Winter Things To Do in Zermatt for Non-Skiers [2024]
/The alpine town of Zermatt, Switzerland, is a breathtaking destination worth visiting - no matter the season.
7 min read
The beautiful town of Zermatt, Switzerland.
In the hotter months, you’ll be treated to expansive greenery, enchanting lakes and the possibility of wondrous hikes.
However, if you’re lucky enough to visit in the winter, Zermatt will be a magical wonderland that you’ll never forget.
There’s still plenty to do in Zermatt for non-skiers.
Although the winter season is synonymous with the skiing and snowboarding season, there’s still plenty to do for non-skiers like you and me! (Well, I’ve taken one ski lesson and snowboarded once, so I wouldn’t call myself a pro yet...).
From iconic mountains, panoramic vistas, a charming village atmosphere and fascinating museums, I recently visited Zermatt, and found that there’s no shortage of activities to do in the winter when you’re in town.
Here’s a list of the best things to do in the winter for non-skiers when visiting Zermatt!
Where to stay in Zermatt?
Zermatt is filled with holiday accommodation to choose from, and you shouldn’t struggle to find something suitable. As a general rule of thumb, you should probably try to stay as close to the town center as possible, as most of Zermatt’s attractions are centred around this area.
Where did I stay?
I stayed at the Hotel Excelsior and really enjoyed my stay. The hotel’s location was central, the hotel staff were always happy to help, the food was delicious, and best of all – the views were to-die-for. I would highly recommend staying here if you have the chance.
Take a closer look at the Hotel Excelsior by clicking here.
Other places to stay in Zermatt
Like I stated before, Zermatt is filled to the brim with great places to stay! Here are some of our favourites.
Budget: Hotel Bahnhof
Hotel Bahnhof doubles up as one of the less expensive hotels in town, and also operates as a hostel. You can choose between traditional hotel rooms and a mixed dormitory situation.
Take a closer look at the Hotel Bahnhof by clicking here.
Mid-Range: Hotel Pollux
This is a great option for those who want to stay somewhere comfortable, clean and established. Hotel Pollux is a 4-star establishment that will tick off all your boxes. Some of the rooms even have a sun roof! Hotel Pollux currently has a rating of 9.0 on Booking.com - which is extremely high.
Take a closer look at the Hotel Pollux by clicking here.
Luxury: Grand Hotel Zermatterhof
The Grand Hotel Zermatterhof is the ultimate in Swiss luxury, and is not to be missed if you’re a luxury traveler. This is a bucket-list stay that will be worth the hype, as it’s practically an icon of Zermatt.
Take a closer look at the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof by clicking here.
What’s the best way to see Zermatt’s sights in winter?
Another view from Rothorn.
Most of Zermatt Town’s attractions are reachable on foot, while the rest will involve you embarking on cable car, railway or funicular rides. To take the stress and logistics out of planning, this tour takes you through five of the attractions I’ve mapped out in this blog post, including the amazing Gornergrat mountain ridge, Mountaineer’s Cemetery and Viewpoint Kirchbrucke bridge. It’s a really convenient way to get the most of Zermatt’s things to do, especially as daylight hours are quite short in the winter.
You can check out the rest of the itinerary on that tour by clicking here.
1. Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
View at the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise observation platform.
Being on top of the Klein Matterhorn (‘little Matterhorn’) is an unbeatable feeling you’re always going to remember. At the very top of Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, you’ll be some 3,883 metres above sea level – in fact, you’ll be at Europe’s highest mountain station.
On the Gondola to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise!
A scenic cross at the top of Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.
From the 360-degree viewing platform, you’ll be able to see a staggering number of peaks – 38 of them are over 4,000 metres tall. Up there, you’ll also find a cinema, a restaurant, and a Glacier Palace.
Ice sculptures at Glacier Palace.
Ice sculptures at Glacier Palace.
The Glacier Palace is made up of many impressive ice sculptures, and is sure to be a hit with little ones. Just make sure you check opening times, as the palace does close a little earlier than the cable cars.
2. Matterhorn Museum (Zermatlantis)
Matterhorn Museum, beside St Mauritius Church – also on this list.
If you consider yourself a history buff, or just want to gain a deeper understanding into the Zermatt area, then this activity is for you.
Much to learn at the Matterhorn Museum in Zermatt.
