Discover Zermatt Top Winter Experiences
Discover Zermatt Top Winter Experiences
Located at the heart of the Swiss Alps, at 1620 meters above sea level, Zermatt is one of the most iconic mountain villages in Switzerland and one of its top skiing resorts. I’ve recently visited Zermatt for a long weekend in February, and I had the most amazing time. Let me share with you my guide to Discover Zermatt Top Winter Experiences.
It’s easy to understand why Zermatt has become worldwide famous. Beside the beautiful traditional Swiss village full of shops, known restaurants and hotels, it also has the most spectacular alpine landscapes, mesmerising visitors independently of the time of the year. And the iconic Matterhorn, considered the world’s most photographed mountain, is visible from almost every angle in the region.
In Winter time, Zermatt transforms itself into a trendy ski resort. It offers some of the most amazing slopes in the world and amazing outdoor adventures in the snow, as well as renowned après-ski parties and gourmet dining experiences. It’s the high season in the region, as many Winter sport enthusiasts travel to Zermatt at this time of the year.
In Summer, the greenery of the landscapes invites to hikes in the mountain to explore hiking trails, glaciers and mountain lakes. This season also attracts many outdoor lovers, offering a completely different experience in this alpine region.
Zermatt is easily connected by train with other destinations in the country. It’s also possible to get there by car, but you will have to leave your car in the neighbourhood village of Täsch and take a 10 minutes train to Zermatt. The reason is the fact that it is a car free village, so only authorized vehicles from local services or hotels (most of them electric) can circulate.
You can go to Zermatt only for a day trip, but I recommend to stay at least for a few nights, to enjoy everything that this alpine resort has to offer. There are many accommodation options available. From small typical Swiss hotels, local accommodation to some of the most luxury resorts. In Winter high season, make sure to book quite in advance, as many hotels can be easily fully booked. An alternative is staying in Täsch, where accommodation can be more affordable, and taking the train to Zermatt.
There are many things to do in Zermatt, so I will share with you my guide to Discover Zermatt Top Winter Experiences.
Walk Around Zermatt Centre
Once you arrive to Zermatt, most likely by train, you will be at the heart of the village. The train station is conveniently located in the centre, and most of the hotels, restaurants and attractions are walking distance. But if needed, you can organize a transfer with your hotel in a small electric car, or take a local taxi.
I recommend you to spend some time just walking around Zermatt and enjoying the ambiance of the village. Zermatt becomes quite lively at this time of the year, with many skiers, snowboarders or just Winter lovers chasing the slopes and the snowy landscapes.
You will find in Zermatt plenty of options of restaurants, from luxury dining experiences, to traditional places where you can taste local specialties like the famous cheese fondue or raclettes. It’s also worth to explore the many shops available, where you can buy not only traditional handcraft and souvenirs, but also everything you might need for Winter season. At the end of the day, stop by one of the bars offering an après-ski party.
If you want to know more about the history of Zermatt, visit Mattherhorn Museum. It reveals how it developed from a small mountain village, to one of the most famous alpine resorts. In the museum you will see original houses, finds from the first ascent to the Matterhorn and a multimedia exhibition.
Get Back in Time in Hinterdorf
At the heart of Zermatt don’t miss Hinterdorf, the oldest part of the village built between the 16th and the 18th century. In this area you will feel that you are back in time, when Zermatt was a small alpine farmers village.
Stroll through the narrow alleys with old wooden houses, stables, warehouses and storage buildings. Walking down Hinterdorfstrass street, you will will get to the shores of Matter Vispa, traversing the village. Matter Visa is the main river of the valley, rising at Gorner and Zmutt glaciers, at the feet of some of the highest peaks in the Alps.
Enjoy the Scenic Gornergrat Railway
The iconic Gornergrat Railway is one of the most iconic train rides in Switzerland. Founded in 1898, it has been since then taking visitors up to 3100 metres above sea level, with the most spectacular Matterhorn views. One tip for buying your train ticket. If you travel after 12h15, you will have a discounted price.
The train ride itself, that takes approximately 40 minutes to get to the top of Gornergrat, is extremely scenic. When arriving to the final station of Gornergrat, the panorama of mountains and glaciers is simply breathtaking.
If you buy the ticket to the top, you can stop in any of the train stations located in the way up to Gornergrat, like Riffelalp, Riffelberg or Rotenboden. You will find in those stations slopes, restaurants with mountain views and even luxury hotels in a secluded mountain location.
