Winter Ski Paradise in Zermatt, Switzerland

Intimidated to plan a ski holiday in Zermatt? Read on for advice and tips.

Matterhorn above the village of Zermatt

As always, driving to a larger airport for a non-stop flight is our preference for food allergies, and in the age of COVID, it makes good sense as well. If we had to change planes in another country, who knows what the COVID policies might change before our trip. After researching airlines, we decided to go with Swiss Air. In 2014, Swiss International Air Lines was certified as the world's first “allergy-friendly” airline from the Berlin-based European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation. They have some of the best policies for allergic passengers, for example offering pre-ordering of special meals and choosing not to serve peanuts on any flights.

“If you have a food allergy, please contact the SWISS Service Center or your cabin crew team. Out of consideration for their fellow passengers, we request all our passengers not to bring peanuts on board with them.”

Worrying about peanut residue is almost a non-issue on their airplanes. Please see my post on choosing flights and seats before booking your flight. As you prepare for your flight, use this checklist. You can do this! If you are especially nervous, just follow the rules.

After deplaning in Zurich, you will want to follow the crowd to immigration. After having your passport (and visa, if applicable) checked, you will collect your luggage and then pass through customs. Since you are probably bringing some of your own food to help manage your allergies, please click here for a guide on what you can and cannot bring through customs into Switzerland. See my blog post on travel foods for tips on what to bring.

Navigating Zurich Airport

Overview of Zurich Airport

It is safest, easiest and cheapest to take the train from the airport to your next destination, whether it's into the city of Zurich or on to more remote villages like Zermatt. Trains in Switzerland are clean and on time.

After clearing customs, turn right out of the arrivals area and follow signs for the Banhof (train station). It's about a five-minute walk. You can use the automated ticket machines or purchase your tickets in advance from the SBB website. You want trains originating from "Zürich Flughafen."

If you plan to do a lot of traveling in Switzerland, the Swiss Travel Pass might be a better deal for you, but for a single destination ski trip, definitely not.

If you feel certain your flight will be on time, or you are worried about crowds during peak travel season, you can use this website to reserve seats on a specific train. Otherwise I would recommend buying at the station so you aren't stressed if your flight is late or you have a long line at immigration. The longest you should have to wait for any train is about an hour.

Planning Zermatt

Zermatt is home to the highest peaks in the Swiss Alps, including the famous Matterhorn. This iconic mountain has attracted visitors from across the globe for hundreds of years. Zermatt is car-free, so bring your walking shoes. Most hotels provide pick up service from the train station in an electric vehicle. If you do rent a car to drive to Zermatt, you will have to leave your car 5 km away in Täsch and continue on by train.

Talk about amazing - go to the Zermatt tourism site for an incredibly detailed map of the village. Their web version is blurry, but if you download the pdf, I guarantee you will be impressed. There are over 2000 locations clearly marked! They also have a live, interactive ski map, where you can select to only view open trails and lifts.

We rented our skis online, from a shop close to our hotel, called Dorsaz Sport. They offer a 10% discount for renting online in advance. You can even preference the brand/model of ski, and they offer both regular and heated boots, helmets and free overnight storage. I bought our ski passes ahead online, too - Matterhorn Ski Paradise.

There are many places to eat in the mountains, but I definitely want to try the igloo village. Apparently you can ski there or take a lift there as a pedestrian.

Getting Home in the time of COVID

This website has all the information on how to get proof you've been vaccinated to enter the country. Check this first to see if you're even allowed to enter Switzerland! You need to complete an entry form within 48 hours before your travel to Switzerland. You can get Zermatt-specific testing information here, to meet these requirements to get back home. It's definitely a lot of hoops to jump through to get to travel.

So... how did it go?