Best things to do in Zermatt

For a classic train experience in the Alps, hop on Gornergrat, one of the highest railway lines in Europe. Opened in 1898, the railway takes sightseers and hikers from the resort village of Zermatt to the very top of a rocky ridge in the western part of the Alps. The first electric rack railway built in Switzerland, the line passes through a popular skiing area, noted for its 29 peaks reaching above 4,000 m (13,000 ft) in elevation. On clear days the line's terminus at the top of the ridge offers unbeatable views of the surrounding mountaintops, as well as the second largest glacier in the Alps.

King of the Swiss Alps, the colossal The Matterhorn rises above the picturesque resort town of Zermatt, on the border between Switzerland and Italy. The mountain's summit is 4,478 m (14,692 ft) high, its four steep faces soaring above the surrounding glaciers and facing the four points of the compass. First ascended in 1865 by a team of alpinists led by English mountaineer Edward Whymper, the pyramid-shaped mountain continues to draw ambitious climbers from around the globe. Less audacious visitors can still access sweeping views of the scenery by taking an aerial cable car departing from Zermatt up to a dizzying height of about 3,800 m (12,500 ft).

Matterhorn Diamonds Ski School aims to provide you with an unforgettable holiday at one of the world's most renowned ski resorts, surrounded by the magnificent Alps of the Valais in Switzerland. The school only offers private lessons in order to meet every individual’s personal needs, maximize fun and enjoyment, and ensure safety on the slopes.

Learn about the early climbers who reached the summit of the Matterhorn at Matterhorn Museum - Zermatlantis. Head underground to this museum, which is set up to resemble a mountain village with 14 houses as well as a church, hotel, huts, and granaries. Learn about the development of the area and the many climbers who frequent it, and see samples of the equipment and gear they use. Watch a film from the 1930s about the competition between Edward Whymper and Jean Antoine Carrel, who each attempted to reach the summit--one from the Swiss side, and one from the Italian side. The museum showcases the broken rope from the first ascent of the mountain in 1865 and one of the two stones that Swiss astronaut Claude Nicollier took from the summit and brought with him on the Space Shuttle Endeavour mission in 1993. The museum is centrally located in the village at a walkable distance from other local attractions.

Test your aim and challenge your friends at Clay Shoot Zermatt, a laser clay pigeon shooting range in the dramatic scenery of the Swiss Alps. The safe, eco-friendly laser shooting uses state-of-the-art equipment, including repurposed, deactivated Fausti shotguns. The electronic set-up allows individuals of any experience level to take part and compete in a number of game modes--all without the aches and pains that come with firing a real shotgun. Suitable for ages eight to 80, the range stays open in all types of weather, as the shooting gallery actually protects participants from the elements.

Looking just like an illustration from a book of fairy tales, Chateau de Chillon sits on the eastern end of Switzerland's largest lake. Made famous by the poet Lord Byron, who used it as a setting in one of his well-known works, the 13th-century castle ranks among the country's most visited historic monuments. For a sense of the its medieval past, take a guided tour through the courtyards, towers, dungeons, and grand halls, packed with period furniture and artwork. Although many visitors choose to take the bus or even walk here from the nearby town of Monteux, you can also reach the castle by hopping on one of the lake's many guided boat excursions.

Trockener Steg is a minor prominence in the area between the Matterhorn and the Breithorn, south of Zermatt in the canton of Valais. It lies at a height of 2,939 meters (9,642 ft) above sea level, near the front of the Upper Theodul Glacier.

A cable car station lies on the summit and gives access to the Klein Matterhorn.

For an exceptional view of the Matterhorn, visit Sunnegga, a ski domain that makes up part of Zermatt resort. You can reach the area by underground funicular, which travels to the 2,288 m (7,506 ft) peak in just four-and-a-half minutes. The area has many beginner runs, making it a good option for families, and benefits from all-day sun, which helps to moderate the chilly weather on top. Refuel at one of the many restaurants on the peak after skiing.

The Oberrothorn (3,414 m) is a mountain of the Swiss Pennine Alps, overlooking Zermatt in the canton of Valais. Its summit can be easily reached via a trail on its southern flank, from the Unterrothorn cable car station or from Sunnegga.

Claims are often made that the Oberrothorn has one of the highest hiking trails in the Alps, or that it's the highest Alpine summit which can be walked up. Such statements are subjective, but do reflect the mountain's unusual accessibility for an Alpine summit of its height.

Due to its location to the east of Zermatt, hikers on the main route up and down the mountain are afforded excellent views of the Matterhorn, across the valley, with the popular Hornli Ridge ascent route being prominent.

Scale one of the world's most iconic and photogenic summits at Breithorn, peaking 4,164 m (13,661 ft) above sea level. This mountain presents a challenge even to experienced climbers but offers incredibly rewarding views from the top. Climb only if you have the right gear, plenty of mountaineering experience, and are prepared to pay for a guide. If not, you can take the cable car to the starting point of the climb and simply enjoy the vistas from there.

Castor (Italian: Castore) is a mountain in the Pennine Alps on the border between Valais, Switzerland and the Aosta Valley in Italy. It is the higher of a pair of twin peaks (German: Zwillinge), the other being Pollux, named after the Gemini twins of Roman mythology. Castor's peak is at an elevation of 4,223 m (13,855 ft), and it lies between Breithorn and the Monte Rosa. It is separated from Pollux by a pass at 3,847 m (12,621 ft), named Passo di Verra in Italian and Zwillingsjoch in German.

Ascents are usually made from the alpine hut Capanna Quintino Sella on the Italian side, by means of the Felikjoch and the long and narrow southeast ridge. From the Swiss side, ascents start from Klein Matterhorn and go by way of the Italian glacier Grand Glacier of Verra and the mountain's west flank. The first ascent was made on August 23, 1861.