Explore Your Getaway
Discover Local Delights
Welcome to your home away from home! Dive into our guide filled with local attractions and activities that will make your stay memorable. From stunning sights to family-friendly events, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Let us help enhance your vacation experience!
Gornergrat
Trains leave Zermatt every 24 minutes. Journey to the top takes 40 mins. Trains stop 4 times on the way up and down. Return tickets allow you to hop off and on at any stop.
Our tips:
- At the top, walk up behind the Hotel to the viewing platform and get away from the crowds by continuing along the ridge towards Hohtälli.
- On the way down, take the nice walk between Rotenboden and Riffelberg via the Riffelsee (40 minutes).
Sunnegga / Rothorn
Underground train from Zermatt to Sunnegga runs every 10-15 minutes. Gondolas and cable cars from Sunnegga to Blauherd and Rothorn.
Our tips:
- The classic photos of the Matterhorn views are taken from Sunnegga and Rothorn.
- Blauherd is the starting point for the famous 5 lakes hike.
- Walk from Sunnegga to Zermatt via Findeln (1-1.5 hours). Stop for lunch at Chez Vrony or Findlerhof.
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise:
Gondola from Zermatt to Trockener Steg. 3s gondola ride to Klein Matterhorn. Amazing views across the Alps and into Italy / France.
This excursion is best done on a ‘blue sky’ day. Localised cloud can limit the views.
Our tips:
- Take the elevator and steps to the viewing platform for amazing views.
- Hike the Glacier trail from Trockener Steg to Schwarzsee on the way down (about 2-3 hours).
The Peak Pass
The Peak Pass covers all the excursions above as well as the shuttle train from Täsch to Zermatt. Depending how many lifts you intend to use, this may be better value than buying individual tickets. www.matterhornparadise.ch for prices.
Zermatt Summer Activities
Hiking
Lots and lots of amazing routes.
Check out itineraries on the Zermatt tourist office website
https://zermatt.swiss/en/activities/hiking-mountaineering/hiking/hiking-trails
Biking
Great mountain / e-bike biking around Sunnegga and Schwarzsee. Also a great flow trail from Riffelberg when the lift is running.
There’s a very good free biking map available.
Climbing
Sport climbing routes can be found on the road to Täschalp at the Klettergarten just after the bridge (slab climbing).
In Zermatt, check out the areas at Dossen, Fluhalp and Eschelbalmen. Excellent multi-pitch routes on the Riffelhorn.
You can find a great little bouldering hall (for those bad weather days) in Randa. www.randaboulder.ch
Mountaineering
Amazing day climbs and overnight objectives. Zermatt is home to 38 4000m peaks and many of the classic routes of the Alps.
Even if you’ve never climbed high before, book a guide for an ascent of the Breithorn. A 2 hour glacier walk to your first 4000m peak.
Skiing
Skiing in summer is a novelty for serious skiers. It’s fun to do a few runs (it’s not a large area compared to winter), check out the changing snow conditions through the morning and contrast the skiing with a hike or swim in the mountains in the afternoon.
If you’ve not skied before, take a lesson with Summit Ski School. www.summitskischool.com
Gornerschlucht
Pass through the Gorner Gorge on the wooden walkways and balconies. Marvel at the rock formations created by the glacial rivers.
The walkways were originally built in the 19th century!
Forest Fun Park
Clamber and zipline through the trees at the Forest Fun Park at the north end of the village. Great fun for kids and adults.
Paragliding
Fly Zermatt offer tandem flights from Rothorn to Zermatt. This is an amazing way to see Zermatt and our mountains from the air. The pilots at Fly Zermatt are excellent and will give you a memory card with lots of photos and video clips of your flight. www.flyzermatt.com
Matterhorn Museum
Perfect for a bad weather day. Discover the history of Zermatt and the early ascents of the famous Matterhorn.
https://zermatt.swiss/entdecken-erleben/tradition-kultur/museum
Sightseeing by Helicopter
Take a helicopter sightseeing tour. Book a 25 minute flight with Air Zermatt and get up close to the summit of the Matterhorn. Although it’s not cheap, this is a very special treat and well worth the money. www.air-zermatt.ch
Zermatt for children
Children get reduced price Zermatt lift tickets.
