How to choose among 15 experiences
Zermatt sits at about 1,600 metres and the best things to do are almost all higher up. Most need a lift or train ticket, so the first decision is money and weather, not the list. Pick one high viewpoint for a clear morning, one lake or walk for the rest of the stay, and add the museum for a grey afternoon.
Prices below are adult return fares from Zermatt. They are labelled by season because the operators publish winter 2026/27 (1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027) and summer 2027 (from 1 May 2027) separately. Half Fare Card and Swiss Travel Pass give 50 % off most single tickets.
Three high viewpoints
The big lifts, from the classic view to the glaciers.
1. Gornergrat
The cogwheel train takes about 33 to 35 minutes to 3,089 metres, where the platform looks at 29 four-thousanders. Entry to the ZOOOM exhibition is included. Return fare CHF 102 in winter 2026/27, according to the operator's June 2026 price list. The railway is closed from 2 to 14 November 2026.
Gornergrat guide →2. Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
At 3,883 metres this is the highest cable car station in Europe. The ticket includes the ice palace, about 15 metres below the glacier surface. Return CHF 104 in winter 2026/27 and CHF 138 in summer 2027. From 1:30 pm the afternoon ticket costs CHF 84 in winter.
Glacier Paradise guide →3. Rothorn
Funicular to Sunnegga, gondola to Blauherd, then the cable car to 3,103 metres. Return CHF 70 in winter 2026/27 and CHF 96 in summer 2027. A cheaper view than the other two, with the lakes below you. These lifts do not run from 12 October to 27 November 2026.
Sunnegga and Rothorn →Our picks: things to book
A paragliding flight and the tickets for the two big viewpoints.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in Swiss francs (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency. We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
Tandem paragliding flight with Matterhorn views
A tandem flight with a pilot above Zermatt, weather permitting. Read the inclusions on the tour page before you book.
Check availability →Gornergrat Railway return ticket
The return trip with entry to the ZOOOM exhibition at the top. CHF 132 matches the operator's summer 2026 fare; from November 2026 the official winter fare is CHF 102, and Half Fare Card holders pay half at the station.
Check availability →
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise cable car ticket
Return cable car, viewing platform and glacier palace. The operator's own winter 2026/27 return is CHF 104 and Half Fare Card holders get 50 % off there, so compare before you book.
Check availability →Zermatt tours and tickets
Day trips from Zurich and Geneva, Gornergrat and Glacier Paradise tickets and the Glacier Express, with live prices and availability.
We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
Lakes with a Matterhorn reflection
Early morning and no wind are what matter, more than the lake itself.
4. Riffelsee
From Rotenboden station (2,815 m) it is a short walk of about 10 minutes to the lake at 2,757 metres. The reflection works early or late in the day when the air is still. You need only the Gornergrat ticket, no extra fee. In winter the lake is under snow.
Riffelsee guide →5. Sunnegga and the Leisee
The funicular reaches Sunnegga (2,288 m) in about four minutes. The Leisee is 10 minutes on foot or three minutes by shuttle, with a playground, barbecue spots and swimming allowed. Sunnegga return CHF 26 in winter 2026/27, CHF 36 in summer 2027.
Sunnegga guide →6. The 5 Lakes Walk
From Blauherd to Sunnegga past the Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grünsee, Moosjisee and Leisee. Sources give 10 to 11 km and 3 to 3.5 hours. The Matterhorn reflects in three of the lakes. Season June to September. The combined lift ticket is CHF 52 in summer 2027.
Hiking in Zermatt →7. Schwarzsee and its chapel
A cable car via Furi leads to the lake at 2,552 metres, with the small chapel Maria zum Schnee five minutes from the station. Return CHF 53 in winter 2026/27, CHF 70 in summer 2027. The cable car skips Schwarzsee from 28 September to 13 November 2026.
Schwarzsee guide →Walks, a gorge and a bridge
For days when you want to move your legs more than your wallet.
8. The trail to the Hörnli hut
From Schwarzsee to the hut at 3,260 metres, the base of the classic Matterhorn climb: 4.3 km, about 2 hours 15 minutes up, 693 metres of ascent. It is rated T3 and only for sure-footed walkers with a head for heights. July and August are the best months. Opening dates of the hut for 2026/27 are not confirmed.
