The COVID situation and skiing in Zermatt

Winter 2021

It’s going to be an interesting season ahead and we would love to see you. If there are any questions on travelling out here you think we can help with then please get in touch, we can add anything to our COVID FAQ’s.

We feel Switzerland is dealing with the Coronavirus pretty well and doing everything possible to make the ‘new norm’ work. That doesn’t take away the uncertainties due to the Coronavirus pandemic and how it will affect winter travel and the ski industry. These are just a few questions that we talk through regularly…

  • Will there be another lockdown?
  • How will quarantine restrictions change travel behaviour?
  • What is the resort doing to manage the situation?

This page is a hub for this information, so if you are thinking about coming out to Zermatt to ski this winter and want to know what it is like out here, what the resort, lift company and ourselves are doing then you can make decisions based on the facts.

Is Switzerland safe?

We recently found this study from the deep knowledge group, who’s analysis of 130 parameters of data broken down into quarantine efficiency, monitoring and detection, emergency preparedness, healthcare readiness, government efficiency and regional resilience puts Switzerland as the safest country in the world. 

So yes, Switzerland is safe. 

COVID FAQ's

In summer 2020, the Zermatt lift system ran completely normally. Passengers wore masks while using the trains, gondolas and cable cars but capacity was not limited at all. There are currently no plans to change this for winter 2020-2021.

Yes, Italy will be open and you will just need to stick to the same guidelines as are applicable in Switzerland (masks, hygiene and social distancing).

No. Currently, the Zermatt lift company require a purpose made face mask rather than a neck warmer etc pulled up over your face.

The Swiss regulations currently allow bars to open as normal. Table service is advised and minimum distance between tables is 1 metre. If an establishment has bar service (or other ‘mingling’) then all customers are required to leave their name and phone numbers with the staff as part of the Swiss track and trace scheme.

Yes, there are currently no restrictions on the opening of hotels. tables in hotel restaurants have to be a minimum of 1 metre apart so capacity may in some cases be restricted at certain times. Make sure you can have your breakfast at a set time so you’re not late for your Summit lessons.

Yes, we will all be wearing masks on all the lifts as determined by the Zermatt lift company. If you would prefer your instructor to keep wearing it during the lesson, this is no problem at all.

There will be no need to pop into our office during your trip to Zermatt. You can book your ski lessons via our website, over the phone or by email. We can arrange payment online too. Should you need or want to pop in (we are always happy to see our guests) you will need to wear a mask and our reservations manager will be behind a perspex screen. We will have hand sanitiser available on entry too.

  • We would recommend you organise as much as possible in advance:
     – you can book your lift tickets online (even the day before or your first day skiing) and collect them at the ticket machine outside the lift stations (https://www.matterhornparadise.ch/en/Book/Online-tickets?interests=525974).
  •  Be sure to make reservations for your mountain lunches so you are not in big queues in the self service restaurants, we are more than happy to help.
  • Book a Summit instructor who can take you to the quieter lifts and slopes in our ski area.

There are 5 doctors surgeries in Zermatt and all of them are able to offer Covid tests, currently you can get the results in under 24hrs.

How Zermatt is dealing with COVID

Zermatt Bergbahnen

Up to date info on current measures from the lift company

Zermatt Tourism

Live ticker from the Zermatt tourist office

How Valais and the Federal government are dealing with COVID

Canton of Valais

COVID information from the canton

Swiss Government

New coronavirus: Situation in Switzerland

The numbers in Switzerland and by canton

Woldometers Switzerland

The stats we have all looked at so much since March

Corona-data.ch

Corona cases in Switzerland by canton

Travel advice

Travel advice

Info on what regulations are in place for visiting Switzerland