18 Best Things to Do in Zermatt: Our Favorites & Tips

Things to Do in Zermatt, Switzerland

We’ve visited Zermatt several times, and we still haven’t run out of things we want to do there. The Matterhorn might be the reason most people first put Zermatt on their Switzerland itinerary, but once you’re there, a trip can look very different depending on how you spend your days.

We’ve taken mountain railways for completely different views of the Matterhorn, spent time hiking above the village, and also had days where we stayed much closer to Zermatt itself. There are alpine lakes like Riffelsee and Stellisee, high-altitude experiences such as Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, easy walks, longer hikes, and plenty to do without heading up a mountain at all.

This list brings together 18 of the best things to do in Zermatt, including the big attractions as well as some of the experiences that are easier to overlook when planning a first trip. We’ll share what each one is actually like, how it fits into your day, and what we’d want to know before doing it ourselves.

Our Top 3 Hotel Picks in Zermatt

• Best Luxury: Mont Cervin Palace
• Best Mid-Range: Schweizerhof Zermatt
• Best Budget: Zermatt Budget Rooms

Not sure which part of Zermatt to base yourself in? Our guide on where to stay in Zermatt compares the best areas for first-time visitors, lift access, Matterhorn views, and quieter stays.

Our Top 5 Things to Do in Zermatt

For a first trip to Zermatt, we’d start with these five:

1. Gornergrat & Riffelsee – Take the Gornergrat Railway into the mountains, then get off at Rotenboden on the way down to walk to Riffelsee below the Matterhorn.
2. Matterhorn Glacier Paradise – Head up to 3,883 m (12,740 ft) for the viewing platform, Glacier Palace, and a completely different high-alpine experience.
3. Zermatt Old Village – Leave Bahnhofstrasse for a while and walk through the older part of Zermatt, where traditional wooden Valais houses still stand behind the main streets.
4. Five Lakes Trail & Stellisee – Spend a few hours hiking above Zermatt and stop at Stellisee, the best-known of the five lakes for its Matterhorn reflection.
5. Walk to Zmutt – Follow the trail from Zermatt to the small hamlet of Zmutt for an easy change of pace from the mountain railways and viewpoints.

1. Take the Gornergrat Railway

The Gornergrat Railway takes you from the center of Zermatt up to 3,089 m (10,135 ft), with the Matterhorn coming into view during the climb. At the top, the Matterhorn gets most of the attention, but make sure you turn around too. The glaciers and mountains on the opposite side are a big part of the panorama up here.

Gornergrat ended up being our favorite experience in Zermatt, and we spent much more time at the top than we needed to just see the viewpoint. The weather was beautiful when we were there, so at some point we found a place to sit in the sun and stayed there for a while, looking out at the Matterhorn and the glaciers. There wasn’t really anything else we were waiting to do up there. We just didn’t feel like leaving yet.

That’s also why we wouldn’t treat Gornergrat as somewhere to rush through before moving on to the next mountain excursion. On our first Zermatt trip, we bought the Peak2Peak ticket and tried to fit several of the big mountain experiences into the same weekend. After returning to Zermatt several times, we’d do it differently now and leave more time for places like Gornergrat.

And you don’t have to take the train straight back to Zermatt once you eventually do leave. On the way down, get off at Rotenboden for Riffelsee and either return to the station afterward or continue hiking to Riffelberg.

We’d only spend the money on Gornergrat when the visibility is good. Check the webcams before you go, and if your schedule allows it, keep this part of your Zermatt trip flexible rather than committing it to a cloudy morning.

Walk From Rotenboden to Riffelsee

After visiting Gornergrat, take the train one stop down to Rotenboden. From there, it’s a short walk to Riffelsee, where you get the classic view of the Matterhorn reflected in the lake.

Or at least you might. The reflection you see in photos depends on the Matterhorn being visible and the water being calm enough to mirror it. Wind can leave you with a rippled lake instead, so don’t go expecting the reflection to look exactly like the photos.

The area immediately around Riffelsee can also be busy. If you have time, keep walking beyond the main viewpoints rather than heading straight back to Rotenboden. The trails tend to become quieter once you leave the lake behind.

Should You Hike From Riffelsee to Riffelberg?

