Everyone has vacationing in the Swiss alps on their bucket list. There is truly no better place in Switzerland to take in all of the wondrous beauty of the mountains and the thrill of flying down the slopes than in Zermatt! Looking like a scene straight out of a fairytale, the majestic jagged peaks and snowy mountain trails will have you living in a dream while exploring everything this ski town has to offer!
Despite the Zermatt’s popularity with luxury travelers and avid skiers, you won’t find that many budget backpackers hitting the slopes. With few hostels to choose from, one may think that Zermatt has closed its doors on all adventurers traveling on a shoestring.
Don’t throw out your skis just yet, we have brought all the best hostels in Zermatt to one place so you can find that perfect stay in the mountains before you hit the slopes!
Get ready the sled into Zermatt, a winter wonderland awaits you a few clicks away!
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Quick Answer: The Best Hostels in Zermatt
The Best Hostels in Zermatt
Zermatt is one of the best regions of Switzerland for lovers of fresh air and beauty! From swanky lodges to laid back hostels, each stay is a little different from the last, so keep your eyes peeled for that one stay that fits how you like to travel!
Carina
There is no denying that Zermatt is one of the most romantic places in all of Europe. So why don’t you and your squeeze ditch the dorm rooms for a couple of nights and upgrade yourself into this luxurious yet affordable hostel nestled in between the stunning snowcapped mountains of Zermatt? Complete with its own spa, lounges, and of course spacious rooms, there is no better place to throw another log on the fire and turn on the romance than Carina. Even if you are not a couple, you will find that this upscale hostel offers dorm rooms for your solo travelers!
Youth Hostel Zermatt
Needing a nice backpacker’s hostel to call home for a few days to catch up on some editing and writing? Youth Hostel Zermatt is one of the best places to stay in Zermatt, not only for its cheap dorm beds but also for the ample space you will find to spread out in its lounges. Although you may be a bit far away from the slopes, this backpacker’s hostel will give you everything you need to feel right at home in Zermatt. With cozy beds, inviting sofas, work spaces, and even a cafe, this is one hostel where you will find yourself extending your stay night after night!
Hotel Bahnhof
If you are looking for another solid place to stay in Zermatt, Hotel Bahnhof is one place that will check all of the boxes. With your choice of single rooms or dorm beds, you will have the option of pampering yourself to a little extra comfort or saving a few extra dollars by checking into a shared room. Complete with its very own shared kitchen, dining room, patio, and lounges, this is one hostel that you will be looking forward to heading back to every night to just kick back and relax. Top it off with stunning views of the Swiss Alps from your room, this is one budget hotel in Zermatt you will no want to miss!
More Epic Budget Stays in Zermatt
Still looking for the right Zermatt hostel for you? Unfortunately you’re outta luck! The hostel scene in Zermatt is pretty thin but don’t sweat it, I’ve rounded up the best budget stays in the area so you can keep within that backpacker budget of yours.
Aiguille de La Tza
Close the door and keep out the cold, Aiguille de La Tzawill have you warming up with a glass of wine and a hot meal in its traditional Swiss lounges. With its wooden decor and homey vibes, you will get all of the charm of a classic ski lodge while staying at this youth hostel. Complete with several lounges, a cafe, and an outdoor terrace, you will have loads of space to spread out in, relax, and take in the stunning scenery of Zermatt. Top it all off with its very own bar, this luxury backpacker’s hostel provides you with a little bit of everything so that you feel right at home in the Swiss Alps!
Hôtel Pension du Lac Bleu
There is no better place to take in the Swiss Alps than from the roof of this budget guesthouse. Hooking up backpackers with cheap dorm beds, you will get all of the perks of a hotel while still enjoying the vibe and price of a homely Swiss hostel! With a rooftop terrace perfect for sipping on a glass of wine in view of the stunning surrounding mountains, you will be living the high life with all the best sights of the town and surrounding areas within a short walk away! Top it off with its very own cafe serving breakfast and even a bar, you won’t have to go too far to find a good bite to eat or a stiff drink to end the day!
Hotel Alpina
This place is cosy AF. The rooms are great, cozy and warm in style and boast some epic views. You’ll be treated to beautiful views of the traditional houses normally found in Zermatt. It honestly feels like a fairy tale.
The beds were very comfortable and heaters worked well. Everything is seemingly brand new in the bathroom and is stocked to the hilt with toiletries and towels and all that good stuff. The location is great as it’s just a few minutes from the train station. There is an area where you can leave your bags and relax after you have checked out which was very convenient. Hostel? No. Solid budget stay? Hell yeah.