In summertime, there are great hiking trails accessible in this area. One of the most famous is the Riffelsee hiking path, taking to the beautiful Riffelsee Lake with privileged Matterhorn views. It’s not difficult to get there. You need to stop at Rotenboden station and just take the path signs. From there, it’s an easy ten minutes walk.
Take a Cable Car to Klein Matterhorn
At 3883 meters above sea level, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is the highest mountain station in Europe and a must visit when in the region. Your journey starts in Zermatt village and to get there you need to take several cable cars, in a journey of approximately 40 minutes.
The cable car trip itself is thrilling, as you ride up to the top of the mountains. You can even take one of the special cabins with glass floors, allowing you to view the spectacular landscapes through the floor. And once you get to Klein Matterhorn, you will be rewarded by some of the best views ever.
There is no shortage of experiences in Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. First of all, head to the viewing platform and enjoy the breathtaking 360 degrees panoramic view to 38 alpine giant peaks. If the sky is clear, it’s possible to see the famous Matterhorn, Mont Blanc in France (the highest mountain in the Alps with 4810 meters) or Gran Paradiso in Italy.
Klein Matterhorn is also the starting point for 21km of pistes, which are the perfect plan for skiers and snowboarders. From this point, mountaineers and hikers can also climb to Breithorn, at 4164m. In the station it is located Europe’s highest restaurant, where you can taste traditional culinary delights with Matterhorn views.
You can also visit the inside of a glacier 15 meters under the surface. A lift takes visitors to a palace under the perennial snows. You can admire ice sculptures, have an ice toboggan run and enjoy the experience of exploring a real glacier.
Ski or Snowboard in some of the World Best Slopes
In Zermatt region you can ski and snowboard literally 365 days a year. At an altitude of almost 4000 metres, you will find the highest ski resort in the Alps, with 360 km of pistes for all types of skiers and snowboarders, from beginners to professionals.
There are different lifts and gondolas taking to several pistes available: Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Sunnegga — Rotthorn, Gonergrat, Breuil – Cervinia and Valtournenche. If you love skiing and snowboarding, you can easily spend a few days just enjoying Zermatt slopes. But don’t worry, even if you don’t ski (like me), I assure you will find many things to do in the region and you will have a great time there!
Enjoy Matterhorn Views from a Terrace
With 4478 metres, the iconic Matterhorn is undoubtedly one of Switzerland’s landmarks. Its presence stands out in Zermatt’s landscape and it became the perfect postcard of this idyllic village nestled at the heart of the Swiss Alps.
It is visible from almost all locations in Zermatt, but nothing beats the views of the famous mountain from one of the many terraces with privileged viewpoints. Crossing the river to the opposite side of the train station and walking up in the hill, you will find some of the most beautiful Matterhorn views.
One of my favourite is the terrace of Chalet Hotel Schonegg. Even if you are not staying there, you can make a reservation for lunch or have a drink in the afternoon. Ask for one of the tables next to the balcony for the best views.
Another terrace not to miss is at Cervo Mountain Resort. Beside the spectacular views, you can have lunch there or party in the après-ski.
Party in an Après-Ski
After a thrilling and adventurous day at the slopes (or not), après-ski is part of the skiing tradition in Zermatt. When the ski day is over, skiers, snowboarders and all Winter enthusiasts join the party in one of the many après-ski available in the village for a drink and some music.
There are plenty of options for après-ski. I joined the one at Cervo Mountain Resort and it was definitely a very cool experience to have in Zermatt.
Go for Winter Hiking or Snowshoeing
For outdoor activity lovers, Zermatt is a real paradise offering great conditions for hiking or snowshoeing with alpine snowy sceneries. There are many kilometres of Winter hiking and snowshoe trails available, allowing you to enjoy the glistening glaciers, the stone pine forests and stunning mountain landscapes in the nature.
You will find in Zermatt area hiking paths and snowshoe trails for all kind of visitors, from beginners to experienced adventurers. Always check the difficulty level and the status of the trails and respect at all times the recommendations provided.
In many of the trails available, you will find cozy typical restaurants, where you can rest and enjoy the delicious typical mountain specialties.
For some more Winter travel inspiration, check my Travel Guide to Bergamo and Trentino in the Dolomites and my article about 10 Epic Things to Do in Lulea in Sweden.
