Kid-Friendly Luxury at Hotel Mont Cervin Palace in Zermatt

In a jet set resort town like Zermatt, finding luxury hotels is not an issue. Uncovering the very select few properties that cater to families in a meaningful way, however, is much more challenging. After experiencing the 165-room Hotel Mont Cervin Palace this winter, I’ll be adding it to our Ciao Bambino’s Switzerland kid-friendly accommodations portfolio in the next few weeks. This old-school hotel icon is an exceptional place for families.

Part of the prestigious Seiler Hotels Group, the Mont Cervin Palace has been hosting guests for over 150 years; there’s a strong sense of history here, starting with the pick up at the train station by a horse-drawn carriage. Kids and parents alike will start grinning at this point, and the vacation hasn’t even started.

Zermatt attracts an international crowd and the guests at Mont Cervin reflect this diversity. Families from all over the world choose to stay at this luxury icon, and many of them return annually.

Why are families choosing Mont Cervin Palace over all the other luxury options in Zermatt? After our overnight, I figured it out:

Array of Room Configurations

One of the best features for families at the Mont Cervin Palace is their wide variety of room configuration from gorgeous remodeled suites with Matterhorn views, to traditional apartment-style units in the Residence with full kitchen facilities, to the boutique annex Le Petit Cervin.

The hotel easily accommodates independent families and large, multi-generational groups.

Variety of Experiences

While public areas are old-world and grand in the Mont Cervin Palace, remodeled rooms feature fresh, Alpine-themed décor. We stayed in a glorious suite with front and center Matterhorn views.

Meanwhile, for families who want a more intimate boutique experience, the chalet-style Le Petit Cervin is connected to the hotel via an internal walkway and offers multi-room suites, as well as a number of connecting configurations for large families.

This diversity extends to the dining experience too. The Dine Around program includes all Seiler Hotels in Zermatt and enables guest to seamlessly eat at the different properties in the portfolio, while keeping expenses on a single bill. The program also includes the stunning Ciao Bambino Approved Riffelalp Resort at 2,222 meters above the village.

Magnificent Indoor/Outdoor Swimming Pool

The swimming pool is quite simply out of this world. A magnificent indoor/outdoor pool with lounge chairs entertains families for hours. The facility also includes the biggest kids’ splash pool filled with toys I’ve ever seen.

The outdoor section is open all winter too. We swam in a snowstorm — one for the memory books! Although I didn’t get a chance to use the spa, the English/German spa menu is 38 pages long, i.e. there are extensive treatments for the entire body available.

Nico Kids’ Club

The Mont Cervin Palace is one of just a few hotels in Zermatt to offer a kids’ club. The club is set up in a their sister property Hotel Schweizerhof, a few blocks down the road and offers supervised care for ages 3 months to 8-years-old during the winter season.

The club is set-up for younger kids and perfect for families with children who aren’t old enough for a rigorous ski school program.

Heart of Zermatt Location

Located in the heart of Zermatt, guests walk out the door into the center of all the best dining and shopping. Be sure and ask for room with a Matterhorn view if that’s important, as it’s not available in all room categories. For skiing, the property is a short walk from the Sunnegga Funicular and there’s an efficient bus service available to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise gondola.

When to Go

Although Zermatt is most famous for skiing, the summer is an outdoor enthusiasts’ dream with 400 km of hiking trails. The extensive network of gondolas allows families to create short, kid-friendly hikes to mountain huts for lunch. You can also ski year-round on the glacier.

Take kids skiing in the morning and hiking in the afternoon. Not your average family vacation!

Editorial Note: Ciao Bambino received a complimentary overnight at Hotel Mont Cervin Palace. As usual, all opinions are our own. All photos by Amie O’Shaughnessy except for suite photo by Hotel Mont Cervin Palace.

Need help planning a trip to Zermatt or anywhere else in Switzerland? Our Family Vacation Planning Service can help! Request assistance on our Connect with a Family Travel Advisor page. 

Relevant Links:

Ciao Bambino recommended family-friendly hotels in Switzerland

Navigating skiing in Zermatt with kids

Zermatt ski tips from a local

Matterhorn photos for Photo Friday

Summer family travel: tips for day hikes with kids

Navigating skiing in Davos-Klosters with kids

Navigating skiing in Crans-Montana with kids

Navigating skiing in Grindelwald with kids