ZERMATT - FAQ`S
Zermatt is located in the German-speaking part of Valais its most popular sight is the iconic Matterhorn peak, one of Switzerland`s most famous mountain. The charming mountain resort town of Zermatt draws mostly skiers, hikers and mountaineers.
How do I get to Zermatt by plane?
If it`s in line with
your budget Air Zermatt will fly you in from major regional airports. Otherwise
the nearest airport is in Sion, but due to its very
limited flight schedule most tourists opt for Geneva, Zurich or Milan Malpensa
airports. From these airports it`s possible to book an airport transfer by
limousine or van to get to Zermatt.
If you fly into Zurich you
can take the train down to Zermatt, about a 3 hour ride.
For most people the most convenient way to Zermatt is going to be by train. Half-hourly trains run from Visp, which has connection to most major Swiss cities as well as the airports in Geneva and Zurich. Zermatt is also the end station of the Glacier Express, a panoramic express train going to St. Moritz.
How do I get to Zermatt by car?Zermatt is car-free. If you plan to come by car, you can park your car in Täsch (3 miles from Zermatt) in an open lot or a garage and then take a short (and scenic) train ride from the town of Täsch to Zermatt. You can also take a shuttle service from Täsch if you don`t want to take the train, this will cost about 18Fr per person round-trip.
How do I get around Zermatt?
Getting
around Zermatt is easy. It`s fairly small so you can walk or take the electric
powered taxis. There are three main streets
which run along the banks of the river Vispa, and numerous cross-streets,
especially around the station and the church which forms the center of the
village. In general anything is at most a twenty minute walk away.
During
the summer there are roads and hiking trails leading up to a number of
year-round restaurants in the direction of the Matterhorn.
There
are several companies in Zermatt that run small electric taxis. You can call
one of the companies` numbers (printed on side of the taxi) to pick you up at
any location in the village or they can be hired from the ranks outside the
main train station or cable car station.
In
addition, many of the higher-end hotels have porters who will meet you at the station
with a small electric car/truck and will ferry you directly to check in,
depositing the luggage in your room. A few of the really exclusive ones still
use horse-drawn carriages.
Zermatt has a local bus
with two lines. Both lines take the same route through the center of the
village, passing by the main station, as well as the Gornergrat and Rothorn
stations. The green line then goes to the cable car whereas the red line makes
a loop around the Winkelmatte area. Trips cost about 2.50F on the green line and
around 3.20F on the red line, however if you have a ski pass or a train
ticket, you can take it for free. A weekly pass with unlimited rides costs
around 22F. Buses run every 20-30 minutes depending on the time of the day and
year.
By Cable Car: There is a
series of cable car runs leading all the way to the summit of the Klein
Matterhorn (12739 ft), presenting the highest scenic outlook platform in
Europe. A ride along the entire series costs about 82F round trip.
One of the main reasons
people visit Zermatt from all over the world is the incredible ski and
snowboarding. Zermatt is the highest ski resort in Europe, envelops two
countries, has 99% guaranteed snow, and is open 365 days a year. If you are a
ski or snowboard enthusiast a ski trip to Zermatt should be on your bucket
list.
Zermatt is world famous for
its long ski runs, and some point between 8,202 ft. and 12,795 ft. Perhaps on
of the most intriguing aspects of skiing in Zermatt is the fact that you can
literally start your day in Switzerland and ski right down into Italy.
Zermatt`s ski area expands across Switzerland and Italy.
-Skiing, of course. People from all over the world come
here to ski.
-Winter
snowshoeing and hiking, 44 miles of hiking trails.
-Tobogganing
-Mountain
excursion to check out the views.
-Cross country ski
-Ice skate
-Paraglide
-Visit the Igloo Village
-Hiking
-Mountain
biking
-Climb
13,123 foot mountains
-Enjoy
13 miles of slopes still!
