Switzerland
Zermatt is the car-free Alpine village that sits at the foot of the most recognisable mountain in the world.
The Matterhorn rises above the roofs of the Hinterdorf, where dark larch barns on stone stilts have stood for centuries, and from the station square a rack railway, a funicular and a chain of gondolas lift you to viewpoints, frozen lakes and a glacier palace cut into the ice at 3,883 metres. This guide covers the sights that make a Zermatt trip: the Gornergrat railway, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, the Sunnegga and Rothorn side with its Five Lakes Walk, the Matterhorn Museum, Schwarzsee, glacier skiing and ski lessons, tandem paragliding and helicopter flights, plus free walks to Zmutt, Findeln and the Riffelsee, the Gorner Gorge and the Furi suspension bridge. It also lists a roster of hotels from a grand five-star palace to a station-side budget bed, plus six guides covering a first visit, a three-day plan, the seasons, a free and budget plan, a family trip and where to stay. Nothing here needs a car, and seasons are stated plainly.
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
Europe's highest mountain station, reached by the Matterhorn Glacier Ride cable car to 3,883 metres on the Klein Matterhorn. There is a glacier palace carved into the ice, a viewing platform over dozens of four-thousanders and a mountain restaurant above the clouds, and it runs through the winter season.
Gornergrat Railway
The cogwheel train from Zermatt to the Gornergrat summit climbs from about 1,600 to 3,090 metres in roughly half an hour, with the Matterhorn framed in the window the whole way. It is the classic Zermatt viewpoint ride, and it runs through the year apart from an occasional maintenance break, so check the timetable for your dates.
Sunnegga, Rothorn and the Five Lakes Walk
The underground funicular to Sunnegga, the Blauherd gondola and the Rothorn cable car are Zermatt's quick route to Matterhorn views and, in summer, the Five Lakes Walk. The lifts run in winter too, but the lakes trail is a summer outing.
Matterhorn Museum Zermatlantis
An underground museum on Kirchplatz that tells how Zermatt went from a farming village to an Alpine resort, with original houses, recreated interiors and relics of the first Matterhorn ascent in 1865.
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Europe's highest mountain station, reached by the Matterhorn Glacier Ride cable car to 3,883 metres on the Klein Matterhorn. There is a glacier palace carved into the ice, a viewing platform over dozens of four-thousanders and a mountain restaurant above the clouds, and it runs through the winter season.
The cogwheel train from Zermatt to the Gornergrat summit climbs from about 1,600 to 3,090 metres in roughly half an hour, with the Matterhorn framed in the window the whole way. It is the classic Zermatt viewpoint ride, and it runs through the year apart from an occasional maintenance break, so check the timetable for your dates.
The underground funicular to Sunnegga, the Blauherd gondola and the Rothorn cable car are Zermatt's quick route to Matterhorn views and, in summer, the Five Lakes Walk. The lifts run in winter too, but the lakes trail is a summer outing.
An underground museum on Kirchplatz that tells how Zermatt went from a farming village to an Alpine resort, with original houses, recreated interiors and relics of the first Matterhorn ascent in 1865.
The old part of Zermatt, a tight lane of more than thirty dark larch barns, stores and houses from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries, many on stone-slab stilts, with the Matterhorn rising behind them. It is free, open all year and the best photograph in the village.
A small mountain lake directly beneath the Matterhorn, with a tiny chapel on its shore, reached by cable car from Furi. The lift link runs on seasonal timetables, and in winter the station gives direct access to ski runs.
Skiing in Zermatt starts early on the Theodul Glacier above Glacier Paradise, with the larger ski area following on the winter timetable. A private three-hour lesson is the simplest way to start, with an instructor who knows the pistes.
A tandem paraglider flight over Zermatt with an experienced pilot, about 20 minutes in the air with the Matterhorn and the village below. Flights depend on wind and weather, so keep your schedule flexible.
A 20-minute helicopter flight from the Zermatt heliport over the Weisshorn, Zinalrothorn, Dent Blanche, the Matterhorn, the Breithorn and the Gornergrat. A landing at Testa Grigia or Unterrothorn can be added, and it is booked directly with the operator.
