Where To Stay In Zermatt: Area Guide (Best Hotels & Huts)

Looking for the right place to stay in Zermatt based on your activities? Our guide covers budget-friendly hostels through to luxurious resorts with a review of the main locations to help you decide where to stay.

Zermatt is one of the most visited destinations in the Swiss Alps.

Nestled in the valley below the Matterhorn, remarkable views combine with outdoor adventures. In summer, the hiking around Zermatt is excellent; in winter, it’s a skier’s paradise.

The car-free town is charming and a great place to stay if you’re looking for a stylish alpine-inspired hotel.

But there are more options than just the town itself. These are good to know about if you plan on enjoying more of the mountains and experiences nearby, rather than spending most of your time in the town.

Also, as Zermatt is tucked into a steep-sided valley, the best views are only possible from certain parts of town, and proximity to transport links, restaurants, and bars might be important to you.

So we’ve put this guide together to give you an overview of the best areas to stay in Zermatt, with the pros and cons of each. We have also included some hotel recommendations in each region.

OVERVIEW

Zermatt is a car-free village with access via train from Täsch. There is ample covered parking at Täsch, and trains depart for Zermatt every 30 minutes.  

Most central accommodation is easy to get to from the Zermatt Train Station on foot. However, most hotels will have a porter service, which you can book in advance.

We have broken our Zermatt accommodation guide into four different areas.

• Zermatt Village – This is the heart of the old town. It’s the most convenient place to stay with great atmosphere and transport links.
• Zermatt Matterhorn Express – The Matterhorn Express is about 1 kilometre (0.6 miles) from Zermatt Old Town. It’s a quiet part of town with easy access to the higher slopes and more rugged mountain scenery.
• Zermatt Mountain Hotels – Zermatt is tucked into a tight valley, and views of the mountain tops are flickering. The hotels in this section all sit above the valley walls, providing accommodation with great views.
• Zermatt Mountain Huts – Mountain huts are basic lodgings, often in a remote setting. Most require a hike to get to, but they can be perfect if you are looking for an adventure in a mountain wilderness.

MAP: AREAS OF ZERMATT

Our map of the best places to stay in Zermatt includes the hotels we recommend in each of the main areas, plus the key transport links.

• Zermatt Village hotels are in red.
• Zermatt Matterhorn Express hotels are in purple.
• Zermatt Mountain Hotels are in orange.
• Zermatt Mountain Huts are in grey.

WHERE TO STAY IN ZERMATT?

1. ZERMATT VILLAGE

The town centre is the best place to stay if you like being in the centre of the action, with good proximity to Zermatt’s transport links.

Zermatt’s town centre is centred around the main street, Bahnhofstrasse, which stretches 600 meters from the train station to St Mauritius Church in the town plaza.

It is a charming centre, with narrow car-free lanes, old wooden buildings, and attractive shops. In the evenings, there are plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from after a day exploring the mountains.

Most of the main transport links leave from Zermatt Village.

PROS

• Plenty of bars and restaurants.
• Short walk from Zermatt train station.
• Easy access to Gornergrat Train and Sunnegga Funicular.

CONS

• Limited views of the mountains.
• The Matterhorn Express Cable car is a 15-minute walk away.

SELECTED HOTELS IN ZERMATT VILLAGE

Hotel Sarazena (€) – This good value hotel is just 8 minutes from the old town and very convenient for the Zermatt and Gornergrat Stations.

Unique Post Hotel (€€€) – A stylish bar spills onto the street from this great central location.

The Omnia (€£€) – Tastefully furnished, with an indoor pool, outdoor jacuzzi, and sauna. There are excellent views from their hillside location.

2. ZERMATT MATTERHORN EXPRESS

This is the best place to stay for easy access to the highest hiking trails and ski slopes. 

The hotels in this section are 1 kilometre south of Zermatt town centre, around the Matterhorn Express Cable Car.

This cable car takes you to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise on Klein Matterhorn, and you can also get to the Trockener Steg and Schwarzsee cable car stations.

Many of the best hikes in Zermatt also leave from here, including the Breithorn Ascent, Hörnlihütte Hike, and Matterhorn Glacier Trail.

