Gornergrat Cogwheel Train
4 hAll agesAll year
The cogwheel train from Zermatt up to the Gornergrat, at 3,089 m, takes 33 minutes and faces the Matterhorn head-on; CHF 132 return in summer.
From CHF102
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ArrivalTrain to Zermatt or shuttle from Täsch
Stay2–4 nights
Best timeJuly – September for walking; January – March for skiing
CarLeft in Täsch
What to do
What to do in Zermatt
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Cable Car to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, at 3,883 m
4 hFrom age 3; mind the altitudeAll year
The cable car from Zermatt to the Klein Matterhorn, at 3,883 m, with a viewing platform, ice palace and snow all year round; CHF 138 return in summer.
From CHF104
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Five Lakes Trail, from Blauherd to Sunnegga
3 h 30 · 11.3 kmFamilies with children from 6 and teenagersJune – September, snow-free
An 11.3 km route between Blauherd and Sunnegga that passes five lakes; in three of them the Matterhorn is reflected.
Plan the trip
Zermatt, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Zermatt
July to September, with the lake trails open and the Matterhorn clearer in the morning. January to March for skiing. May and November are the weakest months.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
Zermatt your way
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
Zermatt by Train, Without a Car
Zermatt is a car-free village and the train reaches its square: it is the Swiss destination where you miss the car least. The ascents are by cogwheel train or cable car, and getting around the village is on foot or by electric bus. The budget is set by accommodation and one or two big ascents.
150–300 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepZermatt Youth Hostel, the cheapest…
- Getting aroundThe Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn train…
- Where to eatBrown Cow Pub for a…
- ServicesTourist office on the station…
Where to sleep
- Zermatt Youth Hostel, the cheapest option in the village
- Hotel Alphubel, five minutes from the station, with rooms for up to four
- Hotel Monte Rosa, on the main street, if you want history
Getting around
- The Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn train from Visp or Brig, included in the Swiss Travel Pass
- The Gornergrat Bahn and the Zermatt Bergbahnen cable cars, at 50% off with the pass or the Half Fare Card
- Electric bus and electric taxis in the village
Where to eat
- Brown Cow Pub for a cheap meal or takeaway
- Whymper Stube for fondue
- Chez Vrony, at lunchtime, in Findeln
Services
- Tourist office on the station square
- Zermatt station, end of the line
Zermatt with a Luxury Hotel
Zermatt has one of the densest offerings of luxury hotels in the Alps, and some are outside the village, up in the mountains. What sets the stay apart is sleeping with the Matterhorn in the window and arriving without a car, with the luggage taken care of by the hotel.
From €600per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepRiffelalp Resort 2222m, at 2,222…
- Getting aroundTrain to Zermatt; the hotel…
- Where to eatThe Riffelalp restaurants: Alexandre, Al…
- ServicesMatterhorn Terminal Täsch, if you…
Where to sleep
- Riffelalp Resort 2222m, at 2,222 m, with a spa included and its own tram from Zermatt; open in winter and summer
- Hotel Monte Rosa, Whymper's hotel on the main street, with a spa at the Mont Cervin Palace
Getting around
- Train to Zermatt; the hotel collects the luggage at the station
- The Gornergrat Bahn to Riffelalp, with the last train at 23:30
- If you arrive by car, a space reserved in Täsch
Where to eat
- The Riffelalp restaurants: Alexandre, Al Bosco and, in winter, Walliserkeller
- Chez Vrony, in Findeln, for a long lunch with a view
Services
- Matterhorn Terminal Täsch, if you come by car
- Tourist office on the station square
Zermatt for Walking
Trails leave Zermatt in every direction and the lifts drop you at the starting point: the Five Lakes from Blauherd, the Riffelsee from Rotenboden or the climb to the Hörnlihütte from Schwarzsee. The high paths open from June to September, depending on the snow. Sleep in the village, near the station or the cable car, and set off early, when the Matterhorn is clear.
