What to Wear in Zermatt in Winter: Detailed Packing Guide!
If you’re anything like me, packing for a winter trip always feels daunting! Even though I’ve been on countless winter vacations, as a Florida girl, I like to make sure I’m extra prepared, because I simply hate being cold.
Our trip to Zermatt, Switzerland was no different. When we visited Zermatt for my 30th birthday, I spent weeks researching and shopping for the perfect outfits. I also wanted to be able to re-wear as much as possible to avoid overpacking!
We spent 3 nights in Zermatt in December, exploring the town and skiing the mountainside around the Matterhorn, and I wasn’t cold once! Mission accomplished.
Now I’m sharing my ultimate packing guide for winter in Zermatt to help you feel prepared and ready. I’ve also included a downloadable PDF you can print out before your trip!
❄️Zermatt in Winter Mini Guide❄️
Best Time to Visit: Mid-December through March for winter activities
Where to Stay:
– Hotel Jägerhof ($$)
– Hotel Zermama ($$$)
– Tradition Hotel Julen ($$$)
– BEAUSiTE Zermatt ($$$$)
How to Get There: Car-free town! Take the train from nearby Swiss towns like Basel, Zurich, or Geneva
Things to Do:
– Skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, sledding
– Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Cable Car
– Gornergrat Railway for epic views
Before You Go: Download the free Matterhorn app!
Packing List Overview
Below is a quick breakdown of all the things I wore during our 3 days in Zermatt! Feel free to copy and paste this list for your own use. Or, you can grab the printable version below!
I’m going to touch more on weather in the next section, but in general, we experienced temperatures from 20ºF to 40ºF (-7ºC to 4ºC) while in Zermatt.
In order to avoid overpacking, this requires smart choices for each layer, which we will dive into.
Want a printable version? Grab it here! 👇🏼
Weather in Zermatt in Winter
The weather in Zermatt in winter can vary depending on which specific month you visit, but not by much! January is typically the coldest month and sees the most snowfall, with December and March not far behind.
Overall, if you’re visiting Zermatt in the winter, you’ll need to pack for cold days and even colder nights, with the expectation that it will snow while you are there!
| Month | Average Snowfall | Average Temp (Zermatt) |
| November | 60cm | 26°F / 41°F |
| December | 76cm | 21°F / 35°F |
| January | 84cm | 19°F / 33°F |
| February | 58cm | 19°F / 35°F |
| March | 53cm | 25°F / 42°F |
| April | 53cm | 31°F / 50°F |
When we visited in mid-December, we were greeted with a large snowfall the night we arrived. This actually made the town even more magical. With a fresh dusting of sparkling white snow, Zermatt truly feels like a snow globe.
Later in the week, the skies cleared and we had a beautiful (but cold) bluebird day up on the mountain with very few clouds!
Even if you’re not skiing, there are plenty of things to do in Zermatt up on the mountain, like riding the Gornergrat train or exploring the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise! And while the town of Zermatt sits at over 5,000 feet (1,600+ meters), the ski lifts will take you up to nearly 13,000 feet (3,800+ meters).
That elevation change can drop the temperature by 15–20°F, especially once you factor in the wind chill. So make sure to plan accordingly!
Lastly, Zermatt is a car-free village that is typically explored on foot, so you’ll be outside a fair amount, even in the evenings!
With all of that said, it is possible to stay warm in these cold temperatures, as long as you pack accordingly!
🧳 Packing for Zermatt in winter is the fun part — make sure the trip logistics are sorted first! Flights, travel insurance, money abroad, and phone plans are all covered in my Passport to Confidence guide — a $7 planning roadmap for international travel. Download it and pack with peace of mind!
Renting vs Buying New Clothes
In the rest of this blog post, I’m going to share lots of different options for new clothes you can buy for your trip. However, there is another option!
In fact, I didn’t buy very many new clothes for our trip to Zermatt. Instead, I rented clothes through Nuuly!
Nuuly is a clothing rental service that I’m obsessed with for travel. For under $100, you can pick out 6 new pieces and keep them for one month. It is a monthly subscription, but you can pause it without limits!
I only unpause when I’m going on a big trip, but you could use it every month if you want to!
Here are some of the pieces I rented from Nuuly for our trip to Zermatt!
Clothing for Zermatt in Winter
If you’ve been in cold weather before, you know you need to wear several different types of layers to stay warm.
I’ve organized this guide based on those layers, and then we will get into other necessities like winter boots, headwear, and more.
As I mentioned, we spent some of our days up in the mountains around the Matterhorn, and other days we stayed down in town.
Your clothing choices may change slightly depending on if you are skiing/playing in the snow or staying dry, which I’ve accounted for below as well!
Overall, focus on how you can pack reusable pieces of clothing so you don’t need 3 suitcases for your trip! Luckily for me, we spent 3 days in Zermatt and 2 days in Basel, which had similar (ish) climates!
