One Amazing Day in Zermatt, Switzerland: The Best of the Matterhorn Village

If you don’t have multiple leisurely days to devote to seeing everything Zermatt has to offer and need to maximize limited vacation time, this guide is for you! I consider the Matterhorn a must-see for your first trip to Switzerland and was concerned about not having enough time to “do it right” I’m happy to report that I’m completely satisfied with our Matterhorn adventure that took just over 24 hours!

Zermatt is a car-free village in the Valais canton of Switzerland . Although well connected, Zermatt is a little out of the way compared to other sites you may be visiting. The following times assume train travel:

• Lausanne – Zermatt: ~3h 15m
• Zurich – Zermatt: ~3h 15m
• Bern – Zermatt: ~2h 10m
• Lucerne – Zermatt: ~3h 30m

Zermatt is still a worthy addition to your Swiss itinerary, because there is genuinely nothing like gazing at the Matterhorn. Plus, Zermatt is one of the cutest towns around!

For more Switzerland, check out my post on the Jungfrau Region!

Jungfrau Region in 3 Days: Switzerland’s Most Spectacular Scenery

The Matterhorn

Given that the Matterhorn is the big draw for Zermatt, you are going to need the weather gods to be on your side so you can get a glimpse of the famous peak. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for visibility to come and go throughout the day. Sometimes those stubborn clouds park themselves right in the way! If not seeing the Matterhorn will ruin your trip, then consider keep your Zermatt plans open to allow you to head there at the drop of a hat for one night, or give yourself the option for more time in Zermatt to increase your chances. Note that when at high altitude, you will need at least 1 additional layer of clothing, even in summer!

While you can see the Matterhorn from most of the town, some experiences get you much closer and more personal with the mountain. We will go through those below!

Gornergrat Railway

The Gornergrat cogwheel railway takes you from the town center of Zermatt all the way up to the summit of the Gornergrat ridge. The railway is accessed directly across from the train that likely brought you into town, so it’s super easy to get to! You can buy tickets online here and skip the ticket line.

Tip: Buy a one-way ticket if you plan to do some hiking on the way down (which you should definitely do). It will be a little less expensive to buy the return ticket from a stop a little further down the mountain!

The Ride Up

From Zermatt, you will pass through 5 stations, including Gornergrat Station at the summit. Along the way, you gain a whopping 4900 feet in altitude! The right side of the train will offer the best views of the Matterhorn as you ascend. You can pay a little extra for the privilege of early boarding. We had a panoramic view – we got there right before our train left, and it was standing room only!

The Summit

Once at the peak, you will have a choice of things to see and do. Take a look at the majestic Gorner glacier to the right of the ascending train. It is the 2nd largest glacier in Europe after the Aletsch Glacier in the Jungfrau Region. You can also take the Glacier Loop hike that begins and ends at the station for a better glacier view!

Grab a drink and/or some food at 3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat (referring to how high the peak is in meters). You can also just enjoy the fresh air and views! If you aren’t afraid of altitude sickness, you could even stay overnight – it is the highest hotel in Switzerland!

There are viewing platforms from any angle, and the requisite souvenir shop. We spent about 90 minutes at the top! During that time we were getting concerned – although our forecast was clear, the Matterhorn was completely obscured by cloud cover. Thankfully, as we hiked down we were rewarded with perfect Matterhorn views!

Hiking From Gornergrat

Gornergrat Station is the starting point for several hikes back down the mountain. They mostly start on the same path and then diverge as you go along. After you go down about 900 feet, patches of green start peeking through the rock and dirt/snow characteristic of the altitude (if it is summer).

The first station you will reach is Rotenboden. If you walk up the hill to the station, you can catch the Gornergrat railway the rest of the way down, or use the restroom/vending machines. On the hill up to the station, they also have a small alpine garden that I enjoyed walking through. However, please don’t get back on the train yet! Just past Rotenboden station is stunning Lake Riffelsee (you will have seen previews during your walk). At the very least, loop down to the lake and circle back to catch the train if you absolutely can’t make it to the next station.

The following station is Riffelberg. For us, this was the perfect station to stop and have a bite to eat at the restaurant while continuing to soak up the views, then catch the train the rest of the way down. You also have the option of taking the Riffelberg Express, a cable car that connects to Glacier Paradise, or continue hiking! This interactive map is a great resource to visualize your options!

