Your Guide to Zermatt, Switzerland
Zermatt: An outdoor lovers paradise — nestled in the Swiss-alps; in the shadow of the Matterhorn.
It’s funny how the two of us came to that same description simultaneously, yet not all that surprising given how absolutely breathtaking the beauty of this small Swiss village. From the charming character and people to the epic backdrop, Zermatt delivers in nearly every way — there is truly something for everyone!
We have collected some of our favorite spots for hiking, dining, and drinking — or if you are just here to have a coffee and enjoy the amazing views, that is ok too.
Hiking
First of all, you can not go wrong with any hike in this area. All the trails are well maintained and lead you to amazing vistas along the way. First of all, lifts are super coinvent and a pass will get you nearly everywhere in the surrounding backcountry. We decided to take the lift up and hike around rather than fight the elevation gain, we felt having more time on the trails was worth the trade-off.
Some of our favorite trails were: Riffeiseeweg and Murmelweg (Marmots yay!)
Riffeiseeweg, pictured above, was our standout hike. No crowds, heck not another soul on the trail, and it offered beautiful Matterhorn reflection shots.
Book your Peak Pass Tickets Online HERE (Admissions to Glacier Paradise and Palace are included)
Glacier Paradise
Glacier Paradise and Palace should be a must-stop on your next trip to Zermatt. As the highest ski-lift in Europe you are guaranteed incredible panoramic views of the Alps and of course, glaciers everywhere in sight! If you have the time venture into a glacier for a hand-carved ice palace where students from around the globe were gathered for Moon and Mars experiments - CRAZY COOL!
Book your Glacier Paradise and Glacier Palace Tickets Online HERE
Lodging and Dining
Being a world-renowned ski destination, there is no shortage of lodging and food for every budget and type of traveler.
Our home for the stay was Hotel Alpenblick — incredible views, rooms, and food all within a classic swiss visage. We found the location to be incredibly convent to both Glacier Paradise (3 min walk) and the main downtown.
The Brown Cow Pub was our go-to place for a brew and evening people-watching. Located right on the main strip the location could not have been better. If you need a place for burgers and beer you need to look no further than this “apres ski” destination.
The North Wall Bar & Pizza Place had amazing pizza and craft beer at a really affordable price. We found that eating out in Switzerland can push the daily budget, so finding a place like The North Wall or Take It Doner gave us some flexibility when we needed it. Both had great service and the North Wall’s roof-top patio was an amazing location.
Zermatt Bier is the local craft beer producer and they do small-batch beer exceptionally well. You can find them at many local restaurants and the grocery store — but the real treat is heading to their beautiful taproom.
We very much hope you travel to Zermatt, honestly, we are trying to figure out how we can go again as it was such a magical trip. Been there and done that? Leave a comment below with your favorite Zermatt experience or any questions you might have for your upcoming trip, Cheers! — Jason & Kristine
*We were guests of the Zermatt Tourism Board during our stay but all opinions are our own.