The best time to visit Zermatt in short
Hiking season runs from June to October. The 5 Lakes Walk is best from June to September. Skiing starts on 1 November 2026 on the Glacier Paradise side and on 28 November on the Sunnegga and Gornergrat side, and runs until early May 2027. Between those seasons Zermatt is open but reduced, and several lifts, the Gornerschlucht and the Glacier Express are closed.
We give no temperatures or hours of sunshine because we found no verified figures for Zermatt. Mountain weather changes quickly, and a clear morning matters more than an average. Check the webcams before you buy a lift ticket.
Which season suits you
Four goals and the months that fit them.
Hiking and lakes
June to October. The Matterhorn Glacier Trail runs June to September, and the Hörnli hut trail is best in July and August. Fares are higher in summer 2027, for example CHF 138 for the Glacier Paradise.
Hiking guide →Skiing
From 1 November 2026 to early May 2027. Day passes start from CHF 89 in winter 2026/27, with dynamic pricing: lowest from 1 to 27 November 2026 and from 19 April to 2 May 2027.
Skiing guide →Snow without skis
December to March for sledging, winter paths and the igloo village, which is open from 19 December 2026 to 4 April 2027.
Zermatt in winter →Fewer crowds
There are no official visitor numbers. The ski schools' high seasons, 12 December 2026 to 10 January 2027, 6 February to 7 March and 20 March to 4 April 2027, are a clear sign of the fullest weeks. Mornings are quieter at the big lifts.
Zermatt tours and tickets
Day trips from Zurich and Geneva, Gornergrat and Glacier Paradise tickets and the Glacier Express, with live prices and availability.
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Zermatt month by month, October 2026 to September 2027
What is on and what to watch. Where 2027 timetables are not published, the table says so.
| Month | What is on | Watch out |
|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | Last of the hiking season; Gornergrat Railway runs until 1 November; summer skiing on the Theodul glacier since 14 October | Sunnegga and Rothorn lifts, the Glacier Express and the Gornerschlucht are closed |
| November 2026 | Skiing from 1 November; Winter Opening Weeks with 10 % off stays of four nights or more | Gornergrat Railway closed 2 to 14 November; museum closed 1 to 19 November |
| December 2026 | Glacier Express winter timetable from 5 December; igloo village from 19 December | Ski school high season from 12 December |
| January 2027 | Full winter operation, sledging, winter paths | High season until 10 January; the crossing to Cervinia is off from 7 January |
| February 2027 | Mid-winter skiing | High season from 6 February; ski passes are dearer; crossing to Cervinia closed until 26 February |
| March 2027 | Skiing, igloo village | High season until 7 March and again from 20 March |
| April 2027 | Skiing; igloo village until 4 April | Sunnegga ski area ends 11 April, Gornergrat 18 April; lowest ski prices again from 19 April |
| May 2027 | Glacier Paradise ski area until 2 or 3 May; summer fares from 1 May | Gornerschlucht closed until 31 May; Glacier Ride I revision until 21 May |
| June 2027 | Hiking opens up; the 5 Lakes Walk starts its season | Opening date of the gorge after 31 May to be confirmed |
| July 2027 | Best month for the Hörnli trail with August; long days at the Riffelsee | Summer timetable 2027 not yet published |
| August 2027 | Peak hiking; the Schwarzsee chapel holds its patron feast on 5 August | Book lifts and beds ahead |
| September 2027 | Hiking, 5 Lakes Walk until the end of September | In 2026 the Schwarzsee cable car stopped on 27 September |
October 2027 is expected to follow the pattern of 2026. The Glacier Express operator describes an annual break from mid-October to the beginning of December, and summer fares last to 31 October 2027.
Autumn 2026: closures and revisions
Valid on 19 October 2026. Check the operators again close to your trip.
| Service | Closed or limited | Back to normal |
|---|---|---|
| Gornergrat Railway | Closed 2 to 14 November; every 48 minutes 15 to 27 November | 28 November (every 24 minutes) |
| Sunnegga, Blauherd, Rothorn | No service 12 October to 27 November | 28 November (winter) |
| Furi–Schwarzsee cable car | Shuttle cabins only, 28 September to 13 November | 14 November; the online shop says 28 November |
| Glacier Express | No trains 11 October to 4 December | 5 December (winter timetable) |
| Gornerschlucht | Closed from 18 October | After 31 May 2027 |
| Matterhorn Museum | Closed 1 to 19 November; Friday to Sunday only 20 November to 17 December | Daily from 18 December |
| Glacier Ride I (to Glacier Paradise) | Revision to 30 October, a shuttle cabin runs instead | 31 October |
| Crossing to Cervinia | Closed to 23 October | 24 October |
| Train Visp–Täsch | SBB timetable shows replacement buses 12 October to 8 November | 9 November |
The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise stays open all year, so a visit in the gap is still worth it on a clear day. Lowest ski prices apply in November, and the Winter Opening Weeks add a hotel discount.
Where to go next
Details for planning around the seasons.
Best time to visit Zermatt: frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Zermatt?
For hiking, July to September. For skiing, December to March. For fewer crowds, the weeks around the Winter Opening Weeks (1 November to 6 December 2026) or late April. There is no single best month.
Is Zermatt worth visiting in November?
Only with a plan. The Gornergrat Railway is closed from 2 to 14 November 2026 and the Glacier Express does not run, but skiing starts on 1 November and the Glacier Paradise is open. Ski prices are at their lowest.
When can I hike the 5 Lakes Walk?
From June to September, according to the lift operator. The lifts to Blauherd do not run from 12 October to 27 November 2026, so the walk is not reachable by lift in that gap.
When does the ski season start and end?
It starts on 1 November 2026. The Sunnegga and Gornergrat areas open on 28 November. The Sunnegga area ends on 11 April 2027, the Gornergrat on 18 April and the Glacier Paradise and Schwarzsee area on 2 or 3 May.
When does the Glacier Express run?
Not from 11 October to 4 December 2026. The winter timetable runs from 5 December 2026 to 7 May 2027. The summer timetable for 2027 starts in May, with dates to be confirmed.