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In this article, we are going to cover the best things to do in Zermatt.
Given that the town is famous for its high mountains and ski slopes, we are going to go over the 10 best things to do in Zermatt for your ski holiday as well as other activities to build upon your amazing holiday experience.
Let’s get started.
1. Skiing
The small town of Zermatt is an international mountaineering and ski resort.
It offers more than 360km of slopes and it’s even connected to the Italian Ski Resort of Cervinia.
The ski regions in Zermatt are divided into 5 main areas that each provide a distinct experience:
- Sunnegga Rothorn,
- Gornergrat,
- Klein Matterhorn,
- Gornergrat,
- Cervinia (Italy).
Going skiing in the summer is absolutely possible as well, due to the low temperatures at high altitudes.
In Summer, you would need to get on the glacier for skiing if that is what you fancy doing.
Therefore, check out our article about assessing your ski level if you are interested in hitting the advanced slopes of the Glacier.
Let’s go over how each mountain provides a unique ski experience, as well as other great activities that you can do.
”Curl up by the fire, sip the wine, eat Swiss cheese, and forget about the time.”
My-Mountains Team
2. Sunnegga
Second on our list of best things to do in Zermatt is to visit Sunnegga.
Why?
Because Sunegga is one mountain in Zermatt that is famous for having the sunniest vistas. It is no coincidence that the name translated means “sunny corner”.
In order to reach the Sunnegga ski area, you would need to take the Sunnegga funicular express railway.
It links a lower station in Zermatt with an upper station in Sunnegga.
When you reach the beautiful mountain peak, in case you feel like sitting down to grab a bite, then the Sunnegga buffet bar is your ideal choice.
After that, you can enjoy your ski holiday or go on a hike from Sunegga to Riffelalp that passes through some of the most beautiful lakes in the area.
Therefore having a swim in the beautiful alpine lakes with a clear reflection of the Matterhorn is an absolute must.
If you feel like returning to Zermatt there are different routes that you can hike down and reach the town.
If you are visiting Zermatt for a few days, you can pick one for each day to switch things up.
When you combine it with the view of Sunnegga from the funicular going up and down the mountain, you will have seen the mountain’s beauty from all possible angles.
Moving on to the next activity on our list is a special one that you will like very much because of the great atmosphere of the mountains.
3. Guided hike with healing sounds.
“Zermatt to Ried – Swiss Hiking Panorama” by peterjcoughlan is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
There is no better way to enhance your mountain hiking experience than with a guided hike with healing sounds.
Sound healing is a practice that uses vibrations made from vocal sounds or instrumentals to put your body and mind into a relaxed state.
The most commonly used instruments are gongs, Tibetian singing bowls, and tuning forks.
Some of the benefits reported by the people who engage in this activity range from relieving stress, anxiety and depression to curing insomnia and high blood pressure.
That is why we have a local english guide that is an expert in sounds and vibrations.
On our healing sounds hike, you will go into Zermatt’s little known sightseeing gems under the perfect atmosphere for you to absorb the new experiences.
4. Gornergrat
“CH Gornergrat bahn / The Matterhorn railway Zermatt 26-12-2010” by peters452002 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Gornergrat is another great peak to visit on your Zermatt holiday.
It is 3,089 meters but when you reach the top you can see the Gorner Glacier and the beautiful Matterhorn from a whole new perspective.
It offers probably the best view in Switzerland because you can look out from the top to 29 high mountains all around you.
To reach the Gornergrat peak you would need to take the Gornergrat railway, or, of course, hike up if you are up to the challenge.
The raiway dates back to the late 19th century and is famous for being the first fully electrified rail line.
“The Matterhorn” by OzRocky is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
While you are traveling to the top, you also get a birds-eye view of the village of Zermatt and have 4 stops until you reach Gornergrat mountain.
During the summer the railway picks up the mountain lovers every 24 minutes while in the winter only once.
Therefore, always check the schedule so you don’t miss the breathtaking Gornergrat panorama view.
When you reach the terminus at Gornergrat there are plenty of facilities. You have a restaurant, hotel, observatory, shops, etc.
After you enjoy a cup of coffee at the terrace cafe don’t stop yet.
Take the elevator and walk a few hundred yards to reach and enjoy the beautiful panorama view.
Also at Gorgnergrat is being built a brand new virtual reality center for a unique experience.
Last but not least, you might want to know that Gornergrat is the highest open-air cogwheel railway on the continent.
