The Ultimate 2 Day Itinerary for Zermatt Switzerland
Honeymoon In The Mountains
In August 2016, Mehran planned a beautiful weekend trip to Zermatt, Switzerland. We affectionately refer to this getaway as our honeymoon 1.0. Having just moved to Switzerland in June 2016, this marked our very first personal vacation in our new home. Mehran handled all the bookings and travel planning, leaving me with the sole responsibility of packing our bags.
To make the most of our mountain excursions, we purchased a 3 day Peak Pass online from Zermatt Bergbahnen. At the time, the pass cost 202 CHF per person and provided unlimited access to the majority of the mountain railways, cable cars, and regional attractions.
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Arriving in Zermatt
- Via Train or Bus: Zermatt is an easy, scenic ride away! Zip through Zurich, Geneva, or Visp by rail, and experience the breathtaking ride up the valley. Plan your route and grab your tickets on Busbud here.
- Via Flight: Fly into Zurich Airport or Geneva Airport to head straight into our stunning alpine paradise. To find the best deals on airfare, search and book your flights here.
Getting Around and Staying in Switzerland
- Going Around:
- Taxis & Private Transfers Secure a reliable, fixed-price ride with professional drivers. Avoid the airport queues by booking in advance. Book your taxi/transfer here.
- Car Rentals Enjoy the freedom of the open road. Compare the best rates from top brands to find your perfect vehicle here.
- Public Transport Travel like a local and save money. Skip the station lines by securing your train and bus tickets here.
- Stay Connected: To navigate the city like a local and share your photos in real time, we recommend getting an eSIM. Pick the option that suits your needs:
- We recommend Airalo for a budget-friendly and basic plan. Get your Airalo eSIM here.
- Yesim is our top-pick for unlimited data needs. Get your Yesim eSIM here.
- Where to Stay: To make the most of your trip, I recommend booking one of these hotels.
Getting to Zermatt: Driving from Zürich to Täsch
Living in Zürich, we set off on Friday evening for the 217-kilometer drive to Täsch. The route proved to be exceptionally scenic, offering breathtaking views of towering alpine peaks and pristine lakes along the way. Because Zermatt is a strictly car-free village, you cannot drive directly into town. We parked our vehicle at the terminal in Täsch and boarded the convenient Täsch-Zermatt shuttle train. The shuttle ride took just 12 minutes to deliver us directly to our hotel in the heart of Zermatt.
Day 1: High-Alpine Lakes, Gorges, and Village Wandering
The Scenic 5 Seen Weg (5 Lakes Walk)
On our first morning, we enjoyed a hearty breakfast and walked toward the Rothorn Station, which was a quick 10-minute stroll from our hotel. We boarded the funicular up the mountain, followed by a panoramic gondola ride to reach Bergstation Blauherd, the official starting point of our alpine hike.
The 5 Seen Weg takes you on a journey past five distinct alpine lakes. We found this to be an incredibly romantic trail. The route is highly scenic, and every single lake reveals a unique perspective of the surrounding landscape. As we hiked, we caught regular glimpses of the majestic Matterhorn peaking between the clouds.
The terrain is rugged and requires a sturdy pair of walking shoes. About an hour into our trek, the mountain weather turned chilly and it began to rain. Fortunately, we had come prepared with raincoats packed in our bags. When the downpour intensified, we found shelter at a cozy mountain restaurant where we warmed up with delicious tomato soup and hot pasta.
Once the weather cleared, we resumed our journey. The trail features a medium difficulty rating, stretching across approximately 10 kilometers. The entire walk took us around 3 hours to complete, ending beautifully at Sunnegga, where we caught the funicular back down to Zermatt village.
Navigating the Zermatt Gorner Gorge
After resting briefly, we used Google Maps Navigation to walk to the Zermatt Gorner Gorge, which took about 20 minutes from the village center. Admission to the gorge costs 5.50 CHF per person, and please note that it is not covered by the Zermatt Peak Pass.
The entire wooden walkway system is roughly 250 meters long. Because of its design, this activity is not recommended for small children, strollers, wheelchairs, or anyone with a severe fear of heights. Navigating open heights can be personally challenging for me, and I unfortunately misjudged the intensity of the landscape. The wooden walkways clinging to the rock face are narrow, suspended over rushing turquoise water. While the dramatic views are absolutely breathtaking, it was a stressful experience for me, and I would not repeat this specific excursion.
Mehran thoroughly enjoyed the dramatic geology and would have gladly completed the full loop if my vertigo had not cut the adventure short. We navigated the narrow platforms slowly, deciding to safely abandon the path 20 minutes into the walk to head back to town.
Exploring Zermatt Village & Finding Halal Dinner
Back in the safety of the village, we decided to explore the car-free streets on foot. We fell completely in love with the charm of Zermatt, spending roughly 3 hours exploring aimlessly. Along the way, we stumbled upon a local crepe shop and ordered a sweet chocolate crepe alongside an apple cinnamon crepe. Enjoying those magical flavors in the crisp, chilly alpine air was an absolute highlight.
