Places
Cervinia: The Italian Side of the Matterhorn and the Link to Zermatt
Breuil-Cervinia, usually shortened to Cervinia, is the Italian resort at the foot of the Matterhorn. It sits at 2,000 metres in a wide hollow at the top of the Valtournenche valley, in Italy’s Aosta Valley, below the mountain’s Italian side. Here the Matterhorn is the Cervino, and locally the Gran Becca. Zermatt is on the other side of the same mountain, in Switzerland.
No road crosses between the two. You reach Cervinia from the Aosta Valley, leaving the A5 motorway at Châtillon/Saint-Vincent for a 28 km drive up the valley, or by train to Châtillon and then a bus. Since 1 July 2023 a chain of cable cars, sold as the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing, has linked Cervinia and Zermatt over the glaciers in about 90 minutes. This article covers getting there, the crossing, skiing and summer skiing, Lago Blu, and whether to base yourself in Zermatt or Cervinia.
Cervinia at a glance
- Where: Breuil-Cervinia, at the head of the Valtournenche valley, Aosta Valley, Italy.
- Altitude: 2,000 m. Population: 700, according to the Aosta Valley tourist board.
- Distance: 52 km from Aosta.
- By road: A5 Turin-Aosta motorway, exit Châtillon/Saint-Vincent, then 28 km on the regional road.
- By public transport: train to Châtillon/Saint-Vincent, then bus. Buses also run from Turin and Milan.
- To Zermatt: the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing cable cars, about 90 minutes, from CHF 147.50 in September 2026.
- Skiing: 150 km of its own slopes, 360 km in all with Zermatt and Valtournenche, plus summer skiing on the glaciers.
- Seasons: summer 4 May to 6 September 2026; winter 24 October 2026 to 2 May 2027, according to the lift company.
Cervinia and the Matterhorn
Cervinia is not on the Matterhorn; it is below it. The mountain’s south face is on the Italian side of the border, and the Lion ridge, the Italian normal climbing route, rises from the Cervinia side. The familiar pyramid of the east and north faces belongs to Zermatt. From Cervinia you see a different mountain: the same peak from the south, filling the head of the valley.
The resort itself is young. The Aosta Valley tourist board describes Breuil-Cervinia as a modern resort that grew up in the first decades of the last century, and the story of its lifts is told in a small museum at Plateau Rosà (see below).
The valley’s climbing history is much older. From 1857 onwards most attempts on the Matterhorn came from this side, and Jean-Antoine Carrel, a guide from Valtournenche, was among the most persistent. Carrel reached the summit by the Italian side three days after Edward Whymper’s party in July 1865, and the Società Guide del Cervino, the guides’ society of the valley, was founded the same year by Carrel and the other first guides. The old Luigi Amedeo di Savoia mountain hut has been rebuilt in the village centre and houses a museum of the history of alpinism. Climbers heading for the Lion ridge today still start here, going up to the Duca degli Abruzzi hut at the Oriondé, at 2,885 m, and on to the Capanna Carrel at 3,850 m. Our article on climbing the Matterhorn tells the story of both routes.
Getting to Cervinia
By car
Take the A5 Turin-Aosta motorway and leave at Châtillon/Saint-Vincent, then follow the regional road up the valley for 28 km to Breuil-Cervinia. Cervino S.p.A., the lift company, gives these drive times:
| From | Time | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Turin | 1 hour 42 minutes | 118 km |
| Milan Malpensa airport | 2 hours 16 minutes | 171 km |
| Geneva Airport | 3 hours 37 minutes | 260 km |
The Aosta Valley tourist board puts Cervinia 52 km from Aosta. Unlike Zermatt, Cervinia is not car-free, so you can drive right into the resort.
By train and bus
The nearest railway station is Châtillon/Saint-Vincent. From there, buses run up the valley to Breuil-Cervinia and Valtournenche; the tourist board points to the Arriva company’s Bassa valle timetables. Buses also run to Cervinia from Turin and Milan. Timetables change with the season, so check them before you travel.
From the airports
The nearest international airports are Turin Caselle, Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate and Geneva. The lift company lists bus, taxi and hire car as the transfer options.
From Zermatt
The most spectacular way to arrive is over the top, by cable car from Zermatt. Zermatt itself is reached by train; our guide to getting to Zermatt covers the Swiss side.
The Matterhorn Alpine Crossing: Cervinia to Zermatt by cable car
Skiers could already cross between the two resorts on the slopes. Since 1 July 2023, when the Matterhorn Glacier Ride II opened between Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and Testa Grigia, anyone can make the crossing without skis.
The route
From Breuil-Cervinia the lifts climb via Plan Maison and Cime Bianche Laghi to Testa Grigia on the Plateau Rosà. There you change to the tri-cable car to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise on the Klein Matterhorn, then descend via Trockener Steg, Schwarzsee and Furi to Zermatt. The whole journey takes about 90 minutes, and you can get on or off at the stations along the way.
