How long in zermatt

I think it will still be on the agenda, but may choose to stay outside. We do like it a little quieter. How would staying in Tasch work? As long as your expectations are realistic, you should be fine with Zermatt. I was thrilled to see the Matterhorn. Hopefully you'll have better weather than we did and can get up into the mountains to do some hiking. I'm sure it's beautiful. I'm sorry I can't offer any suggestions on places to stay outside of Zermatt.

We stayed in Zermatt at Romantic Hotel Julen, which we loved, but it's not a budget option. Forget all these comments about Zermatt And once you ascend up the lower slopes in Zermatt, the mountain scenery that opens up above you is like nothing anywhere else in the Alps.

The peaks soar far above you, but because of the contour of the lower slopes, you can't appreciate this until you go up. And why should the OP "forget" all those previous comments? The OP wanted information and this forum is called "information sharing" which is exactly what's going on here. Being informed is a good thing, Tom.

I do appreciate all the comments and honesty - thats what I love about this forum. When I thought about what Tom said, he is right, I am going to see the Matterhorn I have missed it on past trips. Thank you to the other comments for provided me with a good idea on what to expect of the town itself. Its not going to be a quiet village experience but thats OK. I may just find a hotel with a good SPA at the quieter end of town with a great view of the Matterhorn.

Extra money, but we are friends who like a little luxury once in awhile, and we will be sharing the cost of the room. I would not 'forget' the true and helpful comments regarding Zermattt. I would also keep in mind that everyone who has posted about Zermattt has actually been there. While the Matterhorn is beautiful and iconic it is not the end-all of all Swiss alpine scenery. If you have a unique place to stay outside of Zermatt, like up in the mountains we did the Basecamp Matterhorn in , you can enjoy the mountains without all of the hassles of the city.

As for scenery, there are many places as pretty, or Swiss, as this area without the crowds. I do repeat, though, everyone who is commenting has been there.

Some folks think it is too this or that me included and some people don't, but we all took the time to go there for one reason or another and see it. To me however, if you aren't 'going up' I would skip it. I haven't stayed here but I have eaten here 'on the way'. The town is located at a high altitude and it is surrounded by mountains, conifer forests and ski slopes. It has its own micro climate, which can work out in your favour, or not.

The alpine scenery ranks in the absolute top of what the Swiss Alps have to offer. The car free village offers a relaxed way to enjoy nature in peace and quiet.

Zermatt itself is a tourist hotspot, especially in summer and winter months. To some, it's too touristy. The mountains either block clouds from coming in or keep them in one place.

It can rain for days or not at all for weeks. You'd best be prepared for anything. Zermatt is perfect for outdoor activities, but if weather is bad the isolated location makes it time consuming to go somewhere else. If you don't mind a full day of traveling, you can consider trips to the Upper Rhone valley or even the Jungfrau region though.

You can enjoy winter sports all year long in Zermatt. In summer, the glacier at Klein Matterhorn is the place to be for skiing and snowboarding. Zermatt is beloved by many tourists, and thus this isn't a low budget destination. Check out the suggested hotels for information about affordable accommodation. Zermatt is perfect for winter activities in December, January, February and March.

Snowfall is likely in town and almost guaranteed on the surrounding mountains. By the time we had finished the hot chocolate and stepped out to the viewing area next to the ski slopes, the weather had cleared up and we were able to enjoy soaking in the gorgeous view Matterhorn and the breathtaking Alps in front of us. If you enjoy skiing and are visiting Zermatt in summer, then the only year-round ski slopes are the ones located near Klein Matterhorn. On a clear day, the observation deck at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise offers a commanding view of some of the highest mountains of Switzerland and even those of France and Italy.

A word of caution — Klein Matterhorn is located at quite a high elevation and so those prone to altitude sickness should take appropriate precautions before taking the cable car up to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. Acclimatizing to the altitude of Zermatt a day or two before taking this cable car ride is a good idea. Visiting the Glacier Palace is a unique experience as this glacier cave is said to be the highest Glacier Palace in the world.

A lift near Matterhorn Glacier Paradise marked as Gletschergrotte takes visitors 15m below the ice surface. Following this, a brief walk along the walkway carved through ice leads to a grotto filled with beautifully carved ice sculptures.

Illuminated ice sculptures of chalets, wildlife, the Matterhorn and even a dragon are a sight to behold. The most popular ski slopes are the ones located near Sunnegga, Gornergrat, Klein Matterhorn and Schwarzsee. If you visit Zermatt during the summer months though, the only ski slopes that are open are the ones at Klein Matterhorn near the Matterhorn ski paradise.

