Zermatt Day Trip - Valais

Charming village beneath the Matterhorn

Available: all year

Example travel costs

Swiss Travel Pass: FREE

Half Fare Card: 40 Sfr return from Brig; 49 Sfr from Saas-Fee; 78 Sfr from Interlaken or Montreux

Zermatt is a charming, archetypal Swiss village complete with chalet-style buildings, fantastic views of the Matterhorn and plenty of restaurants for a fine lunch. The village is traffic-free, so you can enjoy a leisurely wander through the streets, soaking up the delightful alpine atmosphere. This is one of the most cherished spots in Switzerland and makes for a memorable day trip.   

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Contact us to book your holiday

Call us on 0800 619 1200 or email us at info@swissholidayco.com

The Matterhorn

The iconic symbol of Switzerland, the Matterhorn towers above Zermatt village, a true natural wonder. Take your time to enjoy this unique view during your day here!

The mountain stands at 4,478m and owes its fame to its symmetrical pyramid shape. The first ascent of the mountain took place in 1865, when Edward Whymper and his team reached the summit after several unsuccessful attempts. Climbers still make the ascent today, via the Hörnli Hut, but we recommend admiring it from below!

Walking near Zermatt

There is a huge choice of walking near Zermatt - and in its surrounding mountains - for all abilities.

During a day trip, you may not have time to take full advantage, but happily there are a couple of more local walks which you can enjoy over the course of an hour or so. Starting in the centre of Zermatt, a recommended trail leads up to Ried, from where you will have a magnificent view of the Matterhorn. Alternatively, there is another trail from the edge of Zermatt to Furi, via the village of Winkelmatten. Again, there is a fantastic photo spot en route to capture the Matterhorn. 

Both of these walks can be enjoyed year round. 

Treat yourself to a fine lunch

Zermatt has something of a reputation for award-winning gourmet excellence! There are 4 Michelin star restaurants in the village and even more mentioned in the Gault & Millau dining guide. The Zermatt restaurants pride themselves in using high quality, fresh ingredients and expert preparation to create unique, innovative dishes. If you would like to take lunch in one of these elegant establishments, it would be best to book a table in advance.

Of course, you may be looking for a quick lunch in which case there are plenty of simple restaurants to enjoy. Or you could indulge in the ultimate alpine experience - head up to a mountain restaurant, settle yourself on the sun terrace and enjoy a delicious fondue. 

Into the mountains

If you arrive in Zermatt early, you may have time during your day out for a trip higher up into the mountains. We recommend Gornergrat at with its memorable scenic train ride up and views of no less than 29 mountains which all stand at over 4000m. Or the Klein Matterhorn, which is reached via the highest cable car in Europe and has fantastic views across to the Matterhorn. There is an ice palace to enjoy and in summer you can try snowtubing. 

There are excellent rail connections to and from Zermatt, making it easily accessible for a full day trip from a number of other resorts. The journey from Brig / Visp is the same route as the Glacier Express takes, so you will enjoy the same views which are particularly good of the Matterhorn as you approach your destination. 

As an example, from Brig the journey is 1 hour 15 minutes, from Saas-Fee it is 2 hours, from Interlaken 2 hours 15 and from Montreux 2 hours 30. 

Request your holiday quotation

Call us on 0800 619 1200 or email us at info@swissholidayco.com