- The border. The route crosses from Italy into Switzerland at nearly 3,500 metres.
- Testa Grigia. The station at 3,458 m was built right on the Italian border but entirely on Swiss soil.
- The new link. From Testa Grigia the ride up to the Klein Matterhorn takes 4 minutes, in cabins carrying 28 people.
- The high point. Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, at 3,883 m, is the highest mountain station in Europe. The Glacier Palace, 15 m below the glacier surface, is included in the ticket.
Tickets
In September 2026 Zermatt Bergbahnen, the Swiss lift company, listed the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing from CHF 147.50. Prices depend on the ticket and any discounts, so check before you buy.
- Single or return. A single is valid for 2 days, a return for 10 days, so you can stay a night on the other side.
- What is included. Entry to the Glacier Palace, the Cinema Lounge and the viewing platform at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, the SnowXperience park at Plateau Rosa in summer, and the Zermatt local bus.
- Swiss travelcards. Holders of the half-fare card, the GA or the Swiss Travel Pass get 50% off on the Swiss section, between Zermatt and Testa Grigia.
- Children. Children under three are not allowed on the sections from Trockener Steg to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and on to Testa Grigia, for health reasons (altitude sickness).
- Dogs travel free, but a leash and a muzzle are compulsory in Italy.
Accessibility and luggage
According to Cervino S.p.A., the change between the Plateau Rosà cable car and the tri-cable car is only a few metres, and the whole route between Breuil-Cervinia and Zermatt can be travelled in a wheelchair.
Since 1 November 2025 you can also send your luggage across. You check it in at the valley station in Zermatt or Cervinia by 10am or 2pm, and collect it two hours later, from 12pm or 4pm, at the other end. Register it online in advance.
Closures and changes
The two lift companies do not describe the season in the same way. Zermatt Bergbahnen calls the crossing a year-round link. Cervino S.p.A.’s page for the crossing gives its summer opening as 3 May to 6 September 2026, its winter season on the Italian side starts on 24 October 2026, and it says the route will be closed for maintenance from 7 January to 26 February 2027 inclusive. In practice, check that the Italian lifts are running if you plan to cross in spring or autumn.
On the day, plan the crossing for a clear sky and check the lift status before you set off, especially if you need to get back the same day.
On the Italian side, Cervino S.p.A. is building a new cableway, called Cervino The One, from Breuil-Cervinia with an intermediate station at Plan Maison, to improve access to the crossing. For longer trips, a rail package combines the journey to Zermatt, the crossing and onward travel to Milan.
Plateau Rosà and Testa Grigia
Even if you do not cross to Zermatt, the ride up from Cervinia to the Plateau Rosà is worth it. The Aosta Valley tourist board notes that the Plateau Rosà cableway has large windows that give the feeling of hanging in the void.
- The view. From the terrace at the top, Cervino S.p.A. says you can see the great four-thousand-metre peaks from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc and from Gran Paradiso to Monte Rosa, and as far as Monviso in Piedmont.
- The border. At Testa Grigia you can stand with one foot in Switzerland and the other in Italy.
- SnowXperience. A snow park with a beginners’ area, and a restaurant beside the station serving Italian food.
- The lift museum. Una Montagna di Lavoro, near the top station of the old cable car, tells the story of the Breuil-Cervinia lifts with historical photographs. Cervino S.p.A.’s page says it is temporarily closed, so check before you plan around it.
- The Breithorn. From Plateau Rosà the Breithorn can be climbed in a day, often the first four-thousand-metre peak for newcomers. You are on glacier terrain up there, and Cervino S.p.A. advises going with an Alpine guide on the glacier.
- The Tour du Cervin. Plateau Rosà is also on the Tour du Cervin, a high-level trek all the way round the Matterhorn that takes about 8 days.
At nearly 3,500 metres, dress for cold and wind even in summer.
Skiing in Cervinia, winter and summer
Winter
Cervinia’s ski area is one of the largest in the Alps. The tourist board gives it 150 km of slopes of its own and, with the links to Valtournenche and to Zermatt, a total of 360 km of runs. For the 2026-27 season Cervino S.p.A. gives the winter opening as 24 October 2026 to 2 May 2027. Check the lift company’s site for opening dates in the side valleys, which have shorter seasons.
If you do not ski
Non-skiers are not left out. The lifts to Plateau Rosà and the crossing to Zermatt carry walkers and sightseers too, and the tourist board lists cross-country skiing, snowshoe routes, sled-dog outings and natural ice skating in winter. There are also snowmobile trips and, for the brave, paragliding.
Summer skiing
In summer the high lifts keep running for glacier skiing on the Plateau Rosà and Ventina glaciers, with about 25 km of slopes linked to Switzerland. Cervino S.p.A. gives its 2026 summer season as 4 May to 6 September 2026.
