What To Do From Zermatt - A Mostly Outdoor Guide

Zermatt is an alpine paradise set in a dramatic landscape under the Matterhorn. This guide covers all the (mostly) outdoor things you can do in Zermatt and nearby.

By: Paul Healy | Last Updated: May 14, 2025 | Jump to Comments

We’ve been to Zermatt several times, and never tire of this dramatic scenery.

The village itself is charming enough, but for us, it’s a bit too focused on tourists and doesn’t offer a lot of what we enjoy doing.

The real drawcard for us is the amazing outdoor experiences easily reached from the town centre.

So this guide is all about the best hikes in the area, the most scenic cable car rides, jaw-dropping viewpoints and the best ways to experience nature in and around Zermatt.

We have also included a map and practical information to make your visit smoother.

Table of Contents show

Restaurant at Sunnegga with view of Matterhorn above Zermatt

BEST OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES NEAR ZERMATT

1. MATTERHORN VIEWPOINTS

While the mighty Matterhorn is Zermatt’s crowning feature, the town is set in a valley which curves away from the mountain. So, not every street in the car-free village has a winning view of the Matterhorn.

Some of the best Matterhorn views are on the slopes above the town. They can only be reached by hiking and using the excellent funiculars and cable cars.

Here are the best viewpoints in you can get to from Zermatt.

Mürini Hill – The best view of the Matterhorn from Zermatt is on this hill in the Le Petit Village area on the northeastern edge of town.
Riffelsee – We’ve done the hike to Riffelsee many times and it’s the best reflection shot you can get of the Matterhorn.
Höbahlmen Meadows – This high alpine meadow has incredible views of the imposing north face, but you can only get to in on a challenging hike which we cover in our top hikes near Zermatt post.
Klein Matterhorn – We’ve visited from Zermatt and from the Italian side on the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing and it’s simply breathtaking. See the Matterhorn and other 4,000m peaks from the 3,883m high viewing platform.
Stellisee – Another great reflection show, but Stellisee is just a short walk from Blauherd Cable Car Station.
Trockener Steg – The terrace outside the Trockener Steg cable car station has the most triangular view of the Matterhorn.

matterhorn glacier trail zermatt hikes 2 — MATTERHORN FROM HÖBAHLMEN MEADOWS

views of matterhorn near zermatt — MATTERHORN FROM HÖBAHLMEN MEADOWS

2. GORNERGRAT RAILWAY

We’ve done the Gornergrat Railway 3 times now and it’s something we think every visitor to Zermatt should do at least once.

Travelling to a height of 3,100 metres, the cogwheel train has almost constant views of the Matterhorn. The best views are on the right-hand side of the train going up.

From the Gornergrat Station, you can see twenty-nine 4,000-metre peaks and several glaciers.

There are 5 stops on the train (including Gornergrat Station). You can get off at any of them, then get back on to finish your journey. However, each section can only be travelled once.

We got the train all the way to the top, then walked down to Riffelsee, then on to Riffelberg to catch the train back to Zermatt. (See next section.)

STATIONS ON THE GORNERGRAT TRAIN

Findelbach (1,774m) | Riffelalp (2211m) – starting point for several hikes | Riffelberg (2,582m) | Rotenboden (2,815m) – closest station to Riffelsee | Gornergrat (3,089m)

3. RIFFELSEE LAKE

The protected Riffelsee Lake is usually still, making it perfect for photographing the Matterhorn reflecting on its surface.

The alpine landscapes at this altitude (2,582m) are barren yet beautiful.

Riffelsee is an easy 5-minute walk from the Rotenboden Station on the Gornergrat Railway (as mentioned above).

But there’s a better way to see it. We hiked from Gornergrat to Riffelsee, which is an 4.8-kilometre trail is mostly downhill. This is a fantastic walk with incredible views the whole way. From the lake we continued down to Riffelberg to get the train back to Zermatt.

It took us about 1.5 hours to do this hike and we cover this in more detail in our guide to hiking around Zermatt.

riffelsee hike zermat things to do — RIFFELSEE

4. MATTERHORN GLACIER PARADISE (KLEIN MATTERHORN)

The Klein Matterhorn is a 3,883m peak overlooking Zermatt. On its summit is the highest cable car station in Europe which connects you to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise viewing platform.

This is a year-round destination and views are staggering. As well as the Matterhorn, witness 38 four-thousand-metre peaks and 14 glaciers. It’s spectacular.

In addition to the views they have ice sculptures, a film about the construction of the cable car and a ski area.

