Ever wonder what to do in Zermatt?
My family made the trip to Switzerland in July 2021 just as the country lifted its Covid restrictions on tourists. Our first destination was Zermatt, a beautiful little village in the Swiss Canton of Valais, located in the southern part of Switzerland near the Italian border. The many peaks that surround the valley in which Zermatt is nestled gives the village a snow-capped crown. Literally every way you turn there’s a photographic gem, as if the village is surrounded by post cards.
Population: ~5,800
Language: Switzerland has four official languages: French, German, Italian, and Romansh, though English was spoken pretty much everywhere we visited. Despite Valais’ geographical location next to the Italian border, the canton has a substantial number of German speakers. German is the predominant Language in Zermatt, and the local dialect is called Walliser Deutsch.
The Zermatt region is known for its winter sports with its miles of ski runs. But I could only imagine how the village would look blanketed in snow and filled with skiers and snowboarders. No worries. The summer warmth made the hundreds of kilometers of hiking trails available to challenge the expert and novice trekkers alike. No matter when you visit, there is plenty to enjoy in Zermatt regardless of your age.
How to get to Zermatt.
Getting to Zermatt will involve a train at some point. Fortunately, Switzerland is renowned for its rail system, and I feel it is the ideal way to get to the village. The Swiss Rail lines can get you to Zermatt from every gateway city. All lines make a connection at the town of Visp, where you transfer to the Gottard Bahn rail line for the final leg to the village of Zermatt. This line offers some wonderful photo opportunities as it ascends through valleys and small towns.
You can drive to Zermatt…to a point. Zermatt is an environmentally conscious community that requires only electrically powered vehicles be allowed to operate in the village. If you plan to drive to Zermatt, you will be able to drive as far as the town of Täsch. There you will transfer to the Gottard Bahn train for the last leg of the trip to Zermatt.
For those with the financial means, there are helicopter services that can be contracted from the major airports to Zermatt.
What to do in Zermatt, where to stay?
Zermatt offers an incredible number of hotels, B&B’s, rental chalets, and hostels. A visitor will be able to find a suitable place to lay their head down for almost any budget. Leverage your favorite website to see the many options.
We stayed at the Hotel Matterhorn Focus: Hotel Garni Matterhorn Focus AG Reviews, Deals & Photos 2023 – Expedia located at Schluhmattstrasse 131 in the southern end of the Village. The hotel has a great location next to the gondola station that takes you up to the Kleine Matterhorn and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. The hotel was absolutely the best choice for us on our first visit. The family room that we reserved had two twin beds for the “kids”, a living room, and a separate bedroom for the parental units. The balconies that were located off of the living room and bedroom faced the Matterhorn. This was the cherry on top as it graced us with a truly stunning morning view.
The staff at the Hotel Matterhorn Focus were incredibly friendly and helpful. The property was very stylish with a rustic elegance if there is such a thing. It was a nice to just sit back in the lobby library and enjoy a cappuccino after our long trip. The hotel provided a mid-afternoon offering of some light sandwiches and cakes, which was nice for snack. However, aside from a robust breakfast buffet, the hotel doesn’t have a restaurant for dinner service. I can honestly say, that was the only negative I can list about the hotel Matterhorn Focus. Even that wasn’t an issue given the number of restaurants there are in walking distance.
What to do in Zermatt
Outdoors activities galore
Of course, there is a big difference in the activities you can take advantage of depending on the season in which you are visiting. But, whether you are there as a gourmand, looking for a foodie adventure, or pursuing outdoor activities, such as: skiing, hiking, shopping, golf or mountain biking, Zermatt has something to keep any visitor entertained. The Zermatt tourism website is a great resource to help you plan a trip.
From my perspective, it is a must to plan your trip with visits to the surrounding peaks. There is an extensive network of gondolas to get you there. Making use of the gondolas are pricey, but the Swiss Rail pass does provide a discount on them.
