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In this guide13 sections
- The short answer
- The 2026/27 season and the lift pass
- Bahnhofstrasse and the station: the village centre
- Sunnegga: the funicular at your door
- Steinmatte and Winkelmatten: the Matterhorn Express side
- Riedweg: slopes beside the hotel
- Riffelalp: a resort at 2,222 m
- The Kurtaxe and Swiss VAT
- Getting to Zermatt and around
- How to book Zermatt
- All 12 at a glance
- Before you go
- Frequently asked questions
Zermatt has no cars, so where you sleep is really a choice of which lift, funicular or railway you want near your door. The village’s visitor tax, the Kurtaxe, is a flat CHF 4.00 per adult per night for every type of accommodation, added on top of the room rate. The lift operator’s winter season starts on 1 November 2026, but two big sides of the mountain open later, on 28 November.
This guide covers the season and the lift pass, five areas by lift, 12 hotels from a youth hostel to a resort at 2,222 m, the Kurtaxe, and the way in through Täsch. The hotels are researched picks, chosen for location, what each property publishes and consistent guest feedback, and each was checked on its own website in October 2026. Where a hotel publishes its winter opening dates we give them, because several are in their autumn break and reopen in late November or December. No hotel pays to appear here.
The short answer
| If you want… | Stay in | Why |
|---|---|---|
| shops, restaurants and the station close by | Bahnhofstrasse and the station | The village’s main street, with the railway and the e-taxis at one end |
| the Sunnegga funicular at your door | Sunnegga | Two hotels within about 200 m of the funicular |
| the Matterhorn Express and the glacier lift | Steinmatte and Winkelmatten | Hotels beside or a short walk from the valley station, with a free e-bus to the village |
| a hillside base with slopes beside the hotel | Riedweg | One resort on Riedweg that describes itself as ski-in, ski-out |
| to ski from the door at altitude | Riffelalp | A resort at 2,222 m on the Gornergrat line, open 11 December to 4 April |
Not sure which area? Rank these areas for your trip: pick what matters and see the reasons.
The 2026/27 season and the lift pass
Zermatt Bergbahnen’s ski-pass page gives the winter season as 1 November 2026 to 3 May 2027, with the Sunnegga/Rothorn and Gornergrat areas opening on 28 November 2026 and closing on 11 April and 18 April 2027. Our reading is that before 28 November only the glacier side, reached from the Matterhorn Express, is open, so an early-season trip suits a hotel on that side of the village.
The winter ski pass is priced with “from” rates, not a single price. The operator says its lowest price applies from 1 to 27 November 2026 and from 19 April to 2 May 2027, and that the Gornergrat railway is not included in those periods. Dates in between cost more and are shown only in its web shop, so treat the table as the floor. Prices include Swiss VAT and can change.
| Pass | Zermatt area, from | Zermatt and Cervinia, from |
|---|---|---|
| Half day, from 12:15 | CHF 68 | not sold |
| 1 day | CHF 89 | CHF 104 |
| 5 days | CHF 329 | CHF 372 |
| 7 days | CHF 436 | CHF 492 |
Children under 9 ski free with a photo pass, children aged 9 to 15 pay 50% less, youths aged 16 to 19 pay 15% less, and on Saturdays the Zermatt pass is free for children under 16. The Peak Pass, sold by the tourist office from CHF 212, is a sightseeing pass for the railways, cable cars and local bus, and its page says it is not valid on ski and chairlifts, so skiers need the ski pass.
Bahnhofstrasse and the station: the village centre
Bahnhofstrasse is Zermatt’s main street, and the hotels along it put you among the shops, restaurants and bars, with a walk to the lifts rather than a lift at the door. Zermatt Tourism lists a free e-bus on two routes, the Ski-Bus and the Winkelmatten line, as well as electric taxis.
