Zermatt walking tour & city guide

The village

The Bahnhofstrasse runs from the station through the village, lined with shops, hotels and restaurants. In the old quarter of Hinterdorf, dark wooden barns and granaries stand on stone discs that kept mice out of the food stores. The Kirchbrücke, a bridge near the church, is the classic spot for photos of the Matterhorn.

The Matterhorn Museum tells the story of the first ascent in 1865, when four of the seven climbers died on the descent, and how Zermatt grew from a farming village into a world-famous resort.

Up the mountains

The Gornergrat railway, one of the highest cogwheel railways in Europe, climbs to over 3,000 meters, with views of the Matterhorn, glaciers and 29 peaks above 4,000 meters. The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise cable car reaches the highest viewpoint in Europe served by a cable car, with an ice palace inside the glacier.

In summer, hiking trails like the Five Lakes Walk offer reflections of the Matterhorn in alpine lakes. In winter, Zermatt is one of the best ski resorts in the Alps, with slopes linked to Cervinia in Italy and skiing possible even in summer on the glacier.

Visiting tips

Cars must be left in Täsch, a short shuttle train ride away. The Matterhorn is often hidden by clouds, so plan a couple of days if you can. Sunrise, when the peak turns pink and gold, is unforgettable. The Glacier Express train links Zermatt with St Moritz.