If you are a big fan of Switzerland, you may have no strange to the word “Zermatt”. Although Zermatt isn’t well known as much as other famous places like Jaufraujoch – Top of Europe, Interlaken or other cities such as Zurich, Lucerne,… this is the must-visit destination you should spend your holidays on. Not only is it a peaceful place but you also explore a lot of fantastic mountains which is the symbolic of Switzerland. So, what to do in Zermatt – the Zermatt’s fairy tale village? Let’s check out our Zermatt travel blog (Zermatt blog) with the fullest Zermatt travel guide on how to get to Zermatt, top things to do, where to stay, places to visit in Zermatt and how to spend 2 days in Zermatt perfectly (Zermatt itinerary 2 days) to find out the answer!
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This small village is situated in a valley, in which you can see the Matterhorn Mount, really like villages in the fairy tales.
Zermatt travel guide: How to get to Zermatt?
Zermatt is located in the north of Switzerland, near the Italy’s border. Therefore, catching a train is the fastest way to Zermatt. It takes two and quarter hours from Interlaken or Bern or three and half hours from Zurich to Zermatt. All the journeys have to pass the transshipment Vsip, next, get off the train and catch the local train from Vsip to Zermatt.
On the way to Zermatt, in spite of the summer or winter, the views are incredible with some small villages on the cliffs covered by the clouds. What a fantastic scenery!
Zermatt travel blog: Where I should stay in Zermatt?
Tourism is the main profession in Zermatt so that you can find a lot of budget-hotel here. As I am a solo traveler, I find an accommodation on Airbnb. Incidentally, I’ve already placed at Martin’s Eable’s Nest a lovely tiny apartment locating on the hill with a great view of Zermatt.
The apartment is a single room with a single bed for guest like me and sleeper sofa for host. Martin (my host) is an American Swiss. In spite of the age, he is still healthy and perfectly lucid. Although there are a lot of stuffs inside, this apartment is pretty clean, especially the guest’s bed. Something you should know that the apartment located on a high hill. Therefore, if you bring a lot of baggage and can manage on your own, believe me, it will be very hard for you to carry it to this apartment alone.
In addition, why don’t you consider some hotels follow in Zermatt with captivating views?
Matterhorn FOCUS Design Hotel: You can enjoy the incredible Matterhorn’s views from the Suite room. If you’re not on a budget, just take a hot coffee in the downstairs and you’ll be mesmerized by the view of the Matterhorn, barely taking your eyes off it.
Address: Schluhmattstrasse 131, 3920 Zermatt, Switzerland.
You can find, check rates, reviews & availability for this hotel on Agoda.com or Booking.com.
Parkhotel Beau Site: Spacious Four-star Hotel with many kinds of rooms and splendid view of the Matterhorn. Located at a peaceful area, this hotel also has swimming pool and other attractive sight-seeings.
Address: Brunnmattgasse 9, 3920 Zermatt, Switzerland
You can find, check rates, reviews & availability for this hotel on Agoda.com or Booking.com.
Besides, some hotels are not in Zermatt but having beautiful views such as Riffelhaus 1853 and one lies at the top of Gornergrat is 3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat
Zermatt blog: What to eat in Zermatt?
All my meals in Zermatt are cooked by Martin, of course, I pay for those. My lunch is about 8 – 10 CHF ($ 8.3 – 10.38) and the dinner is 15 CHF ($ 15.57). About those, Martin will contact to you with basic information before you arrive here.
The simplest lunch consists of Spaghetti, Toast (bread is eaten with jam) and a cup of hot tea. For dinner, you’’ll have a plate of mashed potatoes, Swiss sausage and pickles, apple juice and a delicious apple pie. The original text which Martin wrote to me: Roesti with veal sausage and Swiss Apple Juice. It can be said that the meals are pretty good, comfortable stay and beautiful views.