When we visited Riffelsee, we didn’t turn around and walk straight back to Rotenboden. We continued downhill toward Riffelberg instead, and we’d do the same again.

This makes sense if you want to add some hiking without dedicating another day to a longer trail. The route takes you farther away from the busiest area around Riffelsee, while the Matterhorn remains part of the scenery as you descend.

Distance: 2.9 km (1.8 mi)
Hiking time: 1 hour
Elevation: +13 m (+43 ft) / -267 m (-876 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate

Don’t mistake “downhill” for a paved sightseeing walk. You’re still hiking at altitude on mountain terrain, with rocky and exposed sections, so we’d wear proper shoes and bring sun protection.

2. Visit Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise sits at 3,883 m (12,740 ft) on Klein Matterhorn, high above Zermatt, and the altitude is a big part of what makes this excursion different. Even when you’re walking around Zermatt in summer, you can step out at the top into a landscape of snow, ice, and glaciers.

At the top, you can walk out onto the viewing platform and visit the Glacier Palace, where tunnels and rooms have been carved into the ice. The surrounding glaciers are just as important as the mountain views, so we’d leave enough time to look around instead of heading straight back down after visiting the platform.

The altitude is something to take seriously as well. I notice the thinner air every time we’re this high up, even though I’m normally fine hiking in the mountains. At Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, I can feel the altitude particularly when walking around, so I take things more slowly than I would lower down.

Give yourself time to adjust when you arrive, and don’t rush around just because there isn’t much walking involved. We’d also bring an extra layer. It can feel considerably colder up here than it did when you left Zermatt.

Because so much of what you’re coming up here for is outside, we’d check the webcam before buying an expensive ticket on a cloudy day. If the summit is completely covered, this is one activity we’d be comfortable postponing.

Time needed: 3–4 hours
Price: From CHF 120 (about $ 150) return for adults; 50% discount with the Swiss Travel Pass, Half Fare Card, or GA

3. Walk Through Zermatt’s Old Village

Just behind the busy streets in the center of Zermatt, the village changes quite quickly. Walk through the Hinterdorf area, and you’ll pass old wooden Valais houses and barns, some still standing on the traditional stone slabs that were used to keep rodents out.

The contrast with Bahnhofstrasse is what makes this short walk interesting. Within a few minutes, you go from hotels, restaurants, and outdoor shops to buildings that date back to a very different version of Zermatt.

You don’t need to set aside much time for the Old Village. We’d simply include it while walking through the center and combine it with Kirchbrücke and the Mountaineers’ Cemetery nearby.

Stop at Kirchbrücke for a Matterhorn View

Kirchbrücke is one of the easiest places to photograph the Matterhorn from Zermatt itself. From the bridge, you look along the valley toward the mountain with the Matter Vispa below.

It’s right in the village, so this isn’t somewhere we’d build an itinerary around. Just stop for a few minutes when you’re already exploring the Old Village and surrounding streets.

Visit the Mountaineers’ Cemetery

Beside the church is the small Mountaineers’ Cemetery, where climbers who died on the Matterhorn and other mountains around Zermatt are buried.

Take a few minutes to look at the gravestones, and you’ll see names, ages, and references to the mountains where people lost their lives. It’s a quiet but tangible connection to the mountaineering history that shaped Zermatt, and you’ll learn much more about that history later if you visit the Matterhorn Museum.

4. Hike the Five Lakes Trail

The Five Lakes Trail connects Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grünsee, Moosjisee, and Leisee above Zermatt. You take the lifts up toward Blauherd and hike between the lakes before finishing near Sunnegga, so most of the climbing is taken out of the route.

We did the Five Lakes Trail in autumn, and the official hiking time wasn’t particularly useful for us. We stopped constantly, sometimes just for a photo and sometimes because we wanted to stay at one of the lakes for a while. By the end, we’d spent quite a bit more time on the trail than the hiking time alone would suggest.

Stellisee was easily our favorite of the five. We spent more time there, took far too many photos, and made sure not to rush that part of the hike. The other lakes were nice to come across as we continued, but none of them stood out to us in quite the same way.

