Other Activities

An independent review from Scott Leach

Other Activities > Attractions

For the non-skier, there is enough to do in Zermatt to keep almost anyone occupied. One of the most attractive things about the ski mountain itself is that most of the mountain is accessible to non-skiers. As a result, non-skier and skiers alike can meet at any numbers of the mountain huts for lunch or to experience the après-ski scene.

The après-skiing scene and nightlife are also a big plus for those who don't ski. Some people even claim that in Zermatt, après-ski begins at noon.

Furthermore, there are plenty of shops and local attractions to keep non-skiers busy, not to mention the fact that the village alone is an attractive destination. The mountaineer graveyard, the Alpine Museum, and the Radio-Matterhorn Museum are just a few popular attractions for non-skiers. Another popular activity is a helicopter trip around the Matterhorn. All of these activities are available throughout the entire year.

Other Activities > Festivals And Events

As a year-round resort, Zermatt offers weekly events as well as a couple of annual festivals and concerts. Once the winter season starts, there are hockey tournaments for people of all different ages.

And of course, every holiday seasons starting from December 23 until the first of the year, Zermatt puts on a great celebration that includes decorating the village and fireworks on New Year's Eve.

Every year in late April, Zermatt holds the Triftji Bump Bash - a mogul competition that attracts some of Europe's best mogul skiers. The competition has different categories for all levels and ages of skiers.

During the summer in Zermatt, there are all types of excursions provided by the resort such as guided glacier walks, sunrise hikes, archery, and air gun shooting. Every July, Zermatt holds the Zermatt Mountain Film Festival - a film festival dedicated to the past 100 years of mountain climbing.

Also, during July and August there is the International Tennis Championships of Zermatt and the golf "Matterhorn Eagle-Cup" championship.

Other Activities > Excursions

Due to its location deep in the Swiss Alps and the ban on motor vehicles, there are very few day trips that will take you outside the immediate surrounding mountains of Zermatt. Fortunately, there is plenty to do in the area. For example, both during the summer and winter, Air Zermatt offers breathtaking helicopter rides around the Matterhorn and surrounding mountain peaks for about $98 (CHF 120) per person with a minimum of four people.

Another exciting option available to everyone who skis at Zermatt is to take a quick day trip to another country. For those people who feel like a big plate of pasta for lunch in Italy, a quick jump over the border can be made to Cervinia - an Italian ski mountain. Here you can ski the long, straight runs that this mountain is famous for and also enjoy the lively and flamboyant Italian skiing experience - one almost completely opposite to the Swiss style.

Other than these quick getaways, most people who come to Zermatt come for the isolation. Once you arrive in the village, you are at the mercy of what the surrounding area provides, but not to worry - there is a lot to do.

Other Activities > Shopping

The single main street in Zermatt village - called the Bahnhofstrasse - is great for shopping. Here, and on the small side streets jutting off of the Bahnhofstrasse, you'll find the vast majority of all shops and stores of interest. This is a great place to spend time and (a lot of) money.

There are 316 shops where you can buy the standard Swiss souvenirs such as watches, Swiss army knives, sweatshirts, music boxes, and cuckoo clocks. There is also a wide range of designer fashion stores and watch and jewelry boutiques. The village also has a great selection of art galleries to suit all different tastes. For example, there is a local tradition of carving wooden masks that were once used to represent "mountain ghosts" and now are sold are various stores. Also, during certain hours you can take a guided tour through one of the oldest shops in the village where you will learn the art of manufacturing mountaineering boots.

Besides the shops for buying gifts and skiing items, Zermatt has a post office with telephones, Telex, public fax, three supermarkets, many specialty food stores, three photo shops, several dry-cleaners, a couple of hair salons, five doctors, a dentist, three pharmacies, and a physiotherapist. Without a doubt, Zermatt is a year-round place for shopping - if you have money to spend.

Other Activities > Spas

The village of Zermatt is host to 17 indoor swimming pools, a salt-water swimming pool, 20 saunas, and several fitness centers. The majority of these places are located in various hotels scattered around the village, and most are open to the public.

The best hotels to visit for pools and/or saunas are the four-star Apparthotel Pirmin Zurbriggen and the Hotel Christiania; the three-star Albatros or Antika are also suitable.

Other Activities > Tourist Attractions

For generations, the thing that attracted people to Zermatt was not the skiing but the Matterhorn. Originally the village was founded for the sole purpose of climbing the surrounding 28 peaks. Of course, the Matterhorn attracts the most attention and provides the most history. In 1865, Englishman Edward Whymper first summited the 14,692-foot high peak, despite the tragic death of four members in his climbing group. Today, the Matterhorn attracts even more attention as it did 100 years ago - about 140 climbers per day attempt the climb during the summer climbing season.

For an experienced climber, the trip up the Matterhorn costs approximately $550 for a local guide, permits, and an overnight cabin stay. Equipment can be rented in the village at an additional cost.

Yet the Matterhorn is not the only peak to climb in Zermatt, and any one of the 28, 13,100-foot (4,000-meter) peaks can be just as exhilarating and magnificent. Unfortunately, all of these peaks and the Matterhorn are best attempted in the summer seasons.

If you are not interested in climbing any of the surrounding peaks but want to get a feel of the mountaineering history, a quick visit to the local graveyard that includes the tombstones of the ill-fated members of Whymper's climbing group and other mountain deaths can be interesting.

If you like museums, there are two interesting ones in Zermatt. The Alpine Museum has historic mountaineering documents on display. The Radio Matterhorn Museum was once the most popular broadcasting radio station in German-speaking Switzerland.

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