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Skiing in Cervinia, on the Matterhorn Massif

Cervinia (officially Breuil-Cervinia) is the highest ski resort in the Aosta Valley region, sitting at about 2,000 m. This modern, world-famous destination is named after the Matterhorn (Monte Cervino in Italian), which towers directly above it.

How to Get to Cervinia?

Cervinia is located approximately 120 km from Turin Airport, 190 km from Milan Malpensa Airport, 210 km from Milan Linate Airport, and 235 km from Bergamo Airport.

As is the case with almost all destinations in the Aosta Valley, the easiest way to reach Cervinia is by renting a car. Once you enter the Valle d'Aosta region, you will spend a good portion of the trip on the A5 motorway. You will need to exit the motorway at Châtillon, from where the road climbs steeply for about 28 km until you reach Breuil-Cervinia.

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Reaching Cervinia via public transport is a bit more complicated, as there are no direct connections (you can also find information in the article How to Get to Aosta Valley). You will need to take a bus to Châtillon (direct buses are available from Turin and Milan Malpensa airports on certain days of the week) and from there, catch an Arriva bus to Cervinia. The bus ride from Châtillon to Cervinia takes about 1 hour.

Traveling by train is even more complex. You will need to reach the Châtillon-Saint Vincent railway station and take a bus from there. Depending on which airport you land at, this can involve changing 2 or 3 trains (and in some cases, taking an additional bus to reach the main city centers where the train stations are located).

Cervino Ski Paradise Ski Area

The Cervino Ski Paradise (known on the Swiss side as Matterhorn Ski Paradise) is one of the largest ski areas in Italy and ranks among the most spectacular in Europe. It is also the highest ski domain in the Alps, allowing you to ski from an elevation of 3,883 m. The area spans two countries, linking the Italian slopes (Breuil-Cervinia and Valtournenche) with those of Zermatt, Switzerland. The smaller ski areas of Torgnon and Chamois are also included within this domain.

Ski Runs

The Cervino Ski Paradise consists of:

• Breuil-Cervinia: 44 runs (9 blue, 28 red, 7 black), 2 winter hiking trails, and a snowpark
• Valtournenche: 20 runs (9 blue, 9 red, and 2 black)
• Chamois: 5 runs (2 blue and 3 red)
• Torgnon: 14 runs (3 blue, 8 red, and 3 black)
• Zermatt: 80 runs, including 10 for summer skiing (11 blue, 45 red, 8 black, and 16 off-piste)

In total, there are over 160 ski runs of varying difficulty, totaling more than 360 km.

Unlike other ski resorts in the Aosta Valley, the glacier at Cervinia allows for year-round skiing. During the summer, you have access to 25 km of slopes stretching from Piccolo Cervino (3,883 m) to Plateau Rosà (3,480 m).

Cross-country skiing is available on several circuits:

• Breuil-Cervinia: a 3 km loop
• Champlève (near Valtournenche): three sections measuring 3 km, 2.5 km, and 3.8 km
• Torgnon: the Maisonette run (with 3 km, 7.5 km, and 10 km loops), and the Grandes Montagnes run (20 km)

You can download the Cervino Ski Paradise map directly from the official Cervinia.it website.

Ski Lifts

The Cervino Ski Paradise features 35 ski lifts on the Italian side, including cable cars, gondolas, chairlifts, and conveyor belts. These are complemented by 33 cable transport facilities on the Swiss side (the Zermatt area).

Ski Lifts in Breuil-Cervinia:

• 2 cable cars (Breuil-Plan Maison and Laghi Cime Bianche-Plateau Rosà)
• 3 gondolas (Breuil-Plan Maison, Plan Maison-Laghi Cime Bianche, and Matterhorn Glacier Ride II)
• 8 chairlifts (Pancheron, Cretaz, Plan Maison, Fornet, Bontadini, Cieloalto, Campetto, Lago Goillet)
• 1 platter lift (La Vieille)
• 2 conveyor belts (Cretaz, Plan Maison)

Ski lifts in Valtournenche:

• 1 gondola (Valtournenche-Salette)
• 5 chairlifts (Bec Carré, Gran Sometta, Becca d'Aran, Motta, and Du Col)
• 2 conveyor belts (Desert and Snowpark)

Ski lifts in Chamois:

• 3 chairlifts (Lago Lod, Teppa, and Falinère)
• 1 conveyor belt (Baby Park Lago Lod)

