1. Gornergrat

Gornergrat is the most acclaimed mountain top podium in the Swiss Alps. This rocky parapet is located in the Penine Alps at an altitude of 3,089 meters (10,134 feet). You will be delighted to board the Gornergrat Bahn, which is Europe’s highest rack railway, operating at a height of 1,620 meters (5,314 feet)! This is a modern, totally electrified rack railway, provided with an electrified regenerative braking system. This provision generates electricity on its downhill climb. The Gornergrat is known for offering the most picturesque views of the Alps, including 40 of those from the Alpine mountain ranges, one of which is the mighty Matterhorn! On top of the Matterhorn, Europe’s highest mountain, is perched the Kulm Hotel and an observatory too, which are must visits.

You also have one other option to enjoy splendid views of the Matterhorn; the cable car to Glacier Paradise, located at an altitude of 3,883 meters (12,739 feet). Both of these train journeys offer wide-ranging, panoramic views of the Alpine ranges located in Switzerland and Italy! You are better advised to check the weather forecast before making a journey to the mountain top. Cloudy/rainy days could be a hindrance to enjoying the best views here. The Gornergrat Observatory is another attraction, with far-fetching telescopic views on offer! Sunset dinners can be booked in advance at the mountain top Kulm Hotel.

Gornergrat

Address: Gornergrat Bahn, Bahnhof, 3920 Zermatt

Website: Gornergrat

2. Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

The Glacier Paradise takes you on gondola rides to the mountain top. After several gondola rides, you are readily stationed on one of the highest Alpine peaks. It is situated at a height of 3,883 meters (12,739 feet) and operates all through the year. The Klein Matterhorn station on the mountain top is the highest cable car station in the world, located at an altitude of 3,820 meters (12,532 feet). Further, the Matterhorn Glacier Palace can be reached via a glass elevator. The cable car station at the mountain top leads to the entrance of a tunnel of ice, which is situated 20 meters (65 feet) below the glacier surface.

A mini-icy wonderland, the Glacier Palace houses ice-made sculptures on display. They are all based on a novel theme, designed and sculpted annually, before the display. An amazing attraction here is the Ice Slide, particularly designed for visitors to experience the thrill of an icy adventure. Those who find skiing down the Alps very challenging would find this exciting! Needless to mention, the breathtaking views from the mountain top are an absolutely incredible experience! The café atop the mountain is a great stop and the snow tube tunnel offers an amusing, fun ride for the kids.

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

Address: Zermatt Bergbahnen AG, Postfach 378, 3920 Zermatt

Website: Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

3. Zermatt Village tour

Any visitor who steps into this serene and secluded Swiss hamlet of Zermatt, which is ever surrounded by an air of quiet charm, is easily fascinated by the resplendent views in and around this place. Zermatt is a perfect mix of the modern and Period Swiss culture. The old part of the village here brings to you heritage sights of ancient wooden shacks, built by the then Swiss farmers. The Bahnhofstrasse, in the modern part of Zermatt, is lined with many boutiques, branded shops, art and souvenir outlets.

The village is a favorite with holiday-makers all through the year. Restaurants here offer a wide variety of the best of Swiss cuisine. Traditional Swiss recipes are very popular. Many of the top restaurants here are known for their range of Michelin chefs, who bring to you the best recipes from all over the world. The listless line of bars and cafes are esteemed and outnumbered by visitors to this amazing resort town.

Zermatt is known for horse carriages, which are the means of commuting locally here, within the town limits. This scenic Swiss village is an unpolluted haven for visitors and a car-free zone. The marvelous sights of the towering Matterhorn Mountain, in the glistening rays of early dawn, are a spectacular portrait that will stay in your memory forever! Zermatt has made it to the top picks in the National Geographic magazine and offers a multitude of choices for avid photographers, with a plethora of landscapes on offer.

Zermatt Village Tour

Website: Zermatt Village Tour

4. The 5-Seenweg

The 5-Seenweg refers to the 5 Lakes Walk in Zermatt. These 5 placid, crystal-clear lakes can be viewed on a path beginning from the Sunegga station. This station is known for the Sunegga Express Paradise, which offers the stunning gondola ride up to the Rothorn station. The panoramic views from the gondola are indeed a sight to behold! The 5 lakes through the trek include the Stellisee, the Grindjisee, the Grünsee, the Moosjisee and the Leisee.

The varied landscape around each of these lakes is indeed astonishing and worth all the trekking. You are advised to walk with a good pair of trainer boots and some snack, as there’s no restaurants or eateries on this route. A rain jacket would be handy to go with the usual trek gear. With the weather holding bright and beautiful, on a clear summer’s day, the total distance to cover the 5 lake trek would be about 7.6 km (4.7 miles), taking about half-a-day to complete.

