Zermatt Switzerland

Switzerland Zermatt (6/2-4/2024)

Zermatt Town & Matterhorn

Zermatt is a popular ski and summer resort town at the base of one of the world’s most iconic mountains, the famous Matterhorn. During the warmer months, the gorgeous mountains, crystal clear lakes, and accessible trails make Zermatt a paradise for outdoor adventures. German-speaking Zermatt is especially renowned for being a ski paradise, but there’s so much more to this place. Zermatt is a car-free village where the only traffic noise you hear is from small electric taxis and an occasional mountain train. English is spoken everywhere.

Hikes Around Zermatt Are Wonderful

With only few streets, the compact village of Zermatt is a very walkable town with everything just a few minutes away. Once you arrive in Zermatt, there are small electric shuttle taxis that can pick you up from the train station and hotels. There is a hotel phone directory at the station so you can call many of the hotels to come pick you up. Zermatt’s tourist office is located at the train station where you can get maps, ask questions, and book excursions.

Bahnhofstrasse

Zermatt’s pedestrian streets, Swiss-style chalets, and small shops and restaurants make the town wonderful for wandering. One of the nice things to do in Zermatt is to walk down Bahnhofstrasse, the picturesque main street that leads from the Zermatt Railway Station to the parish church of St Mauritius in the main town square of Zermatt (see photo). 

Zermatt's Bahnhofstrasse Street

Along the Bahnhofstrasse pedestrian street is a number of Zermatt’s best hotels, boutique shops, and restaurants offering world-class mountain cuisine. There are still many of the quaint older buildings making it a beautiful stroll (see photo)`. Check out the Bown Cow restaurant for a more laid back experience.

Hinterdorfstrasse

As you walk through Zermatt town, it is worth making an interesting detour down Hinterdorfstrasse. This short street is the oldest part of Zermatt home to the traditional buildings that are found throughout the Valais region of Switzerland (see photo).

Beautiful Matterhorn Mountain - Zermatt

The Matterhorn mountain is Zermatt’s main attraction and can be seen from the town. With its unique pyramidal shape, the 14,692-foot high Matterhorn is one of the most recognizable mountains in the world and one of the highest summits in the Alps and Europe (see photo). A great view is available from the top of the tower of Zermatt’s St. Mauritius Church at the end of the main street Bahnhofstrasse where there is a viewing platform with a telescope. The tower is accessible outside the church.

Matterhorn Museum & St. Mauritius Church

Next to the St. Mauritius Church is the interesting Matterhorn Museum (see photo). The entrance looks like a giant glass igloo. You first learn about how the first successful assent ended in disaster. Then you walk down the stairs and are taken back in time to another world seeing how life was 150 years ago in the village of Zermatt with original old houses and historic artifacts. It is a good place to learn more about Zermatt’s history and it has interactive displays about the many mountaineers that climbed the Matterhorn with the difference paths they took. The movie is interesting to watch.

View from Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

A short walk from central Zermatt, three breathtaking gondola rides (see photo below) take you to the very fun Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (12,740 feet) in about 45 minutes. It is the highest easily accessible mountain station you can visit in Europe. From the viewing platform there are spectacular vistas of the Matterhorn and 360° panoramic view of 38 other mountain peaks and 14 glaciers in Switzerland, France, and Italy, including the Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain in the Alps. 

Matterhorn Glacier Palace

At Matterhorn Glacier Paradise you can have an unforgettable experience at Glacier Palace, located inside the glacier deep under the ice (see photo). You walk through man-made ice tunnels and see all kinds of impressive ice sculptures. There is also a slide inside an ice tunnel – fun for the young and young at heart.

Zermatt from Gondola Ride

Also at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is Europe’s highest picture house, the Cinema Lounge. Visitors are introduced to Zermatt’s fascinating Alpine world, with about 30 minutes of five captivating film sequences titled Mountains Around Zermatt, Seasons of Zermatt, Wildlife Around Zermatt, Cable Cars to Paradise, and World of Ice and Snow. The Cinema Lounge is included in your ticket price.

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Restaurant

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise has a nice restaurant (the highest mountain restaurant in Europe) and a souvenir shop (see photo). It is a wonderful place to warm up between visits of the main features here. When you arrive turn left for the Cinema Lounge and right for the Glacier Palace and restaurant. You can purchase a ticket just for the first gondola ride getting off at Furi and take a nice 1.5-hour hike back down to Zermatt. During the summer, the sunrise trips are magical.

Dress warmly… No matter what time of the year you visit Zermatt, there is always snow the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. People come to ski at Klein Matterhorn even in summer.   

Map Gornegrat Railway

Another popular excursion in Zermatt is to ride the very scenic 33-minute cogwheel train Gornergrat Railway (GCB) to Gornergrat (10,285 feet) where you can get an even better view of the Matterhorn as well as the second largest glacier in the Alps (Gorner Glacier) and Switzerland’s highest peak (Dufourspitze). Along the way, you will enjoy a great view of Zermatt. Sit on the right side going up for the best view. The train leaves from the yellow building (station) across from the main train station in Zermatt.

