Day Trip to Zermatt in Switzerland
(as of February 2011)
Program/Itinerary Option 1 Option 2(longer)
Geneva Airport dep 08:27 06:56
Visp arr 10:52 09:22
Visp dep 11:10 09:43
Zermatt arr 12:14 10:52
(Duration of travel: 3:47 minutes) (3:56 minutes)
Zermatt dep 16:13 17:13
Visp arr 17:22 18:22
Visp dep 17:36 18:36
Geneva Airport arr 20:13 21:13
(Duration: 4:00 hours; one train transfer) (3:51 hrs)
Travel Arrangements
1. Take a Day Ticket (from your Municipality) for CHF 40 or a Swiss Day Ticket using your Half Fare card at CHF 64 on weekends or CHF 54 on weekdays.
2. Upon arrival in Zermatt, you can consider either of the two travel “Plans”
Plan A : Trip to Gornergrat (shorter and less tiring trip and with a good view of the Matterhorn)
1. Walk across the street from the train station to purchase your cog railway ticket to Gornergrat. Gornergrat, the highest ski area in Zermatt and is 3089meters above sea-level. It is surrounded by breathtaking mountains with a good vantage view of Matterhorn (4478 meters).
2. Prices of cog railway tickets vary depending on the season. You can check on the prices by calling the Gornergrat Bahn (the Matterhorn Railway) at +41 27 927 77 77 or by accessing its website www.gornergrat.ch/ info@gornergrat.ch ; info@gornergrat.ch
3. In purchasing your cog railway ticket, show your Day Ticket or Half Fair Card as this will entitle you to a 50% discount. Full rates for winter cog-railway tickets (roundtrip) are as follows:
i. Adult - CHF 72 (half fare is CHF 36)
ii. Children (up to 9 yrs old) - Free
iii. Children (over 9 yrs old) -CHF 36
iv. There is a happy hour Gornergrat rate (from 12:15 pm on) at CHF 56.
4. Your ticket allows you to disembark and embark again at any station along the route. There are four stations to Gornergrat:
i. Findelbach (1774m)
ii. Riffelalp (2222m) – starting point winter walking path to Zermatt
iii. Riffelberg (2582m) –
iv. Rotenborden (2815m) – starting point snow shoe trails
v. Gornergrat (3089 m) – starting point skiing area of Zermatt
5. Travel from Zermatt to Gornergrat takes 33 minutes. Trains to and from Gornergrat leaves every thirty minutes. Make sure you line up early for the train to get a good window seat. Unless your are there to ski or do snow shoeing, most passengers disembark at Gornergrat.
6. At Gornergrat, you will find the 3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat/ Gornergrat Shopping, Edelweiss shop (snack and souvenirs), viewing platform at 3130m, “Bernhard von Aosta” chapel
7. If you are traveling on a limited time, it is best that you purchase your sandwich and drink in the nearby COOP (near the Gornergrat station) before taking the cog railway train. It will also be cheaper than using the snack bar or restaurant at Gornergrat which usually are very full or would have long lines. It is not unusual to see passengers (mostly skiers – adults and children) take their snacks or meal while traveling to Gornergrat.
Plan B : Trip to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (long but more exciting travel with cable car rides; highly recommended)
1. Glacier Paradise is the highest altitude mountain railway in Europe. The paronama: a breathtaking view of Italian, French and Swiss alpine gianst from an altitude of 3, 883 meters (about 12,000 feet). You are almost in the Italian Territory and you can see the enchanting rear face of Lady Matterhorn. Snow is 365 days a year.
2. Surrounded by 38 Swiss mountain peaks that are over 4000 meters high, Glacier Paradise offers visitors a chance to visit the Glacier (Ice) Palace located at the top most end of the mountain travel. On your walk to the Glacier Ice Palace you will have the chance to go out at the panoramic platform for a good view of the Matterhorn and the mountains. A big cross erected on the top most platform will surprise you.
3. Glacier Paradise travel takes about 40 minutes. It brings you up the mountain via a nice 6-seater cable car that stops at three or four stations where you can disembark, take pictures, shop at souvenir shops, use the toilet or go to the restaurants. The final ride is in a huge 60-person cable car cabin that brings you to the top most part of the travel for the panoramic platform and the Glacier Ice Palace. (Note: most of the passengers are skiers with their ski gears. Your travel is about 10 minutes with no seats)
4. To purchase your tickets to the Glacier Paradise, you should take the Green Line Bus that stops at the side of the Gornergrat Train Station (or just across the main train train) to the Glacier Paradise Station. Bus is free and will take you 10 minutes. You can also walk to the station (15-120 minutes).
5. Travelers with the Day Ticket or the half-fare card are entitled to a 50% discount on cable car applied on the following regular priced-tickets:
Adult, roundtrip ticket CHF 90 (regular fare); CHF 104 on summer months
Children : CHF 8.00
Ticket prices vary depending on the season. It is best that you check on ticket prices before starting your trip
Zermatt Bergbahnen AG
Postfach 378, CH-3920 Zermatt
Tel. +41 (0) 27 966 01 01; Info +41 (0) 27 966 01 05
6. As in many high-altitude places, you should travel to the mountains with caution as the air is very thin. Make sure you that you move very slowly and in good pace to avoid dizziness or fainting. Emergency first aid stations and stretchers are available at every station.
Travel Tips
1. It is important for you to check on the weather in Zermatt for the day of your travel as you may not see the Matterhorn if the weather is bad. You can check this by calling the Zermatt Tourism Office (+41 27 966 81 00; info@zermatt.ch; http://www.zermatt.ch/). The Zermatt Tourism is located just outside the main train station. Counter personnel speak English.
2. Winter may be very cold in Zermatt and at the mountains. Use proper clothing. Also use your snow shoes or any shoes with good traction. You will need that while you are up the mountain and in walking within the town.
3. Zermatt Town is nice and very busy. It is full of shops and eateries (including McDonalds). No cars allowed inside the town but the electric taxi which you can use for a fee. There are horse-driven carriages that you can also rent to move around town. The whole town is walkable.
4. If you carrying heavy loads, you can deposit them (for a fee) at the main train station upon your arrival.
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