Switzerland / Valais (Zermatt & Saas-Fee) / ZermattZermatt
The Matterhorn from a Car-Free Village
A car-free resort at the head of the Mattertal under the Matterhorn. There is no road into the village for visitors: trains run from Visp (about 1 h 05), and drivers leave the car at Täsch and take the 12-minute shuttle train. The Gornergrat cogwheel line climbs to 3,089 m facing the Matterhorn and the Gorner glacier; the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise cableway reaches 3,883 m and year-round snow; the Five Lakes walk gives the mirror reflections. The Glacier Express to St. Moritz starts here. One of the dearest places to sleep in the country.
Highlights
- Matterhorn at sunrise from the village bridges
- Gornergrat cogwheel train
- Riffelsee reflection
- Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and its ice palace
- Five Lakes Walk
- Car-free streets and electric taxis
- Hinterdorf's old larch barns
- Glacier Express departure
Things to do
- Gornergrat cogwheel train and Riffelsee walkMorning · 4h
- Matterhorn Glacier Paradise at 3,883 mMorning · 4h
- Five Lakes Walk from SunneggaJul–SepMorning · 4h
- Matterhorn sunrise from the KirchbrückeMorning · 1h
- Hinterdorf and the Matterhorn MuseumAfternoon · 1h 30m
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: June – September (summer); December – March (snow)
Heads up
Ski Season Prices
Winter is high season in the ski resorts: rooms cost most, and are hardest to find, from Christmas to New Year and in the February school holidays, when many hotels sell only week-long stays. Ski passes are priced dynamically and are dearest on those dates too. January (outside the holidays) and March are better value.
Worth knowing
Between Seasons: Hotels and Lifts Closed
May and November fall between the summer and ski seasons: many hotels, restaurants and mountain lifts close for weeks of maintenance, and walking trails above the villages can still be under snow in May. Check that the lifts you want are running before you book.
Heads up
Grimsel, Furka and Susten Passes Closed
The high road passes (Grimsel, Furka, Susten, Nufenen) close for the winter, roughly from late October to late May or June, earlier after a snowfall (they reopened on 29 May in 2026, the Susten in June). Trains and the year-round car trains through the Furka and Lötschberg tunnels are not affected; only scenic drives and pass buses are.
Worth knowing
Glacier Express Not Running
The Glacier Express takes its autumn break, in 2026 from 11 October to 4 December. Zermatt and St. Moritz are still linked by regular trains (via Visp, Zurich and Chur, about 7 hours, or the slower regional trains over the Oberalp), with no panoramic cars.
Heads up
Glacier Express: Reserve Early
Summer Glacier Express trains sell out: seat reservations (CHF 54 a person on top of the fare or Swiss Travel Pass) open 93 days ahead. Book as soon as your dates are fixed, or take the regular trains on the same line.
Heads up
Snow Can Cut the Valley Off
After very heavy snow the line and road up the valley can close for a day or two for avalanche danger. Keep a spare day before an international flight in winter.
Heads up
Summer Crowds
May and June bring the Indian summer-holiday tours, July and August the European summer: queues at the Jungfraujoch, Titlis and Gornergrat stations, full trains and the year's highest room prices. Go up on the first train, and book rooms 2-3 months ahead.
Part of a longer route
Zermatt is a stop on a curated circuit through Switzerland.