You can also get to Klein Matterhorn from the Italian side on the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing – something we did a few years ago when it first opened.

matterhorn from klein matterhorn glacier ride i — MATTERHORN GLACIER PARADISE

matterhorn glacier paradise zermatt — MATTERHORN GLACIER PARADISE

5. BREITHORN

It’s rare to be able to walk to the top of a 4,000-metre mountain with so little effort. Breithorn is the perfect way for first-timers to get an idea of what it is like to trek in high Alpine ice.

The trail begins at Klein Matterhorn (Matterhorn Glacier Paradise cable car station). It ascends just over 400 metres to the glaciated summit.

The views all along the way are sensational, including the Matterhorn and the peaks of Castor and Lyskamm.

The return journey takes just over three hours.

Although it’s only a little over three miles, the altitude and snow make it harder going than a regular hike of the same distance.

You’ll need a guide to do this hike as it requires some experience and the route changes regularly. Book a Breithorn guided tour here.

climbers on the the summit of breithorn hike — BREITHORN

6. GO SKIING ALL YEAR

Zermatt is home to the highest and largest summer ski resort in Europe with an excellent piste system, all set against the backdrop of the Matterhorn.

But it’s not just for winter, you can ski in summer too.

The Zermatt Snow Park has year-round skiing on the Theodul Glacier. Over a length of 1,200 metres, you can try one of the 6 courses with freestyle setups and obstacles on natural snow.

There are courses for beginners and pros.

Access is via the Plateau Rose ski lift from the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.

The summer season runs from July to mid-October. The winter season is from October to mid-May.

7. MATTERHORN GLACIER TRAIL

This hike is high above Zermatt and explores the rocky and icy landscapes found at this altitude.

We started the hike from Trockener Steg cable car station, then took the trail that heads across a rocky wilderness left behind by a retreating glacier.

The glacier formed an imposing wall of ice on our left. To our right, the views over Zermatt and the mountains that surround it were impressive. In front, the Matterhorn is viewed from its most perfect triangular side.

We finished the walk at Schwarzsee where the picturesque Marie chapel sits on the shores of the lake.

We were thrilled to find such an easy, yet exciting hike high up in the mountains. The details are on our guide to hiking near Zermatt.

matterhorn glacier trail zermatt hikes 1 — MATTERHORN GLACIER TRAIL

8. SCHWARZSEE

Schwarzsee is the closest cable car station to the Matterhorn with excellent views of the north and east faces. The landscape is beginning to get bleak and barren, and the hut is a great spot to have a coffee with grand views.

Climbers who reach the summit of the Matterhorn, visit the Marie Chapel on the shores of Schwarzsee to give thanks for making it back in one piece.

You can stroll down to the chapel, but the Matterhorn isn’t visible from this point.

view of zermatt from schwarzsee cable car — SCHWARZSEE

9. HIKE TO HORNLIHUTTE

This out-and-back hike is one of the best experiences in Zermatt but it does take a bit off effort and requires a head for heights.

The destination for the hike is Hörnli Hut, base camp for the Matterhorn summit climb.

We started at Schwarzsee Cable Car Station to take the trail, via a series of ridges, to the hut. There are a few metal staircases and a very short, narrow section. Otherwise, there is nothing technically difficult.

The 700 metres of ascent and descent require a reasonable level of fitness, but the hut is well-positioned for a midway break.

At the hut, keep an eye out for climbers preparing to summit the next day and bring some binoculars. There may be a few climbers still on the impossibly narrow-looking ridge to the top.

All the details are on our Zermatt hikes guide.

10. FURI SUSPENSION BRIDGE (HÄNGEBRÜCKE)

Furi is the first stop on the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing from Zermatt to Italy.

It’s in a lovely position, set amongst the trees and meadows. Cattle graze beside charming wooden barns and there are several atmospheric restaurants overlooking the meadows.

The highlight is the nearby 100-metre-long suspension bridge that hangs 90 metres above the Gornerschlucht Gorge.

To get to the bridge, take the 2.9-kilometre circular hike from Furi.

11. GORNER GORGE & BLATTEN

The Gorner Gorge is a river gorge, cut through the cliff walls by the Gornervispe River.

A series of elevated wooden walkways alow you to visit the gorge without too much effort.

We did this a cloudy day when the mountains were obscured so it felt like a good use of time.

The gorge is a 25-minute walk from the main train station in Zermatt, just past the Forest Fun Park.

From Blatten // You can also get to the Gorner Gorge by following the scenic trail from Furi to Zermatt. This mostly downhill trail is 3.6 kilometres long. Access to the gorge is from the village of Blatten which has a traditional alpine restaurant that you shouldn’t miss.

12. EDELWEISS TRAIL

This is one of the most exhilarating hikes we have ever done. It’s over 20 kilometres and takes about 7 hours with 1,200m of ascent and descent. But, it gives you the best possible view of the Matterhorn.

