Zermatt Activities: Lifts, Trails and Skiing

October 20, 2026

Zermatt sits at 1,620 m below the Matterhorn, and most of what there is to do starts with a lift, a cog train or a long walk. Prices are in Swiss francs (CHF) and include VAT. The resort is among the most expensive in Europe, so plan a budget before you pick activities. Cars stop at Täsch, about 5 km down the valley, and the Zermatt Shuttle train covers the last 12 minutes. A return costs CHF 17.20 and is valid for 30 days.

Skiing and snowboarding

The Matterhorn Ski Paradise links Zermatt with Cervinia in Italy. The operator quotes about 360 km of pistes and 52 lifts, although independent measurements come out lower, at roughly 320 km. The winter season usually runs from early November to early May, with the Sunnegga-Rothorn and Gornergrat areas opening in late November. Lift passes are priced dynamically. A one-day pass starts from about CHF 89 for Zermatt only and about CHF 104 including Cervinia. Check the calendar on the Zermatt Bergbahnen ski pass page because the price rises on busy dates.

Heli-skiing is offered in winter by Air Zermatt, and only to designated mountain landing sites with a guide. Off-piste snow here carries real avalanche risk, so read the avalanche bulletin and do not leave the marked runs without a guide.

Summer skiing on the Theodul glacier

Snow sports continue on the glacier at Plateau Rosa from about May to October. The pistes stretch to roughly 21 km, and skiing normally ends around midday as the snow softens. A summer pass costs about CHF 99 for one day or CHF 147 for two. A beginner area and a snow park sit at Testa Grigia. Stay on the marked runs, because the glacier hides crevasses.

Paragliding

Tandem flights take off from 2,600 to 3,100 m, and the Klein Matterhorn launch is higher still. Listed prices in 2025-26 were about CHF 240 with Zermatt Paragliding (photos and video were an extra CHF 40, and the lift to take-off was not included), about CHF 300 with Fly Zermatt, and about CHF 460 for the high flight from Klein Matterhorn with Matterhorn Paragliding. Treat these as guides and confirm the current rate when you book. See the tandem flight listing .

Mountain biking and guided adventures

Bikes can travel on the Zermatt Bergbahnen lifts with a bike ticket, and a Sunnegga day pass was about CHF 46 to 51 in 2026. On the Gornergrat railway, bikes only go up from Zermatt, need a reservation and cost CHF 10 per bike per trip. Trail lengths quoted online vary a lot, so ask at the tourist office for current routes.

A mountain guide leads a fixed-rope route through the upper Gorner Gorge for about CHF 170, lasting four hours. Rafting on the Vispa river departs from Visp in the valley, not from the village, because the Mattervispa that runs through Zermatt is a fast glacial torrent in a stone channel.

Hiking and golf

The Five Lakes Walk from Blauherd to Sunnegga is the most popular walk, about 10 km and 3 hours in summer. The Matterhorn Golf Club, a 9-hole course at about 1,400 m, lies between Täsch and Randa.

Mountain safety

Never walk onto a glacier without a certified mountain guide. The Matterhorn itself is a serious alpine climb and needs a guide, ropes and experience. Gornergrat is at 3,089 m and the Glacier Paradise station at 3,883 m, so move slowly, drink water and go down if you get a severe headache, nausea or confusion. Cloud and thunderstorms build from late morning in summer, so go up early. Call 144 for mountain rescue or 112 for general emergencies.

Seasonal breaks

Lifts and trains close for short breaks every year. Expect the Gornergrat railway to pause for a couple of weeks in early November, the Sunnegga-Rothorn lifts to close from mid-October to late November, and the Gorner Gorge to shut from mid-October until the end of May. Check timetables in October and November before you plan a trip.

Guided options are listed on GetYourGuide .