Switzerland
Zermatt
Car-free village under the Matterhorn; 2-3 nights for Gornergrat and the high lifts. This guide pulls together 2 sights, 2 activities and 1 outdoor spot from our curated routes.
- Places
- 8
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Dec – Mar
- Warmest month
- July
- Coolest month
- January
- Wettest month
- May
2 See · 2 Do · 1 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Stay
Zermatt, Andermatt & St. Moritz
from our route notes
19°C / 65°F avg high
-2°C / 29°F avg high
about 109 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Zermatt
8 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
2 sights worth building a day around across Hinterdorf and Kirchplatz.
- See
Hinterdorf
The old quarter of dark larch barns and granaries raised on stone slabs to keep out mice, a few lanes behind the main street.
Photo: gurkans · CC BY 3.0SeeMatterhorn Museum
Underground museum built as a reconstructed old village, telling the story of the 1865 first ascent and Zermatt's climbing history.
Tip A good choice for a snowy or cloudy afternoon.
Do
2 activities for when the group wants to do more than look across Gornergrat and Sunnegga.
Photo: David Gubler · CC BY-SA 3.0DoGornergrat Railway
Rack railway running since 1898 from Zermatt to Gornergrat at 3,089 m, with the Matterhorn in view for much of the climb.
Tip Sit on the right-hand side going up for the Matterhorn views.
- Do
Sunnegga
Sunny plateau at 2,288 m reached by an underground funicular from the village, with gentle slopes and a classic Matterhorn view.
Tip A good half-day for non-skiers: ride up, walk the winter path, and lunch on a terrace.
Outdoors
1 outdoor spot for fresh air in Klein Matterhorn.
Photo: Roy Egloff · CC BY-SA 4.0OutdoorsMatterhorn Glacier Paradise
Europe's highest cable-car station at 3,883 m on the Klein Matterhorn, with a glacier palace and summit viewing platform.
Tip The air is thin at the top; go slowly and bring sunglasses even on grey days.
Eat
Where we would book a table in Zermatt across Findeln and Bahnhofstrasse.
- Eat
Chez Vrony
Long-running mountain restaurant in the hamlet of Findeln, on the Sunnegga slopes, with a terrace facing the Matterhorn.
Tip Book a terrace table in season; skiers and walkers both reach it from Sunnegga.
- Eat
Whymper-Stube
Wood-panelled restaurant on Bahnhofstrasse known for cheese fondue and raclette, named for the Matterhorn's first climber.
Tip Reserve for dinner in the holiday weeks.
Stay
1 place to stay we would book in Riffelalp.
Photo: Riffelalp Resort · CC BY-SA 4.0StayRiffelalp Resort 2222 m
Five-star hotel at 2,222 m on the Gornergrat line, linked to its own station by a short tram.
Tip Staying up here means first tracks and quiet evenings above the village.
How to fit Zermatt into a trip
Zermatt is stop 1 of 3 on our Zermatt, Andermatt & St. Moritz route. Follow it as-is or lift Zermatt into your own plan.
Stop 1 of 3
Zermatt, Andermatt & St. Moritz
The Glacier Express across the snowy Alps
- Trip length
- 7 days
- Best season
- Dec – Mar
- Pace
- easy
- Next: Andermatt
Getting here and onward
- Zermatt to AndermattAndermatt is about 92 km / 57 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Zermatt month by month
Average daily highs run from -2°C / 29°F in January to 19°C / 65°F in July. May is the wettest month, with about 109 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan-2° / 29°F average high, in our recommended season
- Feb-1° / 30°F average high, in our recommended season
- Mar2° / 35°F average high, in our recommended season
- Apr7° / 44°F average high
- May12° / 54°F average high
- Jun17° / 62°F average high
- Jul19° / 65°F average high
- Aug18° / 65°F average high
- Sep14° / 58°F average high
- Oct10° / 50°F average high
- Nov4° / 38°F average high
- Dec-1° / 30°F average high, in our recommended season
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Zermatt weather and the best time to visit →
Near Zermatt
8 other destinations from our guides within about 300 km (186 mi), measured in a straight line.
Zermatt questions, answered
How many days do you need in Zermatt?
Our route notes suggest 2–3 nights in Zermatt. On our Zermatt, Andermatt & St. Moritz route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 7-day trip. The listed visit times for our 8 places add up to roughly 14 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Zermatt best known for?
Car-free village under the Matterhorn; 2-3 nights for Gornergrat and the high lifts. Standouts on our list: Hinterdorf (The old quarter of dark larch barns and granaries raised on stone slabs to keep out mice, a few lanes behind the main street); Matterhorn Museum (Underground museum built as a reconstructed old village, telling the story of the 1865 first ascent and Zermatt's climbing history); Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (Europe's highest cable-car station at 3,883 m on the Klein Matterhorn, with a glacier palace and summit viewing platform).
When is the best time to visit Zermatt?
Our Zermatt, Andermatt & St. Moritz route is best Dec – Mar. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (19°C / 65°F), the coolest in January (-2°C / 29°F) and the most rain in May (about 109 mm).
What are the best things to do in Zermatt?
Start with Gornergrat Railway, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Sunnegga, Hinterdorf and Matterhorn Museum. Our guide lists 8 places in all, from 2 sights, 2 activities, 1 outdoor spot, 2 places to eat and 1 place to stay.
Where should a group eat in Zermatt?
Our picks: Chez Vrony (Findeln); Whymper-Stube (Bahnhofstrasse). Book a terrace table in season; skiers and walkers both reach it from Sunnegga (Chez Vrony).
What is near Zermatt?
The closest destinations in our guides are Interlaken (about 75 km / 47 mi), Andermatt (about 92 km / 57 mi) and Lucerne (about 123 km / 76 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Zermatt with your crew
Open the Zermatt, Andermatt & St. Moritz route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 8 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.