The Matterhorn Museum, otherwise known as Zermatlantis, is the one-stop-shop to learning all about how the Zermatt area was developed, how early climbers faced the mountains, and what daily life in the area was like back then.
A game of Zermopoly, anyone?
Please check the museum’s prices and opening hours here, as they can be quite limited. When I visited, the museum was open from 3-6pm.
3. Mountaineer’s Cemetery
A sombre but touching tribute to the brave mountaineers who lost their lives climbing the peaks of Zermatt, Mountaineer’s Cemetery is well worth a visit and a stroll.
Mountaineer’s Cemetery, Zermatt.
Mountaineer’s Cemetery, Zermatt.
Not only is the Cemetery extremely peaceful and tranquil, but it also presents a great opportunity to pay homage to the climbers – and to remind ourselves to be careful when navigating these beautiful mountains.
4. Zermatt Town
The charming town of Zermatt combines classic Swiss elegance, with a jovial feel. Although Zermatt town may look deceivingly small – there’s actually quite a lot to do here.
Strolling through Zermatt town.
Don’t be afraid to wander around and get lost in Zermatt’s pretty streets, filled with cute wooden chalets, shops and hotels.
Even the McDonald’s looks pretty in Zermatt!
While you’re there, check out some of Zermatt’s best restaurants and café’s – most come with iconic views.
5. St Mauritius Church
St Mauritius Church, Zermatt.
Zermatt’s most well-known church, St Mauritius Church, is adorned with a calming, teal roof, as well as an impressive interior.
The church has gone several transformations to become what it is in the present day, including a complete renovation in the 1980s.
Interior of St Mauritius Church, Zermatt.
Notably, its altars and baptismal front are listed in the Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of Regional Significance.
I loved just taking a minute and sitting on the pews of the church. There was something really peaceful about this place.
6. Rothorn
Another one of Zermatt’s fantastic mountain peaks, the Rothorn presents you with unobstructed views of the iconic Matterhorn. Towering over Zermatt, the Rothorn stands 3,103 metres above sea level – just a little under Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.
View from the top of Rothorn, Zermatt.
To me, the best thing about going up the Rothorn was actually taking the massive Blauherd-Rothorn cable car up. This state-of-the-art gondola can hold over 100 passengers, offering wrap-around views of the mountains.
7. Gornergrat Railway
Spellbinding view of the Matterhorn from Gornergrat, Zermatt.
The Gornergrat Railway was my favourite thing to do during my stay in Zermatt. This was because the view of the Matterhorn was simply jaw-dropping.
Gornergrat, Zermatt.
Clocking in at 3,089m tall, you’ll reach the Gornergrat after taking the world’s first fully electrified cog railway (can you believe the Gornergrat Bahn was already in operation as early as 1898!?).
Taking the Gornergrat Bahn - one of the world’s most scenic train rides.
The scenic mountain ride takes about 33 minutes, but it will feel much shorter, as you probably won’t put your camera down for the entire duration of the ride.
At the summit, you can also find Europe’s highest-altitude hotel, the 3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat.
Gornergrat was my favourite summit of the trip.
Out of the three main summits you can visit in Zermatt (Gornergrat, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and Rothorn), the Gornergrat was our favourite. The train ride completely won us over, and the facilities at the peak were great.
8. Schwarzsee Mountain Station
View of the Matterhorn from Schwarzsee station.
You’ll need to pass by Schwarzsee Station to get to the top of Matterhorn Glacier Paradise anyway, but I would still recommend you make a short stop here.
Unique perspective of the Matterhorn from Schwarzsee station.
Although the views at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise are glorious, stopping at Schwarzsee will give you the opportunity to capture the Matterhorn from a different angle.
Here, you’ll also find winter hiking trails, a hotel and a restaurant.
9. Zermatt Town Hike
A short hike in Zermatt leads you to this viewpoint.
The Zermatt Matterhorn Viewpoint is a bit of a hidden gem, and doesn’t actually get written about all that much.
I came across this viewpoint simply by browsing Google Maps during my stay, and thought I’d check it out. From the center of town, going up the viewpoint can take about 15-20 minutes, depending on how fast you walk.
Zermatt Viewpoint.
It is a bit of a short uphill climb, but just take it slow and when you reach the top – it’ll all be worth it.
From this viewpoint, you’ll be able to see the Matterhorn standing proudly over Zermatt town, shining in all its glory. I highly, highly, highly recommend you do this short hike.
