Zermatt and the Matterhorn: A Guide for Indian Travellers

Zermatt is the Swiss village at the foot of the Matterhorn, the pyramid-shaped peak that appears on countless postcards and posters. The village is car-free, with electric taxis, chalets and views of the mountain from its main street. This guide explains how to get there, what to do and how it fits into a Switzerland trip.

The Matterhorn rises to 4,478 metres directly above the village, and on a clear day its summit glows pink at sunrise. Zermatt has kept its traditional character: wooden barns, a small church, and streets with no petrol cars. It is one of the world's great mountain resorts for skiing in winter and walking in summer.

Cars are not allowed into the village, so visitors park at Täsch and take a 12-minute shuttle train. Zermatt is about 3.5 hours by train from Zurich or Geneva. On our Switzerland tour package, the coach takes the group to Täsch for the train into Zermatt, and you spend time exploring the village and viewing the Matterhorn before returning to Geneva.

• Walk the main street (Bahnhofstrasse) and the old quarter of wooden barns.
• Gornergrat railway: a cogwheel train to 3,089 metres with views of the Matterhorn and 29 peaks over 4,000 metres (optional, extra cost).
• Matterhorn Glacier Paradise: Europe's highest cable car station at 3,883 metres, with a glacier palace (optional, extra cost).
• Kirchbrücke bridge: the classic photo spot for the Matterhorn above the river.
• Shopping: watches, chocolate and Matterhorn souvenirs.

From June to September the trails are open and the meadows are green; from December to April Zermatt is a ski resort with snow in the village. Clouds often cover the Matterhorn in the afternoon, so mornings usually give the best views.

Our Switzerland tour includes all three.

Zermatt is also the start of the Glacier Express, a famous panoramic train that takes about eight hours to reach St. Moritz across 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels. It is not part of our group tour, but we can arrange it as an extension before or after the tour for travellers who love train journeys.

From December to April, Zermatt is one of the world's great ski resorts, with slopes that cross into Italy. The village is snowy and festive, and the Matterhorn looks even more dramatic. It is cold, around −5 to 0°C in the village, so wear warm boots for the snowy streets.

The village itself is at a comfortable altitude of about 1,600 metres, with level streets and electric taxis. The high excursions to Gornergrat and Glacier Paradise go above 3,000 metres; travellers with heart or breathing conditions should check with their doctor and move slowly at the top.

• Arrive by shuttle train from Täsch and walk up Bahnhofstrasse.
• Head to the Kirchbrücke for the classic Matterhorn view.
• Wander through the old quarter of wooden barns (Hinterdorf).
• Optional: Gornergrat railway for the panorama, if time and weather allow.
• Coffee and Swiss chocolate before the train back.

Zermatt is in the canton of Valais in the south-west, far from Lucerne and Interlaken, so it works best on a route that also covers Lake Geneva. Our 7-night Switzerland tour travels from the Bernese Oberland by the GoldenPass line to Montreux, stays two nights in Geneva and visits Zermatt as a day trip, before returning through Lausanne, Gruyères and Bern. Independent travellers often spend a night in Zermatt to see the sunrise on the Matterhorn, which we can add as an extension. If you have only three or four days in Switzerland, Jungfraujoch and Titlis are easier to fit in; Zermatt is the highlight of a longer Swiss holiday.

The village has cafés, bakeries and restaurants serving Swiss classics such as fondue, raclette and rösti, many of which are vegetarian. Prices are high, as in all Swiss resorts, so a packed snack helps on a day trip. Popular souvenirs include Matterhorn-shaped chocolates, Swiss watches, cow bells and woollen hats.

Our 7-night Sound of Swiss tour combines Zermatt with Jungfraujoch, Mt. Titlis, Lucerne, the GoldenPass train, Montreux and Geneva. Read our guides to Jungfraujoch and the Switzerland trip cost to plan your holiday.