On the Swiss side of the same glacier area, summer skiing at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise runs from 4 May to 31 October 2026, according to Zermatt Bergbahnen. The two operators run to different calendars, so check each side’s dates if you plan to ski across in late summer.
Lago Blu: the Matterhorn in a lake
One of the classic views of the Matterhorn from the Italian side is Lago Blu, the Blue Lake. It lies about 30 minutes’ walk, or a few minutes by car, from the centre of Breuil-Cervinia, along the regional road that climbs from Valtournenche.
It is a small lake surrounded by century-old larches. It is fed by springs, so the water stays clear, and when the clouds allow, the Matterhorn is mirrored in it. The tourist board also recommends it as an easy outing with children. Not far away are the Layet lakes, three spring lakes of different colours set in a pasture above the valley.
Because you can drive to it along the valley road, it is also one of the easiest places to photograph the Italian side of the mountain.
Summer in Cervinia
Cervinia is a ski resort first, but summer brings a different crowd.
- Hiking from easy strolls, such as Lago Blu, to high routes, with lifts to gain height.
- Mountain biking on enduro and downhill tracks totalling about 90 km, plus e-bike routes.
- Golf on an 18-hole course at the foot of the Matterhorn, among the highest in Europe.
- Climbing, from the Breithorn to the Lion ridge of the Matterhorn itself, with guides of the Società Guide del Cervino.
- Crossing to Zermatt for the day by cable car.
Zermatt or Cervinia?
The two resorts share a mountain and a ski area but are very different places to stay.
| Zermatt | Breuil-Cervinia | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Switzerland (Valais) | Italy (Aosta Valley) |
| Side of the Matterhorn | East and north faces, the classic view | The Italian side and the south face |
| Getting there | Train; car-free, drivers park at Täsch | By road, 28 km from the motorway exit; bus from Châtillon |
| Height of the village | Gornergrat station 1,604 m | 2,000 m |
| Main viewpoints | Gornergrat, Glacier Paradise, Rothorn | Plateau Rosà, Lago Blu |
| Summer skiing, 2026 | 4 May to 31 October | 4 May to 6 September |
Choose Zermatt if you are travelling by train, want the classic view of the Matterhorn, and want the Gornergrat railway, the Matterhorn Museum and a car-free village. Our guide to Gornergrat or Glacier Paradise compares its two big viewpoints.
Choose Cervinia if you are coming from Milan or Turin, prefer to drive, or want the Italian side, Italian food and a resort built for skiing.
Do both if you have a clear day: the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing turns the two into one trip, and a single ticket is valid for 2 days.
A day across the border from Zermatt
A day trip from Zermatt to Cervinia is easy to plan with a return ticket. A sensible outline:
- Go early, on the first clear morning, because cloud can close in on the high stations.
- Stop at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise on the way. The Glacier Palace and the platform are included in the crossing ticket.
- Cross at Testa Grigia, take the border photo, and continue down via Plan Maison to Breuil-Cervinia for lunch.
- Walk to Lago Blu, about 30 minutes each way, if you have time, then head back up.
- Check the last connection back to Zermatt before you leave the high stations, and allow the full 90 minutes for the return.
If you would rather go only as far as Glacier Paradise with a guide, small-group half-day trips from Zermatt are listed on the tours page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cervinia in Italy or Switzerland?
Italy. Breuil-Cervinia is in the Aosta Valley, at the top of the Valtournenche valley, on the Italian side of the Matterhorn. Zermatt is on the Swiss side of the same mountain.
How do you get from Zermatt to Cervinia?
By cable car. The Matterhorn Alpine Crossing links the two via Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and Testa Grigia in about 90 minutes. In September 2026 tickets were listed from CHF 147.50. Check both lift companies’ dates: the route is closed for maintenance from 7 January to 26 February 2027, and the Italian lifts have gaps between seasons.
Can you drive from Zermatt to Cervinia?
Not directly: no road crosses the mountains between them, and Zermatt is car-free. By road, Cervinia is reached from the Aosta Valley, leaving the A5 at Châtillon/Saint-Vincent for a 28 km drive up the valley.
How far is Cervinia from Milan?
Cervino S.p.A. gives the drive from Milan Malpensa as 2 hours 16 minutes (171 km). Buses also run from Milan and Turin.
Can you ski in summer in Cervinia?
Yes. Summer skiing on the Plateau Rosà and Ventina glaciers offers about 25 km of slopes linked to Switzerland. In 2026 the summer season runs from 4 May to 6 September.
Can you ski from Cervinia to Zermatt?
Yes. The ski areas are linked, and the tourist board counts 360 km of runs across Breuil-Cervinia, Valtournenche and Zermatt. In summer about 25 km of glacier slopes are linked to Switzerland. Check that your ski pass covers both sides before you cross.