At Oxford Ski Company, we pride ourselves on having first-hand experience and knowledge of the chalets, hotels, and resorts we feature. We are a close-knit team who are dedicated and passionate about what we do.
Within this series, we’re highlighting each of our specialists across the team as we dive into their knowledge of some of our most popular resorts across the world.
I was lucky enough to start skiing at the age of four with my best friend and our families, and have loved being in the mountains ever since. I still ski with that same best friend (and our wider families) every winter. I love the mountain air and the alpine charm each time I return.
One of my favourite ski resorts in The Alps is the Swiss resort of Zermatt. It shares its ski area with the Italian resort of Cervinia, which means there's the opportunity to ski in two countries in one day! When starting your ski day, if you're looking to explore the Italian side, I recommend heading straight to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise first thing in the morning via the Matterhorn Express Lift - but do keep an eye on the time and the weather in the afternoon – if you get stuck on the Italian side, it’s hundreds of euros and about four hours for a taxi back – never ideal!
Key Resort Facts for Zermatt
Domaine: Zermatt
Resort Height: 1620m
Skiing Elevation: 1620-3899m
Pistes: 200km
Blue: 16%
Red: 58%
Black: 26%
Longest Run: Klein Matterhorn (Switzerland) to Valtournenche (Italy) - the longest red ski run in the world at 22km long.
Getting to Zermatt
Sion (SIR)
1h 30m / 80km
Geneva (GVA)
3h 15m / 240km
Our Portfolio
Number of Chalets in in Zermatt: 64
Number of Hotels in Zermatt: 7
Where to Eat
For delicious food and incredible views of the Matterhorn, Al Bosco at Riffelalp is a great choice for a lunch stop. They even serve Matterhorn-shaped pizzas! Skiers can ski to the restaurant via Red 39, and non-skiers can hop on the Gornergrat train and enjoy the breathtaking views across the valley before getting off at the Riffelalp stop.
My Favourite Places to Stay
Grand Hotel Zermatterhof is a stunning five-star luxury hotel with all the benefits of modern facilities with a grand and traditional charm. It has a prime location in the heart of the resort and boasts a fantastic spa and excellent restaurants.
Hotel Schweizerhof is a brilliant, modern four-star Superior hotel in a great central location and just a stone’s throw from the train station. It has a lovely spa and a good choice of restaurants. Dinner and cocktails at the hotel’s "The Kitchen" restaurant will not disappoint!
Chalet Grace is an incredible property with excellent views over Zermatt, amazing service and wonderfully intimate.
The Best Après Spots
The Hennu Stall is a popular bar that is known as “the Swiss Folie Douce”. The party starts at around 4pm and has beer, an outdoor DJ, and of course table-top dancing. It is conveniently located right on the slopes.
CERVO has great après out on the terrace with live music, DJ sets and yummy cocktails. Located at the CERVO Mountain Resort Hotel, you can ski in for après and take a short walk or electric taxi later into the evening to continue the party in town.
My Top Tips for Ski Trips
Invest in your own ski boots if you go regularly, after a few years they pay for themselves and they are far more comfortable than most rentals.
If you suffer from cold hands, try mittens instead of gloves - they’ll keep your hands nice and toasty. Alternatively, if you can remember to keep them charged, heated gloves can be really helpful when sat on a cold chairlift.