So when you’re planning the Five Lakes Trail, we’d treat the official time as walking time rather than the amount of time you’ll actually spend up there. At least for us, stopping along the way was a big part of the hike

So, should you do the entire Five Lakes Trail? If you want to spend a few hours hiking with regular Matterhorn views, picnic stops, and changing scenery, the full route makes sense. If you’re mainly interested in seeing the best-known lake, you don’t need to complete all five. You can visit Stellisee from Blauherd and keep the rest of your day free for something else.

Distance: 11.3 km (7 miles)
Hiking time: Around 3 hr 30 min
Elevation: +265 m / -542 m (+870 ft / -1,778 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate

Stellisee: The Lake We’d Prioritize

Stellisee is the first lake on the Five Lakes Trail from Blauherd and the one to prioritize if you don’t want to hike the entire route. This is where you can get the well-known view of the Matterhorn rising behind the lake and, when the water is calm enough, reflected on its surface.

You don’t need to repeat the full Five Lakes circuit to see it. From Blauherd, you can walk to Stellisee and then return, which makes this a much shorter alternative to the complete hike.

If the reflection matters to you, calmer water gives you better odds. We wouldn’t plan the whole visit around getting the perfect reflection, though. The Matterhorn view is still the main reason to stop here.

5. Take the Funicular to Sunnegga

The underground funicular from Zermatt takes you up to Sunnegga, where you get an unobstructed view of the Matterhorn without having to hike. You can spend some time at the viewpoint, stop for something to eat, and return to Zermatt, or continue farther into the mountains.

Sunnegga is also the gateway to Blauherd, Stellisee and the Five Lakes Trail, so you’ll pass through here anyway if you’re exploring this side of Zermatt.

But is Sunnegga worth visiting if you aren’t hiking? Yes, especially if you want a shorter and less involved mountain excursion. If you’re already planning Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, however, Sunnegga would be easier to leave out. Its biggest advantage is how easily it fits into a day, rather than offering another major summit experience.

Should You Continue to Rothorn?

Rothorn is another step beyond Sunnegga and Blauherd, but going higher isn’t automatically necessary.

For sightseeing alone, we’d prioritize Gornergrat before adding Rothorn to a first Zermatt itinerary. Rothorn becomes more relevant if you’re starting a hike from there or have enough time to explore the Sunnegga-Rothorn area beyond its main viewpoints.

So don’t continue to Rothorn simply because the lifts go farther. If Sunnegga is your short mountain excursion or you’re heading to Stellisee, there’s no need to add Rothorn just to tick off another viewpoint.

6. Walk to Zmutt

You don’t need a mountain railway or cable car for every good day in Zermatt. From the village, you can walk uphill to Zmutt, a small hamlet surrounded by mountain scenery and traditional wooden houses.

The route takes you through forests and meadows, with views toward the north face of the Matterhorn along the way. Once you reach Zmutt, there isn’t a major attraction to rush toward. Walk through the small lanes, have a look around the old houses, or stop for lunch at one of the restaurants before heading back down.

The official Zmutt Path starts at Zermatt train station and climbs steadily to the hamlet. It’s classified as easy, although the 339 m (1,112 ft) of elevation gain means you should still expect a proper uphill walk rather than a flat stroll.

Distance: 4.3 km (2.7 mi) one way
Time: Around 1 hr 35 min to Zmutt; approximately 1 hr 10 min back
Elevation gain: 339 m (1,112 ft)
Difficulty: Easy

We’d fit this in after you’ve already done one of Zermatt’s bigger mountain excursions. It gives you a few hours away from the trains, cable cars, and busy viewpoints, without needing to dedicate another day to a longer high-altitude hike.

7. Walk Through Gorner Gorge

Gorner Gorge, or Gornerschlucht, is a narrow gorge carved by the Gornervispa near Zermatt. The route through it follows wooden walkways and stairs between the rock walls, with the river below.

You don’t need to plan a full day around the gorge. Instead, combine it with the Furi area: walk from Zermatt through Gorner Gorge, continue uphill toward Furi, and add the suspension bridge from the next section. This saves you from treating two nearby activities as separate trips from the village.

Time needed: 30–60 minutes
Admission: CHF 5.50 (about $7 USD) for adults; CHF 3 (about $4 USD) for children aged 6–15; children under 6 are free

Keep in mind that the route involves stairs and walkways rather than a flat walking path. The gorge is also seasonal, so check current opening dates before your visit.