5. Little Matterhorn
Little Materhorn gets its name because it is next to the famous Matterhorn mountain which is 4478 meters.
However, Little Matterhorn is the highest viewing platform in Europe that can be reached by cable car at 3883 meters high.
To reach the mountain you would need to take 3 cable cars for a total of 45 minutes trip.
If you are a hiker ready to scale new peaks, then this is your chance because Little Matterhorn is one of the most favored hiking spots in Zermatt.
After the cable car brings you to the top, you can climb the staircase to the main viewing platform.
There you have an incredible view of 38 mountains and 14 glaciers in a circle around you.
But probably one of the best things you can do is visit the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.
It is a Grotto inside the glacier where you can explore ice sculptures made by great artists or just relax in the incredible star lounge.
6. Breithorn
“Breithorn: nel mondo dei ghiacci” by torremountain is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Climbing the Breithorn is one of the best things to do in Zermatt if you are looking to a challenging mountain hiking experience on your visit to Zermatt. It lies halfway between the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa.
It is a high mountain (4,164m.) but you can take the Little Matterhorn cable car which can take you up to 3800 m. and from there start your climb.
Having a head start, you can go at your own pace, but of course better with a local mountain guide for your safety and comfort.
We have covered the best mountains for your holiday, so now we can have a look at what the small town of Zermatt itself has to offer.
7. Zermatt’s Best Restaurants
When we say best we are talking about restaurants ranging from a typical restaurant to a fancier one.
Also, some of the restaurants that we mention are in hotels.
So in case a good restaurant is an absolute must for you when choosing a hotel, your welcome.
One of the best standard restaurants is the House Darioli.
The rustic wooden benches, no tablecloth, and it’s menu that combines simplicity and affordability gives more of a taverna style to the restaurant.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a fancier restaurant where you can taste the local swiss cuisine, then we recommend The Stubli restaurant.
The Stubli restaurant is in the Walliserhof Hotel, which is one of the oldest in Zermatt. It is a family operated hotel since it was first opened in 1898.
Also if you are tired of how all hotel rooms look alike, then you can stay in the Walliserhof Hotel where each room is unique.
One last secret, but please don’t tell anyone. Among local residents, very famous is Schäferstube with lam specialities from the black nose sheep. The family of our local guide said: “they never are more delicious lam than here” (they meant that doesn’t stink at all).
And everybody is excited about Chez Vrony with a very unique design and delicious food.
8. Shopping
“Zermatt” by Nouhailler is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Whenever we visit a new place, it is no coincidence that we like to buy things.
Each new item brings back a memory of the places we’ve visited and the emotions we felt at the time.
So what are the best items that we can buy in Zermatt?
Here, as usual you will find a lot of stores that are selling Swiss watches because the reputation of the Swiss watches being the highest quality is well-known to all corners of the earth.
Also, there is no better place to buy a Swiss watch than Switzerland right?
There are plenty of affordable watches and some brand-specific, high-end watch stores like Patek Philippe.
If you are a fan of swiss army knives then Victorinox is your place where they have over 1,000 different models.
Also if you have a sweet tooth, don’t forget to visit one or more of the Swiss chocolate stores.
If you like window shopping or love the uncertainty and excitement of picking something “by accident” then there are plenty of clothes boutiques and souvenir shops.
There are over 300 shops to choose from.
However, one of our favourite is Pura Alpina where you can buy local Swiss Product and Kristallgeimnis where you can find one of the most beautiful Swiss Crystals.
9. Visit Zermatt’s Best Spas
If you have been hiking or skiing and busy looking around Zermatt’s wonderful shops and are looking to unwind, then a mini spa retreat is exactly what you need.
If going to a spa sound interesting to you, here are some of the best ones in Zermatt:
- The Omnia
- Suitenhotel Zurbriggen
- Hotel Bellerive
- Ginabelle Hotel
10. Visit the Matterhorn Museum
Tiia Monto / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
If you would like to know more about the history of the Village, there is no better place than the Matterhorn Museum.
In it, you will get an idea of how people lived in Zermatt in the 19th century.
For a quick look at what visiting the Matterhorn museum feels like, here is a 1-minute video with professional editing that walks you through the museum.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we hope you have enjoyed our list of the best things to do in Zermatt.
Meanwhile, If you need help organizing your ideal holiday, we can help whether it is in Zermatt or any other great destination in the Alps.
Drop us a line, share with a friends, and most importantly: have a great holiday in the tiny town of Zermatt and its beautiful mountains.
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