10 Best Things to Do
Zermatt sits beneath the Matterhorn, with mountain railways and cableways connecting the village to glaciers, ski slopes and summer walking trails. The Gornergrat offers broad views across the high peaks, while lakes around Blauherd and Rotenboden reward a slower day on foot. Back in the village, the dark timber buildings of the Hinterdorf recall life before the grand hotels. Private cars stop at Täsch, so most visitors arrive by train and explore the centre on foot.
Gornergrat Railway and Panorama
Gornergrat, above Zermatt, Switzerland
The Gornergrat Railway climbs from Zermatt into a landscape of glaciers and high peaks, with views changing throughout the journey. At the top, the panorama gives a sense of the scale of the surrounding mountains, while ZOOOM the Matterhorn adds an indoor introduction to the region. Allow time to look around rather than simply returning on the next train. In suitable summer conditions, short summit walks extend the visit beyond the station and viewing areas.
A mountain panorama reached by cogwheel railway
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
Klein Matterhorn, above Zermatt, Switzerland
Cableways carry visitors to Klein Matterhorn, where the viewing platform stands at 3,883 metres. The panorama takes in glaciers and peaks across Switzerland, Italy and France, with the Matterhorn seen from an unfamiliar angle. Below, the Glacier Palace brings ice formations and sculptures into the excursion, while the Cinema Lounge offers another way to explore the mountains. Go for clear-weather views, dress warmly even in summer and leave plenty of time for the ascent and return.
High-altitude views and the Glacier Palace
Ski the Matterhorn Ski Paradise
Zermatt mountain sectors, Switzerland
Zermatt’s skiing links the Sunnegga-Rothorn, Gornergrat and Schwarzsee-Matterhorn Glacier Paradise sectors, giving a mountain day several different landscapes. The Swiss pass covers the Zermatt area; an international option adds the Italian slopes when connections are operating. Plan the day around your ability, the weather and the lifts that are actually open. A lesson or local instructor is a useful way to find suitable runs and make the most of an unfamiliar, extensive area.
Long mountain days across varied ski terrain
Five Lakes Trail
Blauherd to Sunnegga, Switzerland
The Five Lakes Trail links Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grünsee, Moosjisee and Leisee between Blauherd and Sunnegga. Each lake has a different character, from the Matterhorn reflections at Stellisee to the milky turquoise water of Moosjisee. It is a proper mountain walk rather than a level lakeside stroll, with uneven ground and changing conditions. In the summer walking season, take time for the smaller details as well as the views, and check the open route before setting off.
A varied summer walk between mountain lakes
Riffelsee Lake Walk
Rotenboden to Riffelberg, Switzerland
Riffelsee is famous for reflecting the Matterhorn when the water is still. Reach the area by the Gornergrat Railway, leaving the train at Rotenboden for a walk past the lake towards Riffelberg. The route also passes a smaller lake and opens up further mountain views, making it more rewarding than a single photo stop. Choose a calm day during the walking season and allow extra time to linger, rather than treating the published walking time as a deadline.
Matterhorn reflections and a shorter mountain walk
Matterhorn Museum - Zermatlantis
Zermatt village, Kirchplatz, Switzerland
Beneath Kirchplatz, the Matterhorn Museum tells how a farming village became an international mountain resort. Historic interiors and reconstructed settings bring everyday life into the story, while objects from the first Matterhorn ascent give the mountaineering galleries a particular force. The original broken rope is the most memorable exhibit. This is a worthwhile visit early in a stay, adding context to the names, buildings and peaks encountered around the village and on the mountain trains.
Understanding the village and its mountaineering history
Explore the Hinterdorf
Zermatt village, Hinterdorfstrasse, Switzerland
A short wander through the Hinterdorf reveals an older Zermatt behind the busy shopping streets. Dark larch barns, stores and houses cluster along narrow lanes, with heavy stone roofs and raised supports shaped by practical mountain life. Some buildings stand on flat stone slabs designed to keep mice away from stored food. Visit slowly, looking at the construction details, and combine the walk with the Matterhorn Museum for a fuller picture of the village before tourism.
Historic timber buildings behind the main streets
Gorner Gorge
Southern edge of Zermatt, Switzerland
Wooden walkways lead into the Gorner Gorge, where glacial water has cut a narrow channel through greenish rock. The close walls and rushing water offer a striking contrast to the wide mountain panoramas above Zermatt. It is a seasonal visit, with steps and surfaces that can be wet, so wear suitable shoes and take your time. The public walkway is a different experience from the guided adventure routes in the upper gorge, which require separate arrangements.
Glacial water and dramatic rock walls
Dossen Glacier Garden and Furi Bridge
Furi, above Zermatt, Switzerland
Above Furi, the Dossen Glacier Garden reveals the marks left by moving ice and meltwater. Rounded rock cavities and the remains of a soapstone quarry give the walk a geological story, while a nearby suspension bridge adds a dramatic crossing above the valley. Combine the garden and bridge as a mountain outing from the cable-car station, following the current signed route. It suits walkers who enjoy both landscape and detail, rather than simply aiming for another summit viewpoint.
Glacial geology and a suspension-bridge walk
Walk to the Hamlet of Zmutt
Zmutt valley, above Zermatt, Switzerland
Zmutt’s dark wooden houses gather around a small white chapel above Zermatt, with mountain pastures and valley views around them. The hamlet has stood here for centuries, and its compact buildings make a rewarding destination for a walk away from the busiest lift stations. Follow a currently open route from the village and allow time to look around on arrival. The appeal is the combination of traditional settlement and surrounding landscape, best enjoyed without a hurried schedule.
Traditional houses and a quieter valley walk