17 Stunning Tourist Places to Visit and Top Things to Do in Zermatt

February 11, 2023 Mustafa Natalwala 2159 Views

Zermatt is a town in the Visp district in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. The town sits on the southern side of the Matter Valley. Some of the best things to do in Zermatt, Switzerland revolve around skiing and mountain activities. The town is popular as a mountain resort town amidst the Swiss Alps. Most people visit Zermatt for skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing, and other snow activities.

Many of the Zermatt tourist attractions are famous for year-round snow-clad slopes. Although the best time to visit Zermatt, Switzerland is between June and September. You can enjoy a variety of Zermatt attractions during these months aside from snow activities. This includes hiking trails, paragliding, mountain carts, rock climbing, and so on.

Zermatt sightseeing is also more colourful during these months as everything is not covered in snow and you get to see a variety of landscapes. Many of the best places to visit in Zermatt and around are only accessible during these months. These include some of the high-altitude huts, lodges, summits, and trails. You can even access higher viewpoints through trains, cable cars, and gondola rides to see the famed Mount Matterhorn, which is the most popular among things to see in Zermatt.

Aside from the surrounding mountains, there are quite a few places to see in Zermatt town as well. The Matterhorn Museum, Mountaineer Cemetery, and Hindertorf area are a must-see in Zermatt. You can also enjoy a variety of regional cuisines while exploring the town. You can also shop for a variety of souvenirs such as watches, chocolates, winter wear, and more.

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Table of Contents

Top 17 Tourist Places to Visit in Zermatt, Switzerland

1. Mount Matterhorn

This magnificent mountain is one of the most iconic natural wonders of the Swiss Alps. The majority of the best places to visit in Zermatt offer a view to this mountain. It is best known for its symmetrical pyramid formation, which rises above the mountains in its surroundings. You will need 30 to 45 minutes at any of the viewpoints to admire this mountain.

2. Sunnegga Viewpoint

This viewpoint lets you marvel at the Matterhorn without making too long a journey. There aren’t many obstacles between the viewpoint and the mountain and you get amazing pictures. You can take a funicular train ride to reach Sunnega. You only need a few minutes at this viewpoint when you visit Zermatt.

3. Rothron Cable Car Ride

The Rothron is also a viewpoint for the Matterhorn, but it is at a higher altitude than Sunnega. But, it’s the funicular ride, gondola, and cable ride that are some of the best things to do in Zermatt, Switzerland. You get to see incredible sights during the journey and enjoy small local attractions along the way. You will need at least half a day to make this journey during Zermatt travel.

4. Mountain Cart Ride

This ride is one of the most fun things to do in Zermatt in summer if you have room for some adventure. This cart has three wheels and no motor or pedals. You get a steering and a brake as you roll down the mountain slope. It is tons of fun and you get to enjoy amazing views along the way. You can take this cart ride from Blauherd to Sunnega. This route takes about an hour to cover.

5. The 5 Lakes Trail

These lakes are some of the most popular Zermatt tourist attractions. The water bodies are located at different altitudes and each is beautiful in its own way. The trail is not very difficult and you will see a few variations in landscapes along the way. You can also enjoy different activities at these lakes. These are some of the most beautiful places to see in Zermatt travel. You will need 3 to 4 hours for this trail.

6. Gornergrat Train Ride

This train ride takes you to the highest hotel in Europe situated 3,089 meters above sea level. The best time to visit Zermatt for this train ride is during the snowy months. You can see people skiing down the slope as you climb up the mountain in the train. The hotel also has some of the top things to do in Zermatt in winter besides skiing and snowboarding as well. You need an entire day for this excursion. You can also spend a night at the hotel to make the most of the trip.

I suggest you should book a Ticket for Gornergrat Train Ride in advance.

7. Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

This is the highest cable car station in all of Europe, situated at a height of 3,883 m above sea level. You can see the mountains of three countries (Italy, France, & Switzerland) from this point. It is also one of the most popular Zermatt attractions for skiing. The snow activities are open all year on this glacier. You need at least a day to make this trip and enjoy this place.

I suggest you should get a Ticket for Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Cable Car in advance.

8. Breithorn Summit

If you are looking for some adventure after Zermatt sightseeing, you can trek to climb the Breithorn summit. It sits at a height of 4,000 m above sea level. The climb is relatively easier compared to other mountains of this height. But, you still need to be physically fit to complete the climb. It is one of the best things to do in Zermatt in winter and summer. The hike stretches for about 6 kilometers and takes about 3 to 4 hours to complete.