8. Cross the Furi Suspension Bridge

The Furi Suspension Bridge stretches 100 m (328 ft) across the valley, 90 m (295 ft) above Gorner Gorge. You walk across metal grating with the Gornera far below, so this is less about another Matterhorn viewpoint and more about the crossing itself.

The bridge is part of a 2.9 km (1.8 mi) circular trail from Furi that also passes the Dossen Glacier Garden. The full loop has 175 m (574 ft) of elevation gain and is rated moderate. We’d allow around 1–1.5 hours so you don’t have to rush the bridge or the stops along the route.

The easiest way to reach the Furi Suspension Bridge is to take the Matterhorn-Express from Zermatt to Furi and start the circular trail from there.

If you’re already visiting Gorner Gorge, continuing toward Furi and adding the suspension bridge works well as part of the same outing. Alternatively, you can take the cable car from Zermatt to Furi and start the loop there.

Distance: 2.9 km (1.8 mi) loop
Time needed: 1–1.5 hours
Elevation gain: 175 m (574 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate
Admission: Free

9. Visit the Matterhorn Museum – Zermatlantis

The Matterhorn Museum – Zermatlantis tells the story behind one of the most important events in Zermatt’s history: the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865. Four members of the climbing party died during the descent, and the museum explores both the ascent itself and the early days of mountaineering around Zermatt.

The museum is underground in the center of the village, with historic climbing equipment and a recreated version of old Zermatt showing what life looked like before tourism transformed it. After seeing the traditional houses in the Old Village and the graves in the Mountaineers’ Cemetery, it is where those pieces of Zermatt’s history start to connect.

We wouldn’t give up a clear morning in the mountains specifically to visit, but it’s a useful option to keep for rain, low clouds, or later in the day.

Time needed: 1–1.5 hours
Admission: CHF 12 (about $15 USD) for adults; free with the Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Museum Pass

10. Hike the Matterhorn Glacier Trail

The Matterhorn Glacier Trail runs from Trockener Steg to Schwarzsee through a rocky high-alpine landscape shaped by the glaciers around the Matterhorn. Along the route, information panels explain the retreat of the glaciers and how the landscape has changed over time.

This isn’t the hike we’d pick simply for pretty alpine lakes. The terrain is much barer than on the Five Lakes Trail, with gravel, rocks, and several small glacial lakes along the way. That landscape, and being so close to the Matterhorn, is really the reason to choose this trail.

Most of the route is downhill, but don’t mistake that for an easy walk. You still have 174 m (571 ft) of ascent and 515 m (1,690 ft) of descent over uneven terrain at high altitude. Good hiking shoes are recommended, and hiking poles can also be useful.

Distance: 6.6 km (4.1 mi)
Time: Around 2 hours
Elevation: 174 m (571 ft) ascent, 515 m (1,690 ft) descent
Difficulty: Moderate

11. Hike to Hörnlihütte at the Foot of the Matterhorn

Hörnlihütte sits at 3,260 m (10,696 ft) on the Matterhorn’s Hörnli Ridge, where climbers begin the standard route toward the summit. You don’t need to be a mountaineer to hike to the hut itself, but getting there is considerably more demanding than the other hikes we’ve covered so far.

The trail starts at Schwarzsee and climbs 693 m (2,274 ft) over just 4.3 km (2.7 mi). Parts of the route are exposed, and there are metal stairs with grating underfoot, so you need to be sure-footed and comfortable with heights. Once at the hut, you’re directly beneath the Matterhorn and can look up toward the Hörnli Ridge used by climbers today and during the first ascent in 1865.

Don’t choose this hike simply because it’s relatively short. The combination of steep elevation gain, exposed sections and altitude makes it one for experienced hikers who are comfortable in alpine terrain. If that sounds like you, getting all the way to the starting point of the Matterhorn climbing route is a very different experience from seeing the mountain from one of Zermatt’s viewpoints.

