Are there direct trains from Zermatt to Zurich?

No, there are no direct train services from Zermatt to Zurich Hb. Travelling from Zermatt to Zurich Hb by train will require a minimum of 1 change.



In 2026, there are still no direct trains between Zermatt and Zurich. Because Zermatt is a car-free village accessible only by the narrow-gauge Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn, all rail travelers must change trains at least once. The most common route involves taking the regional train from Zermatt to Visp, where you then transfer to a high-speed SBB InterCity train heading toward Zurich HB. The total journey typically takes between 3 hours and 20 minutes to 3 hours and 50 minutes. While the transfer at Visp is remarkably efficient—often just a quick walk across the platform—travelers should be prepared for this change. The scenic nature of the first leg out of the Alps makes the extra step quite enjoyable, but if you're looking for a "one-seat" ride, it simply doesn't exist due to the different track gauges required to climb into the Zermatt valley.

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Glacier Express Zurich – Zermatt train Known locally as the Gletscherexpress, this is one of the most scenic trips you can take anywhere. If you want to explore this breathtaking option, you would need to make your way from Zurich HB or airport to Chur, which takes around an hour and 15 minutes.

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From there, you can take a train to Zermatt, which is three and a half hours from Geneva and four and a half hours from Zurich by road.

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MGB trains leave Zermatt twice-hourly for Visp, where there are connections with the main Swiss rail network. Alternate trains from Zermatt continue beyond Visp to Brig. The star departure of the day from Zermatt is the Glacier Express to St Moritz (which runs all year bar for a seven-week autumn break).

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The Glacier Express - known as the 'Slowest Express Train in the World' (and arguably the most scenic) - connects the mountain resort towns of Matterhorn adjacent to Zermatt and St Moritz in the Swiss Alps.

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Or vice versa from Chur - Zermatt Get on board the classic Alpine trains and let the Glacier Express take you through the breathtaking landscapes between Zermatt and Chur. Admire the beauty of the Swiss Alps in all its magnificence.

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They can take you from Zurich to Lucerne, Interlaken to Zermatt, Geneva to Bern, and many more popular train routes are covered as well.

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The nearest major town is Visp, 31km north. Zermatt is only accessible by train on the Matterhorn Gotthard railway via the towns of Visp or Brig.

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Travel from Zurich to Zermatt by train The average train time from Zurich Hb station to Zermatt station is 4h 3m, although it takes 3h 12m on the fastest SBB services. There are around 25 trains per day running from Zurich to Zermatt and will usually require a change along the way in Visp.

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It is the latest resort to call off summer skiing as the warm summer temperatures take their toll. Hintertux in Austria is now the only on summer ski resort in the Alps open to the general public.

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Zermatt has no airport of its own and the most convenient airports are in Geneva or Zurich, although the nearest airport is in Sion. Sion has a limited flight schedule, which is why people often opt to travel to the airports in Geneva or Zurich. Once you reach here, you can take a train to Zermatt.

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