Zermatt and the Matterhorn, Switzerland: things to do, when to go and how to get there

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Zermatt sits at the end of the Mattertal valley, in the south of Valais, near the border with Itália. The village is at 1.608 m and its neighbor is the Matterhorn, at 4.478 m, a four-faced mountain that divides Switzerland and Itália. Around it, dozens of peaks exceed 4.000 m, including those of the Monte Rosa massif.

Valais is a bilingual canton: in the lower part, where the capital Sion is located, French is spoken; in Upper Valais, where Zermatt is, German is spoken, with the region's Swiss German dialect. English is widely used in tourism. The currency is the franco suíço, and Switzerland does not use the euro.

The village has no combustion-engine cars. Those who arrive by car leave the vehicle in Täsch, 5 km before, and continue by a 12-minute shuttle train. Inside Zermatt taxis and electric buses operate, and the center is walked on foot, from the station along the Bahnhofstrasse to the church, the Matterhorn Museum and the dark wooden houses of the Hinterdorf.

The history of tourism in the village is linked to the first ascent of the Matterhorn on July 14, 1865, which ended with the death of four of the seven climbers on the descent. The climbers' cemetery, next to the church, preserves that memory.

From the village depart the Gornergrat rack railway, the cable cars of the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and Schwarzsee, and the Sunnegga funicular, where the five-lakes trail begins. In the European summer the Gornerschlucht gorge opens, with wooden walkways. Zermatt is also the departure point of the Glacier Express, a panoramic train that runs to St. Moritz, in the Grisons.

This destination brings together 1 city: Zermatt.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

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Where Zermatt and the Matterhorn is

Contornos: ©swisstopo. Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Zermatt and the Matterhorn

✈ Aeroporto de Zurique (ZRH), in Zurique · 240 km to Zermatt

✈ Aeroporto de Genebra (GVA), in Genebra · 235 km to Zermatt

By train, change in Visp to the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn train to Zermatt. From Zurique the journey takes about 3 h 15 min; from Genebra, about 3 h 45 min. The airports are Zurique (ZRH) and Genebra (GVA). Confirm before purchasing.

Valais · Zermatt and the Matterhorn

Zermatt

Village in Upper Valais, at 1.608 m, where German is spoken and combustion cars do not circulate. It has views of the Matterhorn, the Hinterdorf with wooden barns, the Bahnhofstrasse, the Matterhorn Museum – Zermatlantis and the climbers' cemetery. From there depart the Gornergrat train, with the Riffelsee on the way, the cable cars of the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and Schwarzsee, and the Sunnegga funicular, the start of the 5-Seenweg. There is also the Gornerschlucht and the departure point of the Glacier Express.

The local experience

Things to do in Zermatt and the Matterhorn

Zermatt · Valais · Mountain

Matterhorn

The 4,478 m mountain on the border between Switzerland and Italy, with four faces oriented approximately to the cardinal points. First climbed in 1865 from Zermatt, it is visible from the village and from all the valley viewpoints.

Zermatt · Valais · Viewpoint and mountain train

Gornergrat

Lookout at 3,089 m served by the rack railway Gornergrat Bahn, which departs in front of Zermatt station and climbs in about 33 minutes. From the top you can see the Matterhorn, the Monte Rosa massif and the Gorner Glacier.

Zermatt · Valais · Mountain lake

Riffelsee

Small lake at 2,757 m, a few minutes' walk from the Rotenboden stop on the Gornergrat line. On windless days the water can reflect the Matterhorn.

Zermatt · Valais · Viewpoint and glacier

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

Cable car station on the Klein Matterhorn, with a panoramic platform at 3,883 m, the Glacier Palace carved 15 m below the glacier surface and views of 38 peaks over 4,000 m in Switzerland, Italy and France.

See 9 more places in Zermatt and the Matterhorn

Zermatt · Valais · Mountain lake

Schwarzsee

Lake at 2,583 m at the foot of the Hörnli ridge, with the chapel Maria zum Schnee on its shore. It is a stop on the Matterhorn Express cable car and the starting point of the trail to Hörnlihütte.

