Zermatt

Understand

Zermatt is surrounded by a range of fabulous mountains, including the highest of Switzerland, Monte Rosa. However the most famous of them is Matterhorn. It was one of the last alpine mountains to be conquered (in 1865), and the first expedition that reached the top ended dramatically (only 3 of the 7 climbers survived). If you've never experienced a car-free city of any size then Zermatt could be a bit of a surprise: during the high season nearly there are 20,000 people living in a town with only 5 or 6 streets and more significantly almost no internal combustion vehicles except very occasional outside delivery and specialist services. This means that you can leave a noisy bar or party, and a few minutes later on foot find yourself in utter tranquillity. You can sit on the hotel balcony and listen to dozens of varieties of songbirds while watching the sun set on one of the most striking mountains in the western world. Wake up with the sun in a four or five-star room or a canvas tent to the sound of the aforementioned birds, crickets, church bells, and children's laughter. Almost all vehicles in Zermatt are battery driven and almost completely silent. Taxi drivers have a habit of assuming that pedestrians have eyes in the backs of their heads, with occasional alarming though seldom injurious consequences. Horse-drawn vehicles are equipped with bells and many startled pedestrians might well wish taxis were similarly provided. You can cycle or stroll in complete safety. Incidentally there is a version of the standard Zermatt ski map/summer walking map in English although for some reason the lift stations only seem to hand out the German/French versions with tickets. The map is free - you can generally find it on one of the stands in the lift stations or in the Tourist Information centre. The name "Zermatt" is a contraction of the local dialect words "zer", which means "to", and "matta", which means "field" or "meadow". Therefore: "to the field", although many of th

Getting there

By train For more information on train travel and tickets see Rail travel in Switzerland. For most people the most convenient way to Zermatt is going to be by train. Half-hourly trains run from Visp, which has connection to most major Swiss cities as well as the airports in Geneva and Zurich. Zermatt is also the end station of the Glacier Express, a panoramic express train going to St. Moritz.

1 Zermatt railway station. (updated Aug 2023)

By car Private cars can only drive as far as Täsch. The last 7 km must be travelled by train or by taxi. There is a shuttle train every 20 minutes during the day departing from the Matterhorn Terminal Täsch, which contains 2,100 covered parking spaces. You can take your luggage cart directly from your car, on to the shuttle, and on to the Zermatt train station forecourt.

By plane If it's in line with your budget, Air Zermatt will fly you in from major regional airports. Otherwise the nearest airport is in Sion, but due to its very limited flight schedule most tourists opt for Geneva, Zurich or Milan Malpensa airports. From there it's also possible to book an airport transfer by limousine or van to get to Zermatt.

Getting around

On foot

The village of Zermatt, while dense, is geographically very small. There are three main streets which run along the banks of the river Vispa, and numerous cross-streets, especially around the station and the church which forms the centre of the village. In general anything is at most a twenty minute walk away if you are fit. During the summer there are roads and hiking trails leading up to a number of year-round restaurants in the direction of the Matterhorn.

By taxi There are several companies in Zermatt that run small electric taxis. You can call one of the companies' numbers (printed on side of the taxi) to pick you up at any location in the village or they can be hired from the ranks outside the main train station or cable car station. In addition, many of the higher-end hotels have porters who will meet you at the station with a small electric car/truck and will ferry you directly to check in, depositing the luggage in your room. A few of the really exclusive ones still use horse-drawn carriages.

By bus Zermatt has a local bus with two lines. Both lines take the same route through the centre of the village, passing by the main station, as well as the Gornergrat and Rothorn stations. The green line then goes to the cable car whereas the red line makes a loop around the Winkelmatte area. Trips cost Fr. 2.50 on the green line and Fr. 3.20 on the red line, however if you have a ski pass or a train ticket, you can take it for free. A weekly pass with unlimited rides costs Fr. 22. Buses run every 20-30 minutes depending on the time of the day and year.

By cable car There is a series of cable car runs leading all the way to the summit of the Klein Matterhorn (3883m), presenting the highest scenic outlook platform in Europe. A ride along the entire series costs Fr. 82 round trip.

By train Gornergrat Railway – A railway to the top of Mount Gornergrat. Pricing is dynamic, but it's at least Fr. 36 one way, but can be up to Fr. 66 one way. Trains dep

Eat

1 Restaurant du pont, Oberdorfstrasse 7 (near the Zermatterhof), ☏ +41 27 967 4343. Restaurant which offers very good traditional Swiss dishes like fondue or raclette. Does not accept debit or credit cards. (updated Aug 2015) Manud, Hofmattstrasse 4, 3920 Zermatt, ☏ +41 279672020, [email protected]. Mix of Swiss and Asian food. Many vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free choices Fr. 25. (updated Sep 2024)

Sleep

For a tiny hamlet, Zermatt has more hotels than most big cities. There are 126 hotels and over 2700 apartments to rent for holidays. However, hotels and apartments can be sold out months, or even a full year before the major holidays. If you want a reasonably priced room, consider booking many months before your stay. There are other options. You can camp, or as throughout Europe vacation apartments are the rage. Timeshares are another option: if you know you want to ski one week per year, maybe go in with a friend or two on a property. Foreigners are allowed to buy up to a certain square meterage in Switzerland, and you are free to lease, rent, or otherwise assign the property any way you like, barring industrial use.

Camping If you're on a budget, try camping there is a camping area open in Zermatt during the summer months. It's to the left of the train station's main exit. Follow the street for a couple of hundred metres. The campsite in Täsch is only about 100 metres (330 ft) from the train station and works out at about Fr. 20 a night for 2 people sharing a small tent without a car. Stove fuels are quite hard to find although you can buy them in some of the outdoor shops in Zermatt. You are unlikely to find any in Täsch. MSR butane/propane canisters and Coleman's liquid fuel are definitely available if you hunt around. You can also buy fondue fuel (usually meths) which will work well in Tra