Gornergrat Railway & Matterhorn Mountain

At Gornergrat, you should explore all the viewing platforms, hike the easy 360° Scenic Loop glacier walk (just 20 minutes), visit Zooom the Matterhorn experience (different interactive stations allow you to experience the Matterhorn up close and personal), and check out the shops and restaurant at Gornergrat Kulmhotel.

Map of Zermatt's Mountain Excursions

You can get on and off Zermatt’s Gornergrat Railway at several places where there are hiking trails and hotels. Rotenboden, the last stop before arriving at the top, is an interesting one to consider because you can visit the alpine garden and take the scenic 10-15 minute hike to Lake Riffelsee for one of the best views of the Matterhorn and, in the summer, get the famous photo of it reflected in the lake. You can beat the crowds going to Gornergrat by starting early.

It is possible to do both the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and Gornergrat on the same day and you can purchase single excursion or combined tickets. 

Sunnegga Zermatt's Beach

From another station a short walk above Zermatt town, a 4.5-minute cable car takes you to the Sunnegga Viewpoint (7,507 feet) where you can get a great view of the Matterhorn. During the summer it is great for families with its children’s playground, Zermatt’s Beach playing on the big raft (see photo), downhill mountain carts, and the Marmot’s playground. During the winter, skiers and snowboarders can continue on with gondolas, chairlifts, and the cable car up to the Rothorn ski area. Check the webcams to determine if clouds may obstruct your view.

Matterhorn from Zermatt Town

Hikers and outdoor enthusiasts will find Zermatt a paradise with its almost 250 miles of beautiful hiking opportunities ranging from the Gorner gorge wooden walkway, a unique wonder of nature good for families and accessible from 20-minute walk from town to to the more changeling Matterhorn Glacier Trail (2 hour, 4 miles) and 5 Lakes Walk (2.5 hours, 6 miles). You can research your options on the tourist office website (www.zermatt.ch).

Switzerland has some of the freshest water and you can drink the delicious tap water in Zermatt. Make sure that you take a reusable water bottle, especially if you will be hiking all day.

Summer is Beautiful in Zermatt

Getting to Zermatt arriving by car: Täsch is the ‘jumping off’ point for everyone visiting Zermatt by car. From here you will need to either travel by train or taxi the rest of the way to Zermatt. If you have your own car, there are plenty of companies offering park and ride packages where they will take you by taxi to the entrance of Zermatt. The most popular method of transport is the Täsch – Zermatt shuttle train. The train only takes 12 minutes and runs frequently everyday so no need to book.

Lindt Chocolate - Yum!

Interesting fact: Switzerland has long been known for its fine chocolate and cheese. The Swiss chocolate industry produced over 200,000 tons of chocolate worth $1.7 billion in 2018. It mostly goes to Switzerland, Germany, UK, France, and Canada. The Swiss chocolate brands make up around 40% of the world’s global chocolate production. Alpine milk sets Swiss chocolate apart. It is sourced from high-altitude farms in the Swiss mountains. Due to it being denser and less aerated, alpine milk gives Swiss chocolate a rich fragrance and an extremely milky texture. I liked Läderach Chocolate with stores in many Swiss cities including Zermatt.

Map Zermatt

We enjoyed our our stay at the Hotel ZERMANA. This is a classy hotel with very nice modern rooms located over the sounds of a tranquil river and a 9 minute walk to Zermatt’s main street and train station. The location is walkable to Zermatt’s train excursions. Call from the the hotel directory at the train station and they will come and pick you up. 

Fur Coats Are Fun at Hotel Zermana

The restaurant at Hotel Zermana is very nice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The outside setting for drinks is wonderful. The fake fur bear ropes (see photo) are so cool to enjoy sitting out on their balcony. The friendly staff is excellent and will offer good suggestions for thing to do. Internet was good. We like the romantic soft lighting and fire glowing (TV screen saver) adding to the warm cozy decor. The full length windows and large balcony added to a spacial feeling.

While visiting Zermatt, it is nice to use some Essential German phrases:

Thank you – Danke (dan-kuh)
You’re welcome – Bitteschön (bit-tuh-shun)
Please, excuse me, or pardon – Bitte (bit-tuh)
Yes – Ja (jah)
No – Nein (nine)
Hello – Hallo (hallo)
Goodbye – Auf Wiedersehen (Owf Veeder-sane)
German – Deutsch (“doych”)

We loved our visit to beautiful Zermatt!

See Other Wonderful Places in Switzerland, Click on these links:

Zurich Switzerland

Lucerne Switzerland 

Lugano Switzerland

Montreux & Chocolate Train Switzerland 

St. Moritz Switzerland

Chur Switzerland

Brig Switzerland

 

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