24 Things to do in Zermatt
These are my carefully selected 24 best things to do in Zermatt - the most luxurious winter sport resort in Europe. I included gems like the Cheese Fondue inside an igloo, High Heel Soup, Swiss Raclette, Après Ski, Iglu-dorf Hotel, Broken Bar and of course the most epic slopes for snowboarding and skiing for beginners to professionals on the Matterhorn and Gornergrat.
- Why: Most luxurious winter sport resort in Europe.
- When: Early February
- Accomodation: Stay at Alpenresort via Booking.com for their giant pool.
- Best Attraction: Cheese Fondue at the Igloo Village
- Discount: Save lots of money by purchasing the Swiss Tavel Pass for unlimited travel in Switzerland on trains, buses, boats, cable cars and FREE access to 480 museums.
I have read and studied many travel guides for Zermatt and always felt that this magnificent village isn't properly covered. That's why my brother and I took it upon ourselves to bring you the Ultimate Travel Guide for Zermatt. Located on the border between Switzerland and Italy at a height of 3899 meters with 360 kilometers of endless slopes. The most remarkable feature is; Zermatt offers snow 365 days per year and receives 300 inches of snow annually, now that is very hard to beat!
Places
1. Electric Taxi
Zermatt is car-free, making the air quality in the vilalge extremely fresh, clean and no noise. Only electric taxi's are allowed
2. Riedweg Viewpoint
The best viewpoint of the Matterhorn in the village of Zermatt, it can take 15 minutes from downtown Zermatt to walk up here.
3. Gornergrat
Jump on the highest-altitude cogwheel railway in Europe to the peak at 3089 meters in 33 minutes, great for snowboarding and skiing.
4. Rothorn
This mountain also offers great skiing and snowboarding and is considered to have the best view of the Matterhorn.
5. Riffelberg Buffet
Mid-way station on the Gornergrat for a delicious Swiss lunch to boast up those calories, try their Bratwurst with Zwiebel sauce.
6. Cervo Après-ski
Looking for a good after party after conquering the slopes? Look no further than Cervo for live music and a warm cafe Luz.
7. Igloo Cheese Fondue
Enjoy molten cheese fondue within an igloo on top of the Gornergrat mountain, join the tourgroup on Thursday for some live music as well.
8. Iglu-Dorf
Coolest experience in Zermatt, visit a village made out of Igloos including a hotel, bar, jacuzzi and restaurant.
9. Swiss Raclette
Try the Raclette, Swiss molten cheese at Du Pont restaurant, the oldest restaurant in Zermatt for just 8 CHF, $8 US dollars.
10. Matterhorn Museum
Known as Zermatlantis, immersed within the mountain with their most famous exhibit, the broken rope from the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865.
11. St. Mauritius Church
Breath-taking church located in the center of Zermatt. Take a peak inside, it is often open, even during the early evenings.
12. Hinterdorf Street
Stroll the winter winter world of 30 ancient barns, stables and storage units built since the 15th century.
13. Toblerone
Did you know the mountain on the Toblerone chocolate bar represents the Matterhorn peak?
14. Zermatt Beer
With such super fresh alp mountain water it is not surprising Zermatt brews their own beer. They offer 4 flavours for each season, try out their lager at the local bars.
15. Matterhorn
No trip to Zermatt is complete without visiting the Matterhorn at 3883 meters, almost 4 km above sea level. Take the Matterhorn cable car to the Klein Matterhorn for the observation platform.
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16. Chez Heini
Most unique restaurant in Zermatt for offering the bizarre red High Heel soup and their juicy lamb cops. You can also expect a fun show during the evenings here!
17. High Heel Soup
The soup of the day, often a vegetable soup served in a high heel. Truly, I have never seen such a bizarre dish before.
18. Harrys Ski Bar
A good place to start your Zermatt nightlife adventure, look no further than this cozy bar with energenic locals.
19. Little Bar
The tinniest bar in town with the tinniest entrance and door I have seen. Warning, it can get very tight in here, but their cocktails are fantastic.