Base Layers
Your base layer is one of the most important (but often overlooked) pieces of clothing you’ll need for a winter trip!
Since it sits directly against your skin, it needs to do two key things: trap heat and wick away moisture. So, investing in a warm and high-quality set of thermals will help you stay warm and dry.
This is especially important on days that you’ll be sweating, like if you are skiing or snowboarding. For those days, prioritize your best quality base layers, ideally made from merino wool like this set.
On days when you aren’t doing physical activity, a normal long-sleeve shirt will probably suffice!
For the bottom, I packed a few different types of leggings as my base layer. For ski days, I wore traditional thermal leggings with my very insulated ski pants, which were plenty warm enough!
However, for days we were out exploring the town or nights going out to dinner, I opted for fleece-lined leggings. These leggings are perfect for daytime use under a pair of jeans – the fleece is warm but not too thick.
For evenings where I wanted to dress a little nicer, I was able to wear these thicker fleece leggings without anything over them. The faux-sheer ones are perfect for layering under a sweater dress or fuzzy skirt! I wore these while exploring the streets of Zermatt and the Christmas markets of Basel and was never cold!
Overall, make sure to pack a few different options for your base layer so you can adjust based on how cold it is outside!
Grab these base layers before your trip!👇🏼
Mid Layers
Next let’s move onto mid layers! This is where you’ll have the most flexibility to adjust your outfit based on the weather.
No matter how cold it is, you’ll always need a base layer and an outer layer. However, on some days, it might be warm enough to skip the mid layer completely. Other days, you might need a thick sweater and sweatpants on to keep you warm.
This can also change throughout the day too, which is why layering is so important. The day might start off super cold, but by mid-afternoon, you might be ready to shed your mid-layer!
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So, what do I recommend for a mid layer?
On top, this can be a thin fleece shirt, a thick sweater, or even a sherpa jacket (or several of these together!). The purpose of the mid-layer is to provide additional warmth and trap your body heat, so it really depends on how cold it is!
I personally love Columbia fleece zip-ups as my mid layer! Luckily, this is actually built into my ski jacket (more on that in the next section).
Below are some other great options for Switzerland vibes!👇🏼
For bottoms, mid layers can really vary too. If you are skiing, you may be able to skip the mid layer completely. For me, my ski pants are quite warm, so those plus my base layer were more than enough, especially once we started moving!
However, you can always add another pair of leggings or even sweatpants in between if it’s super cold outside!
On days where we didn’t ski or play in the snow, I wore a pair of jeans over my base layer, and skipped the outer (waterproof) layer all together.
For example, when we went ice skating in town, I was plenty warm enough in just leggings and jeans!
Again, the mid layer will vary greatly depending on the day and your activity level, so try to bring a few options you can mix and match.
Outer Layer
Last up is the outer layer! This is the layer that faces the elements, so waterproofing and wind resistance are non-negotiable, especially in Zermatt, where snow and wind can hit hard.
For our trip, I packed one ski jacket, one pair of ski pants, and one long puffer coat to rotate depending on what we were doing. That combo worked perfectly for me!
If you’re skiing while in Zermatt or planning to spend long stretches in the snow, you absolutely need a proper ski jacket and ski pants, which means waterproof, insulated, and designed to keep the snow and wind out.
I wore my ski pants on the day we skied, as well as the day we visited the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (the highest observation deck in Europe!) where the wind was strong.
For exploring town or going to dinner, I’d swap my ski jacket for a longer puffer coat. I like having a jacket that goes beyond by knees because it keeps my legs warmer without needing an extra layer. This was also key for our day trip from Basel to the Colmar and Strasbourg Christmas markets!
Look for one with a good hood and zipper that fully closes, as wind will find its way into any gaps!
If you only want to pack one jacket, a waterproof insulated ski jacket with a sleek look can double for both ski days and town activities.
➡️ Read Next: What to Pack for Europe’s Christmas Markets
Bathing Suit
A bathing suit… for Zermatt in winter?! You might think I’m crazy, but hear me out!
One of my favorite things we did in Zermatt was visit the spa! This is the perfect way to recover from jet lag, relax, and warm up on one of your first days in town.
There are many different spas to choose from in Zermatt. We visited the spa at Hotel Beausite for a few reasons: it’s located in the center of town, they have several saunas and pools, and they offer day passes!
So even though we didn’t stay there, we were able to buy a day pass to the spa to use the gym, steam in the saunas, and the best part, enjoy their heated outdoor infinity pool with incredible views of the Matterhorn!
So yes, I recommend packing a bathing suit for your trip to Zermatt for this reason.
Accessories
Now that we’ve covered the clothing essentials, let’s cover all the different warm-weather accessories you’ll need for your trip to Switzerland.
