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The old town of Zermatt, Switzerland
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ZermattTravel Guide

Switzerland4 stories

The car-free village at the foot of the Matterhorn — cogwheel trains to glacier viewpoints, mirror lakes, and mountain history in every lane.

Is Zermatt right for you?

When to come

December to April for skiing; July to September for hiking

Around 20°C by day in July, 1°C in January — recorded at the local weather station.

What it costs

Expensive. Part of the reason to come is what you can book when you arrive.

What we've planned, and who for

We have a full day here planned hour by hour. Longer stays are covered by subject rather than by route.

Zermatt is inA proper winterWorth the splurgeDeepest in EuropeSnow and mountains
When to go
January: around 1 degrees by day, -7 at night, 42 millimetres of rain, cold, some precipitation. We recommend this month.
February: around 2 degrees by day, -7 at night, 30 millimetres of rain, cold, some precipitation. We recommend this month.
March: around 6 degrees by day, -4 at night, 33 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
April: around 10 degrees by day, -1 at night, 40 millimetres of rain, some rain.
May: around 14 degrees by day, 3 at night, 77 millimetres of rain, some rain.
June: around 18 degrees by day, 7 at night, 70 millimetres of rain, some rain.
July: around 20 degrees by day, 8 at night, 59 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
August: around 20 degrees by day, 8 at night, 68 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
September: around 15 degrees by day, 5 at night, 51 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
October: around 11 degrees by day, 1 at night, 57 millimetres of rain, some rain.
November: around 5 degrees by day, -3 at night, 65 millimetres of rain, some rain.
December: around 2 degrees by day, -6 at night, 47 millimetres of rain, cold, some precipitation. We recommend this month.
Cold to hot, by dayDry to wetWhen we would go

December to April for skiing; July to September for hiking

Average daily highs, recorded at Zermatt (1638 m elev.), 1991-2020 normals.

Where this comes from

NOAA / MeteoSwiss (en.wikipedia Zermatt weather box)

Budget level

Luxury

Typical cost profile for visitors

Combine it with
Plan itWhere to stay in Zermattad · Booking.comTours and tickets
On the map

Finding Zermatt

Open in Google Maps Larger map
The stories

Reading Zermatt

Zermatt's chalets and hotels glowing amber at blue hour, packed along the valley floor beneath the pale snow-streaked pyramid of the Matterhorn under a deep cobalt sky
01
Stays

Where to Stay in Zermatt: The Areas to Book, and the Ones to Think Twice About

Matterhorn views, lift access and the walk home in ski boots — a candid neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood guide to basing yourself well in Zermatt.

Switzerland · 2 min
The Matterhorn mirrored in a still alpine lake surrounded by golden autumn larches
02
The List

Zermatt, Ranked: 7 Experiences You Should Not Miss

One mountain rules them all — but here is the full ranked list, from the Gornergrat railway to the lanes of the old village.

Switzerland · 2 min
Weathered wooden chalets in Zermatt's old village with the snow-streaked pyramid of the Matterhorn rising behind
03
The List

Zermatt for Culture Lovers: The Best of Its Alpine Art and History

Beyond the pistes, Zermatt guards one of the Alps' great stories — the tragic first ascent of the Matterhorn — along with centuries-old wooden hamlets and pioneering railways. The cultural essentials, ranked.

Switzerland · 2 min
Zermatt after dark seen from the slope above, hundreds of chalet windows glowing gold along the snowy valley floor with the black walls of the mountains closing in on either side.
04
Itineraries

Sunrise to Midnight: One Full Day in Zermatt

Catch first light on the Gornergrat, wander the old village, find a mirror-still mountain lake and end with fondue and a nightcap — a single perfect day beneath the Matterhorn, hour by hour.

Switzerland · 2 min
In pictures

Zermatt, framed

The Matterhorn's snow-streaked pyramid standing black against a burning orange and violet sunset sky above the dark alpine meadows on the Zermatt side of the mountain
Photo: Ilia Bronskiy / Unsplash
The stone Kulm hotel and its white observatory domes on the Gornergrat summit above Zermatt, with the Matterhorn and a horizon of snow peaks behind them.
Photo: Young Shih / Unsplash
The old town of Zermatt, Switzerland
Photo: Patrick Robert Doyle / Unsplash
The old town of Zermatt, Switzerland
Photo: Yura Lytkin / Unsplash
Our picks

What we'd do in Zermatt

See and do

Before you go

Practical essentials for Switzerland

Money

Swiss franc (CHF)

Language

German, French, Italian and Romansh are official - German in Zurich and Lucerne, French in Geneva; English is widely spoken.

Power

Type C/J, 230V 50Hz

Getting around

SBB runs an integrated rail, bus and boat network; visitors usually buy a Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card and use the SBB Mobile app.

Tipping

Service has been included in listed prices since 1974; round up the bill if you want to, but nothing more is expected.

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink, including from most public fountains.

Driving

Right-hand side; a valid national licence is accepted for a visit, with an International Driving Permit recommended if yours is not in Latin script.

Emergency

112; also 117 police, 144 ambulance, 118 fire, 1414 air rescue

Country-level guidance, checked against official sources. Currency, fares and entry rules change — confirm anything time-critical before you travel.

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