Best Time to Visit Zermatt
Matterhorn from living room of Cove Zermatt
Zermatt’s Main Highlights
The Matterhorn is the biggest draw for visitors to Zermatt and can be seen from most places in town and the mountain area. At 4’478 m (14’692 ft), the Toblerone mountain sits on the border between Switzerland and Italy and is known by many names, including Hörnli, The Horn, Cervino, and Mont Cervin.
Three main mountain areas make up sightseeing, nature walks, hiking, climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking and skiing locations in Zermatt.
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise sits on Klein Matterhorn at 3’883 m (12’740 ft) and is best for panoramic views of the Alps, glacial skiing, and challenging hiking and mountain biking routes.
Gornergrat is the place for a scenic railway journey, Riffesee Lake, the Gorner Glacier and climbing at Riffelhorn.
Sunnegga is known for its long sunshine days, lunching in Findeln, Stellisee Lake, the 5 Lakes Trail and the summit of Rothorn at 3’103 m (10’180 ft).
All three areas offer easy-to-expert hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter.
Zermatt Village is a highlight in itself, the classic Swiss buildings, cobbled streets and seasonal flora make this enchanting alpine village come alive.
Bahnhofstrasse, Zermatt’s lively main street, runs from the train station to the town square and is lined with inviting cafes and classic alpine buildings. For a closer look at the town’s history, wander down Hinterdorfstrasse, a preserved slice of the past.
Another key area during the peak summer months is Höhbalmen, which offers various challenging hikes and summits with excellent mountain hut lunch stops. Explore this area if you’re up for a challenge and want to avoid the crowds.
Money Saving Tips and Passes in Zermatt
We hear ya, Zermatt is not a budget destination, and your itinerary may well depend on your available spends. Here are a few money-saving passes and tips to help your wallet stretch that little bit further when visiting Zermatt:
Saver Day Pass or SBB Super Saver Train Tickets: This pass allows you to travel to Zermatt village, but it doesn’t cover mountain transport like the Gornergrat railway. It’s a good option for those planning to explore the village and surrounding areas.
Swiss Travel Pass: Offers 50% off on the Gornergrat ticket and other mountain transport. It’s ideal for travellers planning to explore multiple regions in Switzerland.
Half Fare Card: Provides 50% off on all tickets, including mountain railways and cable cars in Zermatt. This can be a cost-effective option if you use public transport extensively.
Peak Pass: Offers unlimited travel on all lifts and trains, including the Sunnegga area, Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, excluding the Alpine Crossing. This can be for consecutive or flexible days, i.e. 3 in 5 days. Not valid for skiing.
If you plan to visit all three mountain areas in Zermatt within two days, the peak pass is by far the most cost-effective, if you also have the Swiss Travel Pass, you will save an extra 25%.
Peak2Peak: Allows you to explore two of the area’s most iconic viewpoints: the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and Gornergrat, all in a single excursion. This pass will give you a comprehensive experience of Zermatt’s stunning alpine scenery.
Budget-Friendly Activities | Consider exploring free or low-cost attractions like Zermatt Village, the Matterhorn Museum and Gorner Gorge. Also, any hiking trails accessible from Zermatt which are suitable for your fitness level.
Take a one-way ticket to Sunnegga, Rotenboden or Gornergrat and walk back to Zermatt via one of the many hiking trails in summer.
Ski passes are the most expensive in December and January, reducing slightly in February and March. April is the least expensive time to ski and snowboard, with tickets starting at 88.00 CHF.
Train times to Zermatt
Here are the journey times to get to Zermatt from various nearby destinations and airports, including driving and train options:
Geneva
Train: Approximately 3 hours 31 minutes to 4 hours 5 minutes.
Driving: Around 3 hours.
Zurich
Train: About 3 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours 44 minutes.
Driving: Approximately 4 hours.
Basel
Train: Around 3 hours 10 minutes to 3 hours 39 minutes.
Driving: Approximately 3 hours 30 minutes.
Bern
Train: Approximately 2 hours 7 minutes.
Driving: Around 2 hours 30 minutes.
Milan
Train: About 3 hours 37 minutes.
Driving: Approximately 3 hours 31 minutes.
Sion
Train: Around 1 hour 50 minutes to 1 hour 59 minutes.
Driving: Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.
Interlaken
Train: Approximately 2 hours 40 minutes.
Driving: Around 2 hours 15 minutes.
Grindelwald
Train: About 2 hours 57 minutes to 3 hours 14 minutes.
Driving: Approximately 3 hours.
Lucerne
Train: Approximately 3 hours 30 minutes.
Driving: Around 3 hours 45 minutes.
Verbier
Train: Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes.
Driving: Around 1 hour 45 minutes.
Laax
Train: Approximately 4 hours.
Driving: Around 3 hours 30 minutes.
These approximate times can vary based on traffic conditions and specific train schedules. Hire a private transfer from Kiwi Taxi.
Although people tease about Swiss timekeeping, it’s really not a joke. Swiss trains are super efficient, and when something goes wrong, they usually have a backup plan pretty swiftly.
As Zermatt is a car-free village, drivers will park at Täsch and take the short 12-minute shuttle train to Zermatt.
credit of this article to Teri-Anne Autumn for Discover Zermatt