Zermatt on a Budget: Family Travel Tips for Affordable Adventures
A family guide to visiting Zermatt and The Matterhorn in summer
This is the guide I wish I’d had when planning our trip to Zermatt. Whilst researching our itinerary, in the midst of a 6-week rail journey around Europe, I was dismayed to discover that our mid-range budget was going to be very quickly eaten up by transport costs and food.
How could we access the spectacular mountain scenery, without completely breaking our budget? With a lot of careful planning, I found a cost-effective way to see as much as possible and have a fantastic, memorable family holiday in the process. Zermatt turned out to be the best family holiday location we have ever enjoyed.
We visited in August and enjoyed cooling off in the mountains from the heat we had experienced in Italy and France. I highly recommend visiting Zermatt, this is the guide that will help you do just that. Don’t miss the section on saving money on the unmissable Gornergrat Mountain Railway.
If you’re looking for family adventures with mountain views, consider this 10 day North Wales itinerary. The itinerary includes an Eryri and Anglesey guide.
Why visit Zermatt?
The Matterhorn, standing at 4,478m tall, dominates the view from the pretty alpine town of Zermatt. Often mysteriously cloaked by cloud, when the jagged peak emerges visitors can’t help but squeal in delight at the sight of this distinctive Alpine mountain.
Zermatt has attracted tourists since the 1800s: some come for high altitude adventure, others satisfied by tranquil alpine meadows and lakes surrounding the peaks. Come evening, the setting sun reveals a slowly changing view, amber light flooding the tip of the mountain before plunging the valley into darkness.
Zermatt itself ticks all the boxes for an alpine summer holiday: easy access to incredible outdoor activities; breathtaking scenery with multiple snow covered peaks; traditional wooden chalets complete with window boxes cascading candy-coloured flowers; accommodation boasting sleek, thoughtful Swiss design and excellent transport links straight into the heart of the mountains.
Whether your family enjoys hiking, biking, climbing, or simply soaking up the atmosphere, this Swiss town is the perfect holiday location. The catch? It’s not cheap. However, with some careful planning it is possible to enjoy an unforgettable trip on a moderate budget without missing out on the best the area has to offer
With awe-inspiring views, unbelievable mountain playgrounds and lakes, and the prospect of taking the train to see real snow in summer, we would whole-heartedly recommend visiting Zermatt.
This guide will help you plan your activities to maximise your budget whilst enjoying everything Zermatt has to offer.
Top Activities for visiting Zermatt on a budget
Gorner Gorge (with optional walk to Blatten)
Cost: CHF 5.5/ 3 (adult/ child under 16)
Walkable in about 20minutes from town, following the river, Gorner Gorge is an unusual and beautiful trail following picturesque wooden walkways and bridges through a rocky chasm. Turquoise waters, powerful waterfalls tumbling through the gorge and interesting rock formations will keep all ages in awe.
After the walk, either head back to town, or extend the walk by continuing through the forest to the tiny village of Blatten. From Blatten, head back to Zermatt through the alpine meadows, with cable cars slowly gliding above you. Our 4-year-old easily managed this walk and there were some beautiful views of Zermatt and the surrounding area throughout.
Sunnegga and Blauherd: Epic mountain views, playgrounds, kick bikes and hikes
Cost: Funicular return journey adult/ child aged 9 – 13/ under 6 CHF 31/ 15.50/ free
Travel to Sunnegga for easy access to the mountains, a host of outdoor activities and incredible views.
To get to Sunnegga take the funicular through the mountain. The Sunegga Rorhorn station is located on Vispstrasse in Zermatt. From here the funicular travels right through the mountain to Sunnegga in just 4.5 minutes!
Emerge from the station to stunning 360O views of the Alps, including of course the Matterhorn itself. There are plenty of Blacknose sheep, quietly grazing the grass and often appearing to be entirely unaware of the surrounding humans.
There is a fantastic mountain playpark (Wolli adventure park) at nearby Leisee and a raft that can be used to pull each other across the lake. Our children found this excellent fun and would have happily stayed all day. This is one of the best free activities in Zermatt.
To hike the 5 lakes trail (marked as 5 Seenweg), you will need to take the cable car to Blauherd station as the walk ends at Sunnegga. At 9.8km, you may not wish to do the entire trail, but we would recommend the walk to Stellisee, a particularly beautiful lake and great place to photograph The Matterhorn reflected in the lake on a clear, calm day.
From Sunnegga, with older kids you could hire kick bikes to return to Zermatt in approximately 2 hours. Another great option is to continue the journey via gondola to Blauherd station and return to Sunnegga by three-wheeled mountain cart. Blauherd is approximately 2 miles from Sunnegga and the 5 Lakes trail and other walks can be accessed from here. Alternatively, you could continue by cable car to Rothorn for higher altitude views.
Gornergrat Mountain Railway
Cost: From CHF 60 to 132 per adult depending on the route taken. See money saving tips for more information.
The Gornergrat mountain railway begins in Zermatt and transports you up the mountain to sublime views of the Matterhorn and surrounding peaks. The trains have huge windows, affording panoramic views of the Matterhorn and the dramatic scenery of the Pennine Alps. Try to sit on the right-hand side of the train for the best views as you travel up the mountain.
The Gornergrat Bahn is situated next to Zermatt’s main train station. Purchase tickets in advance, but take care to select the most efficient option to maximise your budget. See our money-saving tips at the end of the post for more ways to save.
