Why Visit Zermatt: The top reason for visiting Zermatt is skiing. Zermatt is one of the best ski resorts in Europe. Zermatt is a car-free medieval village with fresh air,quiet, and specatuclar views of the Matterhorn. There are good hotels, cafes and restaurants so it makes a great base for skiing and mountain activities. Zermatt is also one of Europe's top mountain climbing centers and offers spectacular summer hiking opportunities.
Zermatt Location: Zermatt is in southern Switzerland, in the shadown of the 14,692 foot tall Matterhorn Mountain, about a four-hour drive north of Milan, Italy. Zermatt is a mountain village at the end of the Zermatt/Visp Valley in the Swiss Alps surrounded by a ring of 29 mountains over 13000 feet tall, some of the tallest in Europe.
Zermatt Transportation: Switzerland's red cog-wheel train serves Zermatt from Brig or Visp. Hourly rail connections run to Zermatt from major Swiss cities and the airports at Geneva and Zurich, changing in Brig or Visp. The trip takes about four hours from Geneva or five hours from Zurich. 80 minutes of the train ride is on the little BZV cog-wheel train, a scenic ride up the valley. See Swiss Rail Passes and Transportation Information.
Motorists can drive to Tasch and take a train or taxi the last seven km. or park the car in Visp and take the train. It's a short walk, taxi, or sleigh ride from the station to the village.
Why Ski in Zermatt?: Zermatt has the longest winter skiing season in Europe and has some ski runs and lifts that are open year-round. Zermatt has 114 miles of skiing with a 5315 foot vertical. Zermatt has Europe's highest lift-served terrain at the top of the Klein Matterhorn glacier, over 12,800 feet up. As you can imagine, the scenery is fantastic. There are a few ski areas for beginners, but most of the skiing is best for intermediate and advanced skiiers. It's even possible to ski across the border to Cervinia, Italy.
Zermatt Village: Zermatt is a village of cobbled pedestrian streets and tiny alleyways dating from the middle ages. Traditional chalets are common but Zermatt also has a cosmopolitan atmosphere. There are hotels with more than 13,000 tourist beds, shops, good quality restaurants, and nightlife. There are also mountain restaurants above the village. Although the local language is German, English is commonly spoken as well.
Zermatt's center is served by electric taxi for those who don't want to walk. There are also horse-drawn sleighs in winter. Aerial tramways take you up the mountain.
Zermatt Attractions: Zermatt has ice rinks, indoor tennis courts, indoor swimming pools, and the Musee Alpin, alpine museum. The village center is a good place for strolling. Walkers will also find 30km of winter footpaths that are kept cleared of snow. There are two snowboard parks and two man-made half pipes. Snowboards are welcome on all lifts and can be rented in town. Zermatt also has a snowboarding school and a paragliding school.
Summer in Zermatt: Mountain walks and hikes are plentiful for people of all ability levels. 250 miles of paths lead through a wide variety of alpine scenery including forests, lakes, glaciers, and lookout points. Rides on mountain lifts to mountain peaks offer spectacular views. Three peaks are serviced by lifts year-round. Mountain biking, paragliding, mountain climbing, and even summer skiing are available in Zermatt.
Climbing the Matterhorn: The Mountain Guides Office arranges Matterhorn climbing expeditions. Matterhorn climbs can be made mid-July to mid-September but are only for people in top shape with rock climbing experience. Each guide takes only one client on the climb. Climbs start very early in the morning and take about four hours to reach the summit and another four for the descent. It's recommended that climbers attempt other nearby peaks before attempting the Matterhorn. Reservations for guided Matterhorn climbs, at least two weeks in advance, can be made by email to alpincenter@zermatt.ch
More on Zermatt - The Zermatt Travel Guide: For more on Zermatt, see our Zermatt Travel Guide, with links to access maps, an igloo village you can stay at, the top rated attractions and more.
