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.
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Thanks to its wealth of water, Zermatt has a 100 per cent, self-sufficient supply of pure spring water. “Zermatt Municipality has drinking water of excellent quality,” says Urs Kamm, head of the Water Department of the Swiss Gas & Water Association (SVG).
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.
Zermatt is car free. Private vehicles are only allowed to travel as far as Täsch. From Täsch, you can travel on to Zermatt by train, taxi or limousine. If you travel to Zermatt without an access permit, you can expect heavy fines.
There's excitement in the air at the gondola station: this is the starting point for the 45-minute ride to the highest cable car station in Europe, at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (3,883 m). Rendezvous at the valley station: for snow sports enthusiasts 365 days a year, and in summer for hikers and mountaineers.
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.
Why is Zermatt so famous? Firstly, Zermatt is home to the Matterhorn. At 14,692ft-high, it's one of the most famous mountains in Switzerland, distinguishable for its pyramid-shaped peak. It's a mecca for mountaineers and climbers.
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.
Zermatt is located in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, but the town is also influenced by French and Italian culture due to its proximity to the border. Most people in Zermatt speak German, but many also speak French, Italian, and English.
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.
The ski runs in Zermatt are classified as follows. Blue (easy), Red (intermediate), Black (difficult) or Yellow (marked but neither groomed nor checked – so equivalent to Double Black). Out of 200km of runs on the Zermatt side, 9km are black runs and 38km are yellow.