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!
Quick Answer: The Best Hostels in Zermatt
- Overall Best Hostel in Zermatt – Aiguille de La Tza
- Best Hostel for Solo Travelers in Zermatt – Hôtel Pension du Lac Bleu
- Best Hostel for Couples in Zermatt – Carina
- Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Zermatt – Youth Hostel 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!
Best Overall Hostel in Zermatt – Aiguille de La Tza
- $$
- Bar
- Cafe
- Terrace
Close the door and keep out the cold, Aiguille de La Tzawill have you warming up with a glass of wine and a hot meal in its traditional Swiss lounges. With its wooden decor and homey vibes, you will get all of the charm of a classic ski lodge while staying at this youth hostel. Complete with several lounges, a cafe, and an outdoor terrace, you will have loads of space to spread out in, relax, and take in the stunning scenery of Zermatt. Top it all off with its very own bar, this luxury backpacker’s hostel provides you with a little bit of everything so that you feel right at home in the Swiss Alps!
Best Hostel for Solo Travelers in Zermatt – Hôtel Pension du Lac Bleu
- $$
- Breakfast 10$
- Bar
- Terrace
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!
Best Hostel for Couples in Zermatt – Carina
- $$$
- Restaurant
- Breakfast Included
- Bar
There is no denying that Zermatt is one of the most romantic places in all of Europe. So why don’t you and your squeeze ditch the dorm rooms for a couple of nights and upgrade yourself into this luxurious yet affordable hostel nestled in between the stunning snowcapped mountains of Zermatt? Complete with its own spa, lounges, and of course spacious rooms, there is no better place to throw another log on the fire and turn on the romance than Carina. Even if you are not a couple, you will find that this upscale hostel offers dorm rooms for your solo travelers!
Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Zermatt – Youth Hostel Zermatt
- $$$
- Breakfast Included
- Terrace
- Lounge
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!
Best Cheap Hostel in Zermatt – Ferienhaus Allalin
- $$
- Shared Kitchen
- Lounge
- Patio
Switzerland and Zermatt are not known for being the cheapest place in Europe, but that doesn’t mean your budget backpackers can’t also hit the slopes and enjoy the breathtaking views of the alps. Ferienhaus Allalin will hook up you weary travelers with some of the cheapest dorm beds in Zermatt, allowing you to enjoy all of the luxury and beauty of the mountains! With the ski slopes just a few minutes away from your hostel, you can put your money into having fun rather than wasting it on a dorm bed. Complete with a shared kitchen, lounges, and an outdoor patio, there are so many different ways to kick back and relax at this hostel!
Ferienhaus Allalin is one of our favourites in Zermatt but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
We’ve tested countless backpacks over the years, but there’s one that has always been the best and remains the best buy for adventurers: the broke backpacker-approved Osprey Aether and Ariel series.
Want more deetz on why these packs are so damn perfect? Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop!
View on Osprey View on REIBest Party Hostel in Zermatt – La Puchotaz
- $$$
- Breakfast 18$
- Bar
- Lounge
Put your foot on the brakes you party animals out there. You may be out of luck in Zermatt when it comes to throwing those all night rages that will have you drinking till the break of dawn, but at least at La Puchotaz, you can grab a couple of beers of glasses of wine at the terrace bar before calling it another night in the Swiss Alps. Although you will probably be spending most of your time at the bar and lounging about on the patio, La Puchotaz is a backpacker’s hostel that will also hook you up with a cafe and lounges perfect for relaxing in. With good food and location right by the slopes, there is no better place to kick off your adventure in Zermatt!
La Puchotaz is one of our favourites in Zermatt but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
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Hide Yo’ Money!More of the Best Hostels in Zermatt
Hotel Bahnhof
- $$$
- Shared Kitchen
- Patio
- Lounge
If you are looking for another solid place to stay in Zermatt, Hotel Bahnhof is one place that will check all of the boxes. With your choice of single rooms or dorm beds, you will have the option of pampering yourself to a little extra comfort or saving a few extra dollars by checking into a shared room. Complete with its very own shared kitchen, dining room, patio, and lounges, this is one hostel that you will be looking forward to heading back to every night to just kick back and relax. Top it off with stunning views of the Swiss Alps from your room, this is one budget hotel in Zermatt you will no want to miss!
The Matterhorn Hostel
- $$
- Breakfast 8$
- Bar
- Cafe
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!
The Matterhorn Hostel is one of our favourites in Zermatt but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
Chloe’s BnB
- $$
- BnB
- Tea & Coffee
- Train Station Nearby
If you are wanting to go really local in Zermatt, there is no better way to get a luck at Swiss life than staying in a BnB! When you can get a single private room for the price of a dorm bed at a hostel, staying in a bed and breakfast is a no brainer! This spacious homey room complete with thoughtful touches will be your home away from home will exploring Zermatt. With the train station nearby, you won’t have to worry about not finding your BnB. Top it off with free tea and coffee and you will have everything you need to feel right at home in Zermatt!
Chloe’s BnB is one of our favourites in Zermatt but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
Easy Room St. Niklaus
- $$$
- Homestay
- Central Location
- Laundry Facilities
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!
Easy Room St. Niklaus is one of our favourites in Zermatt but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
What to Pack for your Zermatt Hostel
Pants, socks, underwear, soap?! Take it from us, packing for a hostel stay is not always quite as straight forward as it seems. Working out what to bring and what to leave at home is an art we have perfected over many years.
Ear Plugs
Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.
Hanging Laundry Bag
Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.
Sea To Summit Micro Towel
Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.
Monopoly Deal
Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.
Grayl Geopress Water Bottle
Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!
Check out our definitive Hostel Packing list for our top packing tips!
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!
FAQ about Hostels in Zermatt
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels 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!
And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!
