The 10 Best Things to Do in Zermatt, Switzerland

This imposing mountain towers 14,700 feet on the Swiss-Italian border.

European Snowsport (ES) Zermatt is a small premier snow sport school offering quality private lessons and small (6) group lessons for children. ES specilizes in offering caring, qualified and fun instructor to make your holiday as special as possible.

Summit Ski & Snowboard School have a fantastic team of highly qualified ski and snowboard instructors. As well as wanting to share our passion for the Mountains with you, we all love teaching and we're keen help you improve your technique. Book a group or private lesson and let us help you make the most of your holiday in Zermatt.

The Gornergrat (3,089 m) is one of those places that everyone should visit at least once in a lifetime. The mountain Panorama and the glorious view of the Matterhorn are unforgettable. With its sunny observation platform accessible all year, the Gornergrat, at an altitude of 3,089 m, has been one of Switzerland’s top excursion destinations since 1898. The Gornergrat Bahn was the world’s first fully electrified cog railway. Today it is a modern, eco-friendly railway, equipped with a regenerative braking system that generates electricity on the descent and so saves energy. All year: •Photo subject: 29 Mountains above 4,000 m in view (Switzerland, Italy) •Shops •Restaurants: self-service and waiter-served, indoors and out •Large sun Terrace •“Bernhard von Aosta” chapel •Panoramic viewing platform Summer: •Wild ibex near the viewing platform of the station •Starting point for hikes •Sunrise trips (bookable offer) •Sunset dinners (bookable offer) •For families: “Wolli and the climate detectives” (audio guides available from Zermatt Tourism and the Gornergrat Bahn cog railway) Winter: •Dining with the stars (bookable offer) •Moonlight visit (bookable offer) •Direct access to the pistes and winter hiking paths •Highest sledging slope in Switzerland (Rotenboden 2815 m - Riffelberg 2582 m) •Igloo village on 2727 m

The highest cable car station in Europe (3,883 m), with its new restaurant, sets fresh standards in sustainable development. The views of the highest Mountains in Italy, France and Switzerland are breathtaking. The ski area on the Theodul Glacier is open 365 days a year. Matterhorn glacier paradise – a world of adventures. From here, mountaineers and hikers accompanied by mountain guides set off to scale the Breithorn (4,164 m), a 2.5-hour climb up the perennial snows; for many hikers, this is their first ascent of a 4,000-metre peak. On some days, the views from the observation platform are so clear they seem to stretch as far as the Mediterranean. Mont Blanc (4,810 m) in France, the highest mountain in the Alps, towers above its neighbours; the summit of the Gran Paradiso (4,061 m), Italy’s highest peak, is often also visible. The air up here is thin, so visitors should take plenty of time to explore. This is also the summit of the international ski area, open 365 days a year, and the gateway to Europe’s largest summer ski area. The Matterhorn from a fresh angle Up here, right by the Italian border, visitors see a very different side of the Matterhorn. This comes as a surprise: the view is very different to the one from the Gornergrat or the Rothorn, it’s as if the Matterhorn has acquired a new look. In fact this vantage point offers the finest view of the mountain’s south face. Summer training for national ski teams Anyone seeking the autograph of an international ski star has the best chances of success up at Matterhorn glacier paradise. In summer, nearly all the world’s national ski teams train for the speed disciplines up on the glacier, and all the athletes have to pass through the summit station to access the summer pistes. All year: •Audio system on the ride to the summit with information about the alpine world, the cog railway and much more •Observation platform with summit cross, photo point and information panel on the mountain Panorama •Inside the mountain: observation window looking out over the Breithorn •Cinema Lounge •Restaurant with shop •Matterhorn glacier paradise lodge with accommodation •Meeting room •Glacier palace, the highest in Europe •Direct access to the ski pistes (365 days a year, including on the Theodul Glacier) •Ski pistes linked to Italy (both winter and summer) •Photo subjects: Matterhorn, Breithorn, Weisshorn and other celebrity Mountains •InfoCube - 3S Bahn Summer: •Summer ski area, 21 km of piste •Snow Park Zermatt at the Plateau Rosa •Snowtubing

