Zermatt in summer: what to do, hiking & activities

During our trip to Switzerland , we spent three days in Zermatt , an alpine village located in the canton of Valais . Visiting Zermatt in summer means taking full advantage of the mountains, green valleys and alpine lakes to hike on its 400km of hiking trails. In winter, Zermatt with it's Zermatt chalet rentals welcomes you to the highest and largest ski area in Europe and brings you close to the highest peaks in Switzerland!

Speaking of summits, it's hard not to mention the Cervin, or Matterhorn, this rocky peak emblem of Zermatt. Zermatt is also known to be a car-free village , where you can breathe the pure mountain air. In this article we explain how to get to Zermatt, where to park your car and how to get to Zermatt by train. We also detail our stay in Zermatt in summer, the most beautiful hikes and activities.

How to get to Zermatt?

Getting to Zermatt by train

And yes, Zermatt is a car-free village ! Set at the bottom of a valley, in the German-speaking part of the canton of Valais, the air is much more breathable there. Travel by car is therefore only possible as far as Täsch , where you will have to park your vehicle.

Then, to get to Zermatt, you will have to take the train. Shuttle buses run every 20 minutes and the journey from Täsch to Zermatt takes 12 minutes.

On our side, we took the train at Randa , the previous station. Indeed, with our 3m high van, it was more convenient to park there.

Zermatt: where to park?

To reach Zermatt, we parked in this car park , in Randa. It costs 5CHF per day for cars and 10CHF per day for motorhomes. You are then a 15min walk from Randa station.

If you plan to take the train to Täsch , parking is also available. All information is here .

Getting around Zermatt:

We had a three day stay in Zermatt. It's ideal for taking the time to visit this village in Haut-Valais, take full advantage of several alpine hikes and discover Zermatt's flagship activities.

Rack railway, funicular, chairlift, gondola... There are many means of transport to reach the 400km of marked trails through mountains, still snow-capped peaks, pastures and glaciers.

During our two days of hiking, we were able to take advantage of a Peak Pass : it gives unlimited access to the main ski lifts in Zermatt. If you plan to stay several days in the Valaisan village, it can quickly pay off.

Our hotel in Zermatt:

We spent 3 nights in Zermatt, at the Chesa Valese Hotel . It is ideally located 10min walk from Zermatt train station and also 10min from the main hiking departures. But you can also rent a Zermatt chalets or apartment

We appreciated the mountain chalet-style decoration, the pretty bucolic garden at the back of the hotel and especially the breakfast, which was very generous and made with local products (yogurts, cold meats, cheeses).

What to do in Zermatt when it rains?

To visit Zermatt in summer is to enjoy the highest ski area in Europe . Surrounded by 38 peaks over 4000m , summer in Zermatt is ideal for hiking, mountaineering, observation of fauna and flora, mountain biking or summer skiing.

In case of bad weather, take refuge in one of the many restaurants in the Alpine village and take the opportunity to… eat a fondue in Zermatt! We devote ourselves only to taste the local specialties of course.

We chose the Swiss Chalet restaurant for dinner.

We liked: the typical decoration, very good fondue, fast and friendly service.

The most beautiful view of the Matterhorn in Zermatt:

Here, he is the star… The Matterhorn! Mount Cervin , or Matterhorn in German, and a summit culminating at 4478m. It is the twelfth peak in the Alps. Its first ascent was successful by British mountaineers in 1865.

With its almost symmetrical pyramidal shape and its rocky peak pointing to the sky, it overlooks the Swiss commune from its height. By the way, it's the Toblerone chocolate logo! Don't thank me for this culture point.

For us, the best view of Zermatt with the Matterhorn in the background is at the top of Rue Riedweg . Added bonus if you go at sunset.

The 5 lakes hike in Zermatt is probably the most popular hike. Along the marked trail, you will discover 5 mountain lakes so, logically, follow a little: the Grindjisee, the Grünsee, the Moosjisee, the Leisee and the Stellisee.

Apart from its incredible panorama of the surrounding peaks, the 5 lakes trail is best known for the perfect reflection of the Matterhorn in 3 of these lakes: the Grindjisee, the Leisee, and the most beautiful for us, the Stellisee.

The ascent at sunset

We loved the diversity of the landscapes during this walk. You walk sometimes in the middle of a forest, sometimes on a more arid territory, always with these lakes and mountains in sight. But the highlight of the 5 lakes trail is really the arrival at Stellisee , located at an altitude of 2537m.

