Zermatt is one of the most stunning towns in the Swiss Alps. And with the Matterhorn towering over this fairytale village, things are off to a good start.
With epic skiing, hiking and mountain biking along with world-class restaurants, mountain hotels and spas, you are going to have a memorable time here no matter how you choose to spend your time.
If you are heading to Zermatt from Zurich, here are the best options to get there in no time.
How To Get From Zurich To Zermatt
The ideal way to get to Zermatt is by train because it is a car-free town and you cannot drive directly to it.
By Train
From Zurich HB (Main Station) it takes 3 hours and 12 minutes to get to Zermatt train station. You only have to change trains once in Visp.
If you come directly from Zurich Airport, you have to catch the train underground at the Zurich Flughafen station to Visp at 45 minutes past the hour, change in Visp also, and arrive in Zermatt 3 hours and 45 minutes later.
There are other connections from the airport, however, this one is the shortest.
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How Much Does It Cost By Train From Zurich To Zermatt?
The prices of a train ticket from Zurich to Zermatt can vary depending on the class and any discounts that you may have.
Tip: If you have the Swiss Travel Pass, this train ride is completely covered.
Here are the general prices:
| Journey | Class | Full Price or Half Tax | |
| Zurich HB – Zermatt (via Visp) | 2nd | Half Tax | 62.50 |
| 2nd | Full Price | 125 | |
| 1st | Half Tax | 109.50 | |
| 1st | Full Price | 219 | |
| Zurich Airport – Zermatt (via Visp) | 2nd | Half Tax | 64.50 |
| 2nd | Full Price | 129 | |
| 1st | Half Tax | 113 | |
| 1st | Full Price | 226.00 |
By Car
There are two main routes that will take you from Zurich to Zermatt by car.
- You can travel via the Lötschberg Tunnel (one of the famous tunnels in Switzerland), which is an experience worth doing once since you have to drive your car onto a train, which then whisks you through the tunnel. This is the fastest way to Zermatt by car.
- Another scenic route is over the Brunnigpass, then over the Grimselpass, then down the Rhone valley. I have done this a number of times and it is fantastic, but it is only open in from early summer until the snow comes in October/November.
- Another option is to drive via Andermatt and then take the Furka car train to avoid the Furka pass, which will also be closed in winter.
- Lastly, you can drive via the Gotthard tunnel and then via the Furka, however, I would avoid the Gotthard tunnel at all costs because there is always massive traffic jams there. You can drive over the pass instead, however, this adds a lot of time to your trip.
where can you drop off a rental car in Zermatt?
Driving from Zurich to Zermatt, dropping car, then glacier express to St. Moritz.
Then getting a car driving to Halstatt Austria
any ideas??
thank
Unfortunately Zermatt is a car-free town, so there is nowhere near there to drop off rentals. The closest place I could find is Sion. From there you would have to catch a couple of trains to get to Zermatt. Switzerland is a very train-oriented country.