Zermatt Day Trips: Cervinia and Saas-Fee

October 20, 2026

The best day trips from Zermatt are either up the mountain by rail and cable car or out along the valley by train. Distances are short on the map but journeys are slow, so start early and check the last connection home. Prices are in Swiss francs (CHF).

Gornergrat and Riffelsee

The cog railway from Zermatt climbs to Gornergrat at 3,089 m, with views of the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa and the Gorner glacier. In summer the first train leaves at 07:00 and trains then run about every 24 minutes. The summer return fare (May to October) is CHF 132, or CHF 66 one way. From November to April the return is CHF 102 and the one-way fare CHF 51. The Swiss Travel Pass and Half Fare Card give 50% off.

For an easy day, ride to the top, then go back down to Rotenboden. From there it is a walk of about 10 minutes to Riffelsee at 2,757 m, a small lake that mirrors the Matterhorn on calm mornings. Carry on to Riffelberg and catch the train home. The route is mostly downhill. Gornergrat is high, so bring warm layers and drink plenty of water.

The railway has an annual pause in early November, followed by a reduced timetable for a couple of weeks, so check the timetable on the Gornergrat Bahn page if you visit in the autumn gap.

Cervinia in Italy

The Matterhorn Alpine Crossing takes you over the border to Breuil-Cervinia, about 1.5 to 2 hours each way, so the round trip uses around 3.5 hours of travel. Carry a passport or ID. Check that the Italian section is open, because it closes for works for several weeks each autumn. The operator announces a weather decision around 11:00. See the Alpine Crossing site for current times. One-way adult fares in the 2026-27 season run from CHF 127.50 in winter to CHF 161.50 in July and August.

Täsch and Randa

The Matterhorn Golf Club, a 9-hole course at about 1,400 m, lies between Täsch and Randa. Reach it by train and then a short taxi ride. See the golf club listing . Drivers leave the car at the Matterhorn Terminal in Täsch, which costs about CHF 16 to 17 a day, so confirm the tariff before you drive.

Saas-Fee

Saas-Fee is another car-free mountain village, with a high lift station at Mittelallalin (3,500 m) and an ice cave. The journey takes about 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes each way, by train to Visp and then PostBus. A return to Mittelallalin was listed at about CHF 79 and the high lifts are usually open from about mid-July to the end of October. It makes a very long day, so it works better as an overnight stop.

Leukerbad and the Glacier Express

Leukerbad, a thermal bath town, is roughly 2.5 hours each way by Visp, Leuk and PostBus, so it only suits an early start. Check the timings before you go. The scenic Glacier Express leg from Zermatt to Brig runs only on summer timetable trains, and outside the summer period you take the ordinary Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn train, about 1 hour 15 minutes. The Glacier Express itself does not run from mid-October to early December.

Safety and booking

Weather changes fast, with cloud and thunderstorms building from late morning, so go up early. Stay on marked paths and platforms, and do not step onto a glacier without a mountain guide. For rescue call 144. Guided day trips are listed on GetYourGuide .