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Zermatt, Andermatt & St. Moritz route inspiration

Zermatt, Andermatt & St. Moritz

The Glacier Express across the snowy Alps

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7 days through Zermatt, Andermatt, St. Moritz.

Zermatt, Andermatt & St. Moritz is a 7-day curated route with 3 destinations and 24 places to eat, see, and do. Preview stops and timing, then plan it in TripsCircle.

  1. 1
    Zermatt on the Zermatt, Andermatt & St. Moritz route

    Destination 01

    Zermatt

    8 places

    Car-free village under the Matterhorn; 2-3 nights for Gornergrat and the high lifts.

    • Gornergrat Railway near ZermattPhoto: David Gubler · CC BY-SA 3.0

      Gornergrat 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.

      DoGornergrat$$$3 hrClear morning
    • Matterhorn Glacier Paradise near ZermattPhoto: Roy Egloff · CC BY-SA 4.0

      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.

      Tip The air is thin at the top; go slowly and bring sunglasses even on grey days.

      OutdoorsKlein Matterhorn$$$$3 hrMorning

    • 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.

      DoSunnegga$$2.5 hrMidday

    • 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.

      SeeHinterdorfFree30 minLate afternoon
    • Matterhorn Museum near ZermattPhoto: gurkans · CC BY 3.0

      Matterhorn 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.

      SeeKirchplatz$75 minAfternoon

    • 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.

      EatFindeln$$$2 hrLunch

    • 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.

      EatBahnhofstrasse$$$1.5 hrDinner
    • Riffelalp Resort 2222 m near ZermattPhoto: Riffelalp Resort · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Riffelalp 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.

      StayRiffelalp$$$$
  2. 2
    Andermatt on the Zermatt, Andermatt & St. Moritz route

    Destination 02

    Andermatt

    7 places

    Snowy village at the Gotthard crossroads; 1-2 nights for Gemsstock and the Oberalp line.

    • Gemsstock near AndermattPhoto: W. Bulach · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Gemsstock

      Cable cars climb from the village to 2,961 m, serving steep north-facing runs and a viewing platform over the Alps.

      Tip Check the wind forecast; the upper cable car closes in strong winds.

      DoGurschen$$$4 hrMorning
    • Oberalp Pass near AndermattPhoto: David Gubler · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Oberalp Pass

      Pass at 2,044 m between Uri and Graubünden; the road shuts in winter but trains keep running through the snow.

      Tip Ride the regional train up for the view even if you are not on the Glacier Express.

      OutdoorsOberalp$2 hrClear day
    • Nätschen near AndermattPhoto: David Gubler · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Nätschen

      Sunny ski area and railway halt on the Oberalp line above Andermatt, part of the linked SkiArena Andermatt-Sedrun.

      Tip Gentler than Gemsstock and a good choice for beginners.

      DoNätschen$$$3 hrMidday
    • Teufelsbrücke near AndermattPhoto: Albinfo · CC BY 4.0

      Teufelsbrücke

      The Devil's Bridge spans the Reuss in the Schöllenen Gorge, a short way below Andermatt on the old Gotthard route.

      Tip The Matterhorn Gotthard trains to Göschenen pass right beside it.

      SeeSchöllenenFree45 min

    • Urseren cross-country trails

      Groomed cross-country ski trails run along the flat floor of the Urseren valley from Andermatt toward Hospental and Realp.

      Tip Rent classic or skating gear in the village.

      DoUrseren$2 hrAfternoon

    • Andermatt station

      Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn station where the Glacier Express stops between Zermatt and the Oberalp climb.

      SeeFree20 min
    • The Chedi Andermatt near AndermattPhoto: Adrian Michael · CC BY-SA 3.0

      The Chedi Andermatt

      Five-star hotel in timber and stone with a large spa, a short walk from the station and the Gemsstock lift.

      Tip The spa pools are a good end to a cold day on the mountain.

      StayGotthardstrasse$$$$
  3. 3
    St. Moritz on the Zermatt, Andermatt & St. Moritz route

    Destination 03

    St. Moritz

    9 places

    Engadine resort on a frozen lake; 2-3 nights for ice sports and Corviglia.

    • Lake St. Moritz near St. MoritzPhoto: CorinneJL · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Lake St. Moritz

      The lake freezes thick enough to host the Snow Polo World Cup in January and the White Turf horse races in February.