Zermatt · Valais · Viewpoint and lake

Sunnegga

Terrace at 2,288 m reached by a funicular that climbs inside the mountain in about 5 minutes. It has the Leisee, where you can swim, a playground, and cable cars that continue to Blauherd and to Rothorn at 3,103 m.

Zermatt · Valais · Trail

5-Seenweg

Trail of about 10 km between Blauherd and Sunnegga that passes five mountain lakes: Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grünsee, Moosjisee and Leisee. It takes 2 h 30 min to 3 h and has more descent than ascent.

Zermatt · Valais · Museum

Matterhorn Museum – Zermatlantis

Underground museum at the Kirchplatz that reconstructs old village houses and tells the history of the Matterhorn, featuring the rope that broke on the first ascent in 1865.

Zermatt · Valais · Historic center

Hinterdorf

The old core of Zermatt, with more than 30 barns, storehouses and larch wood houses darkened with age, dating from the 16th to 18th centuries, built on stilts with stone discs to keep out rodents.

Zermatt · Valais · Street

Bahnhofstrasse

Zermatt's main street, from the train station to Kirchplatz, with shops, historic hotels and the bronze plaques of the Walk of Climb, which honor the mountaineers of the first ascents of the Matterhorn.

Zermatt · Valais · Cemetery and memorial

Bergsteigerfriedhof

The climbers' cemetery, next to Zermatt's Catholic church, with about 50 graves of mountaineers from several countries who died in the mountains around the village, almost all in the 19th century.

Zermatt · Valais · Gorge

Gornerschlucht

Gorge carved by the Gornera river in green serpentinite rock, crossed by wooden walkways and tunnels, about a 15-minute walk south of Zermatt. The season usually runs from June to mid-October.

Zermatt · Valais · Panoramic train

Glacier Express

The panoramic train takes about 8 hours between Zermatt and St. Moritz, with 291 bridges and 91 tunnels, passing through Brig, Andermatt, the Oberalppass at 2,033 m, Disentis/Mustér, Chur and the Landwasser viaduct. Seat reservation required.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From July to September the trails are usually snow-free, and the Gornerschlucht and the five-lakes trail operate. From December to April is ski season. In May, June, October and November some cable cars often stop for maintenance. Weather at altitude changes quickly: check operations before ascending.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Two days are enough for the Gornergrat, the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and the village center. With three or four days you can add Sunnegga with the five-lakes trail, Schwarzsee and the Gornerschlucht, with leeway to change the order of visits depending on the weather at altitude.

Which city to stay in

Accommodation is concentrated near the station and the Bahnhofstrasse, a few steps from the Gornergrat trains and the Sunnegga funicular. Around the Kirchplatz and the Hinterdorf, the old town is quieter. Winkelmatten and the streets to the south, near the Matterhorn Express cable car, are on the slope and require an electric bus. There are hotels on the mountain, in Riffelalp, Riffelberg and at the top of the Gornergrat. Those arriving by car can stay in Täsch, next to the shuttle train.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Zermatt and the Matterhorn

How many days to stay in Zermatt?

At least two full days, to have two chances of clear skies over the Matterhorn. Three or four days allow you to go up to the viewpoints, do a hike and see the center without rushing.

What's the best time to go to Zermatt?

For trails and lakes, from July to September (European summer). For snow and skiing, from December to April. Outside those periods some cable cars close for maintenance.

Do you need a car to go to Zermatt?

No, and combustion cars are not allowed into the village. The train arrives at Zermatt station, in the center. Those who go by car park in Täsch and take the shuttle train.

Is it possible to do a day trip to Zermatt departing from Zurique or Genebra?

It is possible, but it's 3 to 4 hours by train each way, which leaves little time to go up to the viewpoints. Ideally you should spend at least one night in the village.

Can you go from Zermatt to Itália?

Yes. The Matterhorn Alpine Crossing links Zermatt to Breuil-Cervinia by cable cars, crossing the border at Testa Grigia, at 3.480 m. It operates part of the year and closes for maintenance: check in advance and take your passport.

Zermatt and the Matterhorn

A region to enjoyat your own pace.