Where to stay on Bahnhofstrasse and near the station
How the hotel links work: a hotel’s name goes to its own website. “Check rates” opens it on Booking.com through our partner Stay22, which pays us a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
- Grand Hotel Zermatterhof, splurge. Bahnhofstrasse 55, about ten minutes’ walk from the station according to the hotel, which sends an electric vehicle or horse-drawn carriage to meet guests if you email ahead. It lists 14 room and suite categories from 20 m² to 76 m², and its winter offers include a free four-day ski pass, valid in Zermatt and Cervinia, with five nights in a Deluxe Double or above. Choose it for a grand hotel in the village centre. Watch out: ski passes are in no rate, and the Kurtaxe is charged on top. Check rates on Booking.com →
- Mont Cervin Palace, splurge. Bahnhofstrasse 31, a five-star hotel with 18 room and suite categories, a spa called Le Club and restaurants including Grill Le Cervin and Ristorante Capri. Choose it for a full-service base on the main street. Watch out: its location page gives no walking times to the lifts, so check the map for yours. Check rates on Booking.com →
- Unique Hotel Post, comfortable. Bahnhofstrasse 41, a four-star hotel in what it calls Mountain Lodge Style, a few minutes’ walk from the station, the lifts and the bus stops on Bahnhofstrasse. It runs a free electric-vehicle transfer from the station, taxi rank or heliport between 8:00 and 19:00, and has a spa and three restaurants. Choose it to be inside the village’s evening life. Watch out: it also runs five bars and clubs, including a late-night club, so ask for a room away from them if you want quiet. Check rates on Booking.com →
- Zermatt Youth Hostel, budget. Staldenweg 5, with 47 rooms and 170 beds: double rooms, 4-, 6- and 8-bed rooms and a family room, with bed linen included, and the village centre a few minutes away on foot. Choose it for the lowest bed price in the village. Watch out: the seasonal-dates panel on its page did not load when we checked, so confirm winter opening and check-in times with the hostel before you book. Check rates on Booking.com →
Sunnegga: the funicular at your door
The Sunnegga underground funicular runs from the edge of the village up to the Sunnegga, Blauherd and Rothorn side of the ski area, which opens on 28 November. Both hotels here describe themselves by their distance to it.
Where to stay near Sunnegga
- Hotel National Zermatt, comfortable. Matterstrasse 39, a four-star hotel that its own site places 20 metres from the Sunnegga valley station, with a spa and Standard and Deluxe doubles, family rooms and a Maisonette Suite. Choose it to be next to the funicular with a spa to return to. Watch out: its website still carried a summer and autumn 2025 promotion when we checked, so confirm winter dates and rates before you rely on it. Check rates on Booking.com →
- Hotel Holiday, good value. Gryfelblatte 4, in what it calls a quiet quarter, 200 metres from the Sunnegga funicular, with the Gornergrat railway and the Klein Matterhorn bus stop a few minutes’ walk away. Rooms run from a 20 m² Standard Double to a 28 m² family room, the hotel taxi collects guests free on arrival and departure days, and its site lists offers for January and March to April 2027. Choose it for a short walk to the lifts at a lower price. Watch out: a Standard Double is 20 m², so a family should look at the larger rooms. Check rates on Booking.com →
Steinmatte and Winkelmatten: the Matterhorn Express side
The Matterhorn Express is the lift line that climbs from the south end of the village via Furi to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, and the hotels around its valley station sit on the hillside at the village’s edge. The Matterhorn Focus says the e-bus stop in front of its entrance, on the red Winkelmatten line, is called Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, and that is the line to use for the village. On our reading of the opening dates, this is the side to be on in early November.
Where to stay near the Matterhorn Express and in Winkelmatten
- Hotel Matterhorn Focus, comfortable. Schluhmattstrasse 131, a four-star superior design hotel that says it stands directly next to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise valley station. It lists 11 room categories, including a 30 m² Futura Room with a balcony, and a spa. Choose it for the glacier lift on your doorstep. Watch out: the hotel puts the village under ten minutes away on foot, so evenings in the centre mean a walk or the e-bus. Check rates on Booking.com →
- Hotel Jägerhof, good value. Steinmattstrasse 85, a family-run three-star hotel with 49 rooms, from singles to family suites for up to six, and a restaurant and bar. Its FAQ puts the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise valley station about ten minutes away on foot, Sunnegga, Gornergrat and the railway station about 15, and the ski bus three. A free shuttle runs from 7:30 to 21:00. Choose it for a lower price with the lifts in walking range. Watch out: only some rooms have a balcony or a Matterhorn view. Check rates on Booking.com →
- Hotel Berghof, comfortable. Winkelmattenweg 18, a family-run four-star hotel with 28 rooms, a 600 m² spa and two restaurants or bars. Zermatt Tourism’s listing puts the Matterhorn Express valley station less than two minutes’ walk away. Choose it for a spa hotel beside the glacier lift. Watch out: the hotel’s own pages give no distance to the lifts or the centre. Check rates on Booking.com →
- Boutique Hotel Matthiol, comfortable. Moosstrasse 40, a four-star superior hotel open for winter from 4 December 2026 to 11 April 2027, with the Filet et Fils restaurant, a spa and a free station shuttle between 8:00 and 21:00. Flexible winter rates cancel free up to 14 days before arrival. Choose it for a boutique hotel with a free station shuttle. Watch out: the hotel puts itself about a 20-minute walk from the station, with the Wichje bus stop three minutes away; its pages give no distance to the Matterhorn Express, and it is closed until 4 December. Check rates on Booking.com →
Riedweg: slopes beside the hotel
CERVO Mountain Resort, on Riedweg, describes itself as a ski-in, ski-out hotel. The trade-off is timing: it is closed until the end of November.
