Winter honeymoon
A two week winter honeymoon comes with a variety of options
In order to minimize excess travel, the itinerary starts with a direct flight from Boston to Paris on Delta. It then continues with time in Chamonix, followed by Zermatt. There are a few options to avoid connecting flights on the return journey.
Option 1: travel to a city which has direct flights to Boston on Delta airlines. Major European cities include
a) London, England
b) Amsterdam, The Netherlands
c) Lisbon, Portugal
Option 2: head back to Paris from Zermatt and add an additional day in Paris
Option 3: extend time in both Chamonix and Zermatt, but plan a return journey from Zurich with a connecting flight
Flights
To Paris: Thursday December 28
5:30 pm Boston (BOS) > 6:10 am Paris (CDG) +1 day
OR
6:45 pm Boston (BOS) > 7:55 am Paris (CDG) +1 day
Option 1a - return from London
$978
Delta - Main Economy
Economy Comfort+: +$100
Premium Select: +$600
London to Boston: Sunday January 14
9:10 am LHR > 12:20 pm BOS
OR
4:35 pm AMS > 7:30 pm BOS
Option 1b - return from Amsterdam
$1,116
Delta - Main Economy
Economy Comfort+: +$300
Premium Select: +$800
Amsterdam to Boston: Sunday January 14
10:45 am AMS > 12:244 pm BOS
OR
5:05 pm AMS > 7:05 pm BOS
Option 1c - return from Lisbon
$989
Delta - Main Economy
Economy Comfort+: +$150
Premium Select: +$400
Lisbon to Boston: Sunday January 14
12:45 pm LIS > 3:15 pm BOS
Option 2 - roundtrip to Paris
$1,024
Delta - Main Economy
Economy Comfort+: +$200
Premium Select: +$700
Paris to Boston: Sunday January 14
10:35 am CDG > 1:30 pm BOS
OR
1:35 pm CDG > 3:25 BOS
Snapshot itinerary
Day 0 - Boston to Paris
Thursday, December 28
Depart Boston for Paris - overnight direct flight arriving the following morning
Day 1 - Paris
Friday, December 29
Day 2 - Paris
Saturday, December 30
Day 3 - Paris
Sunday, December 31
Day 4 - Paris to Chamonix
Monday, January 1
Day 5 - Chamonix
Tuesday, January 2
Day 6 - Chamonix
Wednesday, January 3
Day 7 - Chamonix
Thursday, January 4
Day 8 - Chamonix
Friday, January 5
Day 9 - Chamonix to Zermatt
Saturday, January 6
Day 10 - Zermatt
Sunday, January 7
Day 11 - Zermatt
Monday, January 8
Day 12 - Zermatt
Tuesday, January 9
Day 13 - Zermatt
Wednesday, January 10
Day 14 - Leave Zermatt
Thursday, January 11
Day 15 - London, Amsterdam or Lisbon
Friday, January 12
Day 16 - London, Amsterdam or Lisbon
Saturday, January 13
Day 17 - Back to Boston
Sunday, January 14
Arriving in Paris
By plane
Paris has two main international airports with many flight options. Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport is Paris’ main international airport serving most flights, located about 30 km from the city center.
Orly (ORY) is the other international airport, but is smaller and only about 18 km from the city center. This airpot is more commonly used for flights to other European destinations.
Where to stay?
Paris is very large and is broken up into 20 arrondissements. Each area has it's own vibe and there are perks to picking different areas. Unlike other large European cities, Paris tourist stops are very concentrated in the center of the city. This provides you with more flexibility on areas to stay as it will be easy to travel between key areas.
For proximity to tourist attractions
1st Arrondissement
Very centrally located, this high-end area provides a luxurious stay in Paris while highly accessible to all the city has to offer
For location and local feels
6th Arrondissement - Saint Germain
Not only does this area make it easy to get to key tourist stops including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Musee d'Orsay, it also is full of cute cafes, wine bars, and restaurants.
For a local feel
3rd / 4th Arrondissement - Le Marais
This neighborhood is east of many of the main tourist sites in Paris. It is an excellent place to stay for non-first time visitors or anyone willing to stay a bit further from the central touristy destinations to get a more local neighborhood feeling. There are many boutiques, cocktail bars, cafes, and boulangeries in the area which makes meandering through the streets all that much more fun.
