Search

Zermatt with Kids • Best 3 Day Itinerary

The best things to do with kids in Zermatt including no hike viewpoints, easy hikes, playgrounds, scooter rides and more.

If you buy something through a link here, we may earn a commission. See our disclosure policy. Note that prices and opening times may change without notice.

Zermatt is a great destination for families, with many fun and easy ways to enjoy Matterhorn views with kids. The cable cars and mountain railways make it easy to reach epic viewpoints without much effort. If you want to hike, I’ve included several easy options below that still deliver on the classic Swiss experience.

Our family lives in Zurich and has done several trips to Zermatt over the years. The itinerary I suggest below is based