Christiania Mountain & Spa

Arriving directly at Zermatt's lift network, guests reach the Christiania Mountain & Spa within a short walk of the cable cars, making it a practical base for skiing in winter and hiking in summer. Run by the Franzen family, the hotel keeps its wellness area as its centrepiece: at 1,450 square metres, it holds the largest spa in Zermatt, with a 25-metre pool, a Jacuzzi facing the Matterhorn, a Finnish sauna, a steam bath, an ice grotto and a wood-fired private sauna. There is a separate pool and play area for children. Rooms mix local rustic furniture, such as carved wood pieces, with modern fittings; balconies look out over the Matterhorn. The Doppel Superior Matterhorn rooms, twenty in number, suit a shorter stay and open onto private balconies. Dinner runs to a four-course menu or an à la carte card, built on ingredients from regional suppliers, including meat from a Zermatt butcher and vegetables from a farm near Bitsch. A terrace off the restaurant holds the same mountain view. The hotel has signed on to Switzerland's Swisstainable programme at its first level, and heats its private sauna only with local wood. Breakfast is included and a shuttle runs until 8pm.