Zermatt

Travelers come for the Matterhorn views, high-altitude skiing and hiking, and a village where cars stay out of town.

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Zermatt is a mountain resort in the Matter Valley of Valais canton, in German-speaking southern Switzerland, close to the Italian border. The village sits at about 1,610 m at the foot of the Matterhorn. Private combustion-engine cars have been banned since 1931, so leave your car at Täsch and take the train into town. From there, electric taxis, shuttles, electric buses and horse-drawn carriages cover the rest. The center is compact, and almost everything is at most a 30-minute walk away.

The Matterhorn is what Zermatt is best known for, and the Matterhorn Museum tells the story of its first ascent in 1865. From town, the Gornergrat railway climbs to 3,089 m in about 29 minutes, and the Klein Matterhorn cable car reaches 3,883 m. Zermatt is also a good base for hiking, with more than 400 km of trails in all valley areas, and it is a ski resort too.

Zermatt in five

Leave the car in TäschZermatt is closed to private cars. Park in Täsch and take the frequent shuttle train, which takes about 12 minutes.
Check the Matterhorn webcamsThe peak is often hidden by cloud. Check the webcams in the morning and ride up to Gornergrat or Matterhorn Glacier Paradise on the clearest day.
Weigh the Swiss Travel PassIt covers the train to Zermatt and gives discounts on some mountain railways.Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it?
Skip it as a day tripThe village is around 3.5 hours from Zurich or Geneva by train, changing at Visp. Stay at least one night so a cloudy morning does not wreck the only day you have.

Things to do in Zermatt

See all attractions in Zermatt

Garden · ZermattRicola Herb Garden

Landmark · ZermattWolli Park Sunnegga

Landmark · ZermattMountaineer's Cemetery

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to ZermattPut the places you like in Zermatt on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Geneva (GVA) or Zurich (ZRH), about 3.5 hours by train
Getting there: Train via Visp; the Glacier Express from St. Moritz
Getting around: On foot and electric taxis; railways and lifts up
Best base: Near the station, or higher up for Matterhorn views
Time needed: 2–3 days

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Days with storms

Best
Mixed
Poor

JanuarySnow14 rainy days9 snowy daysHigh-3°Low-9°Ski season
FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy days6 snowy daysHigh0°Low-7°Ski season
MarchSnow14 rainy days8 snowy daysHigh1°Low-7°Sunny skiing
AprilRain13 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh4°Low-3°Late ski season
MayRain15 rainy days2 snowy days1 day with stormsHigh8°Low1°Lifts close
JuneRain14 rainy days2 days with stormsHigh14°Low6°Hiking starts
JulyRain15 rainy days2 days with stormsHigh17°Low8°Peak hiking
AugustRain13 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh16°Low7°Peak hiking
SeptemberRain13 rainy days1 snowy day1 day with stormsHigh12°Low4°Clear, calmer
OctoberRain13 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh8°Low0°Quiet
NovemberSnow14 rainy days7 snowy daysHigh1°Low-5°Ski season opens
DecemberSnow14 rainy days9 snowy daysHigh-1°Low-8°Ski season

Average daily high and low in Zermatt, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Zermatt

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

-5

Feels like: -8°
Humidity: 58%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Zermatt

09:47 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today4°-7°0%Monday: Clear. High 4°, Low -7°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue3°-5°13%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 3°, Low -5°. Chance of rain 13%.
Wed1°-5°8%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 1°, Low -5°. Chance of rain 8%.
Thu3°-2°22%Thursday: Rain. High 3°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 22%.
Fri2°-1°51%Friday: Snow. High 2°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 51%.
Sat0°-4°35%Saturday: Fog. High 0°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 35%.
Sun-2°-4°38%Sunday: Snow. High -2°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 38%.

Updated 05:32 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8245 CHF

Amount

Converted to

CHF · Swiss Franc

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Zermatt

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

Feb–MarRabadanTicino, a day trip
Jun–JulAscona Jazz FestivalLocarno, a day trip
JunGreenfield FestivalInterlaken, a day trip
Jul–AugVerbier FestivalValais, a day trip
JulMontreux Jazz FestivalMontreux, a day trip
Jul–SepMenuhin Festival GstaadBernese Oberland, a day trip

Day trips by train

Gornergratabout 29 min by rack railwayA rack railway climbs to 3,089 m, with a view over the Gorner Glacier and the Monte Rosa massif.
Klein Matterhornabout 9 min by 3S cable carA cable car to 3,883 m with wide views from the Swiss Alps to the Italian Po plain.
Sunnegga ParadiseReached by the SunneggaExpress funicular. The Rothorn above often stays clear and sunny when the valley is in cloud.

Before you go to Zermatt

Glacier Express and the Visp lineSeat reservations on scenic trainsRead the guide

Gornergrat and Glacier ParadiseTickets for the clearest morningCheck availability

eSIM for ZermattLive webcams before you ride upRead the guide

Insurance for ZermattHelicopter rescue costs in the AlpsRead the guide

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Rules for Zermatt, checked

Switzerland is part of the Schengen area, and many nationalities enter visa-free for short stays. Check entry rules on ch.ch before you book.Source
Declare cash and goods above the legal limits at the border. Check the current limits with the Swiss Federal Customs Administration (BAZG) before you travel.Source
Zermatt is car-free. Leave your car at Täsch and take the train or shuttle; private combustion-engine cars have been banned in the village since 1931.
Dial 112 for any emergency in Switzerland. Dial 144 for an ambulance and 117 for the police.

Plan around Zermatt

All of Switzerland

Rail passes, regions, money and entry rules

Read the guide Interlaken and the Jungfrau

The other big Alpine base, east via Bern

Read the guide Geneva

Airport and lakeside city, about 3.5 hours away

Read the guide Zurich

Main airport and the usual rail route in

Read the guide St. Moritz

The other end of the Glacier Express, an eight-hour ride

Read the guide Swiss Travel Pass

What it covers around Zermatt

Read the guide Travel insurance

Mountain rescue and weather cancellations

Read the guide

Zermatt FAQ

Can you drive to Zermatt?

No. Private cars are not allowed in Zermatt. Drive to Täsch and take the shuttle train, or come by train all the way.

When is the best time to see the Matterhorn?

Clear mornings in any season. Summer and early autumn give hiking, winter gives skiing, and mornings are often clearer than afternoons.

Gornergrat or Matterhorn Glacier Paradise?

Gornergrat's cogwheel railway gives the classic Matterhorn view. Matterhorn Glacier Paradise goes higher, with glacier views and summer skiing.

How many days do you need in Zermatt?

Two nights give one flexible weather day for the Matterhorn viewpoints and one for a hike or ski day. Three nights suit hikers who want higher trails or skiers who want more terrain.

Is Zermatt worth visiting in summer if you do not hike?

Yes. Lifts and the Gornergrat railway reach Matterhorn views without long walks, and the village has cafés and glacier viewpoints. Cloud can hide the peak, so keep a spare day.