As our evening stroll wrapped up, we came across a local Halal burger restaurant. While the exact name of the eatery has slipped our minds over the years, the food was absolutely fantastic and hit the spot perfectly. After a satisfying dinner, we returned to our hotel to rest up for day two.
Day 2: Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and Schwarzsee
Ascending to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
We dedicated our second day entirely to snow, ice, and high-altitude viewpoints. From the base station, we stepped onto a cable car for a swift 5-minute ride to Furi. From Furi, we transferred to another cable car for a 7-minute journey up to Trockener Steg. Finally, we boarded the state-of-the-art Matterhorn Glacier Ride, taking an 8-minute journey to reach the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise station, the highest cable car station in Europe.
The journey to the summit is breathtaking. Because the modern cabins are fully enclosed, my fear of heights was never triggered, allowing me to fully enjoy the ride. We looked down over massive glaciers, deep crevasses, and sharp peaks. The true highlight waited at the summit viewing platform, where we stood face-to-face with the Matterhorn. We spent 15 to 20 minutes taking in the spectacular 360-degree panorama of the Alps.
Step Inside the Ice at the Glacier Palace
Next, we took a lift descending 15 meters directly below the surface of the ice sheet to enter the Glacier Palace. The palace consists of a fascinating network of hand-carved tunnels cut right through the glacier.
The interior houses a beautiful collection of ice sculptures meticulously maintained by different ice artists. Every piece showed immense precision and artistry. I particularly loved the ice carvings of a dragon, a deer, and a detailed Audi car. We even took turns sitting on a grand ice throne for some silly photos. While the Glacier Palace is an incredible sight, it is intensely cold inside, and keeping warm can be a challenge. After an hour of exploring the frozen tunnels, we took the lift back up to the main station and enjoyed a hot lunch at the summit restaurant to thaw out.
High-Altitude Snow Fun & Snow Tubing
After warming up, we headed out into the open-air snow plateau. The alpine sun was shining brightly, and I highly recommend that anyone visiting packs strong sunblock and UV-protection sunglasses. We spent half an hour walking through the soft, powdery snow, enjoying the crisp air and playfully throwing snowballs at each other.
We then lined up to try snow tubing for the very first time. Sitting in a large rubber tube and being spun downhill on a dedicated ice track was an awesome adrenaline rush. The energy on the mountain was vibrant, with skiers and snowboarders practicing their turns all around us.
A Magical Finale at Schwarzsee Station
After our snow tubing adventure, we boarded the cable car to begin our descent, stepping off at Schwarzsee Station. This was our final mountain checkpoint before heading home. From the station, we took a short walk down to the edge of Schwarzsee.
“Schwarz” means black in German, and this alpine lake shimmers with a deep, mystical black color when the weather and light conditions align. Luckily for us, the light was perfect. We experienced the lake shimmering like dark glass with the reflection of the Matterhorn rising directly behind it. It was an absolute fairytale moment and the perfect finale to our honeymoon trip. We spent nearly an hour walking around the peaceful shores of Schwarzsee before taking the final cable car back down to Zermatt village.
From Zermatt, we hopped back onto the shuttle train to Täsch, picked up our parked car, and made the scenic drive back home to Zürich.
Final Remarks
After having lived in Switzerland for over 9 years and spending a lot of vacation days here, I can safely conclude that the trip to Zermatt was the most magical vacation ever. We still reminisce over how perfect everything at Zermatt was. The highlight of my trip was the view at Schwarzsee and the ice sculptures at Glacier Palace. Zermatt is definitely on my list of places to revisit and I would definitely make the next trip longer to spend more time there.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Zermatt Peak Pass and is it worth it?
The Zermatt Peak Pass is a comprehensive travel ticket issued by Zermatt Bergbahnen. It offers unlimited rides on the Zermatt-Matterhorn Glacier Paradise cable cars, the Gornergrat Bahn cogwheel train, and the funicular to Sunnegga and Rothorn. It also includes the shuttle train between Täsch and Zermatt. If you plan to visit multiple peaks over two or three days, it saves considerable money compared to point-to-point tickets.
Can you drive a car directly into Zermatt?
No, Zermatt is a completely car-free alpine village. All visitors traveling by car must drive to the nearby village of Täsch, leave their vehicle in one of the large parking terminals, and take the 12-minute Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn shuttle train into Zermatt.
Is the Gorner Gorge hike safe for someone with a fear of heights?
The Gorner Gorge walk features very narrow wooden walkways bolted directly onto steep rock cliffs above a roaring river. If you experience severe vertigo or a fear of heights, you may find the experience uncomfortable. The path is also not suitable for strollers, wheelchairs, or very small children.