If you’re not sure where to find the Viewpoint, use this pinpoint I found from Google Maps.
10. Viewpoint at Kirchebrücke Bridge
View from Kirchebrücke Bridge, Zermatt.
Again, this was one of those ‘by chance’ finds for me on Google Maps, that turned out to be really great.
What a view.
At Kirchebrücke Bridge, you’ll gain a unique perspective of the Matterhorn, as Matter Vispa – the river that runs through Zermatt town – will be in the foreground of your photograph.
I’ve included here the Google Maps pinpoint I used for the exact location of this viewpoint.
11. Breithorn Ascent
This one is for the adventure lovers!
Tackling the Breithorn Ascent has long been popular with climbers and mountaineers.
At 4,164m tall, the Breithorn can be climbed in the winter, but please note that you must be accompanied with an experienced mountain guide.
I didn’t get the time to do this – but if you do – please let me know you went in the comments below!
12. Spa Day
Zermatt isn’t all about snow and adventure. It’s also about rest and relaxation!
In Zermatt town, you’ll find an array of high-quality, world-renowned wellness and spa centres.
Featuring lavish indoor pools, dramatic outdoor jacuzzi’s and therapeutic saunas, having a warm spa day could be the perfect escape from the cold.
How to get to Zermatt
Zermatt is easily reachable by train – just make sure your final destination is Zermatt Station. From anywhere in Switzerland, you’ll be able to take the train to Zermatt, even if it takes a few transfers.
Here are some examples of transfer times from popular Swiss cities.
From Zurich, it takes about 3 hours and 15 minutes.
From Geneva, it takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes.
From Basel, it takes about 3 hours and 10 minutes.
From Bern, it takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes.
You can drive your car, but you would have to park your vehicle outside of Zermatt town, in Täsch, as Zermatt is car-free. Click here to find out how you can arrive in Zermatt by car.
How to get around Zermatt
Zermatt town is very walkable.
Zermatt Town is conveniently very compact, and nearly everywhere is completely walkable. If you do find that you’ll need another form of transportation, Zermatt does have an easily navigable bus network, and there are also taxis available. You can ask your hotel or accommodation provider to arrange this for you.
Hong long should I stay in Zermatt?
My recommendation is to stay in Zermatt for at least 2 full days.
“As long as you can” is the answer!
Getting to Zermatt may not necessarily be the simplest exercise, so I would stay for at least 2 full days, although the more days you have – the better.
Doing most of the activities on this list alone will take you just about 2 days, and you might want an extra day to rest and have a spa day.
Any other tips?
Ski passes
There are many different ski passes available, and it can be especially confusing if you’re a non-skier like me. You’ll need the ski passes to go up to the summits (such as Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Rothorn and Gornergrat), so choose carefully when purchasing a ski pass.
For any absence of doubt, I would purchase a Peak Pass, which will cover your journey to all three of those peaks from Zermatt town.
If you’re planning on just visiting Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and Gornergrat, I would recommend purchasing the Peak2Peak pass, which lets you travel between those two summits without having to go back into Zermatt town.
Budget Planning
There’s no denying that visiting Zermatt can be slightly expensive (we are in Switzerland after all, aren’t we)?
If you’re budget-conscious, I would choose a hotel room rate that includes breakfast and dinner.
Although there are many great restaurants in Zermatt that you should take advantage of, if you need to save, there’s also a Coop Supermarket where you can buy cheaper snacks and meals.
Despite the potential costs, Zermatt is still undoubtedly worth visiting.
Ready to visit Zermatt?
Are you ready to plan your magical trip to Zermatt?
You can head to the Zermatt Matterhorn website for any additional help. Zermatt Tourism offers helpful information and assistance with trip planning, ranging from accommodation choices, activities, restaurant recommendations and more. This is a really useful resource that I would take advantage of.
What was your favourite place in Zermatt to visit? What are you looking forward to see in Zermatt?
Thinking about visiting Zermatt? Let me know in the comments below!
Follow me on Instagram - @asherxtravel!
Follow me on Instagram, @asherxtravel, to keep up with all my travels and for more content on Zermatt, Switzerland and beyond!
My stay in Zermatt was part of a collaboration between myself and Zermatt Tourism, but I can promise you that all opinions are mine and made in complete honesty. I had an absolutely amazing trip filled with many cherished memories, so I want to say a big thank you to Zermatt Tourism.
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