There are both ski rental shops on Bahnhofstrasse as well as ski schools located in Zermatt that can help those interested in skiing on the nearby slopes have the best experience possible. On the way back to Zermatt from the Glacier Paradise, we stepped out at the Schwarzsee cable car stop and headed towards Lake Schwarzsee. Seeing the tranquil, clear waters of Lake Schwarzsee, located at 2, m near the foot of Matterhorn was a highlight for us.

We had packed our lunch from the bakery near our hotel in Zermatt and thoroughly enjoyed a picnic near Lake Schwarzsee. Visiting Zermatt, Switzerland had been on my bucket list for oh so long!

We had an amazing time taking the cable car to Klein Matterhorn and later on relaxing for a picnic at beautiful Lake Schwarzsee…. Soak in the Alpine views from Sunnegga along with picnics and hikes nearby A budget-friendly option is to take the funicular to Sunnegga — a popular springboard for family-friendly activities such as picnics near Lake Leisee, hikes of varying levels of difficulty and snow activities in the winter months.

We took the funicular from the Sunnegga-Rothorn express station located in Zermatt. The underground funicular from Zermatt to Sunnegga brought us up to the terrace at Sunnegga that had a beautiful view of Matterhorn in the distance. From the station, we also saw several people heading off to various hiking trails near Sunnegga. There are long but easy trails that also lead hikers down from Sunnegga to Zermatt through meadows and lush forests. A ride up the cable from Sunnegga to the summit station of Rothorn Unterrothorn is another popular activity for tourists and hikers.

From the summit, the classic view of Matterhorn, the Alpine peaks of the canton of Valais and the glaciers are a sight to behold. The weather had started to become cloudy by the time we arrived at Rothorn. While several of the peaks started to get covered, it still seemed so beautiful. I can only imagine how beautiful the view would be on a clearer day from Rothorn. One of the most glorious sunrises over the Matterhorn can be seen from Rothorn. This is certainly something we would love to experience whenever we visit Zermatt in the future.

Rothorn is also the base for several challenging hikes for experienced hikers and starting point for ski lifts open in winter months only. Visiting the Gornergrat observation deck by taking the Gornergrat Bahn is a must-do for many tourists visiting Zermatt. Panoramic views of the rocky ridge of Valais Alps including Matterhorn and Monte Rosa and the Gornergrat glacier leave visitors spellbound. The Gornergrat Bahn is actually the highest open-air railway in Europe and the train departs from its own station that is located across from the main Zermatt train station.

Matterhorn Museum Zermatlantis is located in the heart of Zermatt near its church. It is a fun underground museum where one can learn about the history of Zermatt, the first successful climb to the summit of Matterhorn which ended up in a tragic accident and also about the rise in the popularity of mountaineering in the region.

A tour through the Matterhorn Museum takes about an hour and starts at the main hall where there are plenty of original buildings mazots with traditional furnishings that showcase how people lived earlier in Zermatt when agriculture was the backbone of the economy. There are also exhibits of the old hotel that was first built in Zermatt when it started gaining popularity as a mountaineering destination after the first ascent in The museum also highlights the first ascent of the Matterhorn in by the seven mountaineers along with explaining the tragic accident that occurred during their descent in which four of the mountaineers lost their lives.

The rope which snapped on the descent is preserved inside a glass case to this day in this museum. There was an interesting display of cameras that have been used for photography over the years in the mountains.

If you happen to be in Zermatt during the months of July-mid August and are in town in the morning around 9 am or in the evening around 5 pm, you will be able to catch a glimpse of the daily goat parade through the town.

These Valais black neck goats have characteristic black colored heads and white rears. The goats are herded to the pastures by local youngsters every day during July-mid August at about 9 am via Bahnhofstrasse. They return from the pastures by 5 pm. It was quite a unique experience watching the goat parade along Bahnhofstrasse in the evening.

Indulging in some fondue at Cafe Du Pont Zermatt was a delightful experience. We also loved dining at Restaurant Waldhaus on both the nights we spent in Zermatt. This restaurant had been recommended to us by our hotel staff and after tasting the delicious food at Waldhaus we could clearly see why. Restaurant Waldhaus is located away from the more touristy part of the town, near the Sunnegga hiking trail.

We loved the rustic ambiance, beautiful views, delicious traditional food, and friendly service at this restaurant. Their soups, wiener schnitzel, chicken cordon bleu, and homemade pasta were scrumptious. We found this to be a really nice stop for purchasing delicious eateries for a picnic. They even packaged the pastries and quiches we had purchased so that we could easily carry them with us on our hiking and cable car adventures.

