Skiing On Top of the World
There is nothing like a snow holiday in Zermatt. This is one of the highest peaks in Europe, and if you are a serious skier, you simply must aim to take at least a couple of ski holidays in Zermatt. The great thing about Zermatt is you can enjoy the resort all year around. Even in the summertime, Zermatt in Switzerland is a resort which just keeps on giving. Some think of this part of Switzerland as a day visitors destination, but you can rent ski chalets in Zermatt and enjoy what the area has to offer for a little bit longer.
Why Do So Many Families Choose to Take Family Holidays in Zermatt?
The quality of accommodation available in Zermatt is second to none, and as the resort is open throughout the year, you can always rely on activities going on. Catered ski chalets in Zermatt have sprung up in recent years, and this is now one of the most popular ways to stay in the area. However, there is more to Zermatt than excellent quality accommodation.
Direct access to the slopes is what attracts so many skiers to the area. You don't have to walk far to find a ski lift, and even during the summer season, 8 ski lifts are open all through the summer. With 25 kilometres of both challenging, and not so challenging runs, skiing in Zermatt during the summer has become massively popular.
Zermatt in the winter is the dream of the black pistes skier. They seem to everywhere and are easy to get to. Normally you would have to spend some time traversing a lift system to find your own perfect black piste, but that is not the problem in Zermatt. You can find them almost anywhere, and there are plenty of guides to take you out on those black pistes. But skiing in Zermatt is not the only activity you can enjoy.
Snowboarders can be found in their thousands in Zermatt, and you can even enjoy some heliskiing to get to those really extreme slopes. All of the tours are guided, and are perhaps one of the reasons so many serious seem to hang out in Zermat.
More to Zeermatt than Skiing
Skiing can be exhausting, and sometimes you just have to take a break. When you enjoy a snow holiday in Zermatt, there are several ways to take a break. You will be spoiled for choice for things to do anytime of the year. During both summer and winter, you can go paragliding over the fantastic alpine landscape, and enjoy hiking. There is also a music festival in Zermatt which you may want to enjoy when you visit.
During the winter time, you can get a chance to enjoy the ice rink, and you can try your hand at curling. Snow shoe excursions are also available, and no visit to the area is complete without going sledding to enjoy the aspect of the Matterhorn from Gornergrat. A visit to Gornergrat which is located at more than 3000 metres above sea level can include a train journey which will allow you to relax, and enjoy the beauty of the area. The train was one of the first rail lines in Switzerland, and today, it is home to a sustainable powered train. Take advantage of one of Switzerland many rail passes and save some money when you travel around in Switzerland.
How to Get To Your Ski Chalet or Apartment in Zermatt
You may think that at alpine resort located at almost 4,000 metres above sea level, will be difficult to get to, but it is not. Getting there is relatively easy, and goes to show what an ideal family holiday location Switzerland can be. Zermatt itself is a car free zone, and the best way to get there is by train. You may think that it is going to a arduous journey, but nothing could be simpler. You simply take the train from either Zurich or Geneva. The journey from Geneva takes 4 hours, and if you choose to fly into Zurich, it only takes 3 ½ hours to reach Zermatt. Should you opt for renting a car, you need to know you have to park in a parking garage outside of Zermatt, and take a 12 minute train ride to Zermatt.
A Night Out in Zermatt
For some reason, many think the nightlife in Zermatt is going to be a little bit on the quiet side but nothing could be further from the truth. The resort has more than 100 restaurants, and many other venues for you to enjoy. When you take your skis off, the rest of your holiday is just about to begin as they say.
One of the more popular attractions in Zermatt is igloo village. Here you can enjoy a night out with dinner, snow walking in the dark, listen to live music all the while you are surrounded by several tons of ice. Believe it or not, there are even spa facilities in Igloo village. The experience is just one of those things you have to do when you have a holiday in Zermatt. Grizzly's bar and bistro offers traditional home cooked recipes, and after a hard day on the slopes, it might the perfect way to wind down before you go back to your ski chalet or apartment in Zermatt.
During your stay, you will have the experience that you are indeed on top of the world, and have left the harsh realities of life far behind. Taking a family snow holiday in Zermatt is a fantastic experience, and as you talk to other travelers, you will soon realise that many of them come back year after year. It is not only quality accommodation which will attract you to Zermatt, it will not take very long for this resort to feel like home. You may have travelled to Zermatt to ski, but you will come back with fond memories and hopefully even new friendships. After all, you have shared a holiday to what appears to be the roof of the world.