Airport & Hotel Transfers
The Powderhounds usually recommend taking the train from the airports to Zermatt, but for those that just cannot abide public transport or are travelling in larger groups, a private transfer from Geneva or Zurich may be the most efficient mode of travel if one doesn’t have a car. Note, as Zermatt is car free, a private transfer will only be able to drive as far as Täsch railway station & a short train ride (or taxi) to Zermatt will be required.
Search & book all private transfers to Zermatt.
Train Transport to Zermatt
Zermatt is accessible from anywhere in Europe by train. All trains to Zermatt will require a stop and change in Visp. Whilst Visp is only 31km from Zermatt, the train ride up the valley to the town usually takes just over 1hr. It is an interesting journey though, so enjoy the ride. Note that there may be a requirement these days to change at Tasch for a final train to Zermatt. See the Geneva <--> Zermatt rail map below.
Search rail timetables & purchase train tickets to Zermatt from anywhere in Europe.
A great train journey to take is the Glacier Express between Zermatt & St Moritz. The full day journey leaves once a day from either end in the morning to complete the journey in full daylight via Andermatt.
Driving to Zermatt
It is possible to drive to Zermatt, but all private vehicles are to be parked (for a fee) in one of the many down valley car parks in the town of Täsch, 5km from Zermatt. From Tasch, the train can be caught for the final part of the journey to car-free Zermatt, or one can arrange for a private taxi service. Parking spaces are limited at Täsch, so Powderhounds recommends leaving the car behind & taking the train all the way to Zermatt.
Getting around Zermatt
The most usual form of transport utilised to get around the sprawling town of Zermatt is ones two legs, undertaking a form of motion called ‘walking’ (or for the medically trained - ‘ambulation’). Nothing is usually much more than 1 to 1.5km away from anywhere in the town, however several free buses make the rounds as well, linking the Zermatt/Gornergrat train stations with the Sunnegga Express funicular & the Furi gondola valley stations. The free buses can be hectically crowded at certain times of the day. See the Zermatt village map below.
Even though it is car-free, electric taxis and hotel shuttles are always buzzing around town and can transport those not comfortable on their own two legs. Be aware of these vehicles when wandering the village, they have a habit of sneaking up on you! But of course, if you don't want to walk anywhere (shame on you!) there is always a taxi waiting to take your money. The best hotel shuttle is the horse-drawn carriages from the 5-star Grand Hotel Zermatterhof that picks-up & drops-off guests at the train station. Doesn't get much more quaintly high-falutin than that!
Zermtt has some incredible infrastructure to make getting around alot easier. One of the best is the elevator at the end of the piste #1 & 2 valley trails. The trail ends a reasonable height above the village level and as one gets prepared to wander down the road, the elevator presents itself as the way down. It emerges underground in a tunnel that is an off-shoot of the Sunnegga funicular. A few steps will get you out into the light. Fantastic!
Nearby Ski Resorts
Zermatt is lift, piste and ticket interconnected with the fantastic Italian ski resort of Cervinia. Make sure you have purchased the 'International' ski pass for the day, and don't leave it too late coming back as getting stuck in Italy for the night could really suck if it is unplanned!
Down the train line a little way near St Niklaus is the family-oriented ski resort of Grächen with its fairytale gondolas, however we haven't been there yet. Other great Powderhounds ski resorts nearby are the amazing glacier-clad Saas Fee, Crans Montana & the three Val d’Anniviers ski resorts of Grimentz Zinal, & St Luc Chandolin.
The train system allows for easy transfers to a host of other ski resorts in Switzerland. Ski resorts with direct train (& bus) links to Zermatt include Aletsch Arena near Brig, Andermatt Sedrun & Verbier (4 Vallees). The Glacier Express runs all the way to St Moritz via Chur once a day in winter. From Chur, the ski resorts of Arosa, Davos Klosters, Scuol & Lenzerheide are only a train or bus ride away.