20. Broken Bar Nightclub
Hotel Post offers the biggest nightlife complex in Zermatt with multiple stories of bars, dancefloors and live music. Broken Bar and The Factory are the best venues here.
21. Alpen Resort Hotel
Looking for a comfortable stay with all facilities and within budget? Alpen Resort offers panorama rooms, breakfast buffet, a giant pool with Finnish spa and a jacuzzi.
22. Migros Supermarket
Switzerland can be very expensive, luckily there is the Migros Budget Supermarket where you can find the Migros Budget GO GREEN products which are often half the cost of their counterparts.
23. Panaroma Train
The journey from Zurich or Geneva airports can take 3.5 hours, but trust me, this isn't a punishment since you will be rewarded with the best views of the Swiss Alps.
24. Swiss Travel Pass
Covers free transit in Switzerland on trains, boats, buses and cable cars but also access to 420 museums in Switzerland. Starting at 240 CHF, $240 US dollars, it would be a mistake visiting Switzerland without it.
The first thing upon arrival at Zermatt station is to rent your ski or snowboard gear so you can go up the mountains in the early morning without any hassles. A good start is the Gornergrat, to get there you can jump on the highest-altitude cogwheel railway in Europe which ends at the highest hotel in Switzerland, the Kulmhotel, from here you can also set eyes on the mountain in Switzerland, the Monte Rosa Massif. After you day on the slopes have dinner at the unique Chez Heini restaurant for their bizarre Red High Heel Soup, usually the soup of the day and their extremely juicy lamb chops. Alternatively, feast on the Swiss traditional dish Raclette at Du Pont restaurant, the oldest restaurant in Zermatt.
The most unique attraction in Zermatt is by far the Cheese Fondue in an Igloo experience. For 70 Swiss francs or $70 US dollars you will join a tour group venturing out the Iglu-dorf located in the mountains near the Riffelberg station. Inside the giant Iglu-dorf complex, created out of igloos, you will be welcoming with a warm cup of mulled red wine and presented with the most incredible cheese fondue experience while you enjoy the live music, every Thursday!
The Iglu-dorf is basically a giant hotel complex with many rooms, a love-nest and a bar complete with a jacuzzi. Renting a igloo room for one night can be quite expensive but an experience for a lifetime. Why wouldn't you want to wake up among gorgeous crafted ice sculptures of wild animals ranging from buffalos to eagles.
Downtown Zermatt has plenty to offer as well, from a stroll through the ancient Hinterdorf street where you can get lost between 30 elevated barns, stables and storage units built between the 15th and 19th century. Don't forget to drop by the Matterhorn Museum - Zermatlantis and the St. Mauritius church for a true local experience.
Zermatt even has their own beer brewery. They offer 4 flavours for each season which you can enjoy at the many venues downtown, like Harry's Bar or Little Bar. For an epic night out, visit Hotel Post which has a gigantic nightlife complex of multiple stories offering many bars, dancefloors and a variety of live music & DJ's. Namely; Broken Bar and The Factory.
Alpen Resort Hotel may the best place to stay in Zermatt for their great breakfast buffet, panorama rooms looking over Zermatt with views of the Matterhorn, a games room, and a giant pool in the basement, complete with a Finnish spa, roman steam bath, hot tub and a fully decked out gym.
The Matterhorn mountain is the most famous attraction in Zermatt, most tourists come to Zermatt to enjoy this breath-taking sight. The Matterhorn ski pass is an international one, which allows you to ski into Italy and back into Switzerland without problems, it is the only winter sport resort with such an unique feature. Spent at least 2 to 3 days in Zermatt to fully grasp the magic of this wonderful village. Now if you want to save yourself a ton of money, consider buying the official Swiss Travel Pass which cover free transit in Switzerland on trains, boats, buses and cable cars but also includes access to 420 museums in Switzerland. Starting at 240 CHF, $240 US dollars, it would be a mistake visiting Switzerland without it.
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