Tickets to the end of the line at the Gornergrat station will take you to the best views at 3131m, but there are other fantastic options for those who need to save a little money, but still enjoy access to the high-altitude mountain areas around the Matterhorn.
How to save money on the Gornergrat Bahn in Zermatt
Buying single tickets from Zermatt to Rotenboden, then from Riffelalp back to Zermatt, and hiking between the stations saved us over £150! This is how we did it ⬇️.
For a budget option for the epic Gornergrat mountain railway, and a fantastic day out, follow these steps.
- Buy tickets in advance from the ticket office at the mountain railway station (next to Zermatt’s main railway station). You will need to buy 2 single tickets: Zermatt – Rotenboden and Riffelalp – Zermatt.
- Take the train one way to Rotenboden (2815m). When you alight the train at Rotenboden, you will be surrounded by snow-capped peaks and breathtaking scenery.
- From Rotenboden, follow the signs to Riffelsee (just a 5 minute walk and signposted from the station), where the Matterhorn is perfectly reflected in the mirror like surface of the lake.
- Now continue along the Riffelsee Lake Trail (aka ‘Riffelseeweg’ or Zermatt trail nr. 21) to Riffelsee. This is a fairly easy downhill hike on good paths, with stunning scenery around every corner. Leave plenty of time to take photos and drink in the views.
- Pass the Riffelsee station, and continue through alpine meadows and pine forest to Riffelalp station. The walk is 5.9km in total, mostly downhill and full of astonishing scenery.
- Return to Zermatt with your pre-booked ticket.
This was one of the most memorable days we have ever spent as a family, and we certainly didn’t feel we missed out on making it to the summit.
In fact, hiking between stations allowed us to fully experience the area. Standing surrounded by snow-dusted mountains and glaciers, on a a crisp, sunny day was the highlight of our entire trip.
Matterhorn Museum – Zermatlantis
Cost: CHF12/ 7/ 0 (Adult, child aged 10 – 16, child under 10)
Situated in central Zermatt, enter through the futuristic glass mountain and descend into this subterranean museum. A range of exhibits communicate the history of mountaineering, including the tragic race to conquer the mountain (featuring the snapped rope from the 1865 climb). Film, photography and immersive exhibits, such as reconstructed historical alpine buildings, provide a great visit whether your interest is mountaineering or the history of the area itself. There is plenty to keep young visitors happy, including hands on exhibits and family object trails.
Where to stay in Zermatt
Our family of 5 stayed in an incredible Airbnb in Central Zermatt. Anne’s place is a traditional chalet apartment, with direct views from the generous balcony of the Matterhorn. Thoughtful details like woollen slippers and efficient, clean, Swiss design make this a perfect base for your holiday.
Price varies depending on season but are around £300 a night in peak season. This is the nicest Airbnb we have ever stayed in (and we have stayed in many) and we would not hesitate to recommend it.
Where to eat affordably in Zermatt
Self -catering
There are several supermarkets in town for self-catering, including Coop supermarket near the station, Migros in town and Denner on the outskirts. To keep costs down we relied on self-catering and took a picnic everywhere.
Eating out
Restaurants can be expensive, however Brown Cow has a more affordable menu and comfortable cosy pub seating. Burger and fries around CHF22.
Stephanie’s creperie (cash only) is a lovely, locally owned, hole in the wall style take away which will satisfy young and old alike. Prices from CHF6 for a simple sugar crepe to CHF 20 for savoury crepes with deluxe fillings such as smoked salmon, sour cream and chives.
Money saving tips for family travel in Zermatt
- A Wollicard enables free travel until age 9.
- For children aged over 9, consider a Junior travel card for CHF30, which enables free or reduced price travel. You only have to pay for the first 2 children, further children are free of charge.
- Self-catering accommodation is strongly recommended. Due to the high cost of living, restaurants can be extremely expensive.
- When shopping, stick to Swiss products where possible, taxes are higher on imported food.
- Remember to add tax to prices.
- The Swiss build incredible mountain playparks, which are free to use.
- Plan travel carefully, particularly cable cars and mountain trains which add up very quickly. Check the fares to different stops, for example getting off one stop before the top of the train line and walking the last section gives views just as spectacular but can save a significant amount. Likewise, walking a section and getting the train further down the mountain is usually more economical.
- Take a picnic and refillable bottle everywhere. There are plenty of refill stations.
- If eating out, consider lunchtime, which is usually cheaper.
- Mix free hiking trails around town with higher altitude adventures.
Transport to and around Zermatt
Zermatt is a car free and accessed via train (12 minutes) or taxi from Täsch. For an unforgettable journey, take the train to Brig/ Visp then join the Glacier Express to Zermatt.
There are exceptional views throughout this 90 minute journey and real sense of excitement as you near the end of your journey. Excellent information from The Man in Seat 61 here.
When to visit Zermatt
Many places are closed in Spring, after the ski season ends. For summer July and August, although peak season, are generally considered the best months to visit. We visited in August and the weather was perfect, warm but not too hot.
Language
German is the local language is this part of Switzerland. French, Italian and English are also widely spoken.
Zermatt is an unforgettable destination with unparalleled activities to suit every traveller. This incredibly safe, clean and beautiful mountain town should be a high contender for you next family holiday.
