Zermatt

Every area of Zermatt is pristine, fresh and lovely. These five are favorites:

Sunnegga

Sunnegga is heaven for families. In summer, Leisee Lake offers a refreshing dip. In winter, fledgling skiers of all ages enjoy their first sensations of sliding on snow at Wolli’s park for beginners. The funicular ride from the valley station in Zermatt to Sunnegga takes just 4.5 minutes. The railway, fully renovated in 2013, leads up a rock tunnel through the inside of the mountain to this sunny, scenic terrace with incomparable views of the Matterhorn.

Tasch

Tasch is very near to Zermatt and many people consider it to be a part of the community. In fact, it’s nearly four miles from Zermatt. The community is the gateway to the Matterhorn. As a suburb of Zermatt, Tasch offers visitors every imaginable opportunity to organize their holidays in a varied and interesting manner. Peace and quiet, action or a little of both? That's one decision vacationers will have to make themselves.

Visp

Visp enjoys around 300 days of sunshine a year. At the foot of Europe's highest vineyard in the lowlands of Upper Valais, Visp has an unforgettable natural and cultural setting. Besides the farmers' market every Friday evening, weekly flea markets, spring exhibitions at the indoor ice rink, the car-free and attractive Bahnhofstrasse with a wide variety of shops and inviting garden terraces, and the La Poste cultural and conference center with regular performances and events, visitors can also enjoy a tour of the pretty old town with its many historic buildings.

Zermatt City Centre

The car-free village offers a romantic mountain vacation all year round. Everything a luxury traveler could want is packed into a small area: fine restaurants, quaint shops, cafes, bars, art galleries, and museums. All paths eventually lead directly to the peaceful and yet wild mountain world at the foot of the Matterhorn. Imagine spending a luxury holiday here in the stunningly beautiful Chalet McKinley. The gorgeous property combines spectacular views of the Matterhorn with opulent alpine living. This chalet is close to shopping, night spots and the main railway while the Sunnegga funicular is just a short stroll away. Up to 10 guests can enjoy luxury living at its finest here with every incredible amenity imaginable. After a day of skiing, guests will appreciate the indoor Jacuzzi and a hot steam in the hammam or spend a while in the sauna to soothe tired muscles. Wake up in the morning for a relaxing swim in the heated, indoor pool. Top these off with a ski room, massage room and a private elevator to help everyone get around this amazing chalet.

Zermatt Train Station

Zermatt’s station is served by trains of the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn railway. The neighboring square, the Bahnhofplatz, offers numerous shops and services. Zermatt is car-free, so most visitors arrive by train. The station is also the beginning and end of the Glacier Express. Vehicles are parked at the Tasch train station. Luxury travelers, however, can get to their luxury ski chalets in Zermatt by helicopter since the village does have a heliport.

For a luxury holiday Zermatt has it all, including some of the most tantalizing fine restaurants. Here are

Alexandre

Restaurant Alexandre, perched high above Zermatt, is the zenith of five-star dining. One of Switzerland’s most spectacular dining venues, Alexandre’s ambiance is relaxed, yet upscale. The service is exemplary and the wine list sensational. The international fare is inventive and delicious. Diners might wish to try the fillet of Simmental beef, venison ravioli or tagliatelle with wild mountain mushrooms. Although the dishes are refined and decadent, it’s the atmosphere that seals the deal. With clear, starry skies and the Matterhorn as the backdrop, a meal here is not only memorable and delicious, it’s also utterly romantic.

Cervo

At Cervo, ordering the fondue, octopus and ribs is what a number of guests advise. The beautiful décor and spectacular ambiance allow diners to feel relaxed and comfortable. Cervo’s charm comes from its simplicity. The dining experience is in the forefront. Traditional recipes are reinvented with new twists dreamed up by Chef Seraina Lauber. Many of the ingredients come from the chalet’s own gardens. Visitors will find as many locals at Cervo as tourists.

