Zermatt is a car-free mountain village at the foot of the Matterhorn. It is a destination in both summer and winter, with hiking, viewpoints and one of the largest ski areas in Switzerland. Prices, schedules and conditions change, so check current details before you book.
Getting there
Cars stop in Täsch, and a shuttle train continues to Zermatt. From most Swiss cities the journey involves a change in Visp. See our SBB guide.
What to do
- Ride the Gornergrat railway for Matterhorn views.
- Walk the trails around the village. See the Zermatt and Matterhorn hiking guide.
- Ski or snowboard in winter. See the Zermatt skiing guide.
Where to stay
Accommodation is expensive and fills early in the high seasons. Staying in a nearby village can lower costs. Book early and confirm what is included.
For solo travellers, see Matterhorn and Zermatt for solo travelers. For the wider region, see the regions page.
I’m Laura, a travel writer based in Zürich, and Switzerland is the place I know better than anywhere else. I moved here 9 years ago and haven’t stopped exploring it since.
Over the past 9 years I’ve made 40+ trips across every Swiss canton — from the Italian-speaking south of Ticino to the remote valleys of Graubünden to the lake towns of Romandy. I speak German, French and English fluently, which means I can read the local newspapers, argue with train conductors, and actually understand what the mountain guide is telling you when the weather turns.
Switzerland is a deceptively complex destination: four languages, 26 cantons, wildly different regional cultures, and a transport network so intricate it takes years to properly understand. I write to demystify all of it — whether you’re planning your first visit to Zermatt, deciding between Zürich and Geneva for a city break, or figuring out how to live here as a digital nomad or remote worker.
I also cover Central Europe for travellers who want to venture beyond the obvious — particularly the Czech Republic, Austria and the Alpine arc connecting Switzerland to its neighbours.
All About Swiss is my home base, where I publish in-depth guides to Swiss travel, life and culture. If it involves Switzerland, I’ve probably written about it, or I’m about to.