For Parisian terraces
18th Arrondissement - Montmartre
The highest point in Paris is at the top of the hill where Sacre Coeur sits. This whole area is called Montmartre and has cute streets dotted with French cafes and nice terraces, boulangeries, patisseries, restaurants, wine bars and shops to explore. It is a great area to wander around and explore when visiting Paris and an area to consider staying in if you do not feel a need to be right near all the tourist sites. It is a great place to stay for non-first time visitors, as it is a fun area to wander around and decide to grab a coffee or drink at one of the many French cafes.
A few hotel options to get you started
Cute hotel very close to the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower. Note there are not a lot of restaurants and cafes in the immediate area, but great access to key sights.
Cute hotel in Le Marais with modern rooms and nice location for shopping, cafes, wine bars and restaurants. The rooms are quite small though.
Boutique and nice hotel close to Montmartre in a very central location
Discovering Paris
Getting Around
Since many of Paris tourist attractions are within close proximity to each other, you will be able to get around with a mix of walking, taking the metro, and grabbing a taxi when convenient.
The metro system in Paris is very easy to navigate. There are different types of passes to purchase depending on how often you plan to use the Metro. I would recommend purchasing the 10 ride pass if you plan to use it a lot so you do not need to buy a ticket each time you use the metro.
As the city is quite large, leveraging the metro can help save travel time and make it easy to see more of the city in a short time period.
Use Google Maps or download CityMapper to help plan out the most efficient way to reach your destination from your location.
Snapshot itinerary for 3 days in Paris
Day 1 - arrival and exploring
Arrival and check-in to hotel
Long walk in Central Paris to see key tourist sights including:
- Arc de Triomphe
- Walk down Champs Ellysees
- Stop at Angelina's for a cup of their famous hot chocolate and grab some macaroons for a snack
- Walk through Jardin de Tuileries to the Louvre
- Take photos with the pyramids at the Louvre
- Rest or find a place for a late afternoon drink
- O Chateau is a cute wine bar not far from the Louvre
Dinner idea: L'entrecote
Day 2 - the Eiffel Tower and museums
Grab a croissant and coffee at a local boulangerie
- Visit the Eiffel Tower early, with pre-booked tickets to climb to the top
- Walk along the Seine River passing by Pont Alexandre III
- Continue until you reach Musee d'Orsay (across the river from The Louvre)
- Visit a museum - The Louvre or Musee d'Orsay
- Grab a bite at Cafe de Flore
- Head towards the mini island in Paris to see Notre Dame
Stop by Chez Nous for a glass of wine in Saint Germain
Dinner idea: Le Petit Lutetia
Day 3 - day trip to Versailles
Explore Montmartre
- Grab a croissant from Le Grenier a Pain Abbesses
- Stop at Pain Pain for a baguette (as it won the best baguette in France in 2012)
- Visit Sacre Coeur
- Check out Place du Tertre
- Grab lunch or a drink at Le Bimbo or Le Progres
- Pick-up some final macarons at Christophe Roussel
Explore Le Marais visiting Marche des Enfants Rouges
Drinks and / or dinner in Le Marais
New Years Eve celebration in Paris!
Day 4 - Au revoir!
Finish up your time in Paris and head to Chamonix
Paris Tourist Stops
More information in Location Snapshots: Paris
Eiffel Tower & Parc du Champs
de Mars
As the most recognizable landmark for Paris, the Eiffel Tower is a must see. It was originally built for the World's Fair in 1889 and was supposed to be taken down, but still stands tall today in Parc du Champs de Mars.
To visit the Eiffel Tower, it is important to know that there are three different levels. The first level is one most people do not typically stop at when visiting, the second level provides a good view point, and the third level is the summit. You can buy different types of tickets providing access to different levels.