      Tip Walk the cleared path around the lake when no event is on.

      OutdoorsSt. Moritz BadFree60 minSunny afternoon
    • Cresta Run near St. MoritzPhoto: Christophe95 · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Cresta Run

      Natural-ice skeleton run first built in 1885, raced head-first from St. Moritz down toward Celerina.

      Tip Novice rides are booked through the club; watching from the track side is free.

      DoSt. Moritz Dorf$$$$1.5 hrMorning

    • Olympia Bob Run St. Moritz–Celerina

      The world's only natural-ice bobsleigh track, rebuilt by hand each winter; guests can ride as passengers behind a pilot.

      Tip Guest rides sell out early in the season.

      DoSt. Moritz Dorf$$$$60 minMorning

    • Corviglia

      St. Moritz's home ski mountain, reached by funicular from the village, with wide sunny runs and views over the lakes.

      DoCorviglia$$$4 hrMorning

    • Muottas Muragl

      A funicular climbs to 2,456 m for a long view down the Upper Engadine and its chain of lakes.

      Tip Go up in the late afternoon for the light on the lakes.

      OutdoorsPunt Muragl$$2 hrLate afternoon

    • Segantini Museum

      Stone-domed museum devoted to Giovanni Segantini, painter of the Engadine, holding his large Alpine Triptych.

      SeeSt. Moritz Bad$60 min
    • Hanselmann near St. MoritzPhoto: Paebi · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Hanselmann

      Café and confectioner on Via Maistra since 1894, known for its Engadiner Nusstorte.

      Tip Buy a nut tart to take home; it keeps well.

      EatSt. Moritz Dorf$$45 minAfternoon
    • Leaning Tower of St. Moritz near St. MoritzPhoto: Leonhard Lenz · CC0

      Leaning Tower of St. Moritz

      The 12th-century bell tower of the vanished St. Mauritius church, leaning about 5.5 degrees above the village.

      SeeSt. Moritz DorfFree15 min
    • Badrutt's Palace Hotel near St. MoritzPhoto: Bphstm · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Badrutt's Palace Hotel

      Grand hotel above the lake, opened in 1896 by the family that helped start winter tourism in St. Moritz.

      Tip Non-guests can come for tea or a drink in the Grand Hall.

      StaySt. Moritz Dorf$$$$

The moments that shape this trip.

Planning Zermatt, Andermatt & St. Moritz.

Start in car-free Zermatt, riding the Gornergrat Railway for the classic Matterhorn view, the cable cars to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise at 3,883 m, and lunch at Chez Vrony above Findeln. Board the Glacier Express east to Andermatt and stop a night or two for the steep runs on the Gemsstock, the Devil's Bridge in the Schöllenen Gorge and the climb over the snowbound Oberalp Pass. Continue through the Rhine Gorge and over the Landwasser Viaduct to St. Moritz. Finish with the frozen lake, the Cresta Run and the bob run, skiing on Corviglia and a slice of nut tart at Hanselmann.

Good for Rail fans, skiers and couples who want the Alps in deep snow without driving.

When to go

The Glacier Express runs all winter but pauses each year from mid-October to early December, so plan from mid-December onward. Zermatt's ski season runs from late November to early May, with skiing on the glacier year-round. The Cresta Run usually opens just before Christmas and closes at the end of February; the Snow Polo World Cup on Lake St. Moritz is in late January and White Turf horse racing on three Sundays in February. Snow is reliable at all three stops through March.

Getting around

The Glacier Express takes about 8 hours from Zermatt to St. Moritz: roughly 3 hours to Andermatt and 5 more to St. Moritz. Seat reservations with a supplement are required, and a Swiss Travel Pass covers the fare but not the reservation. Zermatt is car-free; drivers park in Täsch and take the 12-minute shuttle train. Zurich airport is about 3.5 hours by train from both Zermatt (via Visp) and St. Moritz (via Chur); regional Matterhorn Gotthard and Rhaetian Railway trains cover the same line without reservations.

Tips for your crew

  • Book Glacier Express seats as soon as reservations open; holiday-week departures fill early.
  • Break the journey in Andermatt instead of riding all 8 hours in one day; the Oberalp section is best seen in daylight.
  • Zermatt lift tickets are expensive; the Swiss Travel Pass gives 50 percent off the Gornergrat Railway.

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