About this hotel
General information
Riffelalp Resort 2'222m sits 2,222 m up, above Zermatt and directly facing the Matterhorn. The site’s story begins in 1884 with the Riffelalp Grand Hotel, a summer retreat for Europe’s elite; after a fire in 1961 it returned in stages, and the present resort was built around the turn of the millennium. It belongs to Sandoz Foundation Hotels, is a member of Swiss Deluxe Hotels and The Leading Hotels of the World, and is run by hosts Hans-Jörg and Claudia Walther.
Open for a winter and a summer season, the resort is a place of complete immersion in nature: no cars and no village bustle, only a mountain railway and a small red tram. Interiors have a warm lodge feel, and every stay includes breakfast, access to Spa 2'222m — which the resort describes as Europe’s highest spa — and a programme of outings with its own mountain guide.
Location
The resort stands on a sunny plateau at 2,222 m, 600 m above Zermatt. It is reached only by the Gornergrat Railway to Riffelalp station, from where a battery-powered tram runs 675 m to the door in summer and a short path leads there in winter; luggage follows by tram or snowmobile. Cars stay in Täsch, 5 km from Zermatt, where the hotel reserves parking, and the last train up from Zermatt leaves at 23:30.
Spa
Spa 2'222m, renovated in 2023, is included in every stay: an indoor pool and a heated outdoor pool facing the Matterhorn, a saline grotto, whirlpool, steam baths, two saunas and a small fitness room. Massages and rituals draw on the scents of alpine meadows; the wellness area is reserved for adults.
Sports & leisure
In winter the in-house mountain guide leads complimentary skiing, freeriding and snowshoe outings four days a week; in summer there are guided hikes twice a week, including an ascent of the Breithorn (4,164 m) or a gentler trail to the Hörnli Hut. The resort has a two-lane bowling alley, a billiard room, a fumoir and a games room, with mountain bikes and climbing gear for hire in summer. Nearby are the Alps’ highest sledging run from Rotenboden to Riffelberg, paragliding, helicopter flights and the nine-hole Matterhorn Golf Club between Täsch and Randa.
For children
In winter a kindergarten for children aged 2–8 runs from Sunday to Friday with a supervising teacher; in summer the space stays open for families without supervision. There is a games room with table football, table tennis and consoles, and in summer a playground with a slide, swings, trampoline and climbing frame. In winter children dine together at their own table in Restaurant Alexandre at 18:15, babysitting is available on request, and under-eights ride the lifts and the Gornergrat Railway free.
Restaurants & bars
The resort has three restaurants, a bar and a wine cellar.
- Restaurant Alexandre — Swiss and local cooking from seasonal alpine produce, breakfast and dinner with the Matterhorn in view
- Ristorante Al Bosco — Italian and Swiss dishes in an alpine hut right by the piste: pizza, pasta and risotto, lunch on the terrace and dinner
- Restaurant Walliserkeller — traditional alpine cooking with raclette and entrecôte, winter only
- Bar 2'222m — aperitifs and cocktails by the log fire or on the sun terraces, with live piano music
- Vinothek — the resort’s wine cellar
Skiing
The resort is ski-in/ski-out: the run from Gornergrat (3,089 m) down to Zermatt passes right by the hotel, and the international ski area of Zermatt, Cervinia and Valtournenche is open from here, with a crossing into Italy. A Bayard Sports shop on site rents skis and snowboards, and guests have private lockers in a ski room with boot heating.
Pets
Dogs are welcome when announced at booking, with a basket and bowls prepared for them. They are not allowed in Restaurant Alexandre or the wellness areas.
Rooms
65 rooms and five suites in a lodge style, many with Matterhorn balconies, plus two apartments in the Alpenresidenz Augstkumme building 100 m from the hotel.
Nespresso machine and tea facilities, minibar, humidifier, safe, free Wi-Fi and handmade Soeder toiletries.
Natur Grandlit
A snug room in honey-toned wood with a queen-size bed (140 × 200 cm) and a shower — for one guest or a couple.
Natur Classic
A classic alpine double with wood panelling and carved furniture, and a king-size or twin beds.
Matterhorn Classic
A double with a small Matterhorn balcony, a desk and a bathroom with tub; king-size or twin beds.
Natur Superior
A spacious room with a sitting area and desk and a marble bathroom with separate bath and walk-in shower; can connect to a neighbouring room.
Matterhorn Superior
A room with a Matterhorn balcony and a bathroom with tub, separate shower and separate WC; extra beds on request.
Cosy Junior Suite
A fourth-floor family suite with a king-size sleeping area and a separate snug with a sofa bed for children; bathroom with bath and shower, separate WC.
Matterhorn Junior Suite
A junior suite with exposed wooden beams, a king-size bed and Matterhorn views; bathroom with separate WC.
Matterhorn Deluxe Junior Suite
A generous junior suite with sitting areas, a dressing area, a large bathroom and a Matterhorn balcony.
Monte Rosa Suite
A family suite with a king-size bedroom, a separate bunk-bed corner for children, a living room with dining table, two bathrooms and a Matterhorn balcony.
Matterhorn Suite
The resort’s largest suite, with king-size and queen-size bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, a living room with dining table and a Matterhorn balcony; up to four adults.
Apartment 600
An apartment in Alpenresidenz Augstkumme, 100 m from the hotel, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, an open-plan living room with kitchen and a Matterhorn balcony; up to four guests, no room service.
Apartment 601
A duplex apartment in Alpenresidenz Augstkumme with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room with kitchen and a balcony towards the Matterhorn; up to four guests, no room service.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.