Zermatt & the Matterhorn: A 2026 Travel Guide

Car-free Zermatt, the iconic Matterhorn, glacier paradise and the best ski lifts in the Alps. Plan your trip with this 2026 guide.

The Town the Matterhorn Built

Zermatt is a car-free village at 1,620 m at the dead end of the Mattertal valley, and almost every street, terrace and chalet window is angled toward the same triangular obsession: the 4,478-metre Matterhorn. The mountain has shaped the town since Edward Whymper's first ascent in 1865, and 161 years later it still pulls climbers, skiers and photographers from every corner of the planet.

How to Get There

Zurich and Geneva airports are both viable. From Zurich, take direct trains via Visp (3h 20m). From Geneva via Visp it's 3h 40m. Cars must be left in Täsch, where the shuttle train completes the final 12 minutes to Zermatt. The Swiss Travel Pass covers the journey to Täsch but not the final shuttle — budget CHF 8 for that hop.

The Big Three Mountain Excursions

Three lift systems frame Zermatt's high country, and each delivers a different kind of view. Gornergrat is the classic — a cogwheel railway since 1898 climbing to 3,089 m with a 360° panorama of 29 four-thousand-metre peaks. Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is the highest cable car in Europe at 3,883 m, with a glacier palace cut directly into the ice. Sunnegga is family-friendly, with a quick funicular up to lakes, marmots and gentler hikes.

Skiing Year-Round

Zermatt is the only resort in Switzerland with reliable summer skiing, thanks to the Theodul Glacier. Linked with Cervinia in Italy, the combined ski area now totals 360 km of marked runs in 2026, the largest cross-border domain in the Alps. A six-day Matterhorn Ski Paradise pass costs roughly CHF 540.

Hiking the Five Lakes Trail

Snow gone, Zermatt becomes a hiker's playground. The signature day walk is the Five Lakes Trail (9.3 km, 3 hours), starting at Blauherd. The Matterhorn reflects perfectly in the still surface of Stellisee — that's the postcard shot every visitor wants.

• Sunrise at Gornergrat — board the 6:24 train in summer
• Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and the Glacier Palace ice cave
• The Five Lakes Trail (Blauherd → Sunnegga)
• The Matterhorn Museum — 16 m below the village square
• Dinner at a slope-side mountain restaurant like Chez Vrony

Where to Stay

Zermatt has more 4- and 5-star hotels per capita than almost any town in Europe. Splurge at the Mont Cervin Palace or the Riffelalp Resort (Europe's highest 5-star, with an outdoor pool at 2,222 m). On a budget, the Zermatt Youth Hostel and the Bahnhof Hotel near the station are clean, friendly and unbeatable for value.

Final Thoughts

Zermatt isn't cheap, but few alpine destinations earn their reputation as completely. Two clear days are enough to sample the highlights; a week lets you live them.