9. Hike to Hornlihutte Lodge

If you are looking for an even easier hike, you can climb to Hornlihutte lodge. You will see snow-covered mountains all around you during this hike and you can enjoy nice hot meals when you reach the lodge. It is also one of the top attractions in Zermatt to see the Matterhorn. The lodge is actually located at the base of the mountain and is the starting point if you wish to climb this iconic mountain. The best time to go to Zermatt, Switzerland for this hike is between July and September. This hike stretches for 8 kilometers and takes 4 to 5 hours.

10. Mountaineer’s Cemetery

This cemetery is located behind the Parish Church of St. Mauritius. The cemetery has graves of people who lost their lives in the mountains. You can see different types of headstones and some of which tell you the story of the person resting underneath. You will need 20 to 30 minutes from Zermatt travel to visit this cemetery.

11. Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge (Hängebrücke)

This hanging suspension bridge is situated near Randa, a town north of Zermatt. You need to get to Furi Gondola station to get to this bridge. As this bridge is elevated, a view of the town from this bridge is one of the most beautiful things to see in Zermatt, Switzerland. You will need 20 to 30 minutes to enjoy the view from this bridge.

12. Gorner Gorge

This gorge is formed by the river Gornervispa. The gorge contains beautiful rock formations and valleys carved by the river. You can explore the gorge through boardwalks hanging from mountainsides and hiking trails. You will come across many pretty sights during this trail. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Zermatt, Switzerland for clicking pictures. You will need about an hour for this trail.

13. Skiing and Snowboarding in Zermatt

Snow activities are some of the most fun things to do in Zermatt in winter. People swarm here during the snow months for skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing, snowmobile ride, snowshoeing, and more. The best thing about this town is that many of the glaciers surrounding it remain snowclad all year. So the best time to visit Zermatt for skiing is all 365 days of the year. But, if you don’t want to face too harsh weather, you can plan your trip between July and September.

I suggest you should go for a 3 Hour Private Ski Lesson in Zermatt.

14. Matterhorn Museum

This museum tells you about the history of the town and Mount Matterhorn. It is a must-see in Zermatt if you want context to understand the culture and traditions of the region. The museum traces the history of Zermatt from a village to a resort town. It has several structures and artifacts that recall the bygone era. The museum also takes you through the history of various attempts at climbing Mount Matterhorn. It also has many artifacts from the first climb. It is one of the best places to visit in Zermatt, Switzerland if you are interested in mountaineering or if you are planning to climb any mountain yourself during your trip. You need about an hour to tour this museum when you visit Zermatt.

15. Zermatt Town

One of the best things to see in Zermatt, Switzerland is, well, the town itself. This alpine paradise has a unique charm of its own. You can explore the town on foot exploring shops, cafes, restaurants, street carts, and more. You will a lot of Swiss-style chalets and a few wooden buildings. While you are exploring the town try some of the popular local cuisine and drinks. People can also buy authentic Swiss-made watches during Zermatt travel. You can easily spend a couple of hours exploring this town.

16. Hinterdorf

This village is considered the historic heart of the town. Here you will see Zermatt tourist attractions that take you back to the early years of the town. There are wooden houses and barns, some of these dates back to the 16th century. Exploring this area gives you insight into the age-old ways to survive among the mountains. It is one of the most interesting aspects of Zermatt sightseeing. You will need about an hour to explore this area.

17. Paragliding

If you wish to fly over the mountains and bask in the views of the Matterhorn from a bird’s perspective, then you should definitely go paragliding. Unlike other top things to do in Zermatt, paragliding doesn’t require any particular training or preparation. The flight lets you cruise on different terrains and take home pictures and videos from the experience. You need an hour for this adventure when you visit Zermatt.

I suggest you should try a Paragliding Tandem Flight in Zermatt.

If you are looking for Zermatt attractions, check out the sections below. We have put together an exhaustive list of places and activities that you can explore in and around the town.

