Ultimate Travel Guide To Zermatt

It’s no secret that Switzerland is stunning! Among all the beautiful places in Switzerland is my most favourite town, Zermatt. A winter trip to Zermatt will make you realise as if God has taken out all his time to create this place just to give human beings a sight of what Heaven might look like.

Zermatt lies in southern Switzerland’s Valais canton and is famous for hiking, skiing and climbing. It is, in fact, the largest and highest ski area in the world and has guaranteed snow all year round. It is the closest town to the majestic Matterhorn peak.
Zermatt is famous for being the car-free resort since the 1970s. Earlier all the locals and tourists used to commute either on foot or on horse-drawn carriages, however now 500 electric buses and taxis are licensed for the commute. Also, only 2 hotels in Zermatt still have horse-drawn carriages.

Interesting fact: All the taxis in Zermatt are of the same shape and size, due to the law restricted by the local authorities.

How to reach Zermatt?

1. By Air – Zermatt is equidistant from any of these airports -Geneva, Zurich and Basel. From these airports, it is around 3 hours and 30 minutes of train commute to Zermatt and there is a change at Visp.
   During my first trip to Zermatt, I was in awe as the train ran past the conifer forests, cliffs, waterfalls and streams of water running parallel to the rail track. During my second visit in December, this whole route from Visp was snow-clad. I was excited like a child when I saw those tall trees covered in snow and with a gush of wind the snow falling from the trees like some fairy dust, the black horses running free in the empty white land.  The journey was so beautiful that it still brings me joy and gives me goosebump whenever I think of it. One has to see it to feel and experience the beauty of Zermatt in winter.
   During snowy days as the train starts its journey uphill, the view becomes magnificent.
   
2. Car – You will have to park your car at Täsch terminal and from there aboard the shuttle train to Zermatt.

My suggestion: It would be wise to use this spreadsheet to determine which is the best travel pass suitable for you based on your entire Swiss travel plan. These travel passes also offer a percentage of discount on the cable cars and the Gornergrat rail. You can find more details about the rail passes and the Swiss transport map along with the discounts available.

When to visit Zermatt?

This small little town in the Swiss Alps can be visited at any time of the year. We have visited it twice, once during the Summer and the Winter; it is glorious all year round.

During summer, the temperature is quite pleasant, and the place is very scenic with diverse flora and fauna. One can hike through some of the beautiful, themed trails-most famous is the “Five lakes trail”. However, during Winter, precisely during the Christmas days, when this town is covered in snow it turns to a winter wonderland. Zermatt in winter looks spectacular when the Xmas lights reflect on the falling snow. It takes you back in time when you see the horse-drawn carriages in the snow-covered cobblestoned roads.
Hiking will surely be difficult during this time however it is open for skiing all year round.

My suggestion: Visit this magical town during mid-December to experience the white Xmas.

Where to stay in Zermatt?

There are numerous accommodations in Zermatt. However, you need to book in advance if you want to secure a good hotel at an affordable price since this famous spot is filled with tourists all year round.

If you are looking for luxury stay ranging from 350-800 GBP per night, with hot tubs, swimming pool, Matterhorn views from your balcony, some of the best options would be Grand hotel Zermatterhof, Swiss Alpine Hotel Allalin, Backstage Boutique SPA Hotel, Mont Cervin Palace, Cervo Mountain Resort.
Some budget range of accommodations ranging from 80-120 GBP per night (if you fall in the category who want to use their resources to experience and explore the beauty of the place and use the hotel just to sleep at night, just like me 🙂 )would be Petit Helvetia Hotel, Mountain Paradise, Zermatt youth hostel.
There are some great accommodations at Täsch (which is one stop before Zermatt), the views from these hotels are lovely and the prices are pocket friendly. On our first visit, we stayed at this lovely Alpine hotel. One of the most amazing experiences near Zermatt is the igloo stays at Iglu-Dorf starting from 430 GBP per night which provides the best view of sugar-coated Matterhorn.

What to do in Zermatt?

I belong to that category of traveller who likes to explore the place more than ticking items to visit off the list. However, for sure it’s always a good idea to have a picture of what the place has to offer so that you can plan your days during the stay accordingly.

Zermatt offers a wide variety of activities, like hiking through some of the gorgeous scenic trails, skiing and toboggan run/sledging at the highest altitude in Switzerland, Gondola ride to the majestic Matterhorn glacier paradise. If you want to spend a lazy day, then the beautiful village of Zermatt has so many pretty cafes, chocolate shops, restaurants and alleys that you can spend a lovely day!

1. Travelling to Gornergrat 

Since 1898, the first electrically powered cogwheel train of Switzerland has been bringing tourists to Gornergrat to experience the majestic and best views of Matterhorn. As you leave Zermatt and start riding uphill everything turns pristine white and suddenly you will be able to view the spectacular shark fin-shaped Matterhorn. It is a sight to behold. Also, there is a café at the top of Gornergrat, so you can enjoy the view while you sip your hot cup of coffee.
The train runs all year round; however, it is advisable to check the train timings before planning your trip. The train ticket price is around 92 GBP return per person. However, if you have a Swiss travel pass then you can avail 50% discount on the original fare.

2. Gondola ride to Matterhorn Glacier paradise

Matterhorn glacier paradise is Europe’s highest mountain station and gives a 360-degree view of this alpine paradise. The cable car journey from Zermatt is breath-taking(literally!). As the cable car leaves Zermatt, this small little town looks amazing. It appears as if the village touches the sky. Within 10 minutes the village is nowhere to be seen and all you can see are huge mountains encircling you. It is then when you realise how tiny you really are in this universe! At the top of the glacier paradise, there is an ice museum as well. We were not very lucky to reach this paradise as it was closed during that time, so we visited until Trockener Steg. The cable car journey is very thrilling.

The cable car prices are around 72 GBP return per person. However, if you have a swiss travel pass then you can avail 50% discount on the original fare.

3. Hiking trails

There are many hiking trails in Zermatt which are open during summer (some are open all year round). Based on your level of expertise and your taste you can select any of the available ones. Zermatt is surrounded by many lakes, which makes for some amazing hikes.

4. Skiing

Zermatt is famous for skiing. There are many ski areas in Zermatt based on your level of expertise. You can rent your ski equipment from the town centre or the Zermatt gondola stop. But please ensure that you carry your ski equipment before boarding the gondolas, as there are no ski hire facilities once you leave Zermatt.

Some of the shops who rent equipment are Intersportrent and Alpinresorts.

Final thoughts!

Take time to stroll through this pretty village. During December Zermatt is decorated with Xmas trees and lit with Christmas lights which increases the beauty of this place even more. It also has some pop-up Xmas decorations throughout the city and it truly converts to a winter wonderland during this time. Wander through the narrow pretty lanes and mountaineer’s cemetery all covered in snow, sip your Glühwein in a cosy café or enjoy a hot cup of coffee while the chilly air gushes across your face, cherish a fondue in one of the restaurants while enjoying the majestic Matterhorn view. During any other months, beauty is no less.
Do not rush to visit all the places, instead relax and absorb the beauty of this beautiful small village. The place is so magical that one visit will never do justice to this place!
The white Christmas spent in Zermatt will linger in my memories for years to come 🙂

Keep Travelling,
Rubela