Let me guess — you’re coming to Zermatt to see the Matterhorn…but you’re also wondering what else there is to do. We felt the same way on our first visit, but after coming back more than 5 times, here’s the truth: Zermatt has so many incredible experiences beyond just one famous mountain.
Whether you have 1, 2, or 3 days (or more!), here’s how to make the most of your Summer-season visit — from alpine lakes and endless glaciers to great hikes and adventure activities to cuddly sheep and a cozy village, and yes…iconic Matterhorn views the entire time.
So let’s get started with our favorite place in Zermatt.
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Day 1 | Gornergrat
If we had just 1 day in Zermatt, we would head straight to Gornergrat!
First, snag a seat on the right side of the train so your eyes can feast on the Matterhorn for the entire 33-minute ride. Some of the windows even open up so you can breathe in the crisp air as you climb up to 10,000 feet (Gornergrat’s elevation is 10,135ft / 3809m).
I knew there would be great views at the top. After all, we’re in the middle of the Swiss Alps! But holy smokes, this view instantly made Gornergrat one of my favorite peaks in Switzerland. I’ve never seen so many glaciers in one glance. Pretty sure we spent way longer on the Panoramic Walk than expected because we just kept taking it all in.
If you can tear your eyes away from the sparkling snow and contrasting black rocks, explore the Zooom the Matterhorn Museum to learn about this iconic peak — and even try some VR goggles to soar beside the mountain. There are a few shops and restaurants in the hotel as well.
When you’re done, you can either hike down or ride the train. The next stop is Rotenboden, which has an alpine flower garden and photogenic lake with Matterhorn reflections. See if you can spy any climbers on the Riffelhorn, a popular place for mountaineers to practice before they attempt to summit the Matterhorn!
Keep hiking or ride the train down to the next stop of Riffelberg. Stop here for a bite to eat on a Matterhorn-facing terrace or to watch the paragliders take off and soar into the sky.
There’s one more stop to either hike or ride to, and that’s Riffelalp. We definitely recommend stopping here because pizza just tastes better when it looks like the Matterhorn, and dessert is somehow a bit sweeter when you enjoy it in front of that pyramid-shaped mountain. Plus the mini train and playground invite your whole family to linger all afternoon.
Can you tell why we love Gornergrat so much? Well, here’s one more thing to make it even better. During the Summer, the famous blacknose sheep graze on the mountain and you can go meet them and pet them and become their best friend!
There’s still so much more we could say, which is why our 3-Day Guide to Zermatt contains 18 pages exclusively about Gornergrat, like how to save money on your tickets, why you should consider Priority Boarding for the best seats on the train, recommendations for easy walks or great hikes, and can’t-miss restaurants for snacks and meals and dessert. All in an easy-to-follow step-by-step itinerary that you can adapt to your travel pace and preferences.
So if you wish you could pick our brains about how to make your time in Zermatt the trip of a lifetime, be sure to check out our Guide after you finish this post.
By the way, if you’re coming to Zermatt for just one day, choose day #1 on this list. If you’ll have 2 days here, pick days 1 and 2. The more time you have, the more you can fit into your itinerary!
Day 2 | Sunnegga-Rothorn
With two days in Zermatt, we recommend heading up to Blauherd for the famous 5-Lakes Hike. If you already have our 3-Day Guide to Zermatt, then you’ve seen our handy chart to help you decide which lakes are worth actually hiking to. That’s because the official trail is posted at nearly 10km and 2.5 hours, but in this post, we’re going to tell you about all of them.
The completely underground funicular to Sunnegga was the first of its kind in Switzerland, and the gondola ride to Blauherd is so panoramic. And just a short hike from the station is Stellisee, the first lake along the 5-Lakes Trail. Walk around to the back of the lake for the best perspective.
In fact, if you want an epic picture of the Matterhorn reflected on a lake, this is the best spot in our opinion! Our last visit was on a windy day, but the watery reflection was still pretty amazing.
Lake #2 is Grindjisee, Jana’s favorite of the 5 lakes because it’s nestled down in a little cove and surrounded by lush greenery. It probably helps that we also saw an alphorn player on our first visit here, which is just so nostalgic!
Grünsee is lake #3, which is a good swimming spot if you’re up for a cold plunge. But we didn’t jump in because cold water is not our thing!
Lake #4 is Moosjisee. As you can tell, it’s definitely the brightest blue and even has a little waterfall beside it. It’s impressive up close, but even more of a star when you see it from above.
