Things to do in Zermatt & the Matterhorn

Zermatt sits in Valais, roughly 4 hours from Geneva by train with at least one change, and it is not a comfortable day trip: plan on a full day one-way or, better, an overnight. The Matterhorn is not visible from Geneva itself, and despite its fame it is not the highest peak in the Alps — that is Mont Blanc, 4,805m, across the border in France.

Zermatt is car-free: drivers leave their vehicle in Täsch and finish the journey by shuttle train, a few minutes into the village.

Expect winter skiing (roughly December to April) and summer hiking (June to September) as the two main seasons, plus international-resort prices: a mid-range lunch commonly runs CHF 30-45, and a cable car ticket toward the high-altitude viewpoints can exceed CHF 100.