Omnia

With 60 seats, guests will feel like they’re in the home of friends enjoying a gourmet dinner. A flickering fire and soft lighting makes for a lovely, pleasurable dining atmosphere. Try the Kabier beef ravioli, the Black Angus filet mignon or the wiener schnitzel plate with warm potato salad and lingonberries. There are a number of vegetarian options as well. After dinner, guests can relax on the sofa in front of the fire and sip on some grappa or an espresso.

Zum See

At Zum See diners will find traditional and Mediterranean dishes served in the quaintness of an old chalet. Groups crowd in along long tables, either in the cozy interior or on the sun terrace. The menu has a healthy offering including a home-made duck liver terrine, served with toasted brioche, or paper-thin tuna carpaccio. The excellent calves' liver comes with rösti, and a meltingly tender lamb served with potato gratin. The wine list is fantastic: the Heida wines, from the world's highest vineyards, are recommended.

When vacationers aren’t on the slopes or indulging in an apres ski cocktail, they might want to check out these three amazing venues:

Kunstraume Zermatt

Kunsträume is the gallery for international contemporary art in Zermatt. In challenging and changing exhibitions the gallery shows contemporary and modern art in an exciting context. Contemporary art enthusiasts should count on spending a few hours in the gallery since it showcases many brilliant artists like Heinz Julen, Dietmar Brixy, Bruno Muller-Meyer, Timmermahn, Manette Fusenig, and Wetz.

Victor Contemporary Art

Victor Demetriou, at the heart of this venture, has long been passionate about contemporary art and its element of novelty. Out of his passion came the idea for an exciting new concept: an itinerant art gallery, which holds different exhibitions held in different locations in Zermatt and in Geneva. Many top flight artists are represented here and some include Natchez Hudson, Caroline Cabat, Pookky, Beaudenon, and Charlie Adam.

Zermatlantis Matterhorn Museum

This museum, located under the village square, makes a world of photos and stories come to life with the staged archeological excavation Zermatlantis. Visitors wander in subterranean rooms through authentic mountain huts and hear the wind roaring on the mountain: the museum of Zermatlantis lets visitors immerse themselves in the adventurous events that took place on the Matterhorn. And it narrates a great deal about the thrilling and turbulent history of the world-famous mountain, from its African origin to the dramatic first ascent, to the present day. Innumerable mountaineers have ascended the summit in the 148 years that have passed since Edward Whimper first climbed the proud mountain.

Once the ski lifts stop and the last flicker of sunlight fades over the jagged horizon, Zermatt undergoes a metamorphosis into nightlife mode. Vacationers can find the ideal spot for the evening whatever their style. Here are xxx unique nighttime venues:

Alex Lounge and Cocktail Bar

This is the place for connoisseurs of fine spirits. Guests can indulge in some of the beautiful things in life – elegant décor, a carefully curated selection of whiskeys, and cocktails that unrivaled anywhere else in town. The bar has a special smoking room for guests who enjoy a fine cigar with their single malt.

The Cavern

Located in The Omnia Hotel, The Cavern is one of the most unique and beautiful bars to be found anywhere. The multifunctional glass and steel space is surrounded by rocks deep in the cliffs and is isolated from the outside world. This glass cube venue hosts concerts for a wide range of genres. The cocktails are wonderful and the atmosphere, electric.

Elsie’s Bar

Elsie's Bar, at Kirchplatz is a small house dating from 1879 that packs in large crowds. It's comfortable, sedate, and bourgeois. Skiers show up for hot chocolate or Elsie's famous Irish coffee. The house is on the main street, near the Zermatterhof Hotel. They have a great apres ski menu and they also serve caviar and oysters (a special luxury in the area).

There is more to Zermatt than skiing. Many events take place year-round. Here are three of those:

Swiss National Day

The Swiss National Holiday on Aug. 1 is celebrated in a big way in the upper Mattervalley communities and especially in Zermatt. There is much on offer in the Matterhorn village: a street party, music, fireworks, and speeches. The fireworks are broken down into two parts. First, Bengali flames burn high above Zermatt in the Turuwang to the west of Zermatt. These are placed in the cliffs by Zermatt mountain guides and firemen in the afternoon and then also lit by these men at night. The Turuwang remains intensively lit for many minutes – the cliffs take on bizarre light and shadow forms. The result is quiet and very romantic. After the Bengali flames have burnt out, the rockets of the great fireworks ascend into the heights from a hill next to the Triftbach. Thousands of guests and locals follow this nighttime spectacle.

