Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Zermatt?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Zermatt?
Most visitors spend two to five days in Zermatt when visiting. The charming town offers so many things to see and explore, so you'll want to take full advantage of the limited time you have. Highlights include the skiing, the hiking, the beautiful scenery, and the food.
Zermatt is the home of Europe's highest ski resort. It's also the place to go for stunning views of Matterhorn. The area is world renowned for its skiing and hiking, and any outdoor enthusiast should not miss a visit to this world class destination.
Do you have one or two days to visit Zermatt? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Zermatt?
One day is generally not enough time to experience the town and surrounding mountains while visiting Zermatt. A shorter schedule may leave you with a sense of urgency to experience the skiing, the hiking, the beautiful scenery, and the food. To genuinely appreciate the mountain atmosphere, local flavors, and epic views of the charming town, a more lengthy visit is typically recommended. In fact, many tourists opt for two to five days in the area. After all, Zermatt is a small town that is extremely popular with tourists due to the many sights and attractions. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your stay below.
How to spend a day in Zermatt
When visiting Zermatt, you can't miss the Matterhorn as it's one of the most famous places in the world. Make sure you give yourself enough time to enjoy it.
Zermatt is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. Set against the backdrop of the Alps and the famed Matterhorn, this is a truly breathtaking town that's surrounded by stunning natural beauty.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Romance and Charms of Zermatt – Walking Tour ($222)
Zermatt is a very walkable city. With only a day in the town, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. There aren't any cars in town so this is a very pedestrian-friendly town with charming streets and walking paths.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Zermatt?
Zermatt enjoys immense popularity among tourists because of its many sights and attractions. Given only a weekend, you will likely find yourself hurrying to experience the mountain town vibe and surrounding mountains here. You won't want to miss the chance to hit the ski slopes, take a hike, admire the wonderful scenery, and enjoy a meal at a restaurant. To truly savor all that the town boasts, a longer amount of time is recommended. Many vacationers opt for two to five days to thoroughly enjoy the mountain vibe of the town. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations for making the most of your visit.
How to spend 2 days in Zermatt
If you have more than a weekend (two to three days) in Zermatt, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the town has to offer.
Snow skiing takes the spotlight during the winter season, so set aside at least a day to hit the slopes. This is Europe's highest ski resort and it is one of the most famous and beautiful, at the base of the world renowned Matterhown. The slopes attract professional skiers from around the world who come for the challenging skiing and spectacular setting.
You'll absolutely want to spend some time enjoying the food scene in this town, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine for a meal or two. There are actually many great restaurants right on the slopes, so you don't have to head into town to enjoy a meal. In town, you'll find many cozy restaurants that have terraces that offer spectacular views.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Tapas tour in Zermatt ($112)
- Activity in private minibus, wine tasting in Valais ($78)
- Wine Tasting in Valais ($84)
Public transit in Zermatt is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the town quite easily. There are ebuses in town, but the town itself is car free and walking is your best option.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Zermatt, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.