Hiking along the amazing trails near Zermatt is a must-do. The Sunnegga trail that lead us back from Sunnegga to Zermatt was a lovely, easy hike through lush forests, sleepy chalets, and blooming meadows. Another easy hike is the one from the Furi gondola station to Zermatt — the brief stop at the Gorner Gorge along the way adds to the scenic charm of this hike. This beautiful, moderately difficult hike can take up to 2.

Located merely a 15min walk from Zermatt, visiting the Gorner Gorge is a fun, family-friendly experience. A well-maintained wooden walkway allows visitors to experience the natural beauty of the gorge.

Walking between the towering cliffs on either side of the gorge carved by the turquoise waters of the Gornervispe is a thrilling and beautiful experience.

What can I say — we definitely let the kid within us loose as we played in the snow at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. No wonder it is the perfect springboard for Alpine thrills and is such a famous resort town. The mystical draw of Matterhorn continues to draw throngs of tourists to Zermatt. If you also enjoy hiking and are planning on exploring Switzerland some more after visiting Zermatt, consider hiking in the Berner Oberland region.

We fell in love with charming Zermatt. When the journey to Zermatt is as beautiful as the destination itself, you know you are in for an incredible experience. We look forward to returning to Zermatt, exploring it some more and heading off on the gorgeous hiking trails in the region. In order to help us maintain this blog and offset the costs of running landoftravels. Welcome to Land Of Travels — a travel blog that my husband Manish and I started to share our travel stories and travel tips.

We are full-time professionals, dedicated parents, foodies, and it is our shared passion for traveling that lead us to become part-time bloggers. I was born and brought up in Northern India, lived in Bay Area, California for nearly two decades and currently reside in Ontario, Canada. I am passionate about planning our trips and exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations. My sincere hope is that the travel tips offered on this blog will help you plan your next memorable adventure.

Happy travels! Another area of Switzerland I tend to go back to. I just love using Zermatt as a base for hiking but when I have friends or family with me, we do the train rides and trips up to the mountains and explore the nature there. Once I done Zermatt in the winter and it is so pretty.

Your photos and the description of the Bahnhofstrasse brought back some great memories. It was at a restaurant along this street that I first got introduced to raclette…yummy! We loved Zermatt and look forward to returning to it to hike around some more. Glad the post brought back fond memories for you. Switzerland has been on my bucket list for so long! This is so well written,! Pinning it for when I get to go!

Matterhorn looks too beautiful to miss. Seeing mountains in Switzerland is something I would like to do next year. What a beautiful and useful guide! The last time I visited Switzerland was way back in high school! I had 2 weeks in Switzerland and found it very difficult to fit in everything that I wanted to see, so ended up skipping some places, of which one was Zermatt.

What a pity because it looks gorgeous! I would love to take the glacier express from St. And the town of Zermatt, with a view of Matterhorn, looks pretty cool too. How lovely is Lake Schwarzsee!

Zermatt is indeed gorgeous — especially the views from the summit stations and from the hikes in the region. Picnic near Lake Schwarzsee with the view of Matterhorn was a highlight for us.

Thanks for visiting the post Medha. This looks like a fabulous itinerary! What a cool place to travel to! Will definitely bookmark! Glad you enjoyed reading the post, Cate. We loved it in Zermatt and hope you enjoy visiting it as well — happy travels. This small Swiss town looks so enchanting. Thank you so the vast amount of information! We are travelling in Europe next year and Switzerland is high up on the list!

We absolutely loved Zermatt and the villages in the Berner Oberland region. There are of course so many gorgeous places to visit in Switzerland. I know we will keep returning to this charming country to explore its hidden gems. Wish you a lovely trip to Europe next year. Zermatt looks like a charming and beautiful town to visit! I love how diverse the landscape is.

Would love to go hiking there one day! We fell in love with the beauty of the region and look forward to returning to Zermatt to explore the nearby hiking trails some more. Thanks for visiting the post. Wow this post would have been so useful before I went to Zermatt. I was so unprepared! And absolutely gorgeous photos.

Wow, Zermatt looks amazing! Already planning to go back…. Zermatt is so picturesque and the views from nearby summit stations of the Alps are breathtaking. Thank you for the lovely guide! Switzerland is next on our European bucket list. I hope you have a lovely time in Switzerland — there are so many gorgeous places to see there. Happy travels and thanks for visiting the post. Everything about this looks amazing.

Visiting Switzerland is really high on my list and saving this for when I actually get there someday. Zermatt is truly beautiful with many surprises. Especially those lovely goats that look casually strolling the town with this good weather. Whether during ski season in the winter or when the mountains are green and filled with wildflowers in the summer, Switzerland always looks magical to me. As much as I hate winter, I skied in Switzerland as a kid, but summer in the mountains is way more my style.

Your photos are amazing!