Things to do in Zermatt: the Matterhorn, the railways and the walks
Zermatt is a car-free village at 1,608 meters, built around one view: the Matterhorn at the end of the main street. Most of what you do is ride something up and walk something down. The one thing to know: the mountain hides in cloud more often than the postcards suggest, so keep a spare day and pick your big ride the evening before.
The short answer
- First trip
- Ride the Gornergrat railway on your clearest morning, walk down through the hamlets above the village, and spend an evening on the main street.
- Where to stay
- In the village for trains and restaurants, in Täsch for a lower price. Our full guide compares six places.
- How many days
- Two nights covers the Gornergrat and one walk. Three or four gives you room for Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and a weather spare.
- Best time to go
- July to September for walking, December to April for skiing. Late October and November are the quietest and many places close.
- Book ahead
- A room, and a table at any mountain restaurant. Rides can usually be bought on the day.
- From the airport
- Zurich is the usual airport: about three and a half hours by train via Visp. Cars stop in Täsch, where a shuttle train takes 12 minutes.
Where to stay in Zermatt, in brief
Village center
restaurants and the lifts
Around the Bahnhofstrasse, between the station and the church. The easiest base, with everything on foot, and the busiest in the evening.
Hinterdorf and Steinmatten
old chalets near the river
The older streets by the Vispa, a few minutes from the main street. Quieter than the center, and close to the Matterhorn Express.
Winkelmatten and Hofmatten
views and quiet
Chalets on the sunny slope above the village. Long views of the Matterhorn, and a steep walk back up after dinner.
Täsch
a lower price
The last village before the car-free zone, 12 minutes from Zermatt by shuttle train. Cheaper rooms, almost nothing to do in the evening.
Things to do in Zermatt
Gornergrat railway
A cogwheel railway from the village to a ridge at 3,089 meters, about 33 minutes each way. The Matterhorn faces you across the Gorner glacier, and it is the most reliable big view in Zermatt.
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
Gondolas climb in stages to the highest cable car station in Europe, at 3,883 meters, with a glacier palace cut into the ice. Go on a clear morning, and dress for snow in July.
The Bahnhofstrasse and the Kirchbrücke
The main street runs from the station toward the church, and the Matterhorn appears at its far end. The wooden bridge over the Vispa is the classic place to photograph it at dusk.
Findeln and the walk to Sunnegga
A path through the old hamlet of Findeln, among larch barns and mountain restaurants, with the mountain in view most of the way. Ride up and walk down, or the reverse.
Five Lakes Walk
A summer walk past five mountain lakes from Blauherd, with the Matterhorn reflected in them on a still morning. Allow three to four hours, and check that the lifts are running.
Riffelsee and Rotenboden
Get off the Gornergrat train early at Rotenboden and walk down to a small lake where the Matterhorn shows in the water. A short, easy walk with the best-known reflection.
Matterhorn Museum
An underground museum in the middle of the village about the first ascent in 1865 and the climbers who died on the way down. A good hour on a wet or cloudy day.
Skiing and snowboarding
A large ski area on Zermatt's side, plus the link across the border to Cervinia in Italy. Glacier skiing runs for much of the year, and November and early December are less certain for snow.
Lessons and equipment hire in the school holidays.
The walk to Zmutt
A quiet path from the village up the valley to the hamlet of Zmutt, with old barns and a view of the Matterhorn's north side. A good half-day walk with a lunch stop.
Schwarzsee
A cable car to a small lake at the foot of the Matterhorn, with a chapel and walks to the Hörnli hut path. Quieter than the Gornergrat, and open in summer and winter.
What to book before you go
These sell out. Most of the rest of Zermatt can be decided on the day.
Every tour and ticket in Zermatt, and which to pick- A room3 to 4 months ahead for February, March and July to August
The village is small, and the best rooms go first in ski weeks and summer.
- Lunch at a mountain restaurantA few days ahead, longer in high season
Chez Vrony takes bookings three months ahead and the best terraces fill by midday.
- Ski lessons and equipment2 to 4 weeks ahead in school holidays
Instructors and the best boots run out first in February.
What to skip in Zermatt
- The Gornergrat in low cloud
The summit can be white nothing for the price of a ticket. Check the webcams in the morning, and swap to a village walk or the museum on a gray day.
- Driving to Täsch to stay for the day
Parking by the terminal is dear and the shuttle adds a step. Take the train from Visp instead and leave the car at home.
- Shops selling Matterhorn souvenirs on the main street
Mostly aimed at tour groups. Buy cheese or dried meat from a butcher or the Coop instead.
Best time to visit Zermatt
July to September is the walking season. The lifts, mountain huts and trails are open, the days are long, and the village is full. Afternoon cloud and thunderstorms are common in the mountains, so go up early. June can still have snow on high paths.
December to April is for skiing, with glacier skiing above all of it. Late October and November are the quietest weeks, when many hotels, restaurants and lifts close for the changeover. Check what is open before you book anything in those weeks.
- From Zurich airportTrains take about three and a half hours via Visp, where you change to the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn for the last hour to Zermatt. Check the SBB timetable for the exact route.
- From Geneva airportAlso by train via Visp, with a change. It is a long day either way, so many visitors fly into Zurich or Geneva depending on the fare.
- Driving and the Täsch shuttleCars stop in Täsch, where a shuttle train takes 12 minutes to Zermatt, about every 20 minutes. Zermatt itself has no private cars.
- In the villageThe village is small and walkable. Electric taxis and buses help with luggage and the uphill streets, and the railways and gondolas leave from stations in the village.
Zermatt in three days
- Day 1
Arrive, walk the Bahnhofstrasse and the Kirchbrücke at dusk, and have dinner on the main street.
- Day 2
Take the Gornergrat railway early, stop at Rotenboden for the lake, and walk down to Riffelalp or ride back.
- Day 3
Go to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise on the clearest morning, then walk through Findeln for a late lunch.
Day trips from Zermatt
- Cervinia, ItalyIn winter you can ski across the border by lift, and in summer the same cable cars run. Take your passport and check the lifts that day.
- Saas-FeeAnother car-free village in the next valley, reached by train to Visp and then a bus of about an hour. A quieter place with its own glacier.
- Brig and the Rhone valleyAbout an hour by train, with a castle, an old town and the start of the Glacier Express route.
Zermatt: questions people ask
How many days do you need in Zermatt?
Two nights is enough for the Gornergrat and one walk. Three or four nights gives you Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and a spare day, since cloud is the usual reason a plan changes.
Is Zermatt worth visiting?
Yes, if you like mountains. The village is small and there is little to do at night, and the trip depends on the views and the walks.
What is the best time to visit Zermatt?
July to September for walking, December to April for skiing. October and November are the quietest and cheapest, with some places shut.
Is Zermatt car-free?
Yes. Cars stop in Täsch, and a shuttle train takes 12 minutes to the village. Electric taxis and buses run inside Zermatt.
Is Gornergrat or Matterhorn Glacier Paradise better?
The Gornergrat for the Matterhorn itself and for walks along the ridge. Glacier Paradise for snow, ice and the highest station in Europe. If you only have time for one, choose the Gornergrat.
Can you visit Zermatt as a day trip from Zurich?
You can, but the journey is about three and a half hours each way. One night in the village makes it worth the travel.
What can you do in Zermatt when it rains?
The Matterhorn Museum, a long lunch, or a walk in the lower forest paths. Rides to the high stations are poor value in cloud.
Is Zermatt expensive?
Yes, like most Swiss resorts. Lift and railway tickets are the biggest cost, and a picnic from the Coop keeps lunch down.