Zermatt Sightseeing: Viewpoints and Heritage

October 20, 2026

Most of Zermatt’s sightseeing is about looking at the Matterhorn, from a railway platform, a footbridge or a glacier station. The village itself is car-free, so central sights are within a short walk of the station. Prices are in Swiss francs (CHF) for 2026-27. Mountain views depend on weather, so go early, because cloud tends to build from late morning.

Gornergrat

The cog railway climbs from Zermatt at 1,605 m to Gornergrat at 3,089 m. From the top you see the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa (the Dufourspitze, 4,634 m) and the Gorner glacier. Stops on the way include Riffelalp, Riffelberg and Rotenboden. The summer return fare (May to October) is CHF 132, and the winter return (November to April) is CHF 102, with one-way fares at CHF 66 and CHF 51. Swiss Travel Pass holders pay half. The railway stops for a couple of weeks in early November each year, so check the timetable if you plan an autumn visit. Fares are on the Gornergrat Bahn price page .

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

At 3,883 m, this is the highest cable-car station in Europe according to the operator. It has a 360-degree viewing platform and a Glacier Palace carved about 15 m beneath the ice, with ice sculptures and a slide. Entry to the palace is included in the lift ticket. The return fare is CHF 104 from November 2026 to April 2027 and CHF 138 from May to October 2027. Children under 3 may not ride the top stage. Move slowly, drink water, and go down to a lower station if you feel dizzy or sick. Stay on the platforms and marked paths, because the glacier has crevasses. Lift maintenance windows occur in autumn and spring. Guided sightseeing options are listed on GetYourGuide .

Kirchbrücke and Hinterdorf

The Kirchbrücke is a free footbridge over the Mattervispa, close to the parish church, and a favourite dawn viewpoint for the Matterhorn. Do not count on clear skies. Hinterdorf is a lane of about 30 historic larch barns, granaries and houses raised on stone slabs. Haus Salzgeber, dated 1607, is described by the tourism office as the oldest house in Zermatt. People live here, so keep to the public lane and keep your voice down.

Riffelsee

Riffelsee, at 2,757 m, is the classic reflection photograph. Get off the Gornergrat train at Rotenboden and walk about 10 minutes. The reflection works only on calm mornings.

Mountaineers’ Cemetery and the churches

Behind the Catholic parish church of St. Mauritius lies the Mountaineers’ Cemetery, where climbers who died on the Matterhorn, Täschhorn, Weisshorn, Lyskamm, Obergabelhorn and the Monte Rosa massif are buried. The graves are mostly from the 19th century. One shared stone remembers the Zermatt guides Peter Taugwalder, father and son, and beside it lies Michel-Auguste Croz, the guide who died in the first-ascent party of 1865. Eleonore Noll-Hasenclever, a leading woman climber of her era, is also buried here. Visitors leave candles and flowers. This is a place of mourning, so visit quietly and treat the graves with respect, not as a photo backdrop. Entry is free. See the cemetery listing .

St. Mauritius is first documented in 1285, and the present building was consecrated in 1916. It is an active parish church, so keep silent during services, dress respectfully and do not use flash. At the English Church, Douglas Hadow of the 1865 party is buried outside and the Rev. Charles Hudson lies by the altar, while Lord Francis Douglas has no grave, as his body was never found. A grave of the unknown climber, set up in 2015, remembers remains that could not be identified.