Switzerland’s Canton of Valais is home to the lovely hamlet of Zermatt. It is one of the busiest ski areas in all of Europe. The majority of the ski runs in the area of Zermatt, which is at an elevation of 1606 meters, are blanketed in snow year-round. With Chalet in Zermatt for rent, you can avail top-notch accommodations. In Zermatt, there are many hotels, upscale eateries, and opulent spas, but the mountains remain the main draw for tourists regardless of the season.
We’ve provided a short list of wintertime activities.
Winter sports and skiing
Taking the lifts to the peak and riding over the Theodul Pass and into the Italian ski lodge of Cervina is one of the best ski experiences in the Alps. You are not required to ski to experience winter sports in this area either; there are also opportunities for heli-skiing, high-altitude ski excursions, Nordic paths, and night skiing. Snowshoe pathways, many curling rinks, and natural ice skating rinks are all present. Zermatt doesn’t draw large weekend crowds since it is sufficiently removed from major towns, and you can visit three different ski resorts with one pass.
Catch the Gornergrat Railway ride
The 10-kilometre ascent to the Gornergrat peak via Europe’s highest mountain railroad, the Gornergrat Bahn, over open terrain takes 45 minutes. With ever-impressive views of the Matterhorn, the rack railroad ascends the east side of Nikolai Meadows and onto the slope of the Riffelberg in a broad circle. At 2,582 meters above sea level, Riffelberg is a hotel and restaurant with a terrace that is a well-liked skier sundeck.
Sunnegga
A train ascends through a tunnel from Zermatt’s town centre to the Sunnegga sun terrace at 2,289 meters. A restaurant here is open all year long, and there are various other attractions in the summer. Children play around in the Leisee’s clear water, and there is a marmot viewing station where visitors can observe these tiny, fuzzy mammals that live in mountain burrows. Additionally, a number of hikes begin here.
Sledging fun in Gornergrat
The Rotenboden station of the Gornergrat Railway serves as the starting point of the highest toboggan slide in the Alps, which extends 1.5 kilometres to the Riffelberg. You’ll witness one of the mountain’s most breathtaking panoramic views throughout the 10-minute trip. You can rent a variety of toboggans, from the classic double-runner sledge to quicker Ghosky or Snooc models, depending on your level of ability and excitement. Additionally, there are sledges for kids with seats. With a sledging ticket, you can take the train from Zermatt up to the Rotenboden and do as many sledges runs as you’d like between the Rotenboden and Riffelberg, returning to the top between runs. The train operates every ten minutes.
Go for a hike via Gorner Gorge
Since the end of the last ice age, springtime swells of the Gornervispe caused by melting ice and snow from the Gorner Glaciers have formed a stunning gap in the rock. Just 15 minutes walk from the resort of Zermatt, wooden walkways lead down into this realm of waterfalls, where the green serpentine rock has been sculpted into beautiful designs over thousands of years. The persistent mists that emerge from the turbulent water are ideal for mosses and ferns to grow.