It’s less busy than the Old Town, but still close enough to walk. The Sunnegga Funicular is a 15-minute walk away and the train stations are around 20 minutes.

Many hotels will arrange pickup on arrival at the train station, so you don’t need to carry your luggage.

PROS

• Easy access to Matterhorn Alpine Crossing.
• Short walk to Forest Fun Park.
• Quieter than the historic town centre.

CONS

• 20-minute walk from Zermatt and Gornergrat train stations.
• 15-minute walk to Old Town and Sunnegga Funicular.

SELECTED HOTELS NEAR MATTERHORN EXPRESS

Mountain Paradise (€) – Great value, spacious rustic-inspired rooms with a balcony. Some face the Matterhorn.

Matterhorn Focus Design Hotel (€€€) – Gorgeous designer rooms and suites decorated in a contemporary Alpine style.

Suitenhotel Zurbiggen (€€) – Stylish rooms or suites with indoor and outdoor pools overlooking the Matterhorn.

3. ZERMATT MOUNTAIN HOTELS

This is where we suggest you stay if you like waking up to amazing views and don’t need all the facilities on your doorstep.

Zermatt is tucked into a tight valley. Although the top of the Matterhorn flickers in and out of view, the rest of the mountain views are hidden behind steep walls of rock.

If you want the best views every morning and evening, you need to stay above Zermatt, on top of the valley walls.

Fortunately, there are several excellent hotels that offer a great stay with views to match.

Just be aware that you need to get a cable car to get to these hotels. So, once they shut for the evening, you won’t be able to get in and out of Zermatt Village.

PROS

• Stunning mountain views from your room.
• A short distance from the cable car stations.
• Peaceful for dawn and dusk photography.

CONS

• You need a cable car or train to get in or out of Zermatt.
• More limited options in the evening.

SELECTED MOUNTAIN HOTELS

Silvana Mountain Lodge (€€) – A ski-in/ski-out lodge next to the Furi Cable Car Station. They have a pool and a wellness centre.

Rifflelalp Resort (€€€) – 5-star luxury with sublime views, a sun terrace, saunas, a steam room, a hot tub, and an outdoor pool, plus 3 great restaurants.

3100 Kulm Hotel Gornergrat (€€) – The highest hotel in the Swiss Alps with unparalleled views over the Matterhorn.

4. ZERMATT MOUNTAIN HUTS

If you are looking for a true wilderness experience, this is where to stay.

Mountain huts provide a basic form of accommodation, often in a remote and rugged mountain setting. Some can only be reached after one or two hours of hiking, and most are only open in the summer. 

Staying in one of these places allows you to wake up in some of the most impressive destinations before anyone else can get to them.

Mountain huts are not for everyone. But, it’s the best way to be on the trails early and to capture mountain photography in the best possible light.

PROS

• Stunning mountain views in a true wilderness experience.
• Peaceful dawn and dusk photography.

CONS

• Basic level of accommodation.
• You’ll need to hike to get there.
• You need to take a cable car or train to get in or out of Zermatt.
• More limited options in the evening.

SELECTED MOUNTAIN HUTS NEAR ZERMATT

Schwarszee Hut (€) – This is the best location to start the Matterhorn Glacier Trail and Hörnlihütte, two of the best hikes in the area.

Hörnlihütte (€€) – Hörnli Hut is the base camp for climbers heading to the summit. It can book out in advance and is a strenuous 2-hour hike from Schwarszee.

Fluhalp Hut (€€)- A sweeping sun terrace with wonderful views of the Matterhorn in the middle of the Five Lakes hiking area.

Trift Berggasthaus (€) – The best place to stay to tackle the Edelweiss Trail without needing to do the entire 20 kilometres in one day.

MORE SWITZERLAND GUIDES

• See the best of Zermatt on our 1-day itinerary.
• Here’s how to get the best views of the Matterhorn.
• These are the best things to do in Zermatt.
• Our top hikes around Zermatt are ranked from easy to challenging.
• Find your perfect stay with our Zermatt accommodation guide.
• Looking for something different? We highly recommend Appenzell.
• Take a scenic road trip on the Furka Pass.