Zermatt Music Festival and Academy

Since its inception in 2005, this September festival invites young musicians from all over the world to take part in two weeks of intensive music making at the foot of the Matterhorn. The students have a strong passion for both orchestral and chamber music. Their training culminates in some wonderful concerts enjoyed by locals and guests.

Zermatt Unplugged

Zermatt Unplugged is the acoustic festival that has become a staple in Zermatt and an essential festival for the European music scene. The first fest took place in 2007 and now Zermatt Unplugged has more than 100 concerts on 17 stages over its five days. In addition to international top artists such as Jessie J, Passenger, James Morrison, Nelly Furtado, Simple Minds, Alanis Morissette, Billy Idol and Lionel Richie, numerous newcomers always guarantee extraordinary acoustic shows. Marrying the amazing tunes to the stellar scenery, gracious hospitality of Zermatt and the incomparable atmosphere of the Matterhorn, make for an incredible spring event.

Zermatt is definitely the place to be if adventure is on the itinerary. These four activities are sure to get the heart racing:

5 Lakes Walk

This hike is one of the most well-known in the mountains of Zermatt. The trail is full of variety and has the most amazing views of lakes (with the Matterhorn reflected in three of them). The path leads past Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grünsee, Moosjisee and Leisee lakes. Each of these lakes is very different in terms of shape, color, character and size, and has its own special attraction. The Leisee is good for swimming. The Grünsee looks out over a rather more rugged landscape, where Swiss stone pines manage to grow among the scree and sand. The shores of the Grindjisee are home to rare flowers. And so on – each lake promises a unique experience.

Matterhorn

The Matterhorn is Switzerland’s iconic landmark. At 14,692 feet, the majestic mountain looms over the breathtaking alpine panorama. This landmark is at the border of the western Swiss canton of Valais between Zermatt and the Italian resort of Breuil-Cervinia. It offers a paradise for all nature lovers looking for peace and quiet. Its symmetric pyramid shape, the rocky tooth reaching toward the sky and the light reflections of the nearby Stellisee make the Matterhorn’s landscape a unique natural spectacle in Zermatt. Visitors have a number of ways to get up close to this magnificent mountain and the more adventurous make the climb themselves.

Matterhorn Glacier Ride

Get into the highest cable car in the world, the Matterhorn glacier ride. The cable cars take guests up to the Matterhorn using state-of-the-art technology, innovative designs and first class comfort. This stylish cable car links the Trockener Steg station with the Matterhorn glacier paradise at 12,536 feet above sea level. Up to 2,000 passengers an hour can be carried in the 25 cabins, each with 28 seats. Guests enjoy a nine-minute journey in first-class comfort and with a fantastic panoramic view of the magical, alpine Zermatt world. For a real VIP experience, go all out and ride in one of the four glamor cabins outfitted with thousands of Swarovski crystals. During the journey, the crystal ride cabins reveal something truly amazing: three minutes into the ride, more than 555 feet into the air, the opaque glass floors clear in seconds, showing a spectacular view of the glacier landscape. This is made possible by using laminated glass that turns from milky-white to translucent when an electric current is passed through it. A stunning, never-to-be-forgotten experience.

The Schwarzsee

The Schwarzsee (German for black lake) is right at the foot of the Matterhorn. The surface of the lake is indeed really dark and in some cases appears black. Beside the lake, which is in a small hollow, stands a chapel dedicated to Maria zum Schnee (Our Lady of the Snows). According to legend, the chapel has its origins in a promise. Two people from Zermatt lost their way in the fog near the Theodul Pass. They pledged that if they were saved, they would build a chapel and so they did. To this day, climbers who reach the summit of the Matterhorn visit the chapel afterwards to give thanks for a successful ascent.