23 October 2026
Winter at the Matterhorn is just around the corner

Winter at the Matterhorn is just around the corner

Since mid-October, the first ski lifts have been running on the Theodul Glacier — earlier than in previous years. Winter season officially begins in early November, Sunnegga-Rothorn and Gornergrat follow at the end of November, and by early May the entire area is open. The mountain is ready. So is the Mirabeau — and this is our first winter with the new outdoor world.

Anyone who knows winter in Zermatt knows why it’s different from everywhere else. The Matterhorn Ski Paradise reaches up to 3,883 metres, making it the highest ski area in the Alps, with guaranteed snow from November to May and a piste network that, together with Cervinia, covers around 360 kilometres. Two countries in one day, a pizza at lunchtime on the Italian side, and back in the evening to the car-free village below the world’s most famous mountain — there’s nothing else quite like it.

The Mirabeau sits in exactly the right spot for all of this: tucked away quietly in the village, yet just a few minutes’ walk from the station and the Gornergrat base station. Each of the four buildings has its own ski room with lockers, so equipment stays where it belongs, and the rooms stay free of snow and ski boots. Guests arriving by train are picked up at the station or the taxi stand.

The day on the slopes ends at the Alpine Hideaway Spa — and for the first time, outdoors too. The heated outdoor pool with bubble loungers and a Matterhorn view, opened in summer, runs all winter long, as does the garden sauna. Lying in warm water while snow surrounds you and the Matterhorn glows above the village in the evening light — that’s one of the moments people come to Zermatt for. Inside, a mountain herb sauna, Valais wood sauna, rock crystal steam bath, glacier shower, indoor pool with jacuzzi, and water beds in the relaxation room await, open daily from 3 to 8 pm. For treatments, the spa uses the Pure Altitude skincare line from Megève, whose formulas are built on alpine plants such as edelweiss, complemented by local products like honey from Apinatura.

Then the evening. In the afternoon, Le Bar is the place for homemade cakes from the pastry kitchen, hot chocolate, or a pot of Ronnefeldt tea; in the evening, for a cocktail or a glass of wine by the crackling fire. The Veranda restaurant, the conservatory at the heart of the house, serves the generous breakfast buffet in the morning and the tasting menu with Matterhorn views in the evening. Marie’s Deli serves apéro with Valais dried meat and cheese, plus oysters and caviar in high season, and for those who’d rather spend the evening in their room, there’s the cheese fondue set or the full deli menu delivered to the room. At Christmas and New Year’s Eve, the house hosts festive gala dinners.

For those who prefer to experience winter on foot, Zermatt offers winter hiking trails, snowshoe trails, and toboggan runs, plus ice skating and curling in the village. For the skiers among our guests, there are the Mirabeau Ski Weeks: seven nights, a six-day ski pass, daily breakfast buffet and five-course dinner in the Veranda, free access to the spa, and station transfer. The “Light” version limits dinners to three evenings of your choice, with the international ski pass to Cervinia available as an add-on.

The first snow is already on the peaks around Zermatt. We’re looking forward to winter — and to welcoming you.