13 Best Things to Do in Zermatt, Switzerland (Even If You Don’t Ski)
The mountain village of Zermatt, Switzerland, is one of the most magical places Chris and I have ever visited.
Set in the Swiss Alps beneath the iconic Matterhorn, this alpine town is a dream destination for both skiers and non-skiers. With the Matterhorn in one direction and the little wooden town in the other. We stayed in Zermatt for 3 nights and could have stayed A LOT longer (so I returned a year later, can you blame me?)
There are plenty of spots to visit to jam-pack your Zermatt itinerary, and it’s important to know that his town isn’t exclusively for skiers. There are plenty of other things to do in Zermatt during the winter and summer. You can thoroughly enjoy your visit without hitting the slopes. As two people who don’t ski, we had an incredible time exploring the town and the surrounding mountains without putting on a ski or a snowboard.
We visited Zermatt for a long weekend and had the best weekend ever; it ended up being one of our favourite trips away that we’ve been on. I have also visited since then as part of my Switzerland road trip and loved it just as much. The little town is gorgeous, packed full of alpine bars and restaurants, all beneath the iconic Matterhorn. It’s easy to spend a long weekend here exploring the town and up high into the mountains.
Whether you’re planning a winter getaway, a summer hiking adventure, or a romantic Christmas trip, this Zermatt travel guide covers everything you need, including how to get there, when to visit, and the best things to do in Zermatt.
Another incredible mountain town is Chamonix. If you don’t ski, there are plenty of things to do here that you can read all about in our post here.
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In a hurry? Here is our quick guide to visiting Zermatt, Switzerland
How to get here: Either fly into Sion (75km away), Geneva (244 kilometres away) or Zurich airport (248 kilometres away)
What language is spoken? The official language of Zermatt is German. However, some locals also speak French and Italian, due to the proximity to France and Italy.
What currency is used? the Swiss franc (CHF)
Where to stay: Alpen Resort & Spa for incredible Matterhorn views and the best swimming pool.
When to visit Zermatt: The best time to visit Zermatt is between June and September for hiking and gorgeous mountain views, and from early December to mid-April for skiing and a festive, winter wonderland.
Zermatt Travel Guide: Top 13 Things You Can’t Miss
For such a small town, Zermatt has so much to see and do. Whether you’re a skier or not. So if you’re wondering, “What can non-skiers do in Zermatt?” Don’t worry – there’s plenty! Let’s dive into all of the best things to do in Zermatt!
Before we dive in, here’s a handy map to help you locate every top spot to visit in Zermatt:
1. Travel to Zermatt on the Glacier Express/ Glacier 3000
A once-in-a-lifetime, truly luxurious experience. Ride the Glacier Express train from St. Moritz to Zermatt, where the train ends. This takes eight hours and is an incredible experience. Located in Switzerland, the Glacier Express is an eight-hour train journey that begins in St. Moritz and winds up and through the mountains and finally ends in the little town of Zermatt.
For an additional fee, you can opt for an ‘excellence class’ to guarantee you a window seat and incredible panoramic views.
Tickets start from around £150. If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, still complete with incredible views, then you can opt for the standard train to Zermatt.
If you have more time in Switzerland and want to visit another incredible mountain in Switzerland, then Jungfraujoch, often labelled the “Top of Europe is one not to be missed.
2. Enjoy Après Ski at Harry’s Ski Bar
Whether you are skiing or not, a visit to Harry’s is an essential thing to do in Zermatt, Switzerland, during any trip. It can get pretty packed, so you’ll either have to stand outside in your ski gear or warm clothes or head into the small bar to warm up with a mulled or two!
3. Ride on the Gornergrat Railway
The Gornergrat Railway is one of Europe’s highest cogwheel railways. It offers an incredible journey to the summit of Gornergrat at 3,089 meters.
The train journeys through alpine forests and snow-capped mountains, unveiling breathtaking 360-degree views of the Swiss Alps, and ending at the iconic Matterhorn. Marvel at the iconic “Toblerone Mountain” and immerse yourself in the breathtaking Swiss Alps on this unforgettable journey.
The journey takes approximately 30 minutes each way and has multiple stops where you can get off and explore each spot, and it is one of the best things to do in Zermatt for non-skiers.
Tickets cost around £100 for a return ticket, and prices go up in peak season. It isn’t during, but it’s so worth it for these views!
If you just have one day in Zermatt, then you really should include this. I recommend buying your tickets in advance!
You can check if the Gornergrat Railway has availability here. I recommend booking your ticket before you travel as spaces sell out quickly:
4. Pizza and Pasta at Grampi’s
In Zermatt, you’re so close to the Italian border, so it’s no surprise that the little Swiss town has some incredible Italian restaurants. We ate a few different ones. But the one that always has amazing reviews is Grampi’s for a slightly cheaper meal. We couldn’t get a spot to eat here, so to ensure you don’t suffer the same fate, be sure to book!
5. Paraglide Over the Swiss Alps
If you’re looking for the best views and an adrenaline-fueled experience, then enjoy a paragliding adventure over the Swiss Alps. Fly over the Matterhorn with Zermatt Paragliding.
6. Explore Zermatt Town
There are plenty of things to do in Zermatt town, including strolling through the car-free village, visiting charming shops, and dining on traditional Swiss cuisine.
Walk around the narrow cobblestone streets, surrounded by charming, centuries-old chalets adorned with wooden facades and flower boxes all covered in crisp white snow (even if you visit during the winter). It’s small but, oh so beautiful.
If you’re short on time during your trip and wondering ‘what things to do in Zermatt in one day?’ then exploring the Old Town should be high on it! It’s also one of the free things to do in Zermatt.
