Zermatt or Saas-Fee for Christmas?
- Level on snow: Zermatt had at least 30cm on Christmas morning in 30 of 30 years, Saas-Fee in 29 of 30.
- On Christmas atmosphere we rate them the same (5 out of 5).
- Saas-Fee is stronger on families (5 out of 5 against 4), in our editorial view.
- Saas-Fee is stronger on beginners (5 out of 5 against 3), in our editorial view.
Zermatt and Saas-Fee side by side
| Zermatt | Saas-Fee | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Switzerland | Switzerland |
| Village altitude | 1,608m | 1,798m |
| Top of the ski area | 3,883m | 3,457m |
| Christmases with 30cm+ of snow | 30 of 30 (Gornergratsee, 2953 m) | 29 of 30 (Egginer, 2645 m) |
| Snow lying in the village | 28 of 30 Christmases | 29 of 30 Christmases |
| Christmas Snow Score | 88/100 | 85/100 |
| Christmas atmosphere (our rating) | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Families (our rating) | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Beginners (our rating) | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Chalets we list | 7 | 7 |
| Typical Christmas week, 19 Dec – 26 Dec 2026 | Too few priced | £4,342 (7 chalets priced) |
Snow figures are Christmas-morning measurements by national and regional weather services, shown on the Christmas Snow Report. Ratings are our editorial view. Prices are Booking.com’s cheapest total for the week for each chalet’s full capacity, among chalets still available when we checked.
What Christmas is like in each
Christmas in Zermatt
Exceptional. A car-free village, horse-drawn sleighs, snow on timber, the Matterhorn lit at night, and restaurants that take Christmas seriously. If budget were not a consideration, this is where most people in this guide would spend Christmas.
Christmas in Saas-Fee
Lovely. Car-free, small and surrounded by ice, with a village that decorates beautifully and a strong sense of being somewhere remote. Quieter than Zermatt and, for many people, the better Christmas for it.
Questions about Zermatt and Saas-Fee at Christmas
Which has more snow at Christmas, Zermatt or Saas-Fee?
Level on snow: Zermatt had at least 30cm on Christmas morning in 30 of 30 years, Saas-Fee in 29 of 30. Measured on Christmas morning at the nearest weather station to each resort since 1996; how often there has been snow, not a forecast.
Which is better for christmas atmosphere at Christmas, Zermatt or Saas-Fee?
On Christmas atmosphere we rate them the same (5 out of 5).
Which is better for families at Christmas, Zermatt or Saas-Fee?
Saas-Fee is stronger on families (5 out of 5 against 4), in our editorial view.
Which is better for beginners at Christmas, Zermatt or Saas-Fee?
Saas-Fee is stronger on beginners (5 out of 5 against 3), in our editorial view.