Where to stay on Riedweg
- CERVO Mountain Resort, comfortable. Riedweg 156, open from 27 November 2026 to 11 April 2027. Nomad rooms are four-star, with Hästens beds, and Alpinist and Huntsman rooms are five-star. Its ski-in, ski-out page says guests live directly next to the slopes, and it has the Atman Mountain Spa and après-ski on its terraces. Choose it for slopes beside the hotel and a lively house. Watch out: the terrace après-ski includes DJ sets and live sessions, so it is not the quietest option, and it opens too late for an early-November trip. Check rates on Booking.com →
Riffelalp: a resort at 2,222 m
Riffelalp Resort 2222m lists its winter opening as 11 December 2026 to 4 April 2027. You take the Gornergrat Railway from Zermatt to Riffelalp station and walk a short way in winter, and luggage goes up by skidoo. The last train up leaves Zermatt at 23:30, according to the hotel.
Where to stay on the mountain
- Riffelalp Resort 2222m, splurge. A five-star ski-in, ski-out resort at 2,222 m; the hotel says every stay includes spa access and mountain-guide experiences. Choose it to ski from the door and be above the village at night. Watch out: there is no parking, you travel by train, and it is open only from 11 December to 4 April. Check rates on Booking.com →
The Kurtaxe and Swiss VAT
Zermatt’s visitor tax is set by the municipality’s Kurtaxen regulation, which the municipality lists with the date 1 November 2022. It applies per night to every type of accommodation, and the hotel collects it; Grand Hotel Zermatterhof’s FAQ confirms it is charged in addition to the room rate.
| Guest | Kurtaxe per night |
|---|---|
| Child under 9 | free |
| Child aged 9 to 15 | CHF 2.00 |
| Adult, 16 and over | CHF 4.00 |
Residents of Zermatt and some others, such as pupils at recognised Valais schools during term, are exempt. Swiss VAT is separate: the federal tax administration lists a special rate of 3.8% for overnight stays with breakfast, against a normal rate of 8.1%.
A worked example, our arithmetic: two adults and a ten-year-old for four nights pay 2 × CHF 4.00 × 4 = CHF 32 for the adults and CHF 2.00 × 4 = CHF 8 for the child, CHF 40 in all. On a room we have assumed at CHF 500 a night, four nights come to CHF 2,000, so the Kurtaxe for the two adults alone is 1.6% of the bill, and CHF 40 for the family is 2%. See hotel taxes around the world and the 2026 tourist-tax data report for comparisons.
Getting to Zermatt and around
Zermatt is car-free. Zermatt Tourism says private vehicles can go only as far as Täsch, 5 km short of the village, that electric cars are treated the same as petrol ones, and that large fines follow if you drive in without authorisation.
- By train. Zermatt Tourism puts the journey at three and a half hours from Zurich Airport and four hours from Geneva or Basel airports, with trains to Zermatt every half hour. Our Zurich guide covers hotels if you break the journey there, and a Europe rail pass may pay if you plan several rail days.
- By car. Park at Täsch. The Matterhorn Terminal has 2,100 covered spaces and sits under the same roof as the railway station, and private car parks in Täsch add more than 1,000. We could not confirm a daily rate from an official page, so check it before you go.
- The Täsch to Zermatt shuttle. Trains run every 20 minutes from 5:55 to 21:55, then hourly in the evening until 00:30 or 01:00, and all night at weekends. The ride takes 12 minutes, a return costs CHF 17.20, half-fare and children aged 6 to 15 pay half, and the Swiss Travel Pass is valid.
- Once there. Zermatt Tourism lists electric taxis, horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, walking and a free e-bus on two routes, the Ski-Bus and Winkelmatten.
How to book Zermatt
- Count the Kurtaxe. Add CHF 4.00 per adult per night, and CHF 2.00 per child aged 9 to 15.
- Match the hotel to the opening dates. Sunnegga/Rothorn and Gornergrat open on 28 November, and CERVO, Matthiol and Riffelalp open on 27 November, 4 December and 11 December. For an early-November trip, choose a hotel that is open and, on our reading, on the Matterhorn Express side.
- Price the pass for your dates. The prices above are floors; the cheapest windows are 1 to 27 November and 19 April to 2 May.
- Check room size. Hotel Holiday’s Standard Double is 20 m², Matterhorn Focus’s Futura Room 30 m².
- Compare totals. Hotel booking sites compared goes through where to book; Whistler and Niseko are the other ski-season guides in this series.
