Late Season Skiing in Zermatt Switzerland - Is It Worth It?
/Zermatt, Switzerland is a bucket-list destination for many skiers, and for years I had dreamt of someday visiting. This past season, I finally made it happen and the experience was even better than I could have imagined.
Late April 2024 Conditions in Zermatt Switzerland
When planning my travel schedule during the 2023-2024 ski season, I figured I could visit Zermatt toward the tail end and still hopefully have good conditions due to its high altitude. I had also read that Zermatt offers skiing ‘year-round’, so I imagined if it’s possible to ski there in the summer, it should still be pretty great at the end of April. I opted to visit during Zermatt’s closing week, just before its main operations (except the highest ski area, which I discuss in more detail later in this post) shut down for the season.
I only had a few ideas of what to expect for my trip to Zermatt and really was just hoping for the best, but when I arrived I realized it was actually the perfect time for me to experience it.
Is Zermatt the best destination for late season skiing?
I would say yes. Read on to discover the many benefits of booking your ski trip to Zermatt late in the season, and the reasons why my experience traveling there at the end of April was so great.
1. There are no crowds
By far the biggest benefit of visiting Zermatt during closing week is that the resort was nearly empty. I didn’t have to wait for even 30 seconds in a lift or gondola line, so I was able to move across the mountain very quickly. I would also say about 90% of the gondolas or lifts that I would take, I was totally alone. On days where there was considerable snowfall the night prior, I was able to ski untracked powder on piste throughout the day, and without having to rush to be first on the mountain. And even though pistes and skiable areas were clearly marked, I sometimes had to pause and look around, as I was second-guessing if I had happened to venture into an area that was closed, simply because there was no one else around. I would occasionally see other skiers here and there, but overall the experience felt like I had private access to one of the greatest ski resorts in the world, and it was certainly one of the most memorable ski experiences of my life.
2. You can find great rates on travel and accommodations
Only dedicated skiers are still dreaming about the slopes at the end of April, while most others are longing for springtime and sunshine after a long winter. Because the crowds really thin out toward the end of the season (especially after Easter weekend, whenever that happens to fall in the calendar year), you can benefit from great rates on your accommodations due to lower occupancy, and great rates on your train travel due to lower ridership. The Swiss trains I took to travel to Zermatt were clean and spacious, and the journey was especially enjoyable because many of the seats were empty.
3. You can book your trip relatively last-minute
Because of lower occupancy at hotels late in the season in Zermatt, you can potentially hold off on booking your trip until the last minute if you prefer to assess the weather forecasts prior to committing. I booked my closing-week trip to Zermatt about three weeks in advance, and kept a close eye on the forecasts leading up to my departure. I use and subscribe to Snow-Forecast.com (and their app), and have found that their forecasts are informative, reliable, and accurate.
I happened to have great weather and ideal conditions to ski in Zermatt late in the season in April 2024.
4. Zermatt has great shopping and almost everything is on sale at the end of the season
Taking advantage of end-of-season sales is one of the best ways to save money on skiwear and ski gear, and visiting Zermatt in late April means you can shop top brands at a great discount, and in person. Most stores will run promotions to push as much inventory while it’s still relevant, and will usually mark everything back up to full price ahead of the next ski season.
Late April 2024 in the village of Zermatt Switzerland
5. It was easy to make restaurant reservations or simply walk in
During peak season in popular ski towns and destinations, it’s usually necessary to make reservations at top restaurants well-in-advance, and I imagine Zermatt is no different. During my trip during late April 2024, I was able to call ahead to any restaurant to ask if they happened to have space that night (or right away) and the response was always ‘yes’.
However I did notice one disadvantage of the timing of my visit, and it was that one of the top restaurants that was recommended to me by a friend who visits Zermatt often was already closed for the season, so I was unable to dine there. They did post their hours on their website and on Google so I wasn’t surprised or disappointed by the closure, but it was still something I told myself I’d make note of for next time.
Regardless, I did have great meals at several restaurants around town— one absolute favorite being the schnitzel at Zermama Bistro. It’s also worth noting that many restaurants and shops around Zermatt are dog-friendly!