7. Ride the Cable Car to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
One of the top things to do in Zermatt all year round
If you’re wondering what to do in Zermatt, you really must include riding the cable car to the top, whether you’re skiing or not. The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise can be reached from the town in around 40 minutes, including changes. Sitting at 3’883 metres high, it is Europe’s highest mountain station.
Once you reach the top, you can hop on the lift to the viewing platform, where you’ll be greeted with 360º panoramic views.
The cable car costs around £90 return, or you can get a day pass for the slopes for £100 (prices vary depending on the season, so be sure to check this before visiting). You can buy your Matterhorn Glacier Paradise cable car ticket in advance here.
If you don’t fancy going all the way up, then you can just go to the first or second stop on the cable car.
As we were riding the Gornergrat Railway later on in the day, we opted to just visit the first stop. This costs £16 each return.
You can reserve your tickets for the Glacier Paradise beforehand here (which we recommend doing, as tickets can sell out and it’s sometimes cheaper to buy before)
8. Enjoy the 5 Lakes Walk – One of the top things to do in Zermatt in the summer
If you time your visit to Zermatt right, then a hike around the 5 lakes will be high on your list of what to do in Zermatt. The lakes are breathtaking, nestled amongst the mountains. Unfortunately, during the winter months, they’re covered in snow and often unreachable. But it’s one of the top things to do in Zermatt in summer.
9. Ski at Europe’s Highest Ski Resort
The Swiss town is a skiing town after all. So, we couldn’t write a list of what to do in Zermatt without including it, as Europe’s highest ski resort after all. It’s a wonderful place to ski.
10. Zermatt Museum
Learn about the history and culture of this little Swiss town, including its mountaineering heritage, at the Zermatt Museum.
11. Ride on the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
The highest cable car station in Europe (3,883 metres). The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise!
Your cable car ticket also includes entry to Glacier Palace, where you can see stunning ice sculptures, walk inside a glacier crevice and even slide down an ice chute.
It also includes tickets to a Cinema Lounge, a small museum – the Information Cube and the Peak Restaurant and Shop. The first leg is a 6-person gondola that goes through some of the smaller villages between Zermatt and the first station, Furi.
The second leg is in one of the large cable cars which you will have wonderful views of the Matterhorn. It stops at the station Trockener Steg. The final is a smaller cable car to take you to your final viewpoint.
12. Cheese and Chocolate Tasting
Indulge in Swiss culinary delights with cheese and chocolate tastings in Zermatt, experiencing the local flavours of both of these wonderful delights.
13. Enjoy Cheese Fondue with an Incredible View
There are plenty of beautiful places to enjoy a fondue in Switzerland, Zermatt, and being such a quintessentially Swiss thing, it really should be high on everyone’s list of things to do in Zermatt.
Some highly-rated restaurants include:
Frequently Asked Questions on visiting Zermatt, Switzerland
Where is Zermatt?
The small town of Zermatt can be found in the southern part of Switzerland. Zermatt is a municipality in the district of Visp and can be found at the base of the Matterhorn.
What is the closest airport to Zermatt?
The closest airport to Zermatt is Sion (75km). However, there are not always direct flights flying into Sion, and they can be more expensive due to it being a smaller airport. The nearest airport to Zermatt is Geneva (244 kilometres); however, flights can be expensive during peak season. Zurich Airport (248 kilometres) is the next closest, which can be cheaper to fly into during peak times. Both airports are well connected to the Swiss rail network.
How to get from the airport to Zermatt
Zermatt is a car-free town, so you have to get a train to the Swiss town. The train station is conveniently located in the centre of Zermatt. Trains run from most Swiss cities either directly or with 1 change.
If you are visiting Zermatt as part of a larger trip through Switzerland and have hired a car, then you can also get a shuttle train into the town from one of the nearby Swiss towns. The train journeys through the Swiss Alps to Zermatt are also incredibly beautiful. You can read all about how to get to Zermatt in our post here.
Travel tip: I also highly recommend getting a 4-day 2nd-class Swiss Travel Pass, which not only covers trains and cable cars but also most of the excursion transportation for the different things to do in Zermatt, including the Matterhorn museum, 50% off cable cars, etc. I did this as part of my 4-day Swiss road trip and really loved the flexibility that it provided.
The SBB train pass might be a larger upfront cost (but Switzerland isn’t a cheap country to visit!). But this pass ends up paying for itself and takes the guesswork out of buying each ticket and excursion ticket, making it easy to do some Zermatt sightseeing.
I recommend booking your Swiss Travel Pass in advance so that you can use it straight away when you land in Switzerland. You can book it here:
How long should I spend in Zermatt?
I recommend spending at least 2-3 days in Zermatt so you can explore the little Swiss town and head into the mountains to see the Matterhorn. I’ve put together a full post detailing how long you should spend in Zermatt here.
When should I visit Zermatt?
Zermatt really is magical all year round, but there’s something extra magical about the little town at Christmas. That’s when I visited for the first time, and it truly was like stepping into a Hallmark movie. November – February is the perfect time for visiting and seeing the Matterhorn and the town in all its snowy glory. Of course, if you would prefer to hike, then this is best in the summer months, when the snow has thawed and the trails are accessible.
Final thoughts on things to do in Zermatt
And that’s your complete list of things to do in Zermatt! We completely fell in love with the town and recommend visiting to any traveller who loves the mountains. From travelling to Zermatt on the Glacier Express to riding the Gornergrat railway to indulging in Swiss cuisine to riding to the highest cable car station in Europe on The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.
Have you been to Zermatt before? What did you do in here? We’d love to know!
If you’re wondering what to pack for Zermatt, I’ve put together a helpful packing guide that you can read here. Plus, a guide to help you plan the perfect trip to Zermatt, including everything you need to know before visiting.