Distance: 4.3 km (2.7 mi) each way
Time: Around 2 hr 15 min up; 1 hr 30 min back
Elevation gain: 693 m (2,274 ft)
Difficulty: Demanding (T4)

12. Cross into Italy on the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing

The Matterhorn Alpine Crossing connects Zermatt with Cervinia in Italy entirely by cable car. Instead of turning around at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, you continue across the border at Testa Grigia and descend on the Italian side of the Matterhorn.

The appeal is seeing more than one viewpoint. As you travel around the mountain, the Matterhorn changes shape, and Cervinia gives you a completely different perspective from the one you’ve been seeing around Zermatt.

If Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is already on your list, don’t automatically plan these as two separate excursions. The Alpine Crossing ticket includes the attractions at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, including the viewing platform and Glacier Palace, as timetabled. You can buy either a return ticket to Zermatt or a one-way ticket if you’re continuing your trip through Italy.

For a short stay, we’d stop at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise rather than automatically continuing to Cervinia. The full crossing is better suited to travelers who have enough time to make the journey into Italy part of the day, rather than adding it simply because the cable cars continue beyond Glacier Paradise.

Time needed: 6–8 hours
Price: From CHF 147.50 (about $185 USD); prices vary by ticket and travel date

14. Have Lunch at a Mountain Restaurant

If you’re spending most of the day in the mountains, there’s little reason to head all the way back to Zermatt for lunch. Mountain restaurants are scattered across the hiking and lift areas, and some have terraces facing the Matterhorn.

We like the idea of choosing lunch based on the route you’re already taking rather than picking a restaurant first and planning the day around it. When we visited Gornergrat, for example, we stopped there for Älplermagronen, the Swiss alpine version of macaroni and cheese. Sitting down for a warm meal while we were already up in the mountains fit naturally into the day rather than requiring a separate restaurant stop back in Zermatt.

You don’t need to add a mountain restaurant as another attraction to your itinerary. If there’s a good one along the route you’re already taking, that’s when we’d stop.

15. Try Fondue or Raclette

You can’t spend much time in Zermatt without seeing fondue and raclette on restaurant menus. If you haven’t tried either during your Switzerland trip yet, this is an easy opportunity to change that.

Fondue is melted cheese served in a shared pot with bread for dipping, while raclette is melted cheese traditionally served with potatoes, pickles, and onions. Both are Valais classics, so they fit particularly well in this part of Switzerland.

We’d save this for dinner in the village rather than planning around it during the day. After a full day in the mountains, sitting down for something warm and very cheesy feels about right in Zermatt.

16. Look for Valais Blacknose Sheep

If you’re around Gornergrat between July and September, you might also be able to see the Valais Blacknose sheep that spend the summer grazing on the mountain. They’re easy to recognize by their white wool, black faces and legs, and spiral-shaped horns.

We haven’t been lucky enough to see them ourselves yet because our visits to the area have fallen outside their summer grazing season. If your timing is better than ours, some of the sheep wear GPS trackers, so you can check where the herd is before setting off. If they’re reasonably close to where you’re already hiking or exploring around Gornergrat, it’s worth making a small detour to see them.

17. Watch Sunrise or Sunset Over the Matterhorn

Even after seeing the Matterhorn all day, it’s worth looking again around sunrise and sunset. The changing light can make the mountain look different, and you don’t need to take a lift anywhere to see it. There are plenty of viewpoints from the village itself.

Sunrise is particularly interesting because the first light can reach the upper part of the Matterhorn while Zermatt below is still in shadow. Sunset has a different effect as the evening light changes around the mountain. Either way, we’d simply head outside if the Matterhorn is visible rather than planning a separate photography trip.

We’ve taken more photos of the Matterhorn than we could count on our visits to Zermatt. And yet, when the light changes later in the day, we usually end up taking a few more.

18. Simply Walk Around Zermatt Without a Plan

Not everything in Zermatt needs to be an attraction or mountain excursion. Some of our favorite time here has simply been spent walking around the village without anywhere specific to get to.

Once you leave Bahnhofstrasse, it doesn’t take long to find quieter streets. Walk alongside the Matter Vispa, turn into some of the residential areas or just follow whichever street looks interesting. You’ll pass old wooden houses and regularly catch the Matterhorn appearing between buildings as you walk.

That’s something we really like about staying in Zermatt for more than just a quick day trip. After you’ve spent the day deliberately seeking out Matterhorn viewpoints, you come back into the village and realize you can still see it while you’re simply walking to dinner.