Book tickets in advance on their website
Tickets are available 60 days in advance and may sell out
Arc de Triomphe
Sitting at the center of Place Charles de Gaulle, the Arc de Triomphe is a beautiful arch which can be admired from the ground or visitors can climb to the top. To climb to the top, you must go underground to buy tickets; you are then brought back up to street level at the center of the roundabout. There are just under 300 steps to get to the top and it has a nice view. You can enjoy the view during the day or at night. Be sure to catch the Eiffel Tower sparkling for 5 minutes on the hour after sunset if you visit at night.
The Louvre
Commonly recognized for the giant pyramids outside, the Louvre is the largest museum in the world holding many famous pieces of art. When visiting, keep in mind that there are multiple entrances.
For more information on visiting the Louvre, visit the below links:
Champs Ellysees
Famous and large, high-end shopping street that leads up to Arc de Triomphe.
Notre Dame de Paris
Beautiful Catholic cathedral in the 4th arrondissement. Unfortunately, in April 2019, the cathedral caught fire and a lot of the church burned and is now under restoration.
Jardin de Tuileries
This city park is found between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde.
Jardin du Luxembourg and Luxembourg Palace
Beautiful park in Paris located in the 6th arrondissement
Musee d’orsay
Famous art museum in Paris, not far from the Louvre, with famous pieces by Monet among others
Pont Alexandre III
Known for being a beautiful bridge, the bridge connects Grand Palais and Hotel des Invalides
Detailed Itinerary for 3 days in Paris
Day 1
Day 1 | Morning
Arrival and Check-in
Arrive in Paris and head to your accommodations. Since you are coming from the United States, you are likely arriving early in the morning and your accommodations may not be ready. For this reason, a hotel might be preferred over airbnb so you are able to drop your belongings off and explore until your room is available.
Day 1 | Afternoon
Central Paris Sights
Make the most of your first day in Paris and get your bearings. Start by heading to the Arc de Triomphe. If you are up for it, purchase tickets to climb to the top. This provides you with a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower and the area around the Arc de Triomphe. Look down Champs Ellysees, as you will soon be walking down the famous street, and generally admire the view around to see what other key Paris landmarks you can spot.
Climb down the tower and head towards Champs Ellysees. Walk along the street towards Place de la Concorde, which is one of the major public squares in Paris. Once you've reached the square, begin walking through Jardin de Tuileries. If you are up for a snack, consider veering left outside the park and stopping at Angelina's which is famous for its hot chocolate and macaroons. Then continue through the park until you reach the Louvre where you can take photos with the well-known pyramids.
At this point, you can either head back to your accommodations to check-in or find a spot for an afternoon drink. Located near the Louvre, O Chateau is a nice wine bar for an afternoon drink and snack.
Day 1 | Evening
In Paris, most restaurants do not open before 7:00 or even 7:30 pm. When at dinner, you will notice the restaurants are not very full until 8:00/8:30 pm. Since dining later is common, you can consider planning drinks before dinner.
Consider trying L'entrecote which does not take reservations and is a very simple meal of steak and frites, but a staple in France.
Day 2
Day 2 | Morning
Climbing the Eiffel Tower
This morning, start by finding a cute French bakery (boulangerie) for a croissant and a cup of coffee
A few of my favorites include: Maison Landemaine (Le Marais), Du Pain et des Idees (Le Marais), Le Grenier a Pain Abbessess (Montmartre), and Ten Belles
Once you're satisfied with your French breakfast, head towards the Eiffel Tower. With your pre-booked tickets, head to the top of the Eiffel Tower to get a spectacular view over Paris. After you've finished up at the Eiffel Tower, walk along the south side of the Seine river. Pass by Pont Alexandre III (beautiful bridge) and continue until you reach Musee d'Orsay, which sits across the river from The Louvre.
Day 2 | Afternoon
Museum visit
The afternoon is available for visiting museums. For first time visitors, the Louvre is typically the museum to visit in order to see the Mona Lisa among other famous art pieces. Musee d'Orsay is another nice option as it has many Monet paintings on display. You can even consider visiting both museums if you desire.
For those who are done with museums by mid afternoon, head towards Cafe de Flore to grab a bite to eat before continuing to Paris' mini island where you can see the famous Notre Dame cathedral.
Day 2 | Evening
Drinks and Dinner
If time beforehand, stop by Chez Nous for a glass of wine. This small wine bar is in Saint Germain and provides a nice spot for a pre-dinner drink.
