Let’s be real — Zermatt is expensive. You already know that.
But what you might not know is that there are a surprising number of free or cheap things to do in Zermatt — without sacrificing epic Matterhorn views or the best experiences.
From hikes to historic houses, from cheese to cemeteries, from mountain views to music, from pastries to parades, here are our favorite ways to stretch your budget in Zermatt for less than 15 CHF.
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1 | Matterhorn Viewpoint | Free
The number one reason most people travel to Zermatt is to see the Matterhorn. And good thing mountain views are totally free.
The best place in town to admire the Matterhorn and Zermatt village is just a 12-minute walk from the Sunnegga-Rothorn station. It’s all uphill with quite a few stairs, but the views are worth it. The last time Jana hiked up here, she was 5.5 months pregnant. So if she could waddle up, we believe that you can too! Plus there’s a bench at the top so you can truly sit and soak in that amazing mountain.
If you’d rather take in the views without adding steps to your pedometer, head to the Sunnegga-Rothorn station, the Kirchbrücke bridge near the cemetery, or just beyond the edge of town past the Furi cable car. Trust us, from each of these spots, the Matterhorn will be photobombing your selfies.
2 | Goat Parade | Free
Every day in the Summer around 9:00am and 5:00pm you’ll hear the tinging of little bells down the main street. Those bells are way too high-pitched for cows, and that’s because they belong to the famous blackneck goats. (Or as my mom says, the goats with the white pants!)
It took us until our fourth visit to Zermatt to finally catch the blackneck goat parade. These cute animals are native to the Valais, but what’s even cuter is watching the farmer’s kids try to wrangle them from wandering free around the village.
3 | Live Swiss Music | Free
It’s surprisingly tricky to find live traditional Swiss music, unless it’s National Day or a Schwing Fest or a Cheese Festival. But here in Zermatt you can listen to accordions and alphorns and even yodeling every evening throughout the Summer at 4:00pm.
They’re usually in the square right in front of the train station, but we’ve heard their music from a few other places in town as well.
4 | Matterhorn Museum | 12 CHF/person
Did you know that Zermatt is such a well-known spot because of the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865? Before then, it was a very remote farming area.
Since then, tourism has exploded — and not just for mountaineers, but also for skiers, spa-lovers, hikers, families, and foodies. But all of this development goes back to the origins of alpinism.
First, learn more about how Zermatt went from untouched farming life to a top-notch tourist region in the small but really well done Matterhorn Museum.
We thought it was neat to see the snapped rope from the first perilous ascent and to touch a rock from the top of the Matterhorn too.
5 | Hiker’s Cemetery | Free
Then pop next door to the Hiker’s Cemetery just behind the church. It’s a sobering spot to remember the people who lost their lives climbing the Matterhorn, and gave us a deeper appreciation for present day climbers and guides.
6 | Gorner Gorge | 5.50 CHF
Whenever we travel, if there’s a gorge, we’re going. I just love gorges because of their deep cliff walls and narrow pathways and clear rushing water. And the Gorner Gorge is no exception. You’ll cross wooden walkways and steep stairs to gaze down at the gushing falls and bright blue water. It’s just 5 CHF per person and a short walk from the end of town. And if you’re up for the walk, this pairs perfectly with time exploring Blatten, Zum See, and Furi.
7 | Hanging Bridge | Free
You know what’s just above the Gorner Gorge? A dramatic suspension bridge. Steel cables dangle this 100-meter long bridge 90-meters over the gorge below. We had no fear gently swaying and actually spent about 10 minutes here snapping pictures of the gorge and Zermatt village in the distance.
8 | Glacier Garden | Free
And just across that suspension bridge is the Glacier Garden where you can see these interesting potholes left behind from when this area was covered in glaciers. Long story short, when the glaciers melt, the sandy water whirls around the rocks and shapes these smooth potholes. I had never seen these before coming here and learned a lot about glaciers from the info panels. I also thought it was so interesting that this area wasn’t even discovered until a local hotel manager stumbled upon them during a hike in 1966.
