Sightseeing in Zermatt, Village to Summit

October 20, 2026

Almost every sight in Zermatt is a way of looking at the Matterhorn (4,478 m) from a different height or angle, so this page runs from the lowest viewpoint to the highest and then turns to the village’s heritage and its places of remembrance. Fares quoted are 2026-27 adult prices in Swiss francs (CHF). Weather decides what you will see. Cloud tends to gather after late morning, so go early and keep a spare day if you can.

Street level: free views

The Kirchbrücke, a footbridge over the Mattervispa beside the parish church, costs nothing and is a classic dawn spot. Do not promise yourself a clear sky.

Hinterdorf, a short walk away, is a lane of about 30 old larch barns, granaries and houses raised on stone slabs. Haus Salzgeber, dated 1607, is called the oldest house in Zermatt by the tourism office, although specialists suggest some granaries are older. People still live in these buildings, so stay on the public lane and keep noise down.

Mid-mountain: Riffelsee

Riffelsee, at 2,757 m, is the picture-postcard reflection of the Matterhorn. Leave the Gornergrat train at Rotenboden and walk for about 10 minutes. The mirror effect needs calm air, which is most likely early in the day.

Gornergrat at 3,089 m

The cog railway climbs from the village station at 1,605 m, passing Riffelalp (2,211 m), Riffelberg (2,582 m) and Rotenboden (2,815 m). At the top the view takes in the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, whose Dufourspitze reaches 4,634 m, and the Gorner glacier. The operator counts 28 peaks over 4,000 m from here. The first train leaves at 07:00, and in summer departures run about every 24 minutes. A summer return costs CHF 132 and a winter return CHF 102, and Swiss Travel Pass holders pay half. The line has no service from 2 to 14 November 2026, so check the dates on the Gornergrat Bahn site when you plan an autumn visit.

Glacier Paradise at 3,883 m

This is the highest station, and the operator describes it as the highest cable-car station in Europe. A viewing platform looks over 38 four-thousanders, 14 glaciers and three countries. Below the ice, the Glacier Palace is cut about 15 m under the surface with sculptures and a slide, and it is included in the lift ticket. A Cinema Lounge and an InfoCube at Trockener Steg complete the offer. Return fares are CHF 104 from 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027 and CHF 138 from 1 May to 31 October 2027. The top stage is closed to children under 3. Altitude can bring dizziness and breathlessness, so go slowly, drink water and descend to Trockener Steg or Furi if you feel unwell. Keep to the platforms and marked paths, because the glacier hides crevasses. Browse guided sightseeing in a GetYourGuide search for Zermatt sightseeing .

Remembrance in the village

Several places in Zermatt remember those who died in the mountains. They are not attractions, and they call for a quiet manner.

The Mountaineers’ Cemetery is tucked behind St. Mauritius, the parish church. About 50 climbers who died on the Matterhorn, Täschhorn, Weisshorn, Lyskamm, Obergabelhorn and the Monte Rosa massif are buried there, most of them from the 19th century. Michel-Auguste Croz, the Chamonix guide who died in the 1865 first-ascent party, is buried there. Beside him a single stone commemorates Peter Taugwalder and his son, the Zermatt guides who survived that day. Eleonore Noll-Hasenclever, a leading woman climber killed by an avalanche on the Bishorn in 1925, also lies here. Visitors leave candles and flowers. Admission is free. See the official cemetery entry .

St. Mauritius is an active Catholic parish church. It was first documented in 1285, and the current building was consecrated in 1916. Stay silent during services, dress with respect and do not use flash. At the English Church, the Rev. Charles Hudson lies by the altar and Douglas Hadow outside, while Lord Francis Douglas has no grave because his body was never found. The Grave of the Unknown Climber, set up in 2015, remembers remains that could not be identified.