This evening consider booking dinner at Le Petit Lutetia. The traditional French bistro has tables close together as expected, serving delicious dishes.
Day 3
Day 3 | Morning & Early Afternoon
A morning in Montmartre
Start your day today by heading up to Montmartre to explore the northern neighborhood. Grab a croissant and coffee from Le Grenier a Pain Abbesses. Then make a stop at Pain Pain for a baguette, which won the best baguette in France in 2012! This bakery also has many other dessert options available.
Head up to the base of the Cathedral to visit Sacre Coeur, admiring the view of the church and all around Paris. If you like, you can go inside the church and even climb to the top. Once finished visiting the church, walk a few blocks over to see Place du Tertre which is a small square where many artists set up for the day to paint and sell their pieces.
Grab lunch or a drink at Le Bimbo or Le Progres and pick-up some macaroons at Christophe Roussel
Day 3 | Afternoon
Le Marais
If you are up for continuing to explore, Le Marais is a great area to wander the small side streets, as it is filled with boutique shops, cute French cafes, wine bars, cocktail bars, local French bakeries and restaurants. Plan to explore the area and find somewhere nice for a drink before dinner. Visit Marche des Enfants Rouges if searching for an afternoon snack.
A few places for drinks include:
Moonshiner - speakeasy found in the back of a pizza shop
Dinner options in the area:
Day 3 | Evening
New Years Eve
Enjoy a NYE in Paris!
Day 4
Day 4 | Morning
Au Revoir Paris!
Check out of your accommodations and head on your way to the airport or train station as this concludes your 3 day visit to Paris.
Day 4 | Afternoon
Bonjour Chamonix
Arrive Chamonix
Chamonix
Getting There
Traveling by train:
In the winter, there are trains from Paris Gare de Lyon to Saint Gervais Les Bains - Le Fayet, which takes about 4.5 hours.
From Saint Gervais Les Bains - Le Fayet, then take a regional train (TER) to Chamonix, which is another 12 miles (20 km). Although long trains, the travel time is similar to going by plane. You also will not need to arrive nearly as early at the train station before the departure as you will need to for a flight.
Traveling by plane:
The closest airport to Chamonix is in Geneva, Switzerland (GVA), which about 1.5 – 2 hours depending on the time of day and end destination. There are many flights each day from Paris to Geneva and the flight is about an hour in length.
From the Geneva airport, there are multiple options to reach Chamonix including group bus, private transfer, or rental car. For this trip, a private transfer would be recommended for simplicity.
Getting Around
There are five main resorts within the Chamonix area: Les Grands Montets, Les Houches, Le Tour, La Flegere and Le Brevent. Depending on where you are staying, line 2 will be the bus line that will get you to the majority of the destinations. Buses run every 15-20 minutes during peak season and there are many stops along the road. However, unless you are up early, you can count on the buses being packed full so it is often best to pick-up the bus at its departure point.
If you stay in Chamonix town or nearby, you can catch Line 2 or Line 2B to get to Le Tour, Les Grandes Montes, and La Flegere. Both Line 2 and Line 2B have one end point at Le Tour; Line 2B goes about 2/3 the distance of Line 2. From the city center, it takes almost an hour to get to Le Tour so plan ahead for this as it is further away. La Flegere is only about a 10 minute drive from the town center by bus. Les Grands Montes falls between La Flegere and Le Tour, and probably takes about 40 minutes to reach from the town center
.
Le Brevent is technically walkable from the town center, but it is not an enjoyable walk with equipment and boots on. The way to the lift is especially rough as it is an uphill climb. Le Brevent is attached to La Flegere by a cable car. Thus, you can take the bus to La Flegere and then take the cable car over to Le Brevent.
To reach Les Houches, take Line 1. One end of Line 1 is Les Houches while the other is Les Flegere so Line 1 is also an option to reach Les Flegere. From Chamonix town, Les Houches is the opposite direction compared to the other ski resorts. When coming from the airport, Les Houches is the first resort you will pass of the five found in Chamonix. If you cannot manage to get on the free buses and it is not feasible to get to the main bus station (Chamonix Sud) where buses being their routes, there are some taxis in the area that you can call or schedule in advance that will be able to carry your equipment.