A flat, circular 1.8 kilometre stroll from the station square through the Hinterdorf, the church square, the English Church and the mountaineers cemetery, with Matterhorn photo points on the way. It is free, takes about an hour and a half and works in any weather.
A short walk from the southern edge of the village leads to a ravine of greenish serpentinite, crossed by wooden walkways above the Gornera river. It costs only a few francs, suits all ages and is open from late spring to early autumn.
FreeA small lake at 2,757 metres where the Matterhorn mirrors itself on still mornings, reached by the Gornergrat railway to Rotenboden and a gentle ten minute walk. The lake costs nothing; the train ride to reach it is the only outlay.
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
$$$$Bahnhofstrasse, village centre
Zermatt's grand five-star superior hotel on Bahnhofstrasse, with 150 rooms and suites in four connected buildings, the 1,700 square metre Spa Nescens and three restaurants. It is the village's classic address for a special trip, a short walk from the station.
Check rates →Matterstrasse, beside the Sunnegga valley station
A family-run four-star superior hotel opposite the Sunnegga-Rothorn valley station, with a heated pool, an adults-only outdoor sauna area, breakfast included and the station about 300 metres away. It is the practical wellness choice for ski days.
Check rates →Village centre, Riedstrasse
A chalet-style four-star superior hotel in the centre of Zermatt with 32 rooms, a spa with indoor pool, two restaurants and breakfast included. Guests also get free access to the Alpenhof spa.
Check rates →Schluhmattstrasse, at the Glacier Paradise valley station
A design-led four-star superior hotel with 30 rooms and most views of the Matterhorn or the village, built directly beside the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise valley station. It has indoor and outdoor pools and a free electric shuttle from the train station.
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$Bahnhofplatz, beside the station
Zermatt's budget option on Bahnhofplatz, steps from the train station, with private rooms and dormitory-style bunks, a shared kitchen, a lounge and a terrace with a Matterhorn view. Breakfast is not included.
Check rates →Riffelalp, 2,222 m on the Gornergrat line
A five-star superior resort at 2,222 metres above Zermatt with 70 rooms, ski-in ski-out access in winter, indoor and heated outdoor pools, a full spa and three restaurants. It is reached by the Gornergrat railway and operates seasonally.
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$$$$Bahnhofstrasse, village centre
A historic four-star hotel at Bahnhofstrasse 80 in the village centre, a member of Historic Hotels of Europe, with a buffet breakfast, a restaurant, a garden and terrace, and a Whymper Suite named for the Matterhorn first ascent leader.
Check rates →Riedstrasse, village
A three-class chalet-style hotel at Riedstrasse 35 about a ten minute walk from the station, with a buffet breakfast included, a bar, library, terrace and garden, and a free area shuttle. It is a moderate-price base close to the Gornergrat railway.
Check rates →A practical first visit to Zermatt: the car-free arrival, which lifts and trains to prioritise, what changes between seasons and how to fit the Matterhorn sights into two to four days.
How to choose a Zermatt base: the Bahnhofstrasse centre, the Matterstrasse side by the Sunnegga lift, the glacier-lift edge and the budget option by the station, plus a mountain-top resort, a heritage hotel and a breakfast-included chalet, tied to eight hotels.
A three-day Zermatt plan that puts the big mountain trips on the clearest days and keeps the village sights, museum and walks for arrival, cloud and rest, with summer and winter variations.
A plain guide to Zermatt by season: the summer and early autumn walking season, the winter ski and snow season, the quiet changeover weeks and what is open in each.
How to enjoy Zermatt without spending a fortune: the free hamlets, trails and viewpoints, low-fee sights, how to arrive cheaply and where a budget hotel or a breakfast-included stay helps.
A family guide to Zermatt: short trails with playgrounds, the Gorner Gorge, train and cable car rides, the glacier palace, winter sledging and beginner ski areas, and tips on altitude and hotels.
