Season at a glance
open year-round (Theodul glacier ski area operates 365 days) + 15-season mediansSafest weeks to book: 1 Nov - 31 May (30 cm+ base in all 15 of the last 15 seasons)
Zermatt has no opening or closing date: the glacier lifts operate 365 days a year. The band above shows when the snowpack is historically at its most reliable, from 15 seasons of data.
Snow history, 2011-2026
full area, mid-stationBars: share of the last 15 seasons with a 30 cm+ base at 2,582 m by the 15th of each month. med = median depth on that date (dashed line). Recomputed 11 Aug 2026 from the Open-Meteo archive.
Conditions & forecast
15 Aug 06:43| Elevation | Snow depth | 7-day snow | Temp (day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glacier · 3,883 m | glacier ice (not modeled) | 0 cm | - |
| Mid · 2,582 m | 0 cm | 0 cm | +17° / +10° |
| Valley · 1,620 m | 0 cm | 0 cm | - |
Avalanche: no bulletin issued - the avalanche services publish daily bulletins in winter only.
Forecast: Open-Meteo · updated 15 Aug 2026, 06:43 CEST. Temperatures are modeled at mid-station.
The mountain
OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap, ODbL
European piste grades: blue easy · red intermediate · black advanced.
Zermatt sits at 1,620 m at the head of the Mattertal, a car-free village reached by train from Täsch. Lifts climb to 3,883 m at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, the highest cable car station in Europe, and the Theodul glacier below it carries skiing 365 days a year. The pistes run over the ridge into Breuil-Cervinia in Italy, and the Matterhorn stands above almost every descent.
Tickets, passes and lessons are sold by the resort itself - we link, we don't resell.
Live webcams
via Windy.com · refreshed ~10 minWebcam imagery: Windy.com webcams, refreshed about every 10 minutes. Tap a webcam to watch it live on Windy.com.
Getting there
nearest airport: Milan Malpensa (MXP), 204 km| Option | Door to door | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer · from Geneva (GVA) | 3 h 14 min | fixed / vehicle | Driver meets you at GVA arrivals; fixed price per vehicle, luggage and ski gear included. door-to-door transfer (3 h 14 min) |
| Rental car · from Milan Malpensa (MXP) | 3 h 17 min | rental + fuel | 204 km from Milan Malpensa. Winter tyres are legally required in season; approach roads are kept clear. |
| Train + bus · from Milan Malpensa (MXP) | - | - | No practical public-transport connection from the airport. |
| From Geneva (GVA) | 3 h 14 min | varies | 236 km by road. Often the cheaper flight; budget the extra driving time each way. |
| From Zurich (ZRH) | 4 h 17 min | varies | 250 km by road. Often the cheaper flight; budget the extra driving time each way. |
Plan your trip
Hotels and apartments near the Zermatt lifts.
Arriving before the seasonReserve rental gear ahead - typically 20-45% below walk-in shop prices.
Arriving before the seasonSki schools and private instructors, bookable by the day.
Arriving before the seasonWinter-sports cover including piste rescue and kit.
Arriving before the seasonThe transfer link goes to TransferBnB, which we operate. Partner links for the other slots arrive before the season.
Common questions about Zermatt
Is Zermatt open in early December?
Historically the snow is there: in 15 of the last 15 winters Zermatt had a 30 cm or deeper base at mid-mountain (2,582 m) in the first half of December, with a median depth of about 417 cm. The glacier lifts run regardless: they operate 365 days a year. (15-season record, computed 11 Aug 2026)
How high is Zermatt?
The base sits at 1,620 m and the lifts reach 3,883 m, with most skiing around the 2,582 m mid-mountain level. The glacier terrain at the top is what keeps the snow dependable outside the core winter months.
How do I get to Zermatt from Milan Malpensa Airport?
Milan Malpensa (MXP) is the nearest airport at 204 km, about 3 h 17 min by road. There is no practical public-transport connection from the airport, so plan on a rental car or a pre-booked transfer. The full comparison, including other airports, is in the Getting there table above.
Is Zermatt open in summer?
Yes. Zermatt is a year-round ski area: the glacier lifts operate 365 days a year up to 3,883 m. Expect a reduced summer piste offer high on the glacier, with the full area returning for winter.
How reliable is the snow at Zermatt in January?
Very: in 15 of the last 15 winters there was a 30 cm or deeper base at mid-mountain throughout January, and the median mid-January depth is about 448 cm. (15-season record, computed 11 Aug 2026)
Nearby resorts
Data on this page: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), OpenSkiMap (ODbL), SLF Switzerland. Every number is dated where it can go stale - how the verdicts are computed.