Ski lifts in Torgnon:

• 1 gondola (Mongnod-Chantorné)
• 3 chairlifts (Chantorné, Col Fenêtre, Collet)
• 2 conveyor belts (Baby Area and Fun Area)

Ski Season

The skiing period at Breuil-Cervinia is:

• Winter season: October 25, 2025 - May 3, 2026
• Summer season: May 4 - September 6, 2026

The skiing period at Valtournenche is:

• Winter season: November 29, 2025 - April 26, 2026

The skiing period at Chamois is:

• Winter season: December 6 - 8, 2025; December 13 - 14, 2025; December 20, 2025 - April 6, 2026

The skiing period at Torgnon is:

• Winter season: November 29 - 30, 2025; December 6 - 8, 2025; December 13 - 14, 2025; December 20, 2025 - April 6, 2026

Note: the schedule may undergo changes depending on weather conditions.

Skipass Prices 2025-2026

The ski area is managed by Cervino S.p.A. 

Skipasses are issued on a key-card (electronic support) for a fee of €2.

According to Italian law, third-party liability insurance is mandatory for all skiers. This insurance can be added to your skipass for €3.50/day for adults and €1.50/day for children under 8. Additionally, wearing a helmet is mandatory for everyone, regardless of age.

Senior = person born before May 31, 1961

Young = person born after October 31, 2001

Junior = person born after October 31, 2009

Discounts are only valid upon presentation of a valid ID.

Skipasses can be purchased online and have the following prices:

Children born after October 31, 2017, are entitled to a free skipass of the same duration as the one purchased by the accompanying adult. In the absence of an accompanying adult, they will receive a 75% discount off the adult rate.

Persons born before November 1, 1945, are entitled to a free 1-day skipass (or morning/ afternoon pass).

For every 15 skipasses purchased, one free skipass of the same type and duration is granted.

The skipass is valid for all lifts in Breuil-Cervinia, Valtournenche, Torgnon, and Chamois (excluding the Buisson-Chamois cable car).

For durations of 3 days or more, the skipass can also be used (within its validity period) at any other ski resort in the Aosta Valley.

The skipass is valid for all lifts in Breuil-Cervinia, Valtournenche, Torgnon, and Chamois (excluding the Buisson-Chamois cable car).

Elevation 2500 = Cretaz, Campetto, Pancheron, Plan Maison, and Cieloalto chairlifts, Baby La Vieille ski lift, and round-trip Breuil-Cervinia Plan Maison.

Beginners = 1 round-trip Breuil-Cervinia Plan Maison, Campetto chairlift, Baby La Vieille ski lift.

Consecutive Day Dkipass: allows access (when open) to ski lifts in Breuil-Cervinia and the following lifts in Switzerland: Plateau Rosà I, II, III, Testa, Plateau-Breithorn ski lifts, Furgsattel chairlift, Trockener Steg - Piccolo Cervino cable car/gondola (ascent only), Plateau Rosà/Testa Grigia - Piccolo Cervino cable car/gondola (Matterhorn Alpine Crossing) ascent only; Snow Experience is not included. For passes of 5 days or more, the first and last name of the holder are required.

Children born after October 31, 2017, are entitled to a free skipass of the same duration as the one purchased by the accompanying adult. In the absence of an accompanying adult, they will receive a 75% discount off the adult rate.

For every 15 skipasses purchased, one free skipass of the same type and duration is granted.

Persons born before November 1, 1945, are entitled to a free 1-day skipass.

Non-Consecutive Day Skipass: allows access (when open) to ski lifts in Breuil-Cervinia and the following lifts in Switzerland: Plateau Rosà I, II, III, Plateau-Breithorn ski lifts, Trockener Steg - Piccolo Cervino cable car/gondola (ascent only), Plateau Rosà/Testa Grigia - Piccolo Cervino cable car/gondola (Matterhorn Alpine Crossing) ascent only. These can be used throughout the entire summer season.

Children born after October 31, 2017, are entitled to a free skipass of the same duration as the one purchased by the accompanying adult. In the absence of an accompanying adult, they will receive a 75% discount off the adult rate.

What Else Can you Do in Cervinia?

