Zermatt
Zermatt is a car-free Alpine resort in the Swiss canton of Valais, at the foot of the Matterhorn, reached by train from Visp or Tasch.
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Best things to do in Zermatt
The one thing not to miss
See the Matterhorn, the 4,478 m pyramid of rock that has become an emblem of Switzerland and the Alps. It is the mountain every Zermatt visit is built around.
The Matterhorn1. The Matterhorn
A near-symmetric pyramidal peak on the Swiss-Italian border, 4,478 m high and often called the most photographed mountain in the world. The Hörnli Hut, a mountain hut at 3,260 m, stands at the foot of its north-eastern ridge.
Climbing the summit is serious mountaineering, not a walk. Check conditions and the Hörnli Hut's arrangements before planning anything above the village.
41,149 readers a month
2. Monte Rosa and the Dufourspitze
A glaciated massif on the Swiss-Italian border with several peaks over 4,000 m. Its highest point, the Dufourspitze, is the highest mountain in Switzerland and the second highest in the Alps after Mont Blanc.
Most visitors see the massif from the Gornergrat; climbing it is for experienced mountaineers.
9,156 readers a month
3. The Glacier Express
A named panoramic train linking Zermatt and St. Moritz via Andermatt. The end-to-end journey covers 291 km and takes about 8 hours, and it has been called the slowest express train in the world.
Check with the operator whether you need a seat reservation for the section you want.
2,844 readers a month
4. Gornergrat
A rocky ridge reached by the Gornergrat rack railway from Zermatt, the highest open-air railway in Europe. The station is at 3,089 m, surrounded by 29 peaks above 4,000 m and several glaciers. The line opened in 1898.
Check the railway's timetable and conditions before you go.
2,650 readers a month
5. Saas-Fee
A car-free village on a high plateau at 1,800 m, in the next valley from Zermatt. It is surrounded by 13 peaks above 4,000 m and known as the Pearl of the Alps.
2,013 readers a month
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6. Klein Matterhorn
At 3,883 m, the highest place in Europe reachable by aerial tramway or gondola. It overlooks the Breithorn Plateau, a flat glacier just north of the Italian border.
Check lift operation and weather before you go up.
1,384 readers a month
7. Breithorn
A glaciated massif between the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa, on the Swiss-Italian border, with its nearest settlements Zermatt and St-Jacques. It lies east of the Theodul Pass.
Glacier terrain; check conditions and whether a guide is advised.
1,137 readers a month
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8. Theodul Pass
A high pass at 3,295 m linking Zermatt with Breuil-Cervinia in Italy. It is the lowest and easiest pass between the Zermatt and Valtournanche valleys.
High-alpine glacier terrain; check conditions before you plan a crossing.
670 readers a month
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9. Gorner Glacier
A valley glacier on the west side of the Monte Rosa massif, about 12.4 km long. Its wider glacial system is the second largest in the Alps after the Aletsch.
352 readers a month
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10. Matterhorn Museum
A museum in Zermatt laid out as a reconstructed mountain village of 14 houses. It tells the story of tourism in the area and of Edward Whymper's first ascent of the Matterhorn.
225 readers a month
Just missed the list: Riffelsee (11th by readers; a lake on the Gornergrat side); Sunnegga (12th by readers; a ski area above Zermatt)
How we ranked these
By how many people read about each place on English Wikipedia in a typical month, measured October 2026. It is a popularity measure, not our opinion. The Matterhorn leads with about 41,149 readers a month. Photos come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; the author and licence are on each photo.
Research required. Area notes for this destination are not written yet. The top 10 above is sourced; the rest of this page is an outline.
Affiliate disclosure: Booking links on this site are partner links. Once our partnership is active we earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we recommend. How this works.