<p>Advice on how to reach Zermatt by plane, train or car</p>
Photo: Pascal Gertschen

How to get to Zermatt

Advice on how to reach Zermatt by plane, train or car

Advice
Published at: 2 Feb 2021
Last updated at: 14 Feb 2023

From driving to heli-transfers, discover all the ways you can reach this stunning resort home to the famous Matterhorn.

Serena Norton
Serena Norton

Where is Zermatt?

Lying at the foot of the majestic Matterhorn, Zermatt is located in the Swiss canton of Valais within reach of no fewer than five international airports.

luxury ski resort of Zermatt at night church viewPhoto: Leander Wenger
Snowy Matterhorn with blue ski backgroundPhoto: Kurt Müller
snowy mountains with cable car to MatterhornPhoto: Michael Portmann

Flying to Zermatt

The nearest airports to Zermatt are Sion, Geneva, Zurich and Milan. Basel is another major European hub and is worth checking as a lower cost alternative during high season. At just 1 hour 50 min by train, 1 hour 15 min by road or 15 minutes by helicopter, Sion is the closest airport to Zermatt. However, flights to Sion occur less frequently and tend to be more expensive than the other main hubs.

The most convenient airports to fly to are Zurich and Geneva. Both of these airports have twice hourly train connections to Zermatt from stations within the airport. From Basel, travellers will need to take a shuttle bus from the airport to the mainline train station.

Airport Transfers

By far the easiest way to reach Zermatt from the airport is by train. However, should you wish to take a taxi, we can recommend Taxi Fredy which offers direct transfers right to the entrance of Zermatt. Their fleet of cars include Mercedes S-Class and E-Class vehicles, Mercedes V-Class and Viano minivans and Mercedes Sprinter minibuses. Typical journey times are around 2 hours 45 minutes from Geneva or 3 hours 45 minutes from Zurich.

Arriving by Train

If you arrive at Geneva or Zurich airports then you can take a train straight from the airport to Visp. From here you change on to the mountain train which takes you on a scenic journey directly to Zermatt. However, it is worth pointing out that the connection time between trains is very short so if you have a lot of luggage or small children to contend with, we recommend booking a road transfer from Visp to Zermatt to avoid either rushing or waiting around. The train journey takes 3 hours 30 minutes from Zurich and just under 4 hours from Geneva.

If you have been staying in a chalet in St Moritz, then why not ride on the famous Glacier Express? Passing through Chur and Andermatt, the journey provides spectacular views en-route.

For the best prices, we recommend booking your tickets in advance. The earlier you buy the lower the prices and purchasing two single Saver Day Passes is often the best solution.

train by river in ZermattPhoto: MG Bahn
Glacier Express winter trainPhoto: swiss-image.ch/Jan Geerk
Luxury ski resort of Zermatt with trainPhoto: Pascal Gertschen

Driving to Zermatt

One of Zermatt’s many charms is that it is car-free; therefore by far the easiest way to reach Zermatt is by train. However, should you wish to drive, you will need to leave your car in the neighbouring village of Täsch before boarding the red mountain train for the last part of the journey. Departing every 20 minutes from 05.55 to 21.55 hrs, the journey takes 12 minutes.

You can pre-book parking at the main Matterhorn Terminal which charges CHF 16 per car per day. Aside from the Matterhorn Terminal, there are several private garages which can offer parking and a taxi service up to the outskirts of the resort.

Air Zermatt helicopter flying over ZermattPhoto: Air Zermatt

Heli-Transfers

With its own helipad, the quickest way to reach Zermatt is by heli-transfer. With Air Zermatt, the flight takes around an hour from Zurich, 45 minutes from Geneva, 35 minutes from Bern and just 15 minutes from Sion.

Getting around Zermatt

Once in Zermatt, the easiest way to get around is by walking. However, should your legs be weary from the slopes or you have a lot of luggage that needs transporting to your chalet in Zermatt, then we recommend taking an electric taxi. There are also free buses making their way around the resort, linking the Zermatt/Gornergrat stations with the Sunnegga Express funicular and Matterhorn Express. For something a little different, some hotels also have their own horse and carriages.