Cervinia is an animated resort year-round. Along Via Carrel, the town's main street, you will find a stretch of grand hotels, restaurants, and shops of all kinds. The street is named after Jean-Antoine Carrel, who, in 1865, was among the first group of climbers to reach the summit of the Matterhorn.

Since it is usually bustling with tourists, the activities available are quite diverse. Most fall into the sports and adventure category: beyond skiing and snowboarding, you can go ice skating, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, or take a husky-drawn sled ride. For those seeking more thrill, there is ice climbing or tandem paragliding.

During the summer, you have plenty of mountain trails, canyoning, and mountain biking available.

The Society of Guides (Società delle Guide del Cervino), founded in 1865, organizes all kinds of excursions and activities. Their headquarters are located in the same building as the Tourist Office at Via Circonvallazione 2. The old wooden structure you see in front of the entrance is the Capanna Luigi Amedeo di Savoia, which once served as a mountain refuge on the Matterhorn.

The surrounding villages preserve the traditional architecture and atmosphere of mountain settlements, some even featuring small museums that you can visit.

During July and August, Cervinia hosts two major festivals: Cervino CineMountain, dedicated to mountain cinema, and Settimana del Cervino ("Matterhorn Week"), which includes various events celebrating the legendary peak.

Even if you don't ski, you can take the cable car from Cervinia to Plateau Rosà, at 3,480 m (changing at Plan Maison and Cime Bianche Laghi), to admire a close-up panorama of the surrounding 4,000-meter peaks.

Near the cable car station, at an altitude of 3,500 m, you will find the highest museum in Europe. Named Una Montagna di Lavoro ("A Mountain of Work"), it showcases the history of the area's first cable transport systems dating back to the 1930s. Access is included with your skipass or round-trip cable car ticket. On the panoramic terrace, a compass rose points out the highest peaks in the Aosta Valley and the Valais region of Switzerland.

The prices for cable car transport are:

Children born after October 31, 2016, are entitled to a free Explore Pass of the same duration as the one purchased by an accompanying adult. Without an accompanying adult, they receive a 75% discount off the adult rate.

Persons born before November 1, 1944, are entitled to a free Explore Pass.

For every 15 Explore Passes purchased, one free Explore Pass of the same type and duration is granted.

In the summer of 2023, the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing cable car was inaugurated (featuring the highest cable car crossing in Europe). From Plateau Rosà/Testa Grigia, you can continue your ascent to reach 3,883 m at Piccolo Cervino/Klein Matterhorn ("Little Matterhorn"). From there, you can descend via cable transport all the way to Zermatt, Switzerland. Located near the top station within the glacier is the Ice Cave (Grotta di Ghiaccio), the highest of its kind in Europe.

Matterhorn Alpine Crossing transport prices are:

Discounts are granted only upon presentation of a valid ID.

Children between the ages of 3 and 8 (under 9) accompanied by an adult are entitled to free admission.

For health reasons, children under 3 years old are prohibited from accessing the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing cable car.

For those looking to explore the surroundings, two significant tourist attractions are located very close to Cervinia. A few kilometers to the south lies Lake Layet, better known as Lago Blu ("Blue Lake"), whose waters reflect the Matterhorn massif - a particularly beautiful sight during the summer.

A few kilometers further toward Valtournenche, you will find the gorge carved by the Marmore River (Gouffre des Busserailles). Along the route, which is set up on a metal walkway, you can see a grotto and a waterfall.

Where to Stay in Cervinia?

There are hundreds of accommodation options in Cervinia (mostly apartments, but also many luxury hotels).

If you want to stay right next to the ski slopes, a great choice is Hotel Meublé Mon Rêve (3 stars), which also offers a shuttle to the town center (though it's only about a 10-minute walk).

Down by the Plateau Rosa cable car station and close to the center, you'll find Mollino Rooms.

If you prefer to be right in the heart of town, the 3-star hotels Da Compagnoni and Marmore are excellent options, as are the 2-star Hotel Meublé Joli or the Central Apart Chalet apartment.

Located about 2 km from the center are the La Maison de Vacances apartments.

Cervinia also offers plenty of choices for those seeking a hotel with a spa (and who have the budget to match). Top picks include Aux Pieds du Roi - Suite & Spa, Sertorelli Sporthotel, Excelsior Planet, White Angel, Valtur Cervinia Cristallo Ski Resort, and the beautiful Saint Hubertus Resort.

For apartment rentals, you can also check the Vrbo website.