Because at the end of the day, you could have the warmest clothes on, but if your head, hands, neck, and feet aren’t protected, you’ll still be freezing!
Beanies or Earmuffs
You’ve probably heard the old saying that you lose 60% of your body heat through your head.. While this actually isn’t true, protecting your head and ears in the cold is still very important!
For me, having my ears covered makes a huge difference in my overall body temperature. I didn’t leave the hotel without either a beanie or earmuffs our entire time in Zermatt!
I personally love my teal Carhartt beanie, but any warm, knitted hat will do! In addition to my beanie, I also packed these adorable fuzzy earmuffs that kept me surprisingly warm, even on cold nights.
My husband, on the other hand, preferred his faux-fur lined trapper hat most days to keep warm!
I recommend at least 2-3 options, depending how long your trip is, so you can mix and match with different outfits!
Gloves or Mittens
There’s nothing worse than being out in the cold weather without hand protection! As you probably know, your hands can get cold fast, and it really ruins the experience.
For a trip to Zermatt, I recommend at least two types of gloves (or mittens).
If you are skiing or playing in the snow, you’ll need a waterproof pair of gloves/mittens to keep the snow out. This is extremely important, as most normal gloves won’t do the job.
Make sure yours have a drawstring to tighten the cuff! And bonus points if they are touchscreen-friendly.
In addition to waterproof gloves, I’d also pack a more comfortable pair for every day wear. These don’t have to be waterproof, which will make them much less bulky.
Instead of gloves, I opted for these fuzzy mittens to match my fuzzy earmuffs! And I’m obsessed with these mittens now. They are SO warm.
While they’re not touchscreen, they do open in the front so you can easily pop your fingers out. This flap was also good to regulate my temperature, as sometimes the mittens were actually too warm.
Lastly, don’t forget to pack some hand warmers!! Whether you prefer electric hand warmers or the paper ones, they are a game-changer for warming up.
Scarf or Neck Warmer
As I’ve learned the hard way, protecting your neck area from the cold is a total game-changer!
This is especially important when it’s windy or you’re moving quickly (like when skiing and snowboarding).
For me, I actually prefer neck gaiters over scarves for more active days. They’re very compact and easy to manage – just pop it over your neck and leave it there.
And if it’s really cold, you can easily pull it up over your mouth to stay even warmer.
For evenings when you want to be a little more fashionable, a warm kitted scarf is a great option!
Wool Socks & Waterproof Snow Boots
You can have all the right layers on top, but if your feet aren’t warm and dry, you’ll be miserable!
I’ve made that mistake before on other winter trips, and now I always prioritize thick wool socks and fully waterproof snow boots.
For our trip to Zermatt, I packed this four-pack of Merino wool socks!
Wool is naturally temperature-regulating and moisture-wicking, which is especially helpful if you’re wearing boots all day. In fact, I was able to re-wear my socks several days without them getting super stinky!
While good socks are important, choosing a solid pair of snow proof boots is key. I actually invested in a new pair of snow boots before our trip, and I am so glad I did!
Depending on where you stay in Zermatt, you may be doing a good bit of walking during your trip. We personally stayed on the outskirts of town, so we had a 15-minute walk to and from the hotel most days.
These SOREL boots were so comfortable and warm, and they provided great traction on the slippery streets. My feet weren’t cold once on this trip, even when we were literally trudging through the snow.
If you’re purchasing new boots like me, make sure to break them in before your trip!
Final Thoughts
I hope this winter packing list has made you feel more prepared for your trip to Zermatt, Switzerland! While packing prep can feel stressful, it’s definitely worth it to do your research and make sure you are staying warm.
Whether you’re heading to the mountains to ski or just soak in those Matterhorn views from town, dressing smartly will make your experience so much better.
If you are looking for more recommendations, be sure to check out my full list of Switzerland essentials to browse my whole collection of must-have items for your trip.
And don’t forget to grab the free downloadable packing list so you don’t miss a thing when it’s time to pack!
Check out all of my Switzerland blog posts below! 🇨🇭❄️🫕
A Magical One Week Switzerland Winter Itinerary!
Visiting Zermatt in the Winter: Everything to Know Before You Go
3 Perfect Days In Zermatt, Switzerland In The Winter!
Where to Stay in Zermatt, Switzerland in Winter (with Map!)
15 Bucket List Things to Do in Zermatt in the Winter!
A Complete Guide to Skiing in Zermatt, Switzerland
What To Wear In Zermatt In Winter: Detailed Packing Guide!
Visiting Basel In December: Christmas Markets & Beyond
Basel Christmas Itinerary: 2 Days In Basel In December
Christmas Market Trip To Colmar & Strasbourg From Basel!
What To Wear To European Christmas Markets (Packing Guide)
Don’t forget to pin this post for future planning!
