Is Zermatt only accessible by train?

You can reach the car-free village of Zermatt by train, taxi or helicopter. There are direct trains to car-free Zermatt; the village is 3.5 hours from Zurich airport and 4 hours from Geneva airport. Travel on the Glacier Express is also possible.



Zermatt is a car-free village, which means that for the vast majority of visitors in 2026, it is only accessible via the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn train. Private vehicles are strictly prohibited from entering the village to preserve its pristine alpine air and tranquil atmosphere. If you choose to drive, you must park your car in a massive parking garage in the nearby town of Täsch and take the "Zermatt Shuttle" train for the final 12-minute leg of the journey; these shuttles run every 20 minutes. The only exceptions to the "train-only" rule are for local residents with special permits, emergency services, and licensed taxi/freight operators who use small, quiet electric vehicles. For those with a high budget, Zermatt is also accessible via helicopter through Air Zermatt, which provides transfers from hubs like Sion or Geneva. Once inside the village, transportation is limited to walking, horse-drawn carriages, or the iconic "Electro" buses and taxis that zip silently through the narrow, cobbled streets.

People Also Ask

Flying to either Zurich or Geneva airports is the most convenient when getting to Zermatt: they both have twice-hourly train connections to Zermatt from in-airport train stations.

MORE DETAILS

This is the mother of all Alpine resorts, and it's much to the credit of local planners that Zermatt has not been completely wrecked by mass tourism. No matter how chic your Mercedes, there's no way you'll be allowed to drive into Zermatt. The only way to Zermatt is by train.

MORE DETAILS

Zermatt is car-free. Access by private car is only permitted to Täsch. From Täsch, one continues to Zermatt by train or by taxi or limousine service.

MORE DETAILS

By car you can drive to the village of Täsch, which is about five km from Zermatt. There are various parking facilities to leave your car there during your holiday. You can also park your car at our partner hotel, the Matterhorn Inn in Täsch.

MORE DETAILS

As Zermatt is a mostly pedestrianised town, you can walk pretty much anywhere from your accomodation. There are several gondola and mountain railway stations, so make sure that you know which one you need for the hiking route you choose.

MORE DETAILS

People who choose to visit Zermatt should be prepared for a car-free visit, and realize ahead of time that getting from place to place inside of the town must be done on foot, via electro bus or taxi, or by using a horse-drawn carriage. Zermatt is a small town and almost everything in town can be accessed by walking.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise can be reached from Zermatt in a journey time of around 40 minutes, including changes. Here you can find the return ticket to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. At an airy 3'883 metres of altitude you will find Europe's highest mountain station.

MORE DETAILS

The best time to visit Zermatt is during summers, between June and September. The temperature ranges from 12 degrees Celsius to 25 degrees Celsius. September is generally excellent for hiking and biking, with daytime highs averaging 15 degrees Celsius.

MORE DETAILS

Zermatt is known throughout the world for its skiing, especially Triftji for its moguls. The high altitude results in consistent skiing continuously throughout the summer. Skiing in Zermatt is split up into four areas: Sunnegga, Gornergrat, Klein Matterhorn and Schwarzsee.

MORE DETAILS

For one day it is not worth getting the Peak Pass. The Peak Pass is designed for those spending longer times in Zermatt, principally hikers in the summer. Peak2Peak is good if you plan to go to the Klein Matterhorn in the am and the Gornergrat in the pm...

MORE DETAILS

No combustion engine vehicles are allowed in Zermatt. In fact, this Swiss municipality has been free of cars for most of its history. The road linking St. Niklaus and Zermatt was closed to automobiles in 1931.

MORE DETAILS

The Bahnhofstrasse is Zermatt's main street, and a delight to walk along at any time with its bars, restaurants, boutiques, souvenir shops, bakeries and shops selling cakes and chocolates.

MORE DETAILS

Zermatt – the Mountain Village of Records Zermatt lies at the foot of the highest mountains in the entire Alpine mountain range. With the Matterhorn, Weisshorn, Monte Rosa. A single visit to the Matterhorn village is not enough to experience all of the attractions and records. An excursion to Gornergrat is a must.

MORE DETAILS