The tourist board's Village Walk is a circular route of 1.8 kilometres that starts and ends at the station square and takes about an hour and a half at a relaxed pace. It is easy, with only about 47 metres of ascent and descent, and runs between roughly 1,608 and 1,632 metres. The stops make a neat orientation to the village: the Bahnhofstrasse promenade, a bridge to the jetty, the Hinterdorf with its centuries-old barns, the church square where the Matterhorn rises behind wooden houses, the church bridge with the mountain on the horizon, the English Church, the mountaineers cemetery, a memorial to the mountain guides and the Matterhorn Museum. The cemetery and memorials are a quiet and moving counterpoint to the lift-and-lifestyle side of the village, as they commemorate the climbers and guides who died on the surrounding peaks. It is a good first-afternoon walk after arriving by train, and a reliable plan when the lifts are closed or the mountain is cloudy. It costs nothing.
Follow the signs from the station square down Bahnhofstrasse, then loop through the sports fields at the upper Matten and cross the bridge towards the jetty. The Hinterdorf comes next, with its dark timber and stone-slab roofs, followed by the church square, the best-known photo point in Zermatt, where the Matterhorn sits directly behind the old wooden houses. From there the route crosses the church bridge, where the river tumbles beneath and the mountain stands on the horizon.
The English Church and the mountaineers cemetery tell the human story of the mountain. The graves and memorials commemorate climbers and guides, and a separate memorial honours the mountain guides. Be respectful: this is a working churchyard and a place of remembrance. The route also passes close to the Matterhorn Museum, so you can add an hour inside if it is open.
The walk is gentle enough for strollers and older visitors, though snow or ice in winter can make some paths slippery. Wear shoes with grip, and carry a hot drink in cold weather. For a longer day, pair it with a lift trip in the afternoon, and for a shorter one cut the loop at the church square. If you want a guide, the tourist office organises guided village tours in several languages.
What to expect
The experience
A signed, self-guided circular walk of 1.8 kilometres from the station square back to the station square.
Best time
Morning or late afternoon, and any day when the lifts are closed or the mountain is cloudy.
How long
About an hour and a half, longer with museum or café stops.
Tips
Wear shoes with grip in winter, be respectful in the churchyard and cemetery and bring a camera for the church square.
Quick picks
- Best for
- A first afternoon in Zermatt, orienting yourself on foot.
- Families
- Flat, short and free, with space to run around the sports fields.
- Couples
- A late-afternoon loop ending with dinner on Bahnhofstrasse.
- Pair with
- The Matterhorn Museum and the Hinterdorf.
- Time needed
- Ninety minutes.
Good questions
How long is the village walk?+
It is a circular route of 1.8 kilometres that takes about an hour and a half. It starts and ends at the station square.
Is it hard?+
No, it is rated easy, with about 47 metres of ascent and descent. In winter, ice can make some sections slippery.
What will I see?+
The Hinterdorf, the church square, the church bridge, the English Church, the mountaineers cemetery, a guides memorial and the Matterhorn Museum, with the Matterhorn in many of the views.
Does it cost anything?+
No, the route is free to walk. The Matterhorn Museum on the route charges admission.
Is there a guided option?+
Zermatt Tourism offers guided village tours in German, English and French. Ask at the tourist office for dates.
