This post is the second of a two-parter about our weekend in the Swiss Alps – the Glacier Express and What to do in Zermatt. If you want to read the first part about our epic journey to Zermatt on the Glacier Express, click here.
We visited Zermatt in January, at the height of the winter ski season. However, I don’t ski (although Tom can snowboard) and we only had one day to spend in Zermatt village. Therefore, although Zermatt winters are packed with ski enthusiasts, this post is geared towards those who are looking for things to do in Zermatt for non-skiers. We are here to show you that winter snow holidays for non-skiers don’t have to involve waiting at the bottom of the slopes for the aprés-ski to commence!
Why visit Zermatt?
To ski… or not to ski
Ok, let’s get it out of the way first. Despite being little more than a village, Zermatt ski resort is world-renowned. Certainly, among the Swiss, there is little argument that it offers some of the best skiing in Switzerland.
With a ski area known as the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, it is the highest ski resort in Europe – the altitude of Zermatt is over 1600 meters above sea level. Because of this, the Zermatt ski season offers year-round access to the pistes. Zermatt ski area is split into four zones across two countries, as the Zermatt slopes are located very close to the Swiss-Italian border. There is no denying that it is a true haven for skiers and one of the predominant generators for Zermatt tourism.

Preparing the fantastic ski pistes
However, what to do in Zermatt is not just all about skiing and snowboarding. There are a plethora of other Swiss winter activities including a variety of non-skiing winter sports, outdoor activities, shops, restaurants, bars, spas and museums that make Zermatt one of the best snow holidays for non-skiers around!
Although Zermatt summer skiing is possible, Zermatt during summertime is equally popular with hikers, climbers and cyclists wanting a central location from which to conquer the highest peaks of the Pennine Alps.
Do you want to connect your stay in Zermatt with a legendary journey?
Then check out our post about the amazing Glacier Express Experience!
Matterhorn Facts
Wondering what to see in Zermatt? Well, the mighty Matterhorn of course! With the Matterhorn location right on the doorstep of Zermatt, the famous cragged rock “tooth” is one of the biggest draws to the village.
Visible from many of the hotels in Zermatt, the Matterhorn is the most well-known mountain in Switzerland and one of the most famous in the world. At a height of 4,478m (14,692ft), the Matterhorn is not the highest peak in Switzerland even compared to its most immediate neighbours. That honour goes to Dufourspitze. At 4,634m/15,203ft, Dufourspitze is the highest peak in Switzerland and the second-highest in all of the Alps. (Only Mont Blanc is higher, in case you are wondering!). However, with its near-symmetrical peak, the Matterhorn is the beloved icon of the Swiss Alps.

The one and only Matterhorn!
Climbing the Matterhorn is not a challenge for the faint of heart. It requires a high level of fitness and previous mountaineering experience. Even then, it can only be done with a mountain guide and by prior arrangements. If you are intent on taking a Matterhorn hike, then check out the guidelines issued by the Matterhorn Zermatt Switzerland authorities before planning your trip.
An easier option would be to take the Matterhorn Cable Car to the Klein Matterhorn. However, this means that you would miss out on the views of the Matterhorn itself. Which brings us to the main article – what to do in Zermatt – even if you don’t ski?
What to do in Zermatt
Take the spectacular Gornergrat train
To reach the top of the spectacular Pennine Alps surrounding Zermatt, no climbing missions need be involved. We took the Gornergrat train, which stops just next to the railway station in Zermatt. This mountain railway has been ascending the Gornergrat mountain up to a height of 3089m ever since 1898. It is the highest open-air railway in Europe.

Lean back and enjoy the ride
There are multiple stops on the way to the top however the entire journey only takes around 35 minutes. As you climb up above Zermatt towards the top, the views of the mountains become snowier and ever more stunning. The Gornergratbahn, and the 3100m viewing platform at the top of the Gornergrat mountain – is one of the major Zermatt tourist attractions all by itself.
At the Gornergrat summit
After alighting at the last stop, Gornergrat, we climbed a short way up to some shops, a cafe and a hotel. From there, you can walk up another short path (in the very thin air!) to the viewing platform. And from there, we stood and feasted our eyes on the some of the most spectacular 360-degree panoramas that Switzerland has to offer. On a clear day, more than 20 four-thousand-meter peaks are visible from the summit of the Gornergrat. Among these are the Monte Rosa massif (one peak of which is Dufourspitze, previously mentioned as the highest mountain in Switzerland) and the majestic Matterhorn itself. We were lucky enough to visit on a beautiful clear and sunny day. Especially viewed in that kind of weather, it is a simply breathtaking natural beauty.

