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.

The best and most convenient cities to use as a gateway to Zermatt are Zurich and Geneva, as both have major international airports with direct, twice-hourly train connections. Zurich is often preferred by travelers because the journey is slightly more comfortable and often features dining cars, with a total travel time of approximately 3.5 hours. Geneva is slightly closer in terms of raw car transfer time (about 2.5 hours) and offers a scenic route along Lake Geneva. Regardless of the city you start in, you must take the train to Visp, where you transfer to the specialized red mountain railway (the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn) for the final 45-minute climb into Zermatt. For those coming from Italy, Milan (Malpensa) is the closest international airport geographically, but the train journey involves more transfers. Since Zermatt is a strictly car-free village, the train is the "gold standard" for arrival. For 2026 visitors, purchasing a "Saver Day Pass" in advance can significantly reduce the cost of the journey from either city.