The gondola ride allows you to take in the marvelous views in a relaxing mode of travel that is less sweat inducing than climbing them by foot. Now, if you will be staying in Zermatt for a few days, I would suggest comparing the cost of buying a “Peaks Pass”, against the cost individual gondola rides. The Peaks Pass can be purchased on a number-of-day basis. The Peaks Pass provides access to transportation on all of the gondolas in the valley, the local busses, as well as the train ride to the Gornergrat station. Don’t forget that there is snow at these altitudes, even in July. So, plan to add at least a jacket to your packing list
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
This station is the closest point to the Matterhorn without climbing the mountain itself. If you ski or hike, depending on the season, there are several stations along the gondola line to get out and do your thing. At the top of the gondola ride you exit the station at 12,739 feet above sea level. Besides the incredible view, the station offers some interesting experiences including a restaurant, Cinema Lounge and ice cave. You can even ski or take a gondola ride over to a station in Italy.
Gornergrat
The Gorner glacier is the third largest glacier in Switzerland. The glacier is approximately 13KM long and extends off the west side of the Monte Rosa Massif. The Massif is 15,203 feet above sea level and is the tallest peak in Switzerland.. To get there you take a cog-wheel train from the village center up to the Gornergrat station (elevation: 10132 ft). At the Gornergrat station one can fine trail heads that lead to multiple hiking trails. There is also a hotel, a quaint chapel, as well as a virtual experience about the mountain. Not to mention an incredible vista for photography.
Rothorn
Another enjoyable peak to visit at 10,180 feet. The trip starts with a funicular ride to the Sunnegga station. You then transfer to a Gondolas the rest of the way up the mountain. At the peak, there is a restaurant to enjoy a nice meal the views of the surrounding mountain range.
Shopping
Now, Zermatt has a reputation of being a destination for the rich and famous. The quaint downtown streets dotted with expensive boutiques and Swiss watch stores doesn’t do much to dispel that perspective. While Switzerland is expensive in comparison with the US, there is still plenty of things to do that could be enjoyed on a moderate budget.
Food and Beverage
Zermatt offers a wide variety of restaurants to keep any foodie in gastronomic ecstasy. These range from crepe stands to 4-star dining. The cuisine in Switzerland is very diverse. The country has developed its own delicacies such as its cheese-based dishes, such as fondue and raclette. The country has also embraced outside influences. It’s geographical location, and historical evolution, has incorporated influences from the surrounding countries of Germany, France and Italy. Its role as an international finance hub, and vacation mecca, has brought in gastronomical influences from around the world.
Gourmet trail
From the Sunnegga station, the Gourmet Trail 9KM trail back to Zermatt. I highly recommend trying this path, if you have comfortable shoes. The trail takes you through the village of Findeln where you will find a string of wonderful restaurants to stop at along the trail. These stopping points along your hike will allow you to have a drink, soak in the mountain air, or marvel at the 360 degrees of alpine grandeur.
Chez-Vrony
I personally recommend stopping here. But do note, this isn’t your regular drop in joint. Reservations are required and made the morning of…I believe before 08:30. I recommend asking the desk staff or concierge at your hotel to set you up. The food was excellent, service was superb, and the view was breathtaking.
During our visit, a number of stores were closed, or in the process of reopening from the Covid shutdown. However, Zermatt store fronts and mountain stops indicated that they have a very robust nightlife and bar scene. The concept of Apres-ski literally means the social activities after skiing, so the town appears to be well prepared for visitors who like to club hop.
I personally found it interesting to see that even the Hublot store that had an in-store happy hour at 5PM. While I might have been able to buy the drink, I cannot afford the merchandise.
What to do in Zermatt? Historical points of interest
Zermatt is a very old established community with a rich history. In the center of town are a couple of points of interest worth investigating:
Climber’s graveyard
Graveyard dedicated to the souls that sacrificed their lives in challenging the Matterhorn.
Matterhorn Museum and Zermatlantis
The underground museum provides a great history of the village. There are multiple exhibits portraying life in the village and surroundings through the years through mountain hut and chalet mock-ups. The Museum tells the story of how Zermatt has become a holiday mecca, driven by the lure of adventure mountaineering, hiking, and alpine skiing.
As you consider your travel itineraries, Zermatt should be near the top of your list. The investment of your time to get there, and its cost is truly offset by the location and its beauty.
Travel well! Pursue experiences!
O.M.I.A.H