The obligatory Matterhorn selfie
Having taken photos from every possible angle (including the obligatory Matterhorn selfie, see above), we walked back down to the cafe. We ordered a Kaffee Gornergrat each, a creamy coffee heavily laced with whisky and amaretto, and sat outside in the glorious sunshine to drink them. After that, we wandered around the small shops full of Matterhorn-themed souvenirs. We couldn’t resist buying some miniature chocolate Matterhorns!

Almost too cute to eat, but too delicious not to eat!
If, like us, your holiday in Zermatt is time-limited, then visiting the Gornergrat by train is our best recommendation of things to do in Zermatt.

The world’s biggest chocolate Matterhorn
Visit the super-cool Iglu village on the Gornergrat slopes
We took the train one stop down from Gornergrat to Rotenboden and walked down the slopes to the Iglu-Dorf. This is a really neat little collection of igloos around a central bar/eating area. As well as eat and drink there, you can actually stay overnight in the igloos. They range from a basic room up to luxurious suites with hot tubs. You can even build your own igloo to sleep in, as one of the packages!

One of the igloos from the igloo village
We only stayed long enough to drink a beer in the blazing sunshine. Oh, and we poked around inside one of the bigger igloos which houses an indoor bar (only open to hotel guests during the evenings).

That`s what we call a “cool” bar
The Iglu-Dorf is one of the coolest places to visit in Zermatt, although it is really intended for the piste-dwellers. It is not close to the train stop but is located downhill, right on the piste. Suffice to say, you avoid a lot of walking through snow if you can get to and from it on a pair of skis! But you can walk as we did – so it still counts as one of the non-skiing activities in Zermatt.
Hiking and climbing in Zermatt
If we have already put you off the idea of hiking up the Matterhorn, then there are plenty of other Zermatt hiking trails for the outdoor enthusiasts – over 400km in fact. If Zermatt snow conditions are heavy, then you may find that some of your Wanderwege (hiking trails) may be blocked by drifts. However, during the summer months, Zermatt is a veritable haven for hikers, climbers and even mountain bikers soaking up the Alpine scenery.

Isn’t this the perfect view for a hike?
Non-skiing winter sports in Zermatt
Snow vacations without skiing can also involve other winter sports! Things to do in Zermatt in winter include ice-skating in Zermatt village itself. There are is an ice-skating rink in the centre that is open throughout winter. There are also no less than 16 ice rinks specifically dedicated to curling!
If you still want to be in the mountains, then snow-shoeing or ice climbing is also possible for the more adventurous.
Visit the Matterhorn Museum and the Mountaineers Cemetery in Zermatt
These are two of the top places to visit in Zermatt that don’t involve leaving the village itself or being outdoors. The Matterhorn Museum, or “Zermatlantis” as it is termed, has exhibitions showing the history and development of Zermatt from a rural Swiss village into the world-class resort it is today.

A statue of an Ibex in front of the museum
Hauntingly, it also shows the broken rope from the first ever ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865, where four of the seven mountaineers died. One of the four bodies is buried in the Mountaineers Cemetery, which is another of the things to see in Zermatt. The Cemetery has around 50 graves from mountaineers who died in the 19th and 20th centuries, in their attempts to scale the Matterhorn and other of the highest Alpine peaks in the surrounding area.
Have you ever wanted to visit Europe’s highest mountain cableway station?
Then have a look at this great offer for a Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Entrance Ticket!
Spas in Zermatt
Many of the hotels in Zermatt village have wellness spas that are open to paying members of the public. The Swiss really know their spa stuff, and the spas of Zermatt feature indoor and outdoor pools and jacuzzis, saunas and steam rooms as well as hammams and massages.
Spa Hotel Hemizeus and Spa Hotel Bella Vista are two of the more reasonably priced for entry.
If the other Zermatt things to do on this list all seem a bit too strenuous, then maybe a relaxing day in one of the many spas in Zermatt could be just the thing for you.
Zermatt Shopping
While Zermatt town in small, it is packed with shops selling souvenirs, watches, clothing chocolate and my personal favourite, local cheeses and cured meats. Zermatt shopping may not be the cheapest in the world at Swiss prices, but as you are here anyway, why not indulge? If you want to save some money, make sure to check out our ultimate packing list for winter holidays in the mountains to see what all you can get cheaper before you get to Zermatt.

What a lovely atmosphere to shop
Eating out in Zermatt
Despite being only a small town, Zermatt has more than 180 restaurants including After Seven, which has two Michelin stars and Ristorante Capri, which has one Michelin star. The below recommendations, however, are based on our own experiences eating at Zermatt restaurants.
Looking for other great places to visit during Europe’s winter?
Then check out our post about the beautiful Annecy, the Venice of the Alps.
Bubble – Best burgers in Zermatt
As it was already getting dark, we had decided just to grab some food and get a good nights sleep so we could max out the following day with an early start and a birthday dinner. A short wander from the hotel took us to Bubble, a hip bar/restaurant that does amazingly fresh-tasting and juicy gourmet-style burgers. I ordered “The Original”, a classic beef burger with salad, aioli and house relish. Tom ordered “The Moroccan Veggie”, a falafel burger with cucumber, chutney and fresh mint yoghurt. When they arrived and we both ended up salivating over each other’s as well as our own burgers, we decided to share both of them.