The last lake is Leisee, the best spot for families because of the playground and kids activities. I can already picture ending our next hike here so our son can spend a sunny afternoon splashing in the water or napping beside the lake.
The 5-Lakes Hike is one of the most popular things to do in Zermatt. But here are a few more reasons to linger on this mountain.
For one of my favorite hikes in Zermatt, ride all the way up to the Rothorn and then descend along the alpine ridge with dazzling views of the Matterhorn and Weisshorn and Zermatt village below.
When we’re in Blauherd, we can’t resist a refreshing drink on the sweeping terrace at the Blue Lounge.
And for pure enjoyment, feel the wind whip through your hair as you bounce down to Sunnegga on a Mountain Cart. These were so thrilling that we couldn’t stop laughing the whole way down!
Finally, foodies will be delighted by the Michelin-star restaurants in Findeln. Pro tip: Chez Vrony is our favorite, but you’ll want to make reservations in advance to get a table.
We’re sharing the daytime activities included in our 3-Day Guide to Zermatt, but there are a few different ways to spend your evenings in the village of Zermatt, like hearing traditional Swiss music, watching a goat parade, exploring the Matterhorn Museum, walking through the Climbers’ Cemetery, or admiring the historic architecture.
I’ll never forget how we kept missing the evening goat parade on our first 3 visits here. And we finally caught them on our fourth. Of course it’s cool to see the goats, but we loved watching the farmers and the farmer’s kids trying to keep them all from wandering away!
Sounds like another epic day in Zermatt, right? We know that being on vacation is always fun, but planning it…not so much!
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But don’t go anywhere yet — we still have one more day in Zermatt to share!
Day 3 | Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
Zip up your warm jacket and put on your hat before heading up to the highest cable car station in Europe. Up here at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, you can gaze out at 38 four-thousand-meter peaks and 14 glaciers and 3 different countries from the highest viewing platform in Europe. Or check out a show in the highest movie theater in Europe. Or ski 365 days a year. Of course there is a restaurant and shop too.
Now the coolest thing — pun slightly intended — is that you can walk through a glacier 15m/49ft below the surface! I can’t tell you how many times we touched the hard, frozen walls or slid down the ice slide, which was a bit of a bumpy ride. We had so much fun in here that we didn’t even realize how cold it was or how much our noses were dripping.
And here’s a tip: pay extra for the Crystal Ride. We had the cabin to ourselves so we could sit on the glass floor and study the glaciers below. In our opinion, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is just a plain cupcake, which is still nice. But the Crystal Ride was the icing and cherry on top!
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is the most-marketed experience in Zermatt. Some people think it’s a can’t-miss destination while other travelers think it’s a tourist trap. Our Guide includes a deep dive to help you decide if it’s worth a visit. But regardless, here’s what else you can do on day 3 in Zermatt.
If you love learning fun facts like Jana, then you’ll enjoy the mini InfoCube museum at Trockener Steg about the construction of the cable car from Matterhorn Glacier Paradise across the border to Italy.
We’re both hikers, so we couldn’t resist the Matterhorn Glacier Trail that covers a path where 2 glaciers used to run. You’ll cross yet another lake with Matterhorn reflections, glacier streams, rocks of almost every color, and geology panels if you want to learn more. We both enjoyed this trail even more than we thought we would because it was so diverse the entire time.
Along this same cable car line is Furi, which has a lot to offer every traveler. Test your fear of heights on the 100-meter long suspension bridge over the Gorner Gorge. Of course it moves a bit, but it didn’t sway as much as we expected.
Or learn how the Matterhorn peak was once part of the ocean floor when Switzerland was covered by glaciers, which left behind these potholes in the Glacier Garden. Jana was fascinated by reading all of the signs while Brett had fun playing on the rocks and paths.
Pop into the small Ricola Herb Garden to see some of the secret ingredients in these magical cough drops. But unfortunately this experience doesn’t include a tasting.
And gorges are Jana’s favorite landscape so we spent a lot of time studying the rushing blue water in the Gorner Gorge.
Start planning your trip to Zermatt!
Vacation always flies by way too fast…and so did this itinerary. But we’ve planned out all the details for you in our 3-Day Guide to Zermatt. And if you’re looking to hike your way through Zermatt, read this post or if you’d rather eat your way through Zermatt, read this next, and we’ll see you in Switzerland.