Trail details →9. Gornerschlucht
Wooden walkways through the gorge, 15 minutes on foot from the south end of the village. Adults CHF 5.50, children 6 to 15 CHF 3 (2026 prices). The tourism site shows it closed from 18 October 2026 to 31 May 2027.
10. Charles Kuonen suspension bridge
494 metres long, up to 85 metres above the ground and 65 centimetres wide, near Randa. The walk from the village takes about 2 hours. Randa is 20 to 23 minutes by train from Zermatt. A nearby section of the Europaweg is closed, so check the route locally. Winter access is not confirmed.
11. Findeln
A hamlet above the village, known for its mountain restaurants. The Findlerweg runs from Sunnegga past the Leisee to Findeln and on to Winkelmatten: 3.9 km, about 1 hour 10 minutes, rated medium. From Findeln it is roughly 40 minutes on foot into Zermatt.
In the village and beyond
Three experiences that do not depend on the clouds, or only partly.
12. Matterhorn Museum Zermatlantis
An underground museum beside the church on the Kirchplatz, with the broken rope from the first ascent on 14 July 1865. Adults CHF 12, seniors CHF 10, ages 10 to 16 CHF 7 (2026 prices). Free with the Swiss Travel Pass. Daily from 3 pm to 6 pm, but closed from 1 to 19 November 2026 and only Friday to Sunday from 20 November to 17 December.
Museum guide →13. The crossing to Cervinia
Cable cars take you over the glacier into Italy in about 90 minutes. One way CHF 127.50 in winter 2026/27 and CHF 138 in summer 2027. The link reopens on 24 October 2026. The last uphill departure from Zermatt is at 2:50 pm until 29 January 2027. Take your passport or ID card. From 7 January to 26 February 2027 a cable car revision rules out the crossing.
Glacier Paradise →14. The Glacier Express
291 km to St. Moritz in about 8 hours, over the Oberalp Pass at 2,033 metres. Second class costs CHF 166 plus a compulsory seat reservation of CHF 54, so CHF 220 one way. No trains run until 4 December 2026. The winter timetable starts on 5 December.
Glacier Express guide →Winter
The village changes completely once the snow is down.
15. Sledging, winter trails and the igloo village
The Rotenboden sledge run is about 2 km long, takes roughly 10 minutes and is groomed daily; sledges can be rented at Riffelberg. More than 40 km of cleared winter walking paths and 20 km of snowshoe trails start from the lifts. The igloo village at 2,727 metres opens on 19 December 2026 and runs to 4 April 2027, and skiing starts on 1 November 2026 with day passes from CHF 89.
Zermatt in winter → Skiing →Where to start
Three simple plans for different trips.
| Trip | Do this | Items |
|---|---|---|
| One day, clear sky | Gornergrat in the morning, Riffelsee on the way down | 1, 4 |
| Three days in summer | Glacier Paradise, the 5 Lakes Walk, then the museum or Findeln | 2, 6, 11, 12 |
| Late autumn | Glacier Paradise and the Cervinia crossing, museum from 20 November | 2, 12, 13 |
| Winter | Sledging, winter paths, igloo village, skiing | 15 |
Things to do in Zermatt: frequently asked questions
What is the best thing to do in Zermatt?
For most visitors it is the Gornergrat: one train ticket, a view of 29 four-thousanders and the Riffelsee reflection nearby. A return costs CHF 102 in winter 2026/27. For glaciers and an ice palace, choose the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise at CHF 104 in winter 2026/27.
What can I do in Zermatt without a lift ticket?
Visit the Matterhorn Museum, walk the Findlerweg downhill, cross Zermatt on the cleared paths or, in the right season, walk to the Gornerschlucht. These need no mountain railway. The gorge is closed until 31 May 2027.
Which attractions are closed in November 2026?
The Gornergrat Railway from 2 to 14 November, the Sunnegga and Rothorn lifts until 27 November and the Glacier Express until 4 December. The museum is closed from 1 to 19 November. The Glacier Paradise stays open.
Is the Peak Pass worth it?
Only if you ride at least three of the big lifts in a day or two. One day costs CHF 190 in winter 2026/27 and CHF 246 in summer 2027. Half Fare Card and Swiss Travel Pass give just 25 % off the pass.
How many days do I need in Zermatt?
Two full days cover one high viewpoint and one lake walk. Three or four days let you add the Cervinia crossing, the museum and a second walk, and leave room for a day of bad weather.