The burgers were absolutely delicious!
Walliserteller
During our trip to the Gornergrat mountain, we had made our way to Riffelberg. We stopped at the cantine-style restaurant there and shared a Walliserteller (literally, a Wallis plate).
This consists of mixed local air-dried meats and hard mountain cheeses, served with pickles and dark bread.

Heaven on a plate – The “Walliserteller”
The air-drying of Alpine beef is a tradition of Valais that dates back to the 14th century. It was adopted in order to preserve the meat through the long and cold winters. Today, in order to call itself Valais meat, it must always be made from Swiss cattle and never smoked, only air dried. Simple, local food like this is always the best and tastiest when you are really hungry.
There are delicatessens in Zermatt where you can buy pre-selected packs of meats for making a Walliserteller at home.
Say Cheese
To finish a long day in the wintery mountains, what better dish is there than a traditional Swiss cheese fondue? And where better to eat fondue than at a restaurant that serves nothing but cheese and is called – wait for it – Say Cheese?
Say Cheese is located in the basement of the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof, one of the top hotels in Zermatt. Say Cheese is really not your traditional Swiss or Alpine chalet-style fondue place. It is very hip and modern, but without being at all over the top about it. We can assure you that all of the food is served on completely normal crockery and no compulsory beard or manbun policy was evident among the male serving staff. But the waiters are young and friendly, the decor is dark and low-key and there is a lovely informal ambience.

The main course : Swiss Truffle Fondue
The menu features only cheeses from the local region, served both traditionally in a variety of fondues and raclettes, but also with a twist in the form of different fresh salads and soups. We had the fondue with winter truffles and it was divine, the perfect gooey mix of creamy and sticky.
You need to burn all those calories from the delicious mountain food?
Then how about booking a Zermatt Beginner Ski Lesson and Equipment Rental?
Aprés ski Bars and Nightlife
Zermatt attractions don’t stop when it gets dark. The town has a buzzing aprés-ski and nightlife scene. From the down-to-earth beers and belly laughs at Harrys Ski Bar to the more refined G&T sipping at the cultural centre of Zermatt, the Vernissage to live sports action at The Cable Car bar, Zermatt in the evening is anything but dull.

Go local with a Zermatt Bier
Where to stay in Zermatt
Although we had booked late online from a limited choice due to peak ski season, we were very pleasantly surprised by our choice of accommodation, the Hotel Rex. As well as having excellent amenities such as a pool, hot tub and sauna, the service was warm and friendly, and the rooms are spacious and very comfortable. And… we had an unencumbered view of the Matterhorn itself, right from our balcony.

The view from our room
In case you are heading to Zermatt, check out the Hotel Rex. If you are looking for hotels, check out our accommodation guide for Zermatt or use our deals finder below! Whether you want Zermatt luxury hotels, cheap hotels in Zermatt, or if you just want to browse the best hotels in Zermatt with a view of the Matterhorn, then look no further! We will make a small commission at absolutely no cost to you.
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How to get to Zermatt
The nearest airport to Zermatt can be found at either Milan, Zurich or Geneva. Fast rail links are available the village from any of those cities, or you can also rent a car and drive.
Zermatt parking is to be found in the next village of Täsch, as Zermatt is a car-free village, except for some electric-powered taxis and service vehicles. If you don’t travel there by train as we did, then you can drive as far as Täsch. There is a short train journey to take you for the rest of the way. Make sure you reserve your parking space in advance to avoid disappointment.
Finally
I can seriously recommend that you visit Zermatt if you are looking for one of the best snow holidays for non skiers and skiers alike. As well as being visually stunning, it is one of the most friendly (and tourist-friendly) Swiss towns I have visited. At the same time, it is steeped in centuries-old traditions of surviving and even thriving in the harsh mountain conditions. Despite what the shopfronts may tell, it is definitely more than just a ski resort.
We hope this article has convinced you that Zermatt mountain life is not just about skiing!

