From Mont Cervin Palace to Riffelalp: 6 luxury hotels in Zermatt facing the Matterhorn, winter 2026-2027

Zermatt opens all its ski sectors on 28 November 2026, and on 30 October we checked the price of a January night at six luxury hotels on their official booking engines. From the Mont Cervin Palace, open since 1852, to the Riffelalp perched at 2,222 m, here is where to sleep facing the Matterhorn, from 473 to 1,404 Swiss francs a night for two, with season dates and minimum stays.

☰Contents

1. When do Zermatt’s slopes open this winter?
2. Three historic grand hotels in the village centre
3. Riffelalp at 2,222 m: a pool facing the Matterhorn
4. The Omnia and CERVO, design above the rooftops
5. Every price we checked for mid-January 2027
6. Getting to Zermatt, a car-free village

When do Zermatt’s slopes open this winter?

According to the winter timetables published in October by Zermatt Bergbahnen, the glacier at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise runs from 1 November 2026 to 2 May 2027, and the Matterhorn Express gondola links the village to Trockener Steg via Schwarzsee from 14 November. The Sunnegga-Rothorn, Hohtälli and Riffelberg sectors, on the Gornergrat line, follow from 28 November 2026 to 18 April 2027; the Sunnegga funicular will close from 12 April for works. Skiing goes up to 3,883 m.

On the Italian side, Cervinia has been open since 24 October, and Valtournenche runs from 28 November to 25 April. In January, the last lift from Zermatt towards Cervinia leaves at 2.50pm. 14 January falls in the base season: a one-day pass from 89 CHF for Zermatt alone, from 104 CHF with Cervinia, free up to age 8, with prices varying by purchase date.

Three historic grand hotels in the village centre

Mont Cervin Palace, Zermatt’s largest five-star hotel

Opened in 1852 as the Mont Cervin and renamed Palace in 2004, it is, according to the tourist office, the five-star hotel with the most rooms in Zermatt: 150 rooms and suites spread across three connected buildings, including the Petit Cervin annex. On the annex’s fourth floor, Ristorante Capri (one MICHELIN star, 17 GaultMillau points) brings the cuisine of Capri’s Riccio every winter; the Grill Le Cervin reopens on 10 December. The 1,700 m² Spa Nescens has a 20-metre pool.

Price checked: 5,476 CHF for four nights from 14 to 18 January 2027, or 1,369 CHF a night, in a 60 m² Chalet Open Suite Classic in the Petit Cervin, breakfast included, at the Early Bird rate; 5,921 CHF at the flexible rate. For one or two nights, rooms are on request only. From 6 to 10 April 2027, London’s Ronnie Scott’s jazz club takes up residence.

Grand Hotel Zermatterhof, the palace of Zermatt’s families

Built from 1876 to 1879 by the Zermatt burgher community, which has run it since 1920, the Zermatterhof collects its guests from the station by horse-drawn carriage. There are 69 rooms including 29 suites, the Alpine Gourmet Prato Borni (one MICHELIN star), now led by chef Stefan Lünse, the Lusi brasserie and Saycheese! for cheese specialities. The Vita Borni spa, opened in December 2025, has a 15-metre pool and two hot tubs at 38 °C with Matterhorn views.

Price checked: 559 CHF a night from 14 to 15 January 2027 in a 20 m² Double Room, breakfast included, non-refundable; 610 CHF with free cancellation until 31 December, tourist tax extra. With a Matterhorn view: 734.50 CHF in a Classic Double Room Matterhorn View.

Hotel Monte Rosa, where Edward Whymper stayed

A six-bed inn in 1839, taken over by Alexander Seiler and reopened as the Monte Rosa in 1855, this is where Edward Whymper stayed before the first ascent of the Matterhorn, in 1865. The hotel, which has only opened in winter since 1960, offers six categories, from the 30 m² Enzian Superior to the 75 m² Whymper Suite on the sixth floor; dinner is served at the Brasserie Belle Époque, the Whymper Stube or the Alpinist.

Price checked: 473 CHF a night from 14 to 15 January 2027 in an Enzian Superior Room, breakfast included, at the Early Bird rate; 525 CHF at the flexible rate. The 50 m² Matterhorn Suites, with a balcony facing the Matterhorn, start at 783 CHF. It is the gentlest price in this selection.

Riffelalp at 2,222 m: a pool facing the Matterhorn

The only hotel in the selection set high in the mountains, the Riffelalp Resort 2222m sits 600 m above the village, on the Gornergrat railway line. Almost all of its 70 rooms and suites have a balcony and a Matterhorn view, and its Spa 2’222m, reserved for guests, claims Europe’s highest outdoor pool, heated to 35 °C. Three restaurants (Alexandre, Al Bosco, Walliserkeller), ski-in ski-out, open from 11 December 2026 to 4 April 2027.

Price checked: 788 CHF a night on average for a four-night stay from 14 to 18 January 2027, about 3,152 CHF in total, in a 26 m² Natur Classic without a Matterhorn view, breakfast and taxes included. With a Matterhorn view (Matterhorn Classic): 888 CHF a night. One to three nights are refused on these dates.

The Omnia and CERVO, design above the rooftops

THE OMNIA, a New York-style lodge on its rock

Perched on a rock 45 m above the village, THE OMNIA is reached through a tunnel and then a lift carved into the rock. New York architect Ali Tayar designed its 30 rooms including 12 suites, a restaurant with fireplaces, the Caverne bar cut into the granite and a spa with indoor and outdoor pools. Closed until 26 November. The booking engine warns that a crane from a neighbouring building site can be seen from some Matterhorn-side rooms on weekdays.

Price checked: 890 CHF a night from 14 to 15 January 2027 in a 24 m² Small Queen Room, with a balcony over the Trift gorge rather than the Matterhorn, breakfast included, free cancellation until 30 December and a free transfer in town. The Deluxe Doubles, on the village or Matterhorn side, cost 1,240 CHF.

CERVO Mountain Resort, chalets at the foot of the piste

Opened in late 2009 by Daniel and Seraina Lauber, CERVO gathers 54 rooms and suites in seven lodges beside the piste, including the five-star Alpinist and Huntsman, reopening from 27 November 2026. There are five restaurants and bars, including Ferdinand and Madre Nostra, and the Ātman Mountain Spa, with its Japanese-inspired onsen facing the Matterhorn, its Bhutanese hot-stone bath and its Mongolian yurts.

Price checked: 7,020 CHF for five nights from 14 to 19 January 2027, or 1,404 CHF a night, in a 32 m² Alpinist L with balcony, breakfast à la carte, free cancellation until 14 December. That is the minimum stay the booking engine requires on these dates: one or four nights are refused.

Every price we checked for mid-January 2027

All rates were checked on 30 October 2026 on the hotels’ booking engines, for two adults and the cheapest room offered, with breakfast. Watch out for minimum stays in January.

Getting to Zermatt, a car-free village

Cars stop at Täsch: you leave yours in the car park and continue by train or taxi. From Zurich, Geneva or Milan, allow three to five hours by train, or 30 to 80 minutes by helicopter. Mostly electric vehicles run through the village; the Zermatterhof sends its carriage to the station and The Omnia its own taxi.

For comparison, see our eight luxury hotels in Gstaad and our seven addresses in St. Moritz, with the same January price checks, or our selection of palaces in the Swiss Alps, from the Engadine to Valais.