Things to do in Zermatt

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Zermatt

Matterhorn Museum
Matterhorn Glacier Palace
Mountaineer’s Cemetery
Zoom the Matterhorn Museum
Monte Rosa Hut
Margherita Hut
Rifugio Gnifetti Hut
Britannia Hut SAC
Bertol Hut
Europa Hut
Rifugio Guide del Cervino
Quintino Sella Refuge at Felik

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Zermatt

Mount Matterhorn
Breithorn Peak
Klein Peak
Monte Rosa Peak
Riffelsee Lake
Weisshorn Glacier
Stellisee Lake
Mount Lyskamm
Dent Blanche
Mount Allalinhon
Zinalrothorn Peak
Plateau Rosa
Mount Alphubel
Mount Bishorn
Schwarzsee Lake
Gorner Glacier
Signalkuppe
Mount Strahlhorn
Mount Pollux
Leisee Lake
Trockener Steg Peak
Grindjisee Lake
Mount Gabelhorn
Peak Dom
Moiry Glacier
Mattermarksee Reservoir
Mount Rimpfischhorn
Theodul Pass
Mount Taschhorn
Nordend Peak
Theodul Pass
Taschhorn
Nordend Peak
Grunsee Lake
Castor Peak
Mittelallin Peak
Mount Zumsteinspitze
Fee Glacier
Schalisee Lake

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Zermatt

Gornergrat Hotel
Gornergrat Railway Ride
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
Sunnega Ski Resort
Unterrothorn Cable Car Ride
Gorner Gorge
Furi Zermatt
Zermatt Bergbahnen AG
Blauherd Cable Car Ride
Forest Fun Park
Zermatt Snowpark
Mountain Ashram Spa

Shopping in Zermatt

Hindertorf Street
Migros Supermarket
Oberdorf Street
Bahnhof Street

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure in Zermatt

Skiing
Snowboarding
Tobogganing
Paragliding
Mountain Cart
Cable Car Ride
Gondola Ride
Swimming
Hiking
Trekking
Mountain Climbing

Sightseeing in Zermatt

Hinterdorf Street
Zermat Town
Gornegrat Observation Platform
Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge
Sunnega Viewpoint

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Zermatt

1818 Eat & Drink
3 Seasons
After Seven
Alex Grill
Alpine Gourmet Prato Borni
Alpustuba
Ambassador Tapas
Arvenstube
Apas Tapas
Bazaar by Cervo
Bistro Bar Gornergrat
Bodega Bacchus
Brasserie Belle Epoque
Aroleid
Brown Cow Snack Bar
Blatten
Buvette Forest Fun Park
CasaMia
Cheese Factory
Chez Heini
3030 Gandegghutte
Paradise
Adler Hitta

Where to Stay in Zermatt?

Here we have listed Top Rated Hotels in Zermatt. You can check the below-listed hotels for your perfect stay in Zermatt.

Custom Tours Package in Zermatt

How to Reach Zermatt?

By Air

The closest airport for Zermatt travel is Geneva Airport, which is 244 kilometers away. The airport gets direct flights from several cities in Europe, Asia, and North America. You have to rely on a road journey to get from Geneva to reach Zermatt.

By Road

You can get a train to reach Zermatt from Visp. You can get trains to get to Visp from several towns and cities in Switzerland including Geneva, Bem, Lausanne, Zurich, Basel, and more.

You can also get to Tasch by car. It is only 7 km away from Zermatt. Then you need to take a cab or a train to get to Zermatt.

By Water

There are no water routes to visit Zermatt.

Image Reference

Mount Matterhorn – softcodex / PixaBay
Sunnegga Viewpoint – CSaint Lin / Flickr
Rothron Cable Car Ride – Daniel Wright / Flickr
Mountain Cart Ride – lin Judy(快樂雲) / Flickr
The 5 Lakes Trail – Andy Harbach / Flickr
Gornergrat Train Ride – Rock Freund / PixaBay
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise – Rob Alter / Flickr
Breithorn Summit – Wolfgang Pichler / Flickr
Hike to Hornlihutte Lodge – Tiia Monto / Wikimedia Commons
Mountaineer’s Cemetery – Tom N Waugh / Wikimedia Commons
Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge (Hängebrücke) – Theo lauber / Wikimedia Commons
Gorner Gorge – Tiia Monto / Wikimedia Commons
Skiing and Snowboarding – ❄️♡?♡❄️ Julita ❄️♡?♡❄️ / PixaBay
Matterhorn Museum – Tiia Monto / Wikimedia Commons
Zermatt Town – Tiia Monto / Wikimedia Commons
Hinterdorf – Andrew Bossi / Wikimedia Commons
Paragliding – Andi Graf / PixaBay