Gornergrat ski area

Our guide to the Zermatt ski areas

The Gornergrat railway has been running since 1898, and in 1928 it became a ski lift with a twice-daily winter sports service to Riffelalp. Improvements to the track and the trains over the years have meant this early ski lift is still a speedy and convenient way up the mountain, getting you from the centre of town to over 3000m in just over 30 minutes. If the cog railway isn’t your thing (or you are staying on the other side of town) you can also head up to Gornergrat by taking the Matterhorn Express to Furi and then changing to the Riffelberg Express.

The skiing on Gornergrat is perfect for early intermediates with wide and gentle blue runs around the speedy 6-seater chairlift ‘Gifthitli’. Our instructors love to take the kids up to these runs too, with the endless jumps and bumps the kids have a blast.

More advanced skiers can head down to Gant and take up the Hothälli cable car to ski the awesome red piste the White Hare. But, our favourites pistes around here are the Freeride pistes across from Hothälli on the old Rote Nase cable car, Stockhorn and Triftji. These big long yellow runs are epic on a powder day and gruelling bump runs when it’s been skied out.

Our favourite restaurant on this side is Alphitta, which is just below the Riffelalp resort (easy access for walkers too).

A fun hot chocolate stop is the Iglu-Dorf, where you will find an Iglu hotel as well as an outdoor snack bar.