ON THE PISTE, GET SET, GO! 360 KILOMETRES OF PERFECTLY PREPARED PISTES WITH GUARANTEED SNOW AWAIT YOU IN THE MATTERHORN SKI PARADISE. Enjoy the runs on endless pistes with a spectacular backdrop of Mountains. At almost 4000 metres of altitude, Matterhorn ski paradise is the highest winter sports area in the Alps. Apart from guaranteed snow conditions, the region is one of the best-developed and extensive ski resorts anywhere in the world. Skiing and snowboarding 365 days a year – something this unique destination, straddling the border between Switzerland and Italy, pulls off with international flair. Come to Zermatt and enjoy Swiss hospitality coupled with Italian lifestyle. Pure skiing pleasure is just one click away: book your lift pass online today!

The best view of the Matterhorn The Rothorn is easily reached from Sunnegga in just 15 minutes. From here, you can see the Matterhorn from its most photogenic side. An added attraction is that you see all 38 four-thousandmetre peaks that surround Zermatt. We recommend: It is worth to get up early and enjoy the magnificent view at sunrise! A special item of interest up here is the themed hiking trail “Peak Collection” around the restaurant Rothorn. This special outdoor exhibition of 18 sculptures will connect you on an artistic level with the Alpine world of Zermatt and its many tales. Zermatt’s most beautiful mountain lake The Stellisee lake at 2,537 metres (8,323 ft) is the most-photographed lake in Zermatt. For sure, you have already marvelled yourself at a photo of the Stellisee, capturing the fascinating reflection of the Matterhorn. From Blauherd, you can reach the idyllic Stellisee in about 20 minutes. The famous flower trail also starts at Blauherd. This unique hike offers an unparalleled diversity of flowering plants. Your excursion can be ideally combined with a break at Stellisee lake or the sunrise ride.

The sunny corner of Zermatt From the train station you will reach the Sunnegga-Rothornvalley station by foot in five minutes. Taking the undergroundn funicular you will ascend to 2,288 metres (7,506 ft) in just four and a half minutes and arrive at Sunnegga, the “sunny corner” of Zermatt. From the spacious sun Terrace of the restaurant, you enjoy a wonderful view of the Matterhorn. Wolli playground Leisee At Leisee lake, families can enjoy an adventure playground with attractive barbecue areas and a water feature. Your children can explore the play area while you relax in the idyllic lakeside surroundings and contemplate the amazing views of the Matterhorn. Take a refreshing dip in the lake, or play Robinson Crusoe as you cross the water on a wooden raft attached to a cable that spans the lake. Off to the land of adventure! Kickbiking on Sunnegga The extremely popular kickbikes can be hired at the SunneggaRothorn valley station (helmet included). From there it’s a thrill a minute as you speed downhill to Tuftern and on to Zermatt. There are various restaurants along the way where you can stop for a breather before continuing back to the valley station to return your kickbikes.

The Breithorn (4,164 m), with its many summits, is a strong, glaciered mountain crest. The normal climb is considered as one of the easiest routes for climbing a four-thousand metre mountain. This tour is a perfect way to get a sense of high Alpine air for the first time but only for surefooted and experienced mountain hikers accompanied by a mountain guide. The tour includes climbing a glaciated four thousand-metre peak, and this is not to be underestimated. In the early morning, one takes the aerial tramway to Matterhorn glacier paradise at 3,883 m. The climb to the top and the descent afterwards lasts about three hours depending on the conditions. Even though the climb is not dizzying, the tour does offer a high Alpine mountain experience where one can live out the feeling of having one’s head already in outer space. •Snow tour on the glacier •The overall difficulty of the tour is given as “L” (easy) •A mountain guide is recommended •Warning: glacier crevasses

The Matterhorn Museum – Zermatlantis offers insight into the development of Zermatt. It shows the triumph and tragedy surrounding the first ascent of the Matterhorn. Here one is immersed in the mountain world of past generations: One sees how the people lived in Zermatt in the 19th century and shudder at the sight of the broken rope from the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865. Four of the seven climbers lost their lives at that time. And one looks in wonder at “Theo,” the 16th century mercenary who did not succeed in crossing the Theodul Pass.