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24 comments
[…] can read about our weekend in Zermatt in part two of this post. Or, check out our photo gallery of the amazing Swiss Alps in all their winter […]
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Zermatt is a really picturesque town. We spent just a few hours there on our way to Gornergrat and back. Wish we could have spent more time there.The Matterhorn looks so beautiful, the picture with the sunlight falling on the tip of the peak is really stunning.
Thanks for your comment and the compliment Sandy – that shot of the Matterhorn is one of our favourites, it was as the sun came up which is amazing to watch in the mountains as it is really clear how the light changes and moves across the snowy surfaces. If you have a chance to go back, we can recommend a stay in Zermatt – it is a lovely resort.
I I was in nearby Leukerbad and I so regret not making it to Zermatt. You’re right, I always think of the Matterhorn but never even heard of the Dufourspitze. I’d love to go there for the hiking, and the fact that”s it pedestrian means totally fresh air. Thanks for the tip about the Rex.
Thanks for your comment Carol – having read some of your blog posts, I think Zermatt is somewhere you would probably really enjoy – lots of nature, plus spa-based luxury to be enjoyed 😉 And yes, the mountain air by itself with no cars is even a simple luxury. Definitely recommend Rex – the staff were really friendly. Thanks for reading!
Zermatt has some of the most stunning scenery in all of the Alps. I spend a lot of time in the mountains, particularly in the winter and absolutely love the photographs I can take whilst there.
Thanks for your comment Mike and you are right – photography opportunities in Zermatt and the Alps are both stunning and plenty!
Had to stop by and comment after seeing these awesome photos. I’ve not been to the Alps for years, all my mountain action are dry heat at the moment, finally saw some snow in Kashmir and I loved it! Feels so refreshing and the views are just stunning! Love the blog! 🙂
Hi Vanessa, nice to read you 🙂 I think you would absolutely love the Swiss Alps as you do like a good hike 🙂 If you ever need any tips or advice, just let us know. Growing up in Switzerland, I could never imagine living in the dessert. Your post about Kashmir is awesome and makes us want to go there as well 🙂
Have a fantastic day
I would love to travel to Zermatt and experience the Pennine Alps. I have heard of the famous Matterhorn, though for some reason thought this was the highest in the region, so it’s interesting to read about Dufourspitze. Gornergrat train sounds like a great way to enjoy the mountain scenery – the views from the summit are sublime. Iglu-dorf sounds epic – so cool that you can spend overnight in the igloos – I had never heard of this before, but would LOVE to!
I also thought it was the highest! Apparently it is only the unusual shape/rock formation that makes it so famous. We also made a pact to do the Iglu-dorf hotel one day – I think they also have them in Austria and France which are probably more budget friendly than Zermatt 😉 Thanks for the great comment Meg, look forward to reading if you make the Iglu before we do! 🙂
I I have always had the Swiss Alps on my radar and wow, have you shown me why I need to get planning. Your travel tips are priceless, I’m bookmarking this, as this LOOKS so amazing! I had no clue that Zermatt was a part of the Swiss Alps, but I do now.
Hi Sara, we can absolutely recommend the Swiss Alps as a holiday destination. There are a lot of places who are exactly as beautiful as Zermatt but a lot cheaper. If you have the time, check out this page: https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/maloja.html , it was always my favorite place in the Alps during the summer months 😀
Have a fantastic day
I first learned to ski in zermatt and am heading back this christmas so was delighted to come across this. It really is an incredible place
Hi Anne. Skiing in Zermatt is great! If you should ever get bored in this place though, try Saas Fee or Lenzerheide. These are two great places to do winter sports as well.
Have a fantastic day
Zermatt looks magnificent! The igloo experience must be one of a kind! And this meat place looks delicious..I visited Switzerland in May but only the part around lake Geneva!
Hi Efthimis, thank you for your comment. The igloos looked really cosy with all the fur inside. Especially the Ice Bar was awesome! I guess you’re not in danger to get a warm beer there 😀 Did you like the part around Geneva?
Have a fantastic day
IIm not much of a skier, but l’ll take one Moroccan Veggie burger, followed by allllllll the local air-dried meats and hard mountain cheeses and buckets of cheese fondue, please! Sounds like a foodies paradise.
Hahaha Anna, I am totally with you on this! Hurtling down snowy mountains doesn’t do it for me, but I will happily trek up them for the foodie treats. Everything we ate in Zermatt was delicious. I think even just the altitude makes me more hungry, or makes the food tastier, or both 😉 Thanks for reading, have a great weekend!
This looks amazeballs. I have heard of Zermatt during my ski bum days but I never realized that it was car free. I have a love / hate relationship with cars and dream of living without them someday. If it wouldn’t make me miss skiing too much I would move to Zermatt right now. It’s so beautiful
Zermatt is as you say, amazeballs! It is not the most budget-friendly place (like anywhere in Switzerland) but the scenery and off-piste activities make it so attractive even to me as a non-skier. The fact it is car-free is a great asset too! Thanks for reading and for your comment
I have not been to Zermatt myself but my former partner has and he always loved heading out into the mountains here. He told me the cable car is very nice (little expensive though) and it’s well worth it. The burger looks delicious btw!
Thanks for reading, Antonette. Zermatt is a great place to see some of the best of the Alps, I also love going out there. Being around such natural beauty clears the mind and puts the small stuff into perspective. Enjoy your weekend!