120–220 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepZermatt Youth Hostel, near the…
- Getting aroundThe Gornergrat Bahn to Rotenboden…
- Where to eatA picnic from the village…
- ServicesZermatt tourist office, for the…
Where to sleep
- Zermatt Youth Hostel, near the cable car
- Hotel Alphubel, beside the station and the Gornergrat Bahn
Getting around
- The Gornergrat Bahn to Rotenboden or Riffelberg
- The Sunnegga Express and gondola to Blauherd, for the lakes
- The cable car to Schwarzsee, for the Hörnlihütte
Where to eat
- A picnic from the village supermarkets
- Chez Vrony in Findeln, on the way down from Sunnegga
- Brown Cow Pub on your return
Services
- Zermatt tourist office, for the state of the trails
Fly to Geneva, Zurich or Milan and Take the Train to Zermatt
You reach Zermatt from the three big airports in the area, all with direct flights from Spain, and the rest is by train. From Geneva and Zurich it is a little over three hours, with a change at Visp; from Milan Malpensa you come in via Domodossola and Brig. If you hire a car, the last stretch changes: you leave it in Täsch and go up on the shuttle.
- Getting thereGeneva (GVA), with a railway…
- Getting aroundThe Swiss Travel Pass covers…
- Where to sleepHotel Alphubel, five minutes from…
- ServicesZermatt station, end of the…
Getting there
- Geneva (GVA), with a railway station in the terminal and trains along Lake Geneva to Visp
- Zurich (ZRH), with a station beneath the terminal, via Bern and the Lötschberg base tunnel to Visp
- Milan Malpensa (MXP), via Domodossola and the Simplon to Brig
- At Visp or Brig, take the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn train to Zermatt
Getting around
- The Swiss Travel Pass covers the train from the airport to Zermatt
- A hire car at the airport only if you are going to tour the Valais: it ends at Täsch
- In Zermatt, on foot or by electric bus
Where to sleep
- Hotel Alphubel, five minutes from the station, if you arrive late
- Zermatt Youth Hostel, with check-in until 22:00
Services
- Zermatt station, end of the line
- Matterhorn Terminal Täsch, car park and shuttle if you arrive by car
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights3
Who you're with
Zermatt for whoever you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
A car-free village and mountains with children's discounts
Zermatt is easy with children: no traffic, trains that climb almost to the door of the Matterhorn and generous children's fares. The hard part is the price for adults, so choose one big ascent and fill in with walks.
- What works bestThe Gornergrat by train and…
- Where to sleepApartments in the village, ideally…
- Where to eatVillage supermarkets for a picnic…
- Bear in mindOn the cable cars children…
What works best
- The Gornergrat by train and the walk down from Rotenboden to Riffelberg past the Riffelsee
- The Five Lakes Trail, with a swim in the Leisee and the Grünsee
- The Matterhorn Museum for a rainy afternoon, free for under-10s with an adult
Where to sleep
- Apartments in the village, ideally near the station so you don't have to haul the luggage
- Täsch, cheaper, one shuttle train away
Where to eat
- Village supermarkets for a picnic by the lakes
- Mountain restaurants at Riffelberg and Sunnegga for the break
Bear in mind
- On the cable cars children do not pay up to the age of 8; on the Gornergrat they travel free with a Junior Card
- The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is at 3,883 m: watch how they cope with the altitude
- Bring warm clothes for everyone, even in August
What to do as a family
The most famous mountain, up close
For a teenager with strong legs, Zermatt offers something to remember: climbing to the hut where Matterhorn mountaineers set out from, or crossing into Italy above the glaciers.
- What works bestThe climb to the Hörnlihütte…
- Where to sleepHostels and simple hotels in…
- Where to eatSupermarkets for sandwiches on the…
- Bear in mindThe path to the Hörnlihütte…
What works best
- The climb to the Hörnlihütte, at 3,260 m, if they already have mountain experience
- The Matterhorn Alpine Crossing to Cervinia
- The Five Lakes Trail, long but not difficult
Where to sleep
- Hostels and simple hotels in the village
- Täsch, if you are after a low price
Where to eat
- Supermarkets for sandwiches on the route
- A fondue or a raclette, as the plan for the last night
Bear in mind
- The path to the Hörnlihütte has ropes, pegs and ladders: it is not one to start on
- To cross into Italy, take an identity document
- You notice the altitude: keep hydrated and go slowly
What to do with teenagers
Where to stay
Where to stay without a carin styleif you're on footif you're flying
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Riffelalp Resort 2222m
Why we like it: A luxury hotel at 2,222 m above Zermatt, car-free, facing the Matterhorn, with a spa included and its own tram from the Gornergrat station.