To get to grocery stores, restaurants and bars, if you stay in Chamonix town, you can access all that you need on foot. The town is quite small so is easy to travel around without ski equipment on. If you stay outside the town, you may have to drive to find meals or grocery stores so make sure to keep this in mind when planning your trip and accommodations.
Chamonix Resorts
Les Grands Montets
This resort is the most famous of the five key resorts in the valley. It is pretty far up the valley, about 9 km from the town center. It is known to be the toughest slopes with the best snow as the majority of the runs are black diamonds. This makes it a great sport for experienced and expert skiers. Les Grands Montets is north facing meaning the sun does not hit the slopes until midday at some times in the year. This makes great snow conditions, but can be chilly so bundle up. There are 8 main lifts at this resort that allow visitors to access different areas of the mountain.
Take Line 2 or 2B from Chamonix to reach Les Grands Montets. It will take about 30-40 minutes to get there
Le Tour
Le Tour is located at the far NE end of the valley. Since it is located at the end, the slope feels more open with many open bowls. The area is great for intermediate levels as the majority of the area is blues and reds. For those unfamiliar with red pistes, “red” runs are between blue and black. The runs here were great for a group of mixed abilities. As a warning, there are only a few chairlifts. All other runs have drag lifts to pull riders to the top. One nice perk about this mountain is you can ski to the bottom, and do not have to take a cable car or lift down like at some others. The mountain bakes in the sun during the day so makes for a beautiful spot to ski on a nice sunny day. The views are breathtaking and being out on the slopes here is an unforgettable experience.
There are two ways up to the resort, either form the cable car in Le Tour or the cable car in Vallorcine.
Line 2 and 2B will go through Chamonix town and end at Le Tour, right at the bottom of the cable car.
Le Brevent
Connected to La Flegere by cable car, this is the closest resort to Chamonix’s town center, but walking here is not ideal with your equipment as it is a slight uphill climb to reach the cable car. You are better off catching the bus up to the cable car than taking the walk up. Like La Flegere, Le Brevent is baking in the sun most of the day, making the conditions great for being out on the slopes. The resort tailors to all abilities, with some beginning runs and some more challenging runs. There is an incredible panoramic view and restaurant at the top of mountain. To get here, you must take a cable car up, but then have the option to take the cable car back down or ski a black diamond.
La Flegere
This is one of the closest resorts to Chamonix’s town center. It is a great spot to start and good for a mix of abilities with a variety of pistes. The resort is south facing meaning the slopes are in the sun most of the day, making the conditions favorable. La Flegere is now also connected to Le Brevent by cable car, making it easy to hit both resorts on the same day.
From Chamonix town center, one can take Line 1, Line 2 or Line 2B to reach La Flegere. If you start the day at Le Brevent, you can also catch the cable car from on the mountain.
Les Houches
Located at the beginning of the valley, this resort is a great resort for mixed abilities and especially beginners and intermediates. It is also the best spot to go when the weather is bad because it is more sheltered.
Take line 1 from Chamonix to reach Les Houches.
Accommodations
If you do not plan to rent a car, it will be especially important to base yourself near the town center. This will enable you to use the free bus system. The town center is a nice area to walk around and is where your apres ski, bars, restaurants, grocery stores, and ski shops will be. There are a variety of different ski shops in town so it is likely easiest to pick one close to where you are staying.
We stayed in a rented property about 10 minutes from the town center, which was perfect. We had privacy and a nice location, but were able to get everywhere needed very easily. The company we used was called Mont Blanc Retreats; they have multiple properties and were very responsive. The house was beautiful and well equipped for a long weekend. Most importantly, it was walkable to everywhere in town and we were minutes from a bus stop.
Snapshot itinerary for 5 days in Chamonix
Day 4
Arrive in Chamonix
Arrive in Chamonix in the late afternoon to evening depending on how early you set off from Paris. Plan to get checked into your accommodations and get settled.