Gornergrat vs Matterhorn Glacier Paradise vs Sunnegga: Which Should You Choose?

On our first trip to Zermatt, we did what we suspect quite a few first-time visitors do: we tried to fit as much as possible into a short stay. We bought the Peak2Peak ticket and went from one mountain experience to the next, including Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.

It was a great introduction to Zermatt, but we plan our days differently now. After coming back several times, we’d rather choose one mountain area and actually spend time there, whether that means walking down to Riffelsee, adding a hike, or simply not feeling like we need to catch the next lift straight away.

So if you’re looking at Gornergrat, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, and Sunnegga and wondering whether you need to do all three, our answer is no. We’d choose based on what you actually want from that day.

Choose Gornergrat If…

Gornergrat is the one we’d pick for a first trip to Zermatt. It gives you the classic Matterhorn views, glacier scenery, and enough flexibility to either keep the day easy or add Riffelsee and the hike to Riffelberg.

It’s also our choice if you only want to pay for one major mountain excursion. You get more than a viewpoint without needing to commit to a full hiking day.

Choose Matterhorn Glacier Paradise If…

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise makes more sense if reaching the highest accessible point around Zermatt and experiencing the high-alpine environment are more important to you than getting the classic Matterhorn view.

It’s also the obvious choice if the Glacier Palace interests you or you want to continue across to Italy on the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing. If you’re deciding between Gornergrat and Glacier Paradise purely for Matterhorn views, however, we’d pick Gornergrat.

Choose Sunnegga / Blauherd If…

Sunnegga and Blauherd are our picks for a hiking-focused day. This is the side of Zermatt to choose for Stellisee and the Five Lakes Trail, and you can spend as little or as much time here as your plans allow.

If you aren’t hiking and already have Gornergrat on your itinerary, this would be the easiest of the three to skip.

If We Could Only Choose One…

Gornergrat. We’ve been up more than once, and it’s still the mountain excursion we’d prioritize on a first trip to Zermatt.

It gives you the Matterhorn view most people come here hoping to see, but you’re not limited to standing at a viewpoint and taking the train straight back down. Adding Riffelsee or continuing to Riffelberg is what makes Gornergrat the most complete option for us.

Best Things to Do in Zermatt in Summer

For a summer trip, we’d prioritize hiking. We’ve done both the Five Lakes Trail with Stellisee and the hike from Riffelsee to Riffelberg, and either is a good way to turn a mountain excursion into more than just a ride to a viewpoint. Other summer options include walking to Zmutt, combining Gorner Gorge with the Furi Suspension Bridge, or hiking the Matterhorn Glacier Trail.

Just don’t assume that summer weather in Zermatt means every trail higher up is ready for hiking. Snow can linger much longer at altitude, while lifts and mountain restaurants also have their own seasonal opening dates. If you’re visiting in late spring or early summer in particular, check the current conditions and lift schedules before deciding which hikes to plan.

If hiking is one of the main reasons for your trip, our guide to the best time to visit Switzerland goes into much more detail on when higher Alpine trails are usually most accessible.

Best Things to Do in Zermatt in Winter

Skiing is the obvious reason many people come to Zermatt in winter, but you don’t need to ski to make a winter trip worthwhile. Gornergrat is still one of our top choices for the Matterhorn views, while Matterhorn Glacier Paradise gives you the high-altitude snow and glacier experience without needing to put on skis.

Back in the village, winter is also a good time to slow the pace down. Walk around Zermatt, explore the Old Village, and stop for fondue or raclette after you’ve been outside. Depending on current snow conditions and seasonal openings, winter walking and prepared trails can give you another way to spend time in the mountains without skiing.

If hiking is one of your main reasons for visiting, however, summer gives you far more choice. Trails such as the Five Lakes Walk and the route around Riffelsee shouldn’t automatically be treated as winter hiking options, so always check which winter trails are officially open before setting out.

What to Do in Zermatt When the Weather Is Bad

If the Matterhorn is hidden and the mountains are covered in clouds, we wouldn’t spend the money on Gornergrat or Matterhorn Glacier Paradise just because you planned to visit that day. If your itinerary allows it, move the expensive mountain excursion to a clearer day instead.