We started from Zermatt Village and climbed up to Edelweiss Hut. From here, there’s a very strenuous climb (with little relief) to Trift Guesthouse.

From Trift, the path continues to rise, contouring a grassy slope. Suddenly, the Matterhorn appears ahead, stretching above the Höhbalmen meadow.

From here the trail descends gradually with the Matterhorn in front of you all the way.

All the details for this great hike are on our Zermatt hiking guide.

13. SUNNEGGA-ROTHORN CABLE CAR

Taking funicular and cable car up to Rothorn is a great way to experience the outdoors around Zermatt. You can stop off at various points, visiting scenic lakes, try some easier hikes and do the popular Gourmet Trail.

To get to the cable car line, we took the funicular from Valley Station, which is a 10-minute walk from the centre of Zermatt.

SUNNEGGA (2,288M)

From Valley Station, the first stop is Sunnegga at 2,288 metres. This is a great way to get excellent views of the Matterhorn with minimal effort.

In summer, you can swim in Leisee Lake and there’s a kids playground. In winter, there’s skiing and snowboarding.

The other thing you can do from Sunnegga is the Gourmet Trail, a 9-kilometre hike that passes several excellent restaurants. Start by heading from Sunnegga down to Findeln, following the signs marked Gourmetweg.

BLAUHERD (2,537M)

Stellisee is another of Zermatt’s famous lakes with excellent reflection shots of the Matterhorn. Stellisee is one of the best locations to watch sunrise around Zermatt.

Take the cable car from Sunnegga to Blauherd. From here, it’s a 20-minute walk to the lake.

After Stellisee, you could either walk back to Blauherd or follow the Five Lakes walk down to Sunnegga.

ROTHORN (3,103M)

The last station is Rothorn, from where you can see the highest peaks in the Valais Alps.

It also has one of the best views of the Matterhorn. In winter it has direct access to the ski pistes, in summer, it’s a popular place for paragliding.

If you only do one hike in the area we would recommend the Crystal Trail which winds its way to Fluhalp Hut, has views over the Findel Glacier, and then passes Stellisee on the way to Blauherd Cable Car Station.

14. ZMUTT

Zmutt is a tiny hamlet of around 20 traditional wooden houses in the valley west of Zermatt.

To get to Zmutt from Zermatt, take the path that heads south from the main street, Bahnhofstrasse, on the west side of the Zmutt River.

The well-marked path meanders through beautiful alpine scenery. The gentle echo of cowbells accompanies meadows dotted with wildflowers and pristine streams.

Another great option is to hike down from the Furi cable car station.

Zmutt has a few restaurants which are a great place to stop for lunch.

HOW TO GET TO ZERMATT?

The most convenient airports to Zermatt are Zurich (254 kilometres away) and Geneva (230 kilometres away).

By Train — There are direct trains to Zermatt from Zurich and Geneva airports. From Zurich, the fastest train takes 3 hours and 12 minutes. From Geneva, the fastest train is 3 hours, 32 minutes. Trains run every hour.

By Car — Zermatt is car-free, so to get here, you need to park at Täsch which is 5 kilometres away. There are regular shuttle train services from Täsch and plenty of parking at the station.

HOW MANY DAYS IN ZERMATT?

We suggest spending a minimum of 2 full days in Zermatt. That way you can visit most of the iconic viewpoints and hike several of the best short to medium-length trails.

Ideally, we recommend spending 3 full days. This would allow you to complete most of our best things to do in Zermatt without having to rush around.

If you are a walking enthusiast, 5 days gives you enough time to see the best sights and hike the more challenging trails in in the area.

If you have less time, our 1-day Zermatt itinerary covers the main highlights.

ZERMATT ITINERARY

Here is our suggested Itinerary for Zermatt.

If you are trying to cram everything into two days, then combine days 2 and 3 by heading up the Gornergrat in the morning and Rothorn-Sunnegga in the afternoon.

Day 1 – Visit the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise at Klein Matterhorn and hike either the Matterhorn Glacier Trail or the Hörnlihütte. Assuming conditions hold up, you could do both.
Day 2 – Take the train to Gornergrat and hike the Riffelsee Trail.
Day 3 – See all the sights on the Rothorn-Sunnegga Cable Car including Stellisee and the Gourmet Trail.
Day 4 – Hike the challenging Edelweiss Trail that heads over Höhbalmen Meadows.
Day 5 – Organise a guide to conquer 4,164m high Breithorn. If you don’t want to climb Breithorn, explore the Gorner Gorge, Hanging Bridge, and lovely restaurants around Furi.