Hotel Antika
If you’re willing to splash the cash a lil bit and upgrade from the usual backpacker experience, this is a great option. Hotel Antika has the ultimate central location. You can walk either direction to the 3 main ski lifts system. And let’s not forget the main event-those epic mountain views.
Room wise, they’re all mega clean and comfortable and clean rooms. After a day of skiing do your muscles a favour and get to the sauna and steam room. Breakfast in the morning has the usual dairy products, bread, eggs and cured meats, fruits and coffee machine, keeping you fuelled for an epic day of adventure.
The Matterhorn Hostel
Boasting some of the cheapest beds in Zermatt, The Matterhorn Hostel is the place to go for backpackers looking to stay in the heart of the town with some stunning views of the surrounding Swiss Alps. Although this stay is far from perfect, they will dazzle you with their onsite cafe serving up breakfast and a bar perfect for grabbing a drink before calling it a night in paradise. With access to the slopes and some of the best hiking trails in the area right by the youth hostel, you will find that there is no better place to base yourself out of in Zermatt!
Chloe’s BnB
If you are wanting to go really local in Zermatt, there is no better way to get a luck at Swiss life than staying in a BnB! When you can get a single private room for the price of a dorm bed at a hostel, staying in a bed and breakfast is a no brainer! This spacious homey room complete with thoughtful touches will be your home away from home will exploring Zermatt. With the train station nearby, you won’t have to worry about not finding your BnB. Top it off with free tea and coffee and you will have everything you need to feel right at home in Zermatt!
Easy Room St. Niklaus
This is one homestay in the heart of downtown Zermatt you will not want to miss! For the price of a dorm bed at some of the best hostels in town, you can check yourself into your very own private room at Easy Room St. Niklaus. With some of the best restaurants and bars right by the stay, you won’t have to wander too far to find a great place to eat or grab a drink. Complete with laundry facilities, a shared lounge a desk, and cozy rooms, you will never want to check out of this homestay!
Why you should travel to Zermatt
It may be slim pickings in Zermatt when it comes to backpacker’s hostels, but the ones that you will find are sure to give you a unique experience in the Swiss Alps which will have you dreaming of returning to the mountainside!
Still a bit unsure about where to stay in Zermatt on a backpacker’s budget? Let us help you choose between the couple of hostels that have you torn. The one hostel in Zermatt that is both cheap and will provide you with all the luxury of Switzerland is Aiguille de La Tza. They are also our pick for the best hostel in Zermatt!
Travel Safety Tips for Zermatt
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Over to you
No matter if you are looking to just snuggle up close to the fire with a cup of hot cocoa or strap on your skis and hit the slopes, there are so many different ways to take in the beauty of the Swiss Alps! From hiking trails to world-class ski tracks, you will never be short on things to do while exploring the picturesque town of Zermatt!
Although you won’t find a ton of backpacker’s hostels in this fairytale town blanketed in snow, there are still a few options on how to save money and still enjoy everything Zermatt has to offer! With everything from your classic backpacker’s hostels to luxurious lodges, you will have the choice of pampering yourself or kicking back with other travelers in the hostel!
If you have ever traveled to Zermatt we would love to hear about your trip! Let us know if we missed any great hostels in the comments below!
- Check out our extensive guide to backpacking in Switzerland for a wealth of info!
- Not sure what to do once you arrive? We’ve got all the beautiful places in Switzerland covered.
- Skip the dorm and find a super cool Airbnb in Switzerland if you’re feeling fancy!
- Check out the best places to stay in Zermatt before you arrive.
- Remember to grab yourself an international sim card for Europe to avoid any issues.
- Prepare for your trip with our backpacking packing list.
- Get ready for your next destination with our ultimate Europe backpacking guide.
Having just stayed in the Youth Hostel in Zermatt (June 8th & 9th 2023) for two nights, I have to disagree. I work in IT and I could barely get an internet call (audio only) to work, in fact, I actually could not. Of the three people I tried to call, two were within the continent and all three had good internet and were reachable from another hostel in Interlaken.
The internet “signal strength” is fine in all common areas. Rooms, even with a wireless access point right outside the door had low signal strength (I tested two rooms like this) and rooms without an access point had basically no service at all.
Testing the internet speed, common areas get a very acceptable 80-100Mbps upload and download. But within the rooms it’s closer to 4Mbps upload and download. A huge discrepancy. So while, yes, maybe in the cafeteria you could sit and work where it is noisy, you are not going to find those opportunities while in your room.
Breakfast was great, staff are friendly, washrooms are shared by a pretty large number of guests… Laundry is self service for the same cost as full service in other hostels, and the view is good but only for specific rooms.