There is much to do and explore in the surroundings of Zermatt. Embark on a climbing adventure or take a turn in a helicopter, but don’t miss out on going up to Mattenhorn Glacier Paradise. Take the 45-minute gondola ride to the top and enjoy the incredibly beautiful view. Step into the elevator that takes you 15 meters down to Glacier Palace where you can watch sculptures made of ice. Another viewpoint in Zermatt is Gornergrat, get to the top and you will be rewarded with an exceptional panoramic view. Of course, Zermatt is perfect for skiing and is considered one of the best ski resorts in Europe.
Glacier Express is a train journey that takes you through incredibly beautiful areas of Switzerland. The train takes you from Zermatt to St. Moritz in eight hours, but if you have the time you may want to split the trip in two days so you get the opportunity to stop and enjoy properly. This is one of the most beautiful train journeys available, the Swiss landscape is something very special.
After hiking, skiing and maybe rock climbing, the muscles are a little sore. There are some spa hotels in the village, both the more expensive variants but there are also some wallet-friendly alternatives. Steam room and massage are welcome after all the adventures of today. Take a leisurely stroll through the village, on Hinterdorffstrasse you will find barns, stables and houses from the 16th century and the whole village has nice cobbled streets. If you are in the area between July and October, you will see many Welsh black nose sheep and be sure to take the opportunity to visit one of the barns so you can take a closer look at them. There are no sweeter sheep, they are like little fairy tales that you just want to hug for eternity.
There are plenty of nice restaurants, including a lot of Michelin stars. Keep in mind that you often must book tables at the more expensive places, especially before the high season. Many of the restaurants are up in the mountains, where you can sit and eat for a long, long time… Of course, there is little opportunity for shopping in Zermatt. The main street is called Bahnhofstrasse and there you can shop chocolate and cheese, sports equipment, clothes and souvenirs.
