Zermatt Travel Guide: The Matterhorn, Excursions & Where to Stay

Zermatt exists for one reason, and it’s a very good one: the Matterhorn. The near-perfect pyramid that fronts the Toblerone bar towers over this car-free village, and on a clear day it’s one of the most striking sights in the Alps. Zermatt is a detour from Switzerland’s central spine, but for many visitors it’s the trip’s high point — literally and otherwise.

The car-free village

No combustion cars are allowed in Zermatt; you arrive by train and get around on foot or in small electric taxis. The result is clean mountain air and a compact, walkable centre of chalets, church squares and mountaineering history (this is where the Matterhorn was first — and fatally — climbed in 1865).

Best things to do

Gornergrat railway — a cog railway to a 3,089m ridge with a head-on Matterhorn view and 29 peaks over 4,000m. The definitive Zermatt excursion; 50% off with the pass.
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise — Europe’s highest cable-car station at 3,883m, with a glacier palace and skiing even in summer.
Five Lakes Walk (5-Seenweg) — an easy, unforgettable hike past five lakes, several mirroring the Matterhorn. Costs only the lift fare.
Sunnegga and Rothorn — sunny terraces and gentler trails, quick to reach from the village.
Kirchbrücke at dawn — the little bridge with the classic village-and-Matterhorn shot; go early for the light and the quiet.

Where to stay

Village centre: most convenient, walkable to the Gornergrat and Glacier Paradise stations.
Matterhorn-view rooms: worth requesting explicitly — not every room faces the peak.
Budget note: Zermatt is one of Switzerland’s pricier towns; staying in Täsch (one stop down) or booking well ahead saves money.

Getting there

Zermatt is reached via Visp on the main line. From Interlaken it’s about 2h15; from Geneva about 3h40; from Zurich about 3h10 — all with easy changes and all covered by the Swiss Travel Pass. If you drive, you must park in Täsch and take the shuttle train for the final leg.

How Zermatt fits your trip

Zermatt is the western high point of the classic loop. See how to slot it in without backtracking on our 7-day Switzerland itinerary.

Frequently asked questions

Is Zermatt worth visiting?

Yes, if you want to see the Matterhorn up close. Zermatt is a car-free village directly beneath Switzerland's most famous peak, with world-class excursions like Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. It is a detour from the central route but the payoff is the country's signature mountain.

How do you get to Zermatt if it is car-free?

You take the train. Cars must be left in Täsch, one stop before Zermatt, where a shuttle train runs every 20 minutes for the final 12-minute leg. Coming by train the whole way (via Visp) is simplest and is covered by the Swiss Travel Pass.

Gornergrat or Matterhorn Glacier Paradise — which is better?

Gornergrat is the classic: a cog railway to a 3,089m ridge with a head-on Matterhorn view and 29 peaks, great for hiking and sunset. Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is higher (3,883m), Europe's highest cable-car station, with a glacier palace and year-round snow. For the iconic view, choose Gornergrat first.