Zermatt travel blog: Some activities, things to do as well as best places you should visit in Zermatt
Climb up the Matterhorn Peak
Most people come to Zermatt just because of the Matterhorn, said by Martin. Indeed, the Matterhorn is considered as symbol of Zermatt and you can view at this spectacular mountain in every corner of the town.
If you have mountaineering experience, don’t miss the chance of conquering the Matterhorn. Also, you can join some rock-climbing tours to mix yourself with its nature.
Take a walk at Zermatt’s stunning village
Zermatt center is kinda small and just need only an hour on foot to visit. But if you want to take pictures of the whole village, you can get on the top of the hill. A speciality is in the winter when the entire roof is covered by snow, the village appears like in a fairy tales.
Besides, you can take a visit to The Matterhorn Museum where has saved a variety of items of the village since the 17th century. This museum is a place in which you can explore and find out the formation and development of this stunning fairy village.
Let’s ski in Zermatt
You can meet many people bringing along skiing instruments. This area is a good jumping-off point for outdoor activities, especially skiing because surrounding landscapes are mountains covered by snow. Of course, there will have means odd transportation bringing you up to the top of the mountains and pistes from easy to hard level.
Catching a train to Gornergrat
Normally, tourists are seldom hiking the Matterhorn Mount, but easily catch the views from the far off mountains. And getting on a train to Gornergrat is the best way to have best views and take photos as much as you want about this famous mountain.
The train will start at the Zermatt Station (particular station to Gornergrat and next to the station which go to Switzerland’s cities).
Zermatt itinerary 2 days: How to spend 2 days in Zermatt
Day 1: Around trip from Interlaken to Zermatt
5:00 a.m: Getting started the two-day in Zermatt by catching a train from Interlaken to Zermatt in the early morning. If posible, you may stop at Spiez where is near Interlaken to have a look at the beautiful Spiez Lake. Moreover, you can get the incredible window views, villages on the cliffs, snow under and so on along sides in the train to Zermatt.
8:00 a.m: The train arrives to Zermatt – the famous village of Switzerland and the top of Matterhorn isn’t far as much. Today is a snowy day and all the roads are covered by thick snow that why I’m out of the station and find the way back my apartment.
9:00 a.m: At this time, I’ve already contact to my host after my rounding trip to Zermatt. I am got by Martin and we come back to the apartment. This apartment lies at a bit high hill so that it is kinda hard to move around but for the fantastic views, I almost forget all those matter.
Wandering around streets in Zermatt town for a while, I turn back to Martin’s place right after that due to the snowy all day.
Day 2: Zermatt – Gornergrat – Matterhorn
7:00 a.m: Getting up early and taking the Zermatt’s sunrise photos from the apartment which is opposite the Matterhorn Mount.
9:00 a.m: Catch a train to Gornergrat. The train will stop at Riffelberg before getting to Gornergrat’s top. By the way, the scenery in this mount is really wonderful.
Buying tickets train to the Gornergrat’s top, you will get a cute tiny Matterhorn chocolate bar. Also, you should buy round-trip ticket because this is hop on hop off ticket which means you can get off anywhere you like with this ticket and the price is also cheaper than buying retail.
11:00 Get on the train to Gornergrat. From here, you can catch incredible views of this whole famous Matterhorn Peak. Hotels, restaurants are available on the top of Gornergrat or if you arrive here in summer, you can visit the beautiful Reffelsee Lake.
12:00 Turn back to Zermatt by train and then I have meal after wandering around the town. Finally, I come back to Martin’s place to get my luggage.
14:30 Saying goodbye to Martin as well as ending two-day in Zermatt’s stunning fairy village, I’m officially out of Zermatt.
Leave Zermatt with all my heart from snowy village to fantastic mountains. There are a lot of things in Zermatt that I didn’t experience yet. If possible in the next time, I will join The Matterhorn rock-climbing tour to explore all the magnificent lake reflecting the mountains and a variety of amazing things in Zermatt.
Are you looking for more Switzerland destinations? Read more: Lucerne travel blog — The fullest Lucerne travel guide for a great trip to Lucerne for the first-timers.