If there is no wind, the reflection of the Matterhorn in the water is like a mirror, so it is a true natural paradise for photographers. We arrived at sunset, the last rays lit up the tip of the Matterhorn and some hikers had already pitched their tents to spend a night under the stars.

Which cable car for the 5 lakes hike?

To reach the 5 lakes hiking trail, you will have to take the cable cars from Zermatt to Blauherd , located at an altitude of 2228m. At the end of the loop, you will descend with the funicular, from Sunnega to Zermatt.

Do you want to go directly to the Stellisee without doing the 5 lakes hike? The lake is accessible in 20min on foot from the Blauherd resort.

Climbing to the Gornergrat:

The summit of the Gornergrat , culminating at 3089m above sea level, is a must on a visit to Zermatt in summer . To get there, take the Gornergrat Bahn cogwheel train, the highest open-air cogwheel train in Europe.

The trip lasts 30min, departing from Zermatt station, at an altitude of 1620m, and therefore crosses a positive elevation of 1469m . The alpine panorama is grandiose, between mountain lakes, forests of larch and pine, steep peaks and, of course, this incredible view of the Matterhorn.

Once at the top of the Gornergrat, you arrive at a viewing platform, accessible all year round, with a direct view of the Gorner Glacier, the second largest glacier in the Alps . Just that.

How to climb Gornergrat?

Make a stop at the Riffelsee:

During your train journey from Zermatt to the Gornergrat, we strongly advise you to make a stop at the station of Rotenboden in order to contemplate the splendid alpine lake of Riffelsee . If the weather is calm, it will give you a perfect reflection on the Matterhorn.

It's the second day of our trip to Zermatt , and we completely change the atmosphere with the hike of the Matterhorn Glacier Trail. No more pastures and green valleys, we find ourselves in the heart of a rocky, almost lunar terrain. The Matterhorn has never been so close.

On our arrival at the Trockener Steg station , we are already at an altitude of more than 2900m, the flora has given way to rock and ice. At the end of the trail, don't miss the Schwarzsee , or black lake, at the foot of the Matterhorn.

Which cable car to take in Zermatt?

For the Matterhorn Glacier Trail hike, you will have to go to the Zermatt station as far as Trockener Steg on the way out, then from Schwarsee to Zermatt on the way back.

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise:

The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is a peak in the Valais Alps culminating at 3883m above sea level. It is also nicknamed the Little Matterhorn . Here, the snow is eternal and you can observe the highest peaks in Switzerland and no less than 14 glaciers.

The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise can be reached from Zermatt in 45min, thanks to the Matterhorn Express cable car and the highest mountain station in Europe. Suffice to say that the journey was particularly impressive.

Sunset dinner at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise:

We climbed to the top of the Little Matterhorn to take part in an activity that takes place all summer long in Zermatt: dinner at the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise restaurant and then admire the sunset from its panoramic platform .

After taking the last cable car of the day in Zermatt, we are welcomed with an aperitif to enjoy while visiting the highest ice palace in Europe.

We then settle down for dinner in the panoramic restaurant of the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. To the background of yodelling, traditional Swiss music, we savor our meal: charcuterie and culinary specialties from Valais, rack of veal with potato tartlet and apricot tiramisu for dessert. A vegetarian or vegan alternative is possible on request.

Randa Suspension Bridge:

8.6km – 4h – 880m drop – Loop – Moderate difficulty

After spending 3 days in Zermatt , we take the train back to Zermatt station to return to Randa where our van is quietly waiting for us. But before, we embark on a last hike to the Randa suspension bridge. It is also known as the Charles Kuonen Suspension Walkway . It is 494m long, making it the longest suspended pedestrian bridge in the Alps. So of course, we didn't want to miss it!

We followed this routeto access the bridge. The walking tour begins in the town of Randa. The climb takes place in the heart of a forest of Swiss pines, and we're not going to lie to you: it's a steep climb. In the early morning, we even had the chance to see chamois!

Once there, crossing the suspended footbridge takes at least 10min. At the highest point, you will have 85m of void under your feet... Needless to say, we do not recommend this hike for people suffering from vertigo.

Where to park: we left our van in this paid parking lot in Randa. It costs 5CHF per day for cars and 10CHF for motorhomes . You can spend the night there.

We hope this article will help you organize your stay in Zermatt . This weekend in Zermatt was made in collaboration with Zermatt Matterhorn , thanks to them for their welcome. We remain free of the content presented in this report.

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