Zermatt Skiing on a Budget: How to Visit the Swiss Alps Without Breaking the Bank

Jul 22

Zermatt and its views of the Matterhorn will take your breath away, but this secluded mountaintop paradise can definitely come with a steep price tag if you don’t do your homework.

Fear not, fellow travelers! In this Blog, we break down how you can experience all the magic Zermatt has to offer, without having to sell a kidney to make it happen.

Ways to Save Money:

1. Choose the right Accommodation

Gimmie Shelter is more than just a great classic rock anthem; it’s the basis for any good European vacation. To really hit the high notes in Zermatt, try these tips:

Stay near an eBus stop or one of the 3 mountain lifts around town:

Sunnegga-Rothorn funicular **(our favorite)**
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Gondola
The Zermatt Gornergrat Express
Cars are not allowed in the city; instead, there are electric taxis offering shuttle services, but be warned, they are extremely expensive!
The eBus, on the other hand, is free for lift pass holders and runs frequently. It makes a loop to all three of the lifts going up the mountain.

Here’s a list of some of our preferred locations:

Even better, stay near a lift! Our hotel, The Zermatt National, is right across the street from the Sunnegga-Rothorn funicular. An added plus, it turned out to be our favorite side of the mountain to ski, and we even got to catch the annual Water Slide competition.

2025 Waterslide Competition at Alder Hitta Lodge

**Pick a Hotel with Breakfast included.**
This way, you can stack your calorie count early and avoid paying higher prices for lunch and dinner. This was one of our deciding factors for choosing The Zermatt National, as the breakfast buffet was top-notch!
**Choose a rental with a kitchen.**
Many apartments listed by Booking.com are serviced by local hotels and offer amenities like shuttles, breakfast, and full kitchens.
The kitchen allows you to shop at the local COOP or Migros supermarket and cook to your heart's (and wallet’s) delight.

2. Plan your trip during the shoulder season

Like with so many things in our busy lives, timing is everything. Skiing in Zermatt during off-peak season, in late spring and early autumn, usually means fewer crowds and lower prices on accommodations.

We moseyed into town in early April and absolutely LOURVED it! The skiing conditions were great, temperatures were milder, and all of the lifts were operating at full capacity.

However, snow conditions can vary during this time, and you can experience some slushiness in the afternoon when the sun beats down on the trails.
To combat this, we recommend getting out on the snow first thing in the morning to make the most of the pristine groomed runs.

3. Eat Wisely

Food is expensive, especially in Zermatt, and it’s hard not to put your money where your mouth is in this town. There were a couple of ways we did manage to save some coin:

**Picnic on the mountain!**
Grocery stores in town, like COOP, offer pre-prepared meals you can purchase before heading up. We brought some healthy ALOHA protein bars and less healthy Uncrustables to fight off the mid-day hangries.
Plus, with the amazing views of the Matterhorn as your backdrop, it might just turn out to be the best picnic of your life.
Pro Tip: Bring a water reservoir like a CamelBak, as water stations are very scarce and bottled water is (you guessed it) expensive.

Lunch over dinner.
- If you do want to visit a restaurant while on the mountain or in town, try having a big lunch and a smaller dinner. We noticed the lunch prices are much more reasonable than some of the dinner entrees.
Go to Italy!
- Food on the Italian side of the mountain is both cheaper and tastier. Toss in a €6 Aperol Spritz to go along with your freshly prepared Tagliatelle and you’re in business.
  ¡BE WARNED! - if you’re using an IKON Pass you’ll need to purchase a separate lift ticket for the Italian side and make sure to high tail it out of there before the lifts close. Otherwise, you’re cheap lunch will be accompanied with a VERY EXPENSIVE (~€500) taxi ride home. It’s better to just sleep on the Italian side if you do get stranded.

4. Try the IKON Pass

We’ve been IKON members for several years and can’t recommend it enough. Whether you’re skiing 30+ days a year or just a handful, the pass pays for itself after 3 or 4 uses. In Zermatt, this is true after only the 2nd day.

Like everything else here, the ski passes are on the more expensive side, even for Europe. For the 2024-2025 season, the IKON Pass allowed access to the Matterhorn for 7 days on the full pass and 5 for the base and base plus passes.
All lifts were included, along with the Gornergrat train up to Glacier Paradise. However, it does not include access to Cervinia on the Italian side. To get your hands on those cheap Aperols, you’ll need to buy a 1-day add-on from the ticket office.

**5. Bring your own ski gear**
Renting skis locally can cost you a pretty penny. We saw rates as high as $350 for a week!
There’s no extra cost for bringing skis with you on the trains to Zermatt, so as long as your plane ticket can handle it, we suggest taking your skis with you.
You’ll save money, time, and enjoy the comfort of your own gear.

6. BYOB

Drinks can really drown your budget. To combat this, we always pack a bottle of wine or our favorite spirits when traveling abroad.

We use this method to ensure we have the available weight & space in our checked bags for souvenirs to take back home. If your luggage just can’t handle the pressure, there’s always a duty-free shoppe somewhere along your route

We hope the list above helps you save on your upcoming trip to Zermatt! However, it wouldn’t be a BC Voyage if we didn’t tell you about…

What we Splurged On:

1. Lunch at the iconic Chez Vrony.

This was our oh-my-gawd moment of the trip. It offers stunning views overlooking the Matterhorn. There are even wooden beds with thick fur blankets for you to cosy up while sipping champagne at 2100 meters.
You definitely need a reservation! We almost missed ours a week out, and we were there in the off-season.

2. A fine Fondue.

The town is known for its traditional Swiss cheese fondue. Anywhere you go will put you back a few shekels. Here are our favorite spots to sit down for a piping hot bowl of deliciousness:
The Whymper-Stube
BEAUSiTE Zermatt
CERVO Mountain Resort

3. Swiss Chocolate, duh!

Zermatt has its own Lindt Chocolate shop filled with authentic chocolates, many featuring images of the iconic Matterhorn.

During certain times of the year, you can even attend chocolate-making workshops where visitors can create and decorate their own Lindt chocolate bars or pralines.