Hotel Monte Rosa
Why we like it: The Zermatt hotel from which Edward Whymper set out for the Matterhorn in 1865, on the main street, with its Whymper Stube and a spa at a sister hotel.
Hotel Alphubel
Why we like it: A simple, reasonably priced hotel in central Zermatt, five minutes from the station, with breakfast included, rooms for up to four and dogs welcome.
Zermatt Youth Hostel
Why we like it: A Swiss-network hostel on a quiet Zermatt street, with views of the Matterhorn, 170 beds in dormitories, doubles and family rooms, and breakfast included.
Services for this trip
Where to eat
Where to eat in Zermatt
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
Whymper Stube
What to order: the cheese fondue or the raclette, with a white from the Valais.
Chez Vrony
What to order: the Vrony-Burger or the board of dried meat and cheese from its own herd.
Brown Cow Pub
What to order: a burger or a soup; or order to take away and have dinner in your apartment.
Nearby
Near Zermatt
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
46.44° N · 8.08° E
Aletsch Glacier
Car-freeBy plane
45.61° N · 7.36° E
Gran Paradiso
By carBy campervanCampingOn footBackpacking
46.60° N · 7.91° E
Jungfrau Region
Car-freeOn footCampingLuxuryBackpackingBy car
45.92° N · 6.87° E
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
By carCar-freeOn footCampingBy campervanBackpacking
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Go up in the morning
The Matterhorn is usually clearer first thing, and in still air it is reflected in the Riffelsee and the Stellisee.
- 2Children free
On the Gornergrat Bahn children with a Junior Card travel free, and on the cable cars they do not pay until they are 8.
- 3Combine train and walking
Walk down a stretch: from Rotenboden to Riffelberg or from Blauherd to Sunnegga, past the lakes.
Ascents when the peak is hidden
If the Matterhorn is in cloud, go up at another time or another day and use the time for the museum.
Getting there from Spain
Fly to Geneva, Zurich or Milan and continue by train to Visp and from there to Zermatt, which is the end of the line. By car you only get as far as Täsch: you park at the terminal there and continue on the Zermatt Shuttle, which runs every 20 minutes from 5:55 to 21:55 and costs CHF 17.20 return (included in the Swiss Travel Pass). In Zermatt only electric vehicles are allowed.
Getting around in the mountains
The village is covered on foot. The ascents are two separate systems: the Gornergrat Bahn, a cogwheel train that leaves from opposite the station, and the Zermatt Bergbahnen cable cars (Sunnegga, Schwarzsee, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise). Neither is free with the Swiss Travel Pass: both give a 50% discount, the same as with the Half Fare Card. Given that, it pays to choose one or two ascents rather than do them all.
Crowds and what to book
In August and during the ski holidays the village fills up. What you book in advance is accommodation; trains and cable cars are bought on the day, at the ticket office or online to avoid queuing. Check the weather before going up: the Matterhorn is often hidden by cloud from midday onwards.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can you drive to Zermatt?
No. You park in Täsch and continue on the shuttle train, every 20 minutes.
Which ascent should I choose if I only do one?
The Gornergrat: cheaper, by train and with the Matterhorn straight ahead. The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is higher and has a glacier, but costs more.
Is the Swiss Travel Pass valid?
It covers the train to Zermatt and the shuttle from Täsch. On the Gornergrat and the cable cars it gives a 50% discount.
When are the lake trails open?
From June to September, depending on the snow.
Can you go with children?
Yes. Children do not pay for cable cars until they are 8, and the Five Lakes Trail has two lakes where they can paddle.