Under 9 years travel for free on all the lifts.
Under 16 years get ½ price tickets.
You’ll need ID to prove age and get the reductions.
Easy walks
- The Wolli adventure trail is a 2km loop through the forest with games and info points along the way featuring ‘Wolli’ the Zermatt mascot.
- Sunnegga to Tuftern. At 1 hour round trip on the flat with great views.
- Furi to Zermatt. Downhill all the way on numerous routes. Maybe stop at Zum See or Blatten for homemade ice cream. Can also include a trip through the Gornerschlucht.
- Rotenboden to Riffelberg. As part of a trip to Gornergrat, this is an easy downhill trail (45mins – 1 hour) with amazing views and passing by mountain lakes.
- Furi Hanging bridge. A round trip from Furi (1-1.5 hours) passimng a picnic spot and playground.
Leisee mountain lake
Take the lift to Sunnegga and the shuttle down to the Leisee.
There’s a playground, a raft to cross the lake with, a picnic and bbq area and sort of beach for kids to play in the water.
Mountain carts
Mountain carts for older kids can be rented at Blauherd and ridden to Sunnegga.
Our Summer Day Out Suggestions
Hike Täschalp to Zermatt
Walk the 700 vertical metres to Täschalp (or take a taxi) before following the signs along the Europaweg to Sunnegga. This is a fantastic undulating trail traversing the hillside with amazing views of the Matterhorn.
From Sunnegga, you have the option of the funicular lift down or continue walking down through Findeln to Zermatt.
Approximate hiking times:
Täsch to Täschalp – 2-3 hours
Täschalp to Sunnegga – 2-3 hours.
Sunnegga to Zermatt – 1-1.5 hours.
Refreshments: We’d suggest a picnic lunch. There are lots of great spots to find a rock to perch on along the trail or there are picnic tables at the Leisee (lake swimming optional). There are also restaurants at Täschalp, Tuftern, Sunnegga and (most notably) in Findeln. Chez Vrony and Findlerhof are fabulous lunch spots.
Hike and Sunnegga / Blauherd / Gornergrat visits
Take a single ticket from Zermatt to Blauherd. Follow the 5 lakes walk to the Stellisee then Grinjisee and Grunsee. From here, leave the 5 lakes walk and follow the signs to Riffelalp. Total hike approx. 2 hours (plus stops at the lakes). From Riffelalp, take the train to Gornergrat and back to Zermatt. You can walk sections on the descent if you still have the legs. Nicest section is Rotenboden to Riffelberg (40mins).
Höhbalmen hike
From the main street in Zermatt, take the steep path from the Hotel Post to the Edelweiss restaurant and on up to Trift. From here, turn left and carry on up to the Höhbalmen. Enjoy the amazing traverse high above Zermatt with fantastic views of the Mischabel and Monte Rosa massifs as well as, of course, the Matterhorn. Descend past the waterfall in front of the Matterhorn north face and through Zmutt back to Zermatt.
Approximately 6-8 hours walking with 1000m up and down. Big day. Well worth the effort!
https://zermatt.swiss/en/p/edelweiss-trail-hoehbalmen-nr-30-01tVj000005EwSgIAK
E-bike Zermatt
Ride up the road to Zermatt and through town to the Church bridge. Head east and follow the road (becomes gravel) up to Tuftern. The trail traverses to Sunnegga then the lower road to the right will take you around to Findeln. After Findeln, there’s a short steep ascent up to Gant and on to Grunsee.
Here the road becomes a footpath as we traverse to Riffelalp (good lunch spot at Alphitta). Follow the footpath signs down to Furi and look out for the sections of flow trail designed for mountain bikers.
From Furi, if you still have the legs / battery, we can ride up to Schwarzsee via Stafelalp before descending back to Zermatt / Täsch.