-Golfing
-Enjoy
the alpine lakes
-Paragliding
The village is known for its fun crowds and live bands. It`s considered one of the best party ski resorts in Switzerland. At the end of every day on the mountain skiers and boarders from everywhere come to gather at some of the many mountain huts at the base of the Matterhorn.
What is the food like?Zermatt is home to every kind of cuisine. If you run out of things to do in Zermatt, you won`t run out of places to eat. In fact, one of the best ways to immerse in Swiss culture is by indulging in some Swiss specialty cuisine. Some of the must-try foods are obviously cheese fondue, meat and oil fondue, raclette, and Gluihwein.
Where are the best areas for shopping?The town`s main shopping street is bahnhofstrasse where you`ll find an amazing variety of top-class shops.
Can I pay/tip in US dollars?
The
currency of Switzerland is the Swiss franc, usually indicated as CHF or SFr.
While Switzerland is not part of the European Union and thus is not obliged to
convert to the Euro, many prices are nonetheless indicated in euros so that
visitors may compare prices. Most of the restaurants, bars, cafes and clubs
accept euro, but expect to pay a premium rate.
The Swiss Franc (CHF or SFr) is divided into
100 centimes (known as Rappen in German speaking Switzerland). Bills come in
10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 10000SFr and coins are divided into 5, 10, 20 and 50
centimes and 1, 2 and 5SFr.
US
dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand
or be prepared to exchange your dollars for Swiss Francs upon arrival. Currency
exchange desks can be found at the airports, train stations and many bank
locations.
Peak winter
season is from December until Easter, while peak summer season runs from end of
June until middle of September. During the peak seasons, weather conditions
permitting, all the lifts, runs, hikes and restaurants are open.
For skiers,
snowboarders and winter hikers, we recommend visiting Zermatt any time between the
end of November and the middle of April. For hiking and climbing, typically the
best time to visit Zermatt is between the end of June and the beginning of
October.
We highly recommend visiting the Matterhorn Museum. There you can have a virtual experience of Zermatt and the Matterhorn while seeing how this area developed over hundreds of years. Or you can take a tour of the old part of the village and visit the mountaineers` cemetery. Also be sure to check out the indoor activities: billiards, fussball, bowling, climbing wall, enjoying a movie or shopping. Another great option is visit one of the relaxing spas in town, Zermatt spas are offered in two dozen hotels here. Many times you do not have to be a guest of the hotel to enjoy them.
Where can I catch a mountain lift to ride up into mountains from the village?Rothorn, Gornergrat or Matterhorn glacier paradise - those are the possibilities available to choose from.
Do I have to go higher by mountain lift to see the Matterhorn?There are various viewing locations in the village from which you can see the Matterhorn: for instance, the Kirchbrücke, Brücke zum Steg, Schulmatten or Zen Stecken.
I don`t speak German. Will many people speak English?Even though it’s just across the border from Italy, most people in Zermatt speak Swiss German. They may know French as well, which is the other official language for Switzerland. Though mostly everyone knows a few words in English, don’t expect everyone to speak fluently. It also doesn’t hurt to learn a bit of German. We suggest you get a good English-German guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.
What else do I need to know before I go?
Around 6,000 people live in Zermatt but that increases to approximately 30,000 in peak times. Bear that in mind when planning your activities and meals. It`s advised to book at many restaurants, and ski lifts will be very busy in the mornings during high season.
It`s also worth noting that Zermatt, along with the rest of Switzerland, is expensive. Expect to pay between 23F and 35F for a main course in a restaurant and around 4.50F for a coffee. If you`re on a budget, head to the supermarket in town for snacks and alcoholic drinks, and at lunchtime head to one of the excellent bakeries for a sandwich or pastry.
Police Emergency Number - Tel.
117
Ambulance / Medical Emergency - Tel. 144
Fire Department - Tel. 118
International emergency number
- Tel. 112
Hôpital de Sion: Avenue du Grand-Champsec 80,
1951 Sion, Switzerland