive indoor-outdoor pool and spa. There are also three in-house restaurants.
Price:£££
The Omnia
Sleek, minimalist and perched above the main street, the Omnia has floor-to-ceiling windows, wood floors, Tempur mattresses, an indoor-outdoor pool and spa and extras such as yoga. It’s accessed by a softly-lit tunnel and lift direct from the main street.
Price: £££
Hotel Schweizerhof
The long-standing Schweizerhof Zermatt hotel close to the train station and Gornergrat lift punches above its four-star rating with its hip luxury interior. It has three restaurants and a large pool and spa.
Price: £££
Credit:
Hotel Schweizerhof
Read more: The best rooms in Zermatt
Chalets and apartments
Mount Jefferson
A two-person luxury bolthold, Mount Jefferson is a contemporary apartment located just behind Zermatt’s main street, one minute’s walk from Gornergrat station.
Price: ££
Book it: From CHF2,800, excluding travel, with Nevada Zermatt.
Booking.com rates above are guide prices per person per night, please note that packages can differ across accommodation. Owing to the current coronavirus pandemic, these rates may change. Please check the properties’ websites for further information on what’s included.
Unless stated otherwise, package prices are per person, based on two sharing a double or twin room, half-board, for seven nights, including flights and transfers.