Expert photographers amongst you would certainly admire the idyllic, postcard views of the Matterhorn overlooking some of these lakes. Capturing the reflection of this mega mountain in these pristine lakes would be the ultimate, sublime satisfaction that you could take away with you from your Zermatt visit, for many years to come!

The 5-Seenweg

Address: Zermatt Tourismus, Bahnhofplatz 5, 3920 Zermatt

Website: The 5-Seenweg

5. Matterhorn Museum

The Matterhorn Museum is a small place housing exhibits about the history of this interesting town. The museum brings to you in great detail, the transformation of this once farming and agricultural little town, into a current day hot spot for global tourism! The significance of the gigantic Matterhorn in attracting tourists is highlighted through a range of displays and stories about brave mountaineers who conquered the Matterhorn summit! The initial unsuccessful attempts by the team of Edward Whymper and four others, along with the pair of father and son guides from Zermatt, are highlighted at the museum.

The success of the first Swiss woman mountaineer and parachutist, Yvett Vaucher, in making it to the top of the mighty peak of Matterhorn, makes a very interesting read. You would be surprised to know that Claude Nicolier, the Astronaut who took two stone memoirs handed from the Matterhorn summit, carried one of them on the space shuttle Endeavor STS-61 mission way back in 1993. The other stone was carried back to the summit.

The museum offers video views of the rescue team’s dedicated and courageous efforts towards saving and protecting adventurous hikers in the perilous Alpine terrain. You would love to read and view well-organized displays about the lifestyle of ancient people from this mountain town. The entire sequence of their journey through struggles, up to their emergence as a modern popular tourist attraction, is incredibly presented here. Certainly, a must visit for all keen hikers and a good place to spend some leisure time as well!

Matterhorn Museum

Address: Zermatt Tourismus, Bahnhofplatz 5, 3920 Zermatt

Website: Matterhorn Museum

6. Gorner Gorge

Zermatt is a serene, picturesque little town which brings you to the cradle of nature. Visitors to this part of Switzerland yearn to return to the place again, mesmerized by the beautiful landscapes and abundant envelope of green at this skiing wonderland. The Gorner Gorge is one such place, located about 20 minutes from the south of Zermatt. A wooden deck has been skillfully constructed at this beautiful gorge, which is known to have existed for a thousand years now. Ancient rocks at this gorge are made of green serpentinite and are known to be 220 million years old.

You could go on a guided tour to the Gorner Gorge, which can be booked in advance. The gurgling gushes of water flowing below the gorge make a great sight! You are advised to wear suitable footwear and hiking gear on your short trek to this place, which has steep climbs and uneven tracks all along. The countryside pastures, mountains in the distance and wild nature blooms will seem to welcome you to Zermatt, yet again!

Gorner Gorge

Address: Bergrestaurant Blatten, 3920 Zermatt

Website: Gorner Gorge

7. The spa at Mont Cervin

Zermatt is more than a breathtaking skiing mountain resort. The wealth of nature around this place is just one dimension. There are many great hotels that offer health and wellness packages in Zermatt but the Spa at Mont Cervin Palace definitely stands out amongst all of these. This Grand Spa has one of the best reputations in offering the best facilities, gracious care and a total rejuvenating spa package for the past 160 years. The food choices here, pristine ambience and a host of activities designed for kids and every family member, make this a top notch destination for a perfect holiday tour in Zermatt.

The Mont Cervin Spa is also referred to as the World Health Resort and can be accessed via the woody Visper Valley from Zermatt in an hour via taxi. The Mont Cervin Spa might seem a little pricey, but at the end of your stay here, you would certainly feel that it is worth the value for your money spent. The swimming pools and the gym here are Alpine class and absolutely splendid. Courteous staffs are at your beck and call and the palatial resort is well-connected to every nook and corner of Switzerland! The spa offers a welcoming and totally relaxing Holiday stay in a naturally awesome setting!

The Spa at Mont Cervin

Address: Bahnhofstrasse 31, 3920 Zermatt, Schweiz

Website: The Spa at Mont Cervin

The majestic Zermatt

Zermatt is world renowned as a picturesque Swiss town, girdled all around by the majestic Alpine Mountains. This gorgeous town is the most popular mountain resort in the German-speaking part of the canton of Valais. Zermatt offers the best views of the imposing Matterhorn, one of the highest mountain peaks in all of Europe. The mountain rail, the Matterhorn and the fairy-tale town setting make Zermatt a top destination for the holiday lists of nature and adventure enthusiasts from all over the world!