All 12 at a glance
| Hotel | Area | Tier | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Hotel Zermatterhof | Bahnhofstrasse | Splurge | A grand hotel in the village centre | Ski passes and Kurtaxe not in the rate |
| Mont Cervin Palace | Bahnhofstrasse | Splurge | A full-service main-street base | No lift walking times stated |
| Unique Hotel Post | Bahnhofstrasse | Comfortable | The village’s evening life | Bars and a club in the building |
| Zermatt Youth Hostel | Station area | Budget | The lowest bed price | Winter dates did not load |
| Hotel National Zermatt | Sunnegga | Comfortable | A spa next to the funicular | An old promotion on its site |
| Hotel Holiday | Sunnegga | Good value | A short walk to the lifts | A 20 m² Standard Double |
| Hotel Matterhorn Focus | Matterhorn Express side | Comfortable | The glacier lift on the doorstep | The village is under ten minutes’ walk |
| Hotel Jägerhof | Matterhorn Express side | Good value | A lower price near the lifts | Only some rooms have a balcony |
| Hotel Berghof | Matterhorn Express side | Comfortable | A spa hotel beside the glacier lift | No distances on its own site |
| Boutique Hotel Matthiol | Moosstrasse | Comfortable | A boutique hotel with a station shuttle | Closed until 4 December |
| CERVO Mountain Resort | Riedweg | Comfortable | Slopes beside the hotel | Terrace DJ sets, opens 27 November |
| Riffelalp Resort 2222m | Riffelalp | Splurge | Skiing from the door at altitude | No parking, open 11 December to 4 April |
Before you go
- Before you fly, sort out mobile data (the best eSIM for Europe) and read what travel insurance covers, because ski days and ski gear are where many policies add conditions.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best area to stay in Zermatt for skiing?
It depends on the lift. Bahnhofstrasse and the station put you among the shops and restaurants, Sunnegga has two hotels about 200 m or less from the funicular, the Matterhorn Express side suits early-season glacier skiing, Riedweg has CERVO Mountain Resort, which describes itself as ski-in, ski-out, and Riffelalp Resort sits at 2,222 m on the Gornergrat line.
When does the Zermatt ski season start in 2026/27?
Zermatt Bergbahnen gives the winter season as 1 November 2026 to 3 May 2027. The Sunnegga/Rothorn and Gornergrat areas open on 28 November 2026, and close on 11 April and 18 April 2027.
How much is a Zermatt ski pass in 2026/27?
The operator lists from-prices: CHF 89 for one day, CHF 329 for five days and CHF 436 for seven days in the Zermatt area. The lowest price applies from 1 to 27 November 2026 and 19 April to 2 May 2027; other dates cost more and are shown in its web shop. Children under 9 ski free. The Peak Pass is a sightseeing pass and is not valid on ski and chairlifts.
How much is the tourist tax in Zermatt?
The Kurtaxe is CHF 4.00 per adult per night for every type of accommodation, CHF 2.00 for children aged 9 to 15 and free under 9, charged on top of the room rate. Two adults and a ten-year-old for four nights pay CHF 40, by our arithmetic.
Can you drive to Zermatt?
No. Zermatt is car-free, and private vehicles can go only as far as Täsch, 5 km away. The Matterhorn Terminal there has 2,100 covered spaces, and the shuttle train to Zermatt runs every 20 minutes from 5:55 to 21:55 and takes 12 minutes. A return costs CHF 17.20.
How long does it take to get to Zermatt from the airport?
Zermatt Tourism puts the train journey at three and a half hours from Zurich Airport and four hours from Geneva or Basel airports, with trains to Zermatt every half hour.
Sources & further reading
- Zermatt Bergbahnen: ski passes, winter season dates and prices
- Zermatt Tourism: Peak Pass
- Zermatt Tourism: travelling to Zermatt, car-free rule, journey times and e-bus
- Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn: Zermatt Shuttle fares and timetable
- Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn: parking at the Matterhorn Terminal Täsch
- Municipality of Zermatt: Reglement über die Kurtaxen (2022)
- Grand Hotel Zermatterhof: questions and answers
- Swiss Federal Tax Administration: VAT rates
- Official websites of each hotel named above, checked in October 2026
Lift prices, seasons and hotel terms change. Every detail here was checked in October 2026; confirm rates, room types and cancellation terms with the hotel before booking. These are researched picks, not reviews. This article contains affiliate links: hotel rates on Booking.com and other booking sites through Stay22, and tours, transfers and eSIMs through our partners; if you book through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. No hotel pays to be included.
Keep reading on Gently Yonder
- Where to Stay in Zurich Five areas, 12 hotels, the flat CHF 3.50 City Tax, 3.8% VAT and the CHF 7 train from the airport.
- Where to Stay in Whistler Five areas, 12 hotels, the 20 November opening, Epic Pass prices and the 16% in taxes on a Whistler room.
- Where to Stay in Niseko The 2026/27 season and lift prices, five areas from Grand Hirafu to Kutchan town, 10 hotels, and the 3% tax.
- Hotel Booking Sites Compared Hotels.com, Booking.com, Trip.com, Agoda — what each is genuinely good for.