And by the way, if you have a fear of heights, you can access the Glacier Garden without having to cross the suspension bridge.
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9 | Ricola Herb Garden | Free
If I say “Ricolaaaaa,” what comes to mind? Ricola cough drops, of course! There’s a small garden in Blatten where you can see some of the plants and herbs that make up the secret recipe.
Grab a paper from the mailbox and see if you can master the matching game for a chance to win a Ricola prize package!
10 | Cable Car to Furi | 12–15 CHF
Most cable cars in Switzerland are not cheap. But the ride from Zermatt to Furi is actually quite affordable, at just 12–15 CHF one-way. And if you have our 3-Day Guide to Zermatt, then you know we highly recommend using the Half Fare Card here, which drops that price to just 6–7.50 CHF.
The ride is already panoramic, but if you’re interested in splurging just a bit, you can pay 10 CHF extra to ride on top of the cable car. Talk about the best views with the wind in your hair!
Hang on, why should you visit Furi? Well, it’s where you can easily access the hanging bridge, Glacier Garden, Ricola Herb Garden, some amazing restaurants, and even walk back to town through the Gorner Gorge.
11 | Edelweiss Hut | Free
When you’re in Zermatt after dark and look up the mountain behind the train station, you’ll notice a little star lit up on the mountainside. That’s the Edelweiss Hut. Lace up your hiking boots for an easy but uphill 45-minute hike to this little hotel restaurant. They serve typical Valais dishes, but also have an in-house pastry chef who makes amazing desserts — which you deserve after the hike up the mountain!
12 | Horu-Käserei Cheese | Cheap (6–10 CHF)
Can you come to Switzerland and not try Swiss cheese? Apparently Zermatt’s last cheese-making dairy closed in 1950 until Horu-Käserei reinstated the tradition back in 2003.
Their cows produce 500 liters of milk per day — which is equivalent to about 2000 cups of coffee — and you can enjoy their fresh yogurt, butter, and cheese (including fondue and raclette) from their self-service farm fridge in town.
13 | Zermatt Bier | Cheap (6–8 CHF)
Or if you enjoy a good beer, then you’ll want to sample a cold one from Zermatt Bier. It’s brewed with local spring water and bottled right here in Zermatt. The Monte Rosa is their lager and the Matterhorn is a special beer that’s a bit more complex. We’ve seen them on most menus in the area or you can buy them from the grocery store too. Zum wohle!
14 | Lucy Walker Apricot Pastry | Cheap
We can’t resist the opportunity to enjoy local pastries, and this one has an interesting history. This apricot pastry from Fuchs Bakery is a fueling snack that apparently Lucy Walker, the first woman to summit the Matterhorn, ate to keep her energized on the climb. Honestly it just tastes like a hearty apricot fig newton, but I can never resist buying it because of the fun story behind it.
15 | Zermatt Architecture | Free
While you’re here, you’ll probably see these old buildings too. And if you’re like us, we wondered why on earth the houses were built on wooden stilts with these giant round rocks in the middle of the columns. Well, it’s an ultra practical reason. It was so that mice couldn’t climb up and invade their living space, since they can’t climb upside down!
We personally love strolling along Hinterdorf in the evening to admire the 500+ year old dark wooden houses.
16 | Camping Zermatt | Cheap (20 CHF per adult per night)
Okay, full disclaimer: we said that everything on this list is 15 CHF or less — but it’s such a valuable one that we had to include it!
As we mentioned earlier, we all know that Zermatt is not the most budget-friendly destination. However, you can stay overnight here for as little as 20 CHF per person per night (including taxes) at Zermatt Camping. I mean, even if camping isn’t your favorite activity, that’s an amazing price, especially when you consider that a hotel costs a few hundred bucks per night during the Summer!
More Cheap and Free Things To Do in Switzerland
Since you’re reading this post about cheap and free things to do, we’re guessing you’re planning to splurge on other unforgettable experiences. So read our countdown of the Top 10 Things to do in Zermatt, or learn how to plan your entire trip without wasting time or money. And as always, we’ll see you in Switzerland.
