Hotel Monte Rosa

Hotel Monte Rosa

Zermatt's first hotel opened in 1839 as a six-bed guesthouse and was transformed into the Monte Rosa by Alexander Seiler in 1855. It became headquarters for Victorian-era alpinists, most notably Edward Whymper, who stayed here before making the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865. The hotel built its reputation through its clientele rather than advertising. The current building still has the Belle Époque elegance from its 1891 expansion, though it was fully renovated in 2008. The red-shuttered façade faces Zermatt's main street, and the 41 rooms are individually styled, some with Matterhorn views, others overlooking the village. No two are identical. You’ll find romantic rooms with antiques and rich fabrics, others take a more contemporary approach, but all maintain the historic character of a building that has been receiving guests for 170 years. Edward's Bar occupies the original space with the wooden beams from the first guesthouse still visible. The 1818 Eat & Drink restaurant focuses on Josper charcoal grilling with local and international ingredients. Guests have access to the spa and pools at the sister property Mont Cervin Palace, a five-minute walk away. The hotel is now part of Michel Reybier Hospitality and holds membership in Swiss Historic Hotels. Zermatt is car-free, so you'll arrive by train or taxi from Täsch. The hotel offers electric car pickup from the station. This is not a property trying to recreate alpine nostalgia—it actually is alpine nostalgia.