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

I think the Gornergrat Railway experience should be prioritized if you only have 1 day in Zermatt, but if you decide not to do any other activities during your visit and you want to see it all, buy the Peak2Peak ticket and see Glacier Paradise as well as Gornergrat! As mentioned above, the two connect at the Riffelberg Station.

Glacier Paradise boasts the highest viewing platform and restaurant in all of Europe, at 3883 meters (12739 feet). You get there via a series of cable cars, starting at the Furi station (AKA, the endpoint for the gondola leaving Riffelberg Station). The platform is at the top of the Klein Matterhorn (Small Matterhorn), neighboring its big brother Matterhorn.

Beyond the Matterhorn

When we arrived in Zermatt around 11am, I had big plans for our day. However, fresh off of 3 jam-packed days in the Jungfrau Region, I didn’t feel like doing any of them! Clouds were coming and going in front of the Matterhorn, so we decided to wait and head to the peak the next morning since the forecast predicted good visibility (more on this later).

Instead, we located a rooftop bar (the Infinity Terrace at Schonegg Hotel) where we could sip on spritzes and gaze at the majesty of the Matterhorn and the adorable town of Zermatt below. After a little relaxation time, we decided to explore. Note that while the town of Zermatt is car-free, there are golf carts zipping around everywhere, so watch out!

Walking Tour

For a full self-guided tour, I used an itinerary based on the Rick Steves Zermatt Walk itinerary with a few tweaks. If you know Rick Steves, you know he is a big Switzerland fan!

Map link here: Slightly Toasty Rick Steves Walking Tour of Zermatt

If you only have time for one part of the tour, you cannot miss the Hinterdorf. It is a completely preserved area that reflects the fascinating chalet and storehouse construction dating back to the 16th century. We could not believe these buildings were still standing, although precariously perched on stacks of stones! The flat stones in the middle are meant to protect against rodents, and you get a good look at the distinctive stone slab roofs. There were not many people here at all so I would particularly recommend if you need a break from tourist crowds!

Sunegga

If the weather is iffy or you feel like you need just a litte more Matterhorn, ride the funicular up to the Sunegga viewpoint for classic Matterhorn views! You can get in some bonus hiking – even to a special restaurant experience at Chez Vrony, which is only available on foot. If you’re traveling with kids, there is an adventure park as well.

Eating and Drinking in Zermatt

Even in summer, the ski vibes in Zermatt are undeniable. Many bars and restaurants play up that connection with a cozy ski chalet atmosphere. With the crispy cool summer evenings, I loved the abundance of snuggly ambiance!

We enjoyed an aperitivo at Joseph’s Bar and Terrace, located at Mont Cervin Palace. There was a wonderful wine selection, and drinks are served with a complimentary snack trio! The price point is on the higher side – we used our $100 credit from Fine Hotels + Reseort (a perk from booking our stay at Mont Cervin Palace with my Amex Platinum card – if you are interested in learning more about credit card rewards and points for travel, check out this post!)

After that, we found a more budget friendly option with an even better wine selection (don’t bother with the snacks though) – Elsie’s Wine and Champagne Bar. It’s a little further up Bahnhofstrasse right across from the St Mauritius Church and the Matterhorn Museum (a great stop if the weather isn’t on your side)!

For dinner, Schweizerhof Kitchen will fulfill all your cozy ski chalet dreams with some delicious food as well. We recommend the Suzuki Ceviche to start and the Peruvian Chicken Thigh or Beef Entrecote as an entree!

In Conclusion…

I wasn’t sure if it was the right move to include a quick visit to Zermatt/the Matterhorn after spending several days in the Jungfrau Region, but I am so glad we did, it was a real highlight!

Our stay at Mont Cervin Palace booked via Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts was key in making sure we made the most of our time. Benefits include early check-in and even more importantly, guaranteed 4pm late checkout. They offer room upgrades as available (we were upgraded to a Matterhorn view suite). Plus, a welcome gift (champagne, macarons, other goodies), and the aforementioned $100 credit toward any hotel purchase. It was amazing knowing we could come back to our room and freshen up to head to our next stop after our trip up the Gornergrat!

Even if you have a short time, don’t miss Zermatt on a visit to Switzerland. As long as you have a plan, it will be well worth the trip!