Ski into another country without taking your skis off

The cross-border area

Zermatt's ski area connects directly, via lift, to Breuil-Cervinia and Valtournenche on the Italian side of the same massif — a genuine cross-border ski area spanning roughly 360 km of piste, with nearly half of it on the Italian side. It's marketed as the highest lift-served skiing in the Alps, and the claim holds up: the top station at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise sits at 3,883 m, keeping snow reliable on the glacier sections through summer.

Why the elevation matters practically

Because so much of the terrain sits above 2,500 m, the Zermatt side of the area holds snow later into spring than most Alpine resorts, and the glacier sections near Matterhorn Glacier Paradise ski year-round — a genuine rarity even among high-altitude European resorts. That said, high-altitude terrain also means more exposure to wind closures on the most exposed lifts; build a backup lower-elevation plan into any winter trip.

Border-crossing logistics

Skiing into Italy and back is straightforward on a combined lift pass covering both sides, but plan the day around it: lift closing times differ slightly between the Swiss and Italian operators, and missing the last lift back from the Cervinia side means a long bus/taxi detour around the mountain rather than a quick ski back. Check same-day return lift times before committing to lunch on the Italian side.

Non-skiers and summer visitors

The same lift infrastructure that carries skiers in winter runs the rest of the year for sightseeing, connecting to both the hiking network covered separately and the glacier viewing platforms at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise — worth knowing if part of your group skis and part doesn't.