Zermatt is a captivating destination nestled in the Swiss Alps, where the majestic Matterhorn towers over charming alpine villages and thrilling outdoor adventures await. From the tranquility of its mountain shrines to the bustling energy of its ski resorts and delectable Swiss cuisine, Zermatt never fails to surprise and delight.
Zermatt has always held a special place on my bucket list, but despite visiting Italy and Paris on two separate occasions, I never had the chance to explore Switzerland. However, this year, my boyfriend and I were determined to make it happen, and we finally managed to plan a trip to discover the beauty of Zermatt!
During our Swiss adventure, we set aside a precious two days to immerse ourselves in the wonders of Zermatt. I am going to share with you my 2 days in Zermatt itinerary and I’ll guide you through our memorable experiences and discoveries as we savoured every moment in this enchanting Alpine gem.
Zermatt Itinerary : Day 1
While for Switzerland trip, most people will start the journey from Zurich. However, due to our trip arrangement, we decided to start our trip in Zermatt.
Glacier Express
We had hoped to embark on the Glacier Express: renowned as the world’s most picturesque train journey, traveling from Chur to Zermatt. Unfortunately, we overlooked making a reservation prior to our departure. By the time we tried to secure seats for the following day, all spots were already taken.
It was disheartening to miss out on the opportunity to experience the breathtaking scenery of the journey to Zermatt aboard the scenic train. Luckily, we can still travel via the regional train route.
If you’re considering taking the Glacier Express to enjoy one of the world’s most scenic routes, it’s advisable to make a seat reservation in advance (at least 2 months based on most people’s experiences). Additionally, it’s worth noting that the Glacier Express is covered by the Swiss Travel Pass. You only need to pay for the seat reservation fee, which is CHF 49 if you already have Swiss Travel Pass. Otherwise, the single trip ticket price from Chur to Zermatt will be CHF 124 (second class) and CHF 212 (first class).
Additionally, it’s important to note that the journey from Chur to Zermatt on the Glacier Express takes approximately 7 hours, whereas traveling by regional train can get you there in about 4 and a half hours. So , it is really depending on your trip and what you want to see along the journey.
Arriving Via Regional Train
So, on the first day, we travelled from Chur train station back to Zurich Main Station and from there we take the regional train to our destination : Zermatt.
With our Swiss Travel Pass, the entire journey is covered, so all we need to do is board the train and change stations along the route.
When taking the regional train from Chur to Zermatt, there are several stops where we may need to transfer to another train. So, if there are no extended stops at any station along the way, the journey typically takes around 4 and a half hours.
There are various routes available for traveling from Zurich to Zermatt. The quickest option we chose involved changing trains, with the following itinerary:
- Chur to Zurich Main station
- Zurich to Thun
- Thun to Visp
- Visp to Zermatt
So, if you’re traveling from Chur like us, you’ll need to change trains at three stations. However, if you’re coming directly from Zermatt, you’ll only need to change trains at two stations.
There was a restaurant located between the train coaches, but we opted to buy food from Coop and eat it on the train instead. We were concerned that if we dined at the train restaurant, we might miss our stop while waiting for our food to be served.
It turned out that the famous roasted chicken from Coop was amazing!
Check In The Focus Matterhorn Design Hotel
After approximately 5 hours from Chur, we reached Zermatt station, arriving at around 2 pm in the afternoon.
We had booked a two-night stay at The Focus Matterhorn, which offered a pickup service from the station to the hotel. So, it is pretty convenient for us as we could just hop on the shuttle service right from the station.
Oh, and one thing to know is, keep in mind that Zermatt is a car-free town. If you’re arriving by car, it’s important to park in Tasch, which is approximately 5 kilometers away from Zermatt, and then take the train to reach Zermatt.
We were grateful for The Focus Matterhorn’s pick-up service, as the hotel is quite a distance from the station, and the journey there on foot with our two large luggages was a bit challenging. I’m not certain if other hotels offer a pick-up service, but we did notice a few shuttle services from other hotels. So it is always best to check with the hotel.
During the journey to the hotel, we weren’t fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of the Matterhorn, as the weather was quite cloudy.
The weather was chilly, with temperatures around 3°C in the afternoon. Despite the time of day, we could still see snow blanketing the lower slopes of the mountains.
When we arrived at the hotel, the reception greeted us warmly with smiles. Despite it not being check-in time yet, they kindly arranged for us to check in early. I believe this was largely due to it being the non-peak season in April.
I really admired the design of the hotel; it exuded a cozy and modern ski resort style. It brought back memories of my time in Vermont, USA, during the winter season.
They served us welcome drinks and let us sit at the cozy lounge area to wait for the room arrangement. They also provided some snacks and dessert everyday between 2-4 pm.
After some time, the receptionist gave us a tour of the hotel and its facilities before escorting us to our room.
I was captivated as we entered our room. Opting for one with a mountain view, the full glass design afforded us a breathtakingly close-up vista of the mountains. I absolutely adored it!
While we weren’t able to secure a room with a Matterhorn view due to it being fully booked at the time of our reservation, the room we were allocated was still quite remarkable. The room was clean and cozy. It came with a balcony but at that time it was too cold for me to sit outside for too long.
Visiting The Town And The Walking Street
The view from the room was so spectacular that we found ourselves simply lying there, mesmerised by the scenery outside.
After resting for a while, we decided to go out to visit the town and the main walking street.