If time allows, stop by a ski rental store to pick up your skis. You can also pick up your ski pass as you will need to show your ikon pass to collect your Chamonix ski tickets. so you can head onto the slopes
Day 5
Skiing
La Flegere and Le Brevent
Get your bearings on the slopes today with the two resorts close by to Chamonix town. Enjoy the stunning views and if it is a clear day, head up to Le Panoramic for a bite to eat or drink on the slopes with incredible views.
Day 6
Skiing
For a more challenging day on the slopes, check out Les Grands Montets
Day 7
Skiing
Consider trying another new resort today, either Le Tour or Les Houches
Day 8
Skiing
If you're feeling up for another day of skiing, head back to your favorite resort or try the last resort for your final full day in Chamonix.
Day 9
Leave Chamonix for Zermatt
Today will be a day dedicated to traveling between Chamonix and Zermatt.
Ski Rentals
For skis, plan to place a rental order in advance at a ski shop near your accommodations. Intersport has many locations and is a reputable option. Another option is Local CHX . Some places will deliver to your accommodations if you place the order in advance and are comfortable with your sizing.
Zermatt
Getting There
Traveling from Chamonix to Zermatt takes approximately 4 .5 hours by train, but requires 3 changes. Although not ideal, it does enable you to travel between Chamonix and Zermatt without having to rent a car or spend a lot of money on a private transfer. When traveling to Zermatt, there will always be at least one train transfer because the train which arrives in Zermatt is a mountain train, different than the high speed trains running between the larger cities.
Alternatively, it is possible to look at private transfers for a portion of the travel or plan a day in Geneva to reduce the quantity of train switches. Note that the journey from Geneva would only require one switch, but the total train time is around 3.5 - 4 hours.
Train tickets to travel to Zermatt cannot be purchased until much closer to the travel date.
Getting Around
Zermatt itself is a car-free town. The only vehicles include mini electric cabs and buses. No other vehicles will be seen. The town itself is very walkable.
If you are staying at a hotel or renting a chalet, the property managers may recommend a taxi with luggage, but otherwise it is very accessible on foot.
Accommodations
In Zermatt, accommodation options will vary between hotels, chalets, and managed rental properties. Staying in the central part of town, within a 10 minute walk from either the train station or the Matterhorn Paradise gondola base would be ideal. Staying closer to the gondola shortens your walk with ski equipment.
There are electric taxis and buses which can be used to reach accommodations from the bottom of the mountain, but at the end of the ski day, there are often long queues as others are waiting to use the same buses and taxis. Thus, being within walking distance is especially nice for flexibility and saving time.
Zermatt Mountain
Zermatt is broken up into 3 key areas – Sunnegga-Rothorn, Gornergrat, and Schwarzsee-Matterhorn Paradise. Once on the mountain, you can ski between all areas in Zermatt. As a whole, the Zermatt mountain is not best for advanced skiers unless going off piste. The majority of runs are blues and reds with a few blacks. Note that blues are the easiest routes, reds are intermediate, and blacks are challenging.
The Sunnega-Rothorn area has shorter runs and is very good for beginners and families. Another highlight of the Sunnega side is it has some excellent mountainside restaurants, best to book in advance rather than just skiing up to and hoping for a table.
Gornergrat also provides friendly terrain and can be good for intermediate skiers. The Gornegrat area has some absolutely stunning views of the Matterhorn.
Schwarzsee-Matterhorn includes the best terrain for advanced skiers. The runs are longer than the other two areas and are more challenging.
In addition to the three ares on the Swiss side, there is a pass where skiers can travel from Switzerland over to Italy. The Italian area is called Cervinia-Valtournenche. When traveling to Italy, you will need to reach Trockener-Steg. This is a large gondola which is closer in size to a cable car, but operates like a gondola with continuous cars taking people to the top.
When traveling over to Italy from Switzerland, it is important to get an early start and allow for enough time to explore. It is best to take first chair as it will take about an hour to reach the pass between Switzerland and Italy from the bottom. This time is mainly spent on gondolas to the top. Fortunately, the Matterhorn Express brings you all the way to Trockener-Steg. Then, at Trockener-Steg, you will switch to a larger gondola taking you to the very top. At this point, you will be able to start skiing. When given the choice, you will need to veer left in order to ski down in Italy.
