Whenever someone talks about Switzerland’s most beautiful places you will hear the same places over and over again: Jungfrau Region, Lucerne, and Zermatt. And to be honest, especially Zermatt – and that is not a coincidence: Zermatt is certainly one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to – not only in Switzerland. But how is it in winter? Today I will tell you some great things to do in Zermatt in Winter. And believe me, it’s amazing at every time of the year there!
Stroll around Zermatt
The town of Zermatt is car-free (except for E-taxis) and therefore a perfect place to just stroll around. While it is absolutely beautiful to do that at any time I still recommend to do it in the evening. You can walk up some small hills and enjoy incredible views of the Matterhorn and the traditional chalets in the foreground. With their snow-covered roofs, they simply look so charming. There are also some swiss houses for rent, which would turn your experience into something more magic and local.
Zermatt at night – so charming
Gornergrat
The Gornergrat is the most famous place, especially for tourists, in the whole region. And I can understand why: While you have a perfect view on the remarkable Matterhorn itself you can also experience the Gorner Glacier, which is impressive in its size and beauty. From the top of the Gornergrat, you can also see dozens of other mountain peaks, including the highest mountain of Switzerland (Monte Rosa).
The Gornergrat can be reached by the Gornergrat rack railway, which starts in the center of Zermatt. If you visit the Gornergrat in Winter, you must wear proper clothing (especially shoes), as you will cross 3’000 meters in altitude and there is a lot of snow.
The Matterhorn (aka Toblerone Mountain) seen from Gornergrat
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
You want to reach the highest cable car station in Europe (3’883 meters) and see the highest mountains from Switzerland, Italy, and France from one viewpoint? Then the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is definitely the perfect thing to do in Zermatt for you!
The 360 degrees view from there is absolutely incredible and something you don’t want to miss.
Skiing / Snowboarding
That’s probably the obvious choice and why most Swiss people visit Zermatt: It’s the perfect location for Skiing and Snowboarding. While the prices are quite steep, the offer you get in return is also amazing and winter is the perfect time to try it! If you travel to Zermatt for a few days you just have to try skiing there – including some magic views on the Matterhorn while skiing down the slopes.
Skiing is one of the best things to do in Zermatt
Helicopter Flight
Can you imagine the views on the beautiful alps while flying around the king of the Alps, the Matterhorn? Sounds incredible, right? When it comes to “sightseeing” this is probably the most exclusive way to do it in Zermatt – and if you have the chance and the budget for it you should grab this chance, the sceneries will be rewarding! I did a helicopter flight over the Swiss Alps too and it was something I will never forget.
You could even combine Skiing with helicopter flights – as there are some companies offering Helicopter skiing!
Eat Swiss food
Switzerland is famous for its cheese – and the canton of Valais (where Zermatt is located) is home to some incredibly tasty cheese dishes such as Raclette or Fondue. For Swiss people, there is nothing better than having one of them after a long winter day exploring the sceneries – and I’m sure you will love it too.
To get a proper Fondue / Raclette I would recommend asking your hosts, hotel or simply visit a traditional restaurant. It’s also possible to make it on your own – but it’s not the same experience in my opinion.
Other Swiss dishes that you could try are “Älplermragronen” or “Rösti”, that you can find in every traditional restaurant in Zermatt and are also one of the must eats in Switzerland. Eating a fondue/raclette is, in my opinion, one of the best things to do in Zermatt!
Raclette, one of the Swiss dishes you should try
Sleep in an Igloo
There is one thing to do in Zermatt in winter that you can’t find at any other time of the year: Sleeping in an Igloo. During winter time they build an igloo village in which you can stay overnight. Sounds cold? It isn’t! It’s basically like a luxurious hotel – just inside an igloo built of snow. If you like adventures this is certainly a great option for you!
Stroll around Zermatt
The town of Zermatt is car-free (except for E-taxis) and therefore a perfect place to just stroll around. While it is absolutely beautiful to do that at any time I still recommend to do it in the evening. You can walk up some small hills and enjoy incredible views of the Matterhorn and the traditional chalets in the foreground. With their snow-covered roofs, they simply look so charming.
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