Zermatt is one of the meccas of mountaineering and hiking in Switzerland and throughout Europe. In Switzerland, it can only be compared to other great mountains such as the Jungfrau and the Mönch.
But if there is one thing Zermatt has to offer besides routes and excursions, it is the various activities it offers to visitors, entailing a truly excellent holiday experience.
Mountain activities in Zermatt
Below you will find the different trains and cable cars that can be used in Zermatt. please click below the links to get more detailed information about prices and schedules.
Sunnegaparadies
The first underground funicular built in the Swiss Alps takes you from Zermatt to the Sunnegga meadows (2,288 m) in just five minutes.
Here you can enjoy one of the most beautiful excursions in the Alps: the Five Lakes Route, which includes Lake Leisee and, above all, Lake Stellisee and Grindjisee with its fir forest. All with magnificent direct views of the Matterhorn.
Moreover, next to the Leisee you will find the Wolli Park, a fun alpine playground that will delight the little ones. Not to be missed is the charming alpine hamlet of Findeln (2,032 m), which offers hikers some of the best restaurants in Switzerland and a privileged natural setting.
Rothorn-Paradies
This cable car is the continuation of the Sunnegga line and leads to the summit of the Oberrothorn, from where you have a magnificent view of the Matterhorn.
The view of the Matterhorn from the big red cable car going up to the Oberrothorn is amazing and there are also far fewer people than in other areas.
Gornergrat cogwheel railway
It is the quintessential tour in Zermatt and a classic throughout Switzerland. The famous red cogwheel railway that leads to the summit of the Gornergrat (3,089 m) is a real adventure. From its panoramic terrace at 3,100 m., you can admire 29 four-thousand-metre peaks, including the Matterhorn, of course, but also other mythical peaks such as Monte Rosa, the Liskamm or the Weisshorn.
Apart from that, you will also contemplate the second longest glacier in the Alps, the Gorner. It’s a mythical place and we recommend arriving in the afternoon when there are fewer people and enjoy an unforgettable sunset.
But the intermediate stops before reaching the summit are also impressive. The Riffelalp (2,211 m.), from where you can reach the Hotel Riffelalp Resort in five minutes and enjoy a spectacular view of the Matterhorn, deserves special mention.
Another highlight is Lake Riffel, whose waters reflect the pyramid silhouette of the Matterhorn. Not to be missed. This beautiful lake is a ten-minute walk from the Rotenboden station (2,815 m).
Schwarzsee Paradies
The panoramic view of the Matterhorn doesn’t stop there, and in this case the cable car up to Schwarzsee (2,583 m) makes for a spectacular approach to the famous mountain, flying over the no less beautiful hamlet of Furi.
Without a doubt one of the typical Zermatt postcards. A beautiful restaurant with an impressive terrace complements the magnificent landscape that can be seen from here.
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
Take the cable car to Schwarzsee and continue to the Little Matterhorn, the highest place in Europe where you can be without climbing. The landscape from here is just amazing.
Snow and ice are the masters of the environment. The climb is only worth it if it is a sunny day, otherwise there is less of a view but the view are spectacular as you can see the mass of the Breithorn (4,164 m.) and the Matterhorn (4,478 m.).
Below we see the Theodul glacier, where snow sports enthusiasts practise skiing or summer snow. As if that wasn’t enough, you can visit the highest ice palace in the world or have fun snow tubing, which is free and the main attraction for young and old.
What can you see in Zermatt?
Zermatlantis
This museum recreates with great success the Zermatt of the mid-nineteenth century, at the height of the conquest of the Matterhorn. The children have a lot of fun entering different rooms, such as the barn, the rectory or the reception of the Monte Rosa Hotel, but the star is a piece of rope with which the Matterhorn was first crowned and which fell out of favour when part of the expedition broke off and fell into the void. For the price and the time involved, it’s worth it to immerse yourself completely in the time of the first alpinists.
BahnhofStraße
Bahnhofstrasse is Zermatt’s main thoroughfare. It is lined with dozens of restaurants, hotels and shops and offers its charm to tourists. Even if you are not a big shopper, the walk is pleasant and the fact that there are no motor vehicles is appreciated all the more.
Historical centre of Zermatt
The old town of Zermatt ris very well conserved and offers and mixture between traditional houses and new built chalets.
Riedweg
If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the Bahnhofstrasse and enjoy the best views of the Matterhorn from Zermatt, you can visit this district. Access is very easy, from the Sunnegga cable car station you can take a lift that will drop you off in front of one of Zermatt’s best restaurants, the Cervo Hotel. From here, as you walk up the road, you can experience unforgettable sunsets over Zermatt and the Matterhorn.
Zermatt Cemetery
Whether you are a mountain lover or not, you cannot miss the cemetery next to the church, where dozens of mountaineers are buried who gave their lives trying to climb some of the mythical peaks around Zermatt. You may be curious to see how many tombstones have motifs related to mountaineering or climbing.
Stay overnight in Zermatt
Charming hotel in Zermatt
Finally, we would like to recommend one of the best hotels in Zermatt, the Matterhorn Focus, built of steel and glass, with a sublime view of the Matterhorn and rooms that exude design and alpine character from all four sides. Ideal for your holidays in Zermatt or to give your partner a romantic getaway.