We strolled from the hotel to the main area of Zermatt, which was actually only a 15-minute walk away. However, we found ourselves stopping numerous times to capture some photos. Although the weather was not good in the first day, Zermatt is still very beautiful and magical to me.
We went to McDonal’s for a quick dinner as most of the restaurants were full. We wanted to try the renowned restaurant called Da Nico, as we saw many recommended this restaurant but it was closed during the spring season and only re-open in June.
The shops closed quite early, at 6 pm, so unfortunately, we didn’t have the chance to do any shopping by the time we arrived.
After dinner and strolling, we went to hotel to rest.
Zermatt Itinerary : Day 2
To The Top
The next day, after having breakfast at the hotel, we promptly go out to see if we could catch a glimpse of the Matterhorn.
And YES! We were fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of the Matterhorn bathed in the morning sunlight!
I was absolutely thrilled and filled with gratitude. It being my birthday made the experience even more special and meaningful.
After taking few more pictures, we went to buy tickets to go up the mountain by gondola.
The ticket we purchased was for the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. With our Swiss Travel Pass discount, it cost us approximately CHF 54 per person. However, without the Swiss Travel Pass, the full fare is around CHF 110 per person.
The ticket functions as a day pass, allowing us to ascend and descend multiple times throughout the day within the operating hours of the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.
Extra note : Most of the skiers go to the top via the gondola to ski. We were just a few that were the outliers as most people who do not ski would go via Gornegrat train. It is a heritage railway where it will take you up to see the Matterhorn more up close too. The ticket price was similar to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.
After around 25 minutes of the ride, we were reaching at one of the peaks. Many skiers were already started skiing from there.
The weather was freezing. But the view was already amazing! However, we had to continue our ascent with a larger gondola that could accommodate about 50 people to reach the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, which was the final stop.
After arriving at the top, we took a lift to the Panorama Platform to have a look.
It was so windy but we managed to take a few nice pictures!
After taking some photos, we headed to the restaurant to grab some hot chocolate drinks to warm ourselves up.
After that, we went to visit the Glacier Palace where there are amazing ice sculpture shown inside.
We spent around 30 minutes in there and played a few fun ice slides inside. It was so much fun!
Riding Downhill
We spent about two hours at the top, mesmerised by the view, taking as many photos as we could, and playing in the snow!
We took the gondola back to the ground. Along the journey, we also stopped by each stations.
One of the stations offers a closer view for seeing and taking pictures with the iconic landmark – Matterhorn. I can’t recall the station’s name at the moment, but it’s unmistakable once you see it.
At one of the stations, which was just a stop away from the ground, we found a promising restaurant on Google Maps, shown as being nearby at Zmutt.
It was a one-hour of walk away from the station. We decided to go for a walk in the woods and to find the restaurant.
It was a wonderful stroll amid the breathtaking Alpine scenery surrounding us. We even stumbled upon a picturesque valley along the way. However, to our disappointment, the restaurant was closed that day. It seems it’s only operational during the peak season.
We then travelled another hour to go back to the station and then riding back to the ground.
Although we did not get to try the restaurant, the short trip was awesome!
Lunch At Zermatt Kitchen
We were starving, yet we were determined to dine at a restaurant with a stunning view. After all, why pass up the chance to enjoy good weather and breathtaking scenery, right?
That’s why we decided on Zermatt Kitchen, which boasted a fantastic view of the Matterhorn from the restaurant!
We were lucky when we get there, the restaurant was not crowded so we get to choose a good spot.
We enjoyed a refreshing Zermatt beer and a delicious cocktail, specially crafted by the restaurant. As for the food, it was decent and met our expectations.
After all, it was all about the good view haha!
Strolling
After lunch, we kept strolling and went to the main street to shop as we weren’t able to in the previous day.
We then went back to hotel to rest for a while.
Dinner At Zermattstubli
It was dinner time and we were eager to try the local cuisine although I decided to skip the Cheese Fondue since I’m not a fan of cheese.
We googled and searched online for some recommendations. We first went to Schaferstube as it gained a high rating on Google review. But sadly, it was closed that day.
We then opted to try Gambli, an Italian pizza restaurant on the main street. However, upon arrival, we were told that it was fully booked and that we would need to wait until 9 pm for a table.
They say the third time’s the charm, so we decided to try the restaurant next door called Zermattstubli.
After reading about it online, I anticipated it might be fully booked as well. However, fortunately, when we walked in, there was a table available for us!
The restaurant was cozy and it was like a local traditional restaurant where everybody sits closely to each other. I really love the vibe there.
We ordered pasta , shrimp and potatoes. The shrimp dish took us by surprise—it was absolutely delightful, and we couldn’t get enough of it. I’m still salivating just thinking about it as I write this. I also liked their wine. We made a promise to come back to this restaurant the next time.
Oh, and their dessert was one of the best I had in the whole Switzerland trip. So good.
After a satisfying dinner to end my birthday and our Zermatt trip, we went back to hotel to rest and pack.
The next day, after breakfast, the hotel arranged a shuttle to take us to the station.
End Of Zermatt Trip
It was a fun and amazing trip! We both loved Zermatt and wish to come back soon in the future.
There are still many routes to explore around Zermatt. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the chance to try the Gornergrat route this time, but perhaps we could give it a go on our next visit.
So, here it goes, my two days in Zermatt itinerary. I visited at the end of April, so keep in mind that activities may vary depending on the season you’re traveling in. Especially during summer, most of the activities surround at hiking.