6. Even if there were great ski conditions on the mountain, the village was in bloom and beautiful
During my week in Zermatt I skied some of the best snow conditions I experienced that season (and I skied 35 days total that season, all over Europe), but on most days it truly felt like spring in the village. During this time of year the days are longer, the meadows are blooming, and the leaves on the trees are bright green. The train ride into Zermatt from Lausanne/Visp was simply stunning, and venturing across Zermatt town on foot throughout my stay was always pleasant. On the day that my train arrived into Zermatt the weather was lovely, and I opted to walk to my accommodation directly from the train station.
While this was the case for most of my days in Zermatt, toward the end of my stay there was an overnight snowstorm that brought in about 14cm of snowfall into the village, and considerably more up on the mountain, transforming the valley and surrounding area into a winter wonderland. The mountain opened up a bit later than usual that morning (around 10/10:30AM) due to avalanche mitigation, but I’ll certainly remember that day as one of the best of the season.
The view of Zermatt town covered in snow from the Schweigmatten-Riffelberg gondola on April 20, 2024
7. Great conditions may not be guaranteed, but lately that’s been the case for every destination, even in peak-season
I consider myself lucky that I experienced great weather and great conditions during my late season ski trip to Zermatt, as I know that it can be quite risky to invest in all of the travel expenses without knowing exactly what to expect when you arrive.
However, something I’ve noticed over the last few seasons while skiing in over 40 stations across 8 countries around the world, is that great conditions are never guaranteed anywhere. Weather patterns have generally become more extreme and less predictable, and I’ve witnessed popular, world-class destinations suffer from a lack of snow during the peak season on some years, only to suffer again in the following season but from too much snow. Roads can become undrivable, infrastructure can be totally buried, and the snowfall can be so heavy there is too great of an avalanche risk that it’s not safe for crews to even open the mountain. I’ve also experienced warm temperatures while skiing in the Alps during January/February, which allowed for the absolute worst conditions for skiing in my opinion: rain.
This is all to say that no matter when you decide to plan a ski trip, there’s always a risk that conditions won’t be ideal. So if you’re considering booking a trip to Zermatt late in the season like I did, then you might as well also take advantage of the many other benefits I’ve listed in this post.
Can you ski year-round at Zermatt?
Yes and no. One of the factors that first led me to strongly consider visiting Zermatt late in the season was that I had read they offer year-round skiing. The area that is still skiable through the summer is known as the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise which sits at the highest elevation of the resort, but opening of the pistes and operation of the lifts and gondolas that service this area are all subject to weather conditions.
Ironically, during my weeklong trip Zermatt in April, the high-altitude Matterhorn Glacier Paradise area was only open one day, and on all other days the area was closed due to high winds and unsafe conditions. I was grateful I did have the opportunity to experience it on that single day, and while the glacier was very impressive to see up close, the terrain was actually relatively flat and I personally preferred skiing all the pistes around mid-mountain elevation where the conditions were much better and steeper, and the weather allowed full operation of the lifts and gondolas.
So while it is “skiable”, a visit to Zermatt in the summer or after the main ski areas of the resort close for the season may not be the experience you’re ultimately looking for. It could potentially still be closed if there happens to be high wind, or if it is indeed open it won’t be the long, challenging, fun runs that Zermatt is known for.
In late April 2024, conditions were ideal for skiing. Some days I woke up to fresh powder, and other days I had great views of the matterhorn. On this particular day, I experienced both.
Skiing in Zermatt was high on my bucket-list for many years, and I’ll forever remember it as one of the best ski trips I’ve ever gone on. With a lot of luck and great timing, I’m grateful that I was able to experience Zermatt with great conditions, convenient travel, lower-than-average prices, and without any crowds or lines. I certainly recommend visiting Zermatt late in the season, or even during their closing week, as I did.
Are you planning a trip to Zermatt, Switzerland and wondering if late in the ski season is the best time for you? If you have any questions about my personal experience visiting and skiing in Zermatt, let me know in the comments below!
About the author
Meet Carina Otero, avid skier and the creator of She is Not Lost, an online community for celebrating female travelers and a blog providing helpful tips, useful information, and inspiration for your future travels. Carina’s passion for skiing and love of writing and photography have inspired a new blog to share her experiences and personal favorites relating to the sport:
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