A few differences to be aware of in Italy in comparison to Zermatt, Switzerland:
- Signage is almost non-existent on the Italy side, meaning it can be very challenging to know what route you are going down. Be sure to study the map a bit before heading down on your first run, and bring a map with you. If not, you might end up going all the way to the base of the mountain accidentally and then be forced to wait in long queues for gondolas or cable cars to take you back up the mountain.
- Lift lines are disorganized and often chairs are not filled up to capacity, even with long queues. This can be extremely frustrating! If skiing with a group, be willing to split up on the chair lifts to help reduce time waiting
- Chair lifts are slow – not much else to it, they are slower than on the Zermatt side. Additionally, you often need to take different gondolas or chairlifts to reach the top meaning you will need to get in line a few times before you actually get out on a ski run. This makes you appreciate the Matterhorn Express in Zermatt as it is fully connected
- Weather – Italy does have the weather in its favor. Based on its location, Italy is often much sunnier and warmer than Zermatt
- Snow – Italy also tends to have better snow, especially in a year with low snowfall. Since the mountain is sun facing during the day, the sun helps warm up the snow in the morning. The Zermatt side often feels icier than Italy for this reason
Ski Map
Save the ski map and consider downloading the Zermatt Matterhorn app
Getting onto Zermatt Mountain
From Zermatt, there are three key options to ascend on the mountain.
- Gornergrat Railway – direct and indirect mountain train to the top of the Gornergrat section. The direct train runs every 30 minutes and the journey to the top lasts 30 minutes. The indirect train takes stops along the way, good for those not looking to go all the way to the top. This ride is scenic, but not the most efficient way to reach this top. It is best for non-skiiers or beginners looking to access easier terrain.
- Matterhorn Express – gondola operating from the base of the mountain, at the opposite side of town from the Gornergrat train. This gondola allows for a few stops along the way at Furi, Schwarzsee, and Trockener Steg.
- Sunnega – Located slightly behind the Gornergrat Railway station, the Sunnega gondola takes visitors up to the Sunnega area of the mountain.
Rentals
As Zermatt is a ski and snowboard town, there are an abundance of stores offering rentals. Pick one that is a convenient location to pick up and drop off rentals based on your accommodation choice. Intersport is the company I recommend for easy rentals. They provide rentals all across Europe and have numerous stores within Zermatt. The INTERSPORT Slalom Sport Zermatt location (INTERSPORT Slalom Sport, Kirchstrasse 17,3920 – Zermatt) is quite large, with a decent assortment of boots, helmets, skis and snowboards for rent. The attendants are helpful and you can swap out rentals any time, especially helpful if boots are the wrong size or you are interested in trying different ski types.
Snapshot itinerary for 5 days in Zermatt
Day 9
Arrive in Zermatt
Arrive in Zermatt in the late afternoon to evening, get checked into your accommodations and get settled.
If time allows, stop by a ski rental store to pick up your skis. You can also pick up your ski pass as you will need to show your ikon pass to collect your Zermatt ski tickets. so you can head onto the slopes
Day 10
Skiing
Enjoy your first day exploring the Zermatt mountain.
Consider booking Adler Hitta or Chez Vrony for a late afternoon lunch. Both these spots have great views of the Matterhorn and are an exquisite mountain lunch experience.
On your way down to the base, consider stopping at Hennu Stall, a famous apres ski spot you ski right by as you make your way to the base.
Day 11
Skiing
Get an early start and head over to the Italian side if weather cooperates. By trying to do this on day 2, it gives you two other days to go back or try again in case the pass is not open to cross (this can happen if there are strong winds or low visibility).
As an Ikon pass holder, wait to purchase the day pass for Italy until you know you can go over. This can be done at the Trockener-Steg station as this is where you can get the final cable car up to the top where you will cross over to Italy.
Check out Chamie Bar Fire Place for a drink after a long day on the slopes.
Day 12
Skiing
Another day on the mountain, exploring new runs
Book Schaferstube for dinner for an authentic Swiss meal.
Day 13
Skiing
Enjoy your last ski day!
Day 14
Leave Zermatt
Take the train from Zermatt into Zurich, where you may either be choosing to spend time or flying to another European city!