For rain, the Matterhorn Museum is the main indoor attraction in Zermatt. If it’s simply cloudy or there are occasional showers, stay closer to the village and combine the Old Village, Mountaineers’ Cemetery, and the streets around central Zermatt rather than heading high into the mountains.

Before changing your plans completely, take a quick look at the mountain webcams. Clouds around Zermatt don’t always tell you what’s happening higher up, so it’s worth checking the actual visibility before deciding where to spend the day.

Best Free Things to Do in Zermatt

Not every part of your Zermatt itinerary needs another mountain ticket. If you want to balance the more expensive excursions with a few free activities, we’d start with:

• Walk through the Old Village and Hinterdorf.
• Stop at Kirchbrücke for one of the easiest Matterhorn views from the village.
• Visit the Mountaineers’ Cemetery beside the church.
• Walk along the Matter Vispa and leave Bahnhofstrasse for some of the quieter streets.
• Head outside around sunrise or sunset and see how the light changes on the Matterhorn.

We’ve spent plenty of time in Zermatt just walking around without a particular attraction in mind, and we’d leave room for that even if your budget isn’t a concern. It also makes a good contrast to days built around mountain railways, cable cars, and paid attractions.

If you’re trying to work out how much to budget for the rest of your trip, we break down accommodation, transport, food, and sightseeing costs in our guide to how expensive Switzerland is to visit.

Our Practical Tips for Things to Do in Zermatt

• Check the webcams before heading into the mountains. Visibility can differ considerably between Zermatt and the higher mountain stations, so check what conditions actually look like before committing to an expensive excursion.
• Start early when you have a full mountain day planned. This gives you more freedom to add a hike or spend longer somewhere without watching the clock for the rest of the afternoon.
• Know when your last lift or train leaves. This matters particularly on hikes that finish somewhere different from where you started. Check the current timetable before setting off rather than relying on a time you saw while planning the trip.
• Walk beyond the lift stations and main viewpoints. You often don’t need to go far before the surroundings become quieter, especially if most visitors are arriving and leaving on the same mountain transport.
• Bring sun protection, even when it feels cool. You’ll spend a lot of time at altitude in Zermatt, so sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat are worth having with you on mountain days.

For broader planning advice, including getting to Zermatt, where to stay, and how we’d organize a first trip, see our Zermatt Travel Guide.

Final Thoughts on the Best Things to Do in Zermatt

We’ve been back to Zermatt several times, and no two trips have looked quite the same. We’ve spent full days in the mountains, gone hiking, and had plenty of time when we’ve stayed around the village. And there are still several things in this guide that we haven’t done ourselves yet.

The Matterhorn might be what first draws you to Zermatt, but for us, the destination has become much more than finding the next view of it. We still have hikes we want to do, places we haven’t reached, and plenty of reasons to come back.

FAQ About Things to Do in Zermatt

What Should You Not Miss in Zermatt?

For a first visit, we’d prioritize Gornergrat and Riffelsee. They give you the classic Matterhorn views while also letting you combine a mountain excursion with a short walk or a longer hike.

What Is the Best Thing to Do in Zermatt?

If we could only choose one, we’d take the Gornergrat Railway. It’s our favorite all-round mountain excursion for a first trip to Zermatt.

Is Gornergrat or Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Better?

We’d choose Gornergrat for a first visit, especially if Matterhorn views are your priority. Choose Matterhorn Glacier Paradise instead if you’re more interested in the high-altitude and glacier experience.

Can You Enjoy Zermatt Without Hiking?

Yes. You can reach Gornergrat, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, and Sunnegga using mountain transport, so hiking isn’t necessary to get into the mountains or see the Matterhorn.

Back in Zermatt, you can explore the Old Village, stop at Kirchbrücke, visit the Mountaineers’ Cemetery, or spend time at the Matterhorn Museum without doing a mountain hike.

Is Zermatt Worth Visiting If You Don’t Ski?

Yes. We’ve visited Zermatt in different seasons, and skiing is only one way to spend your time here. Mountain railways and cable cars make many of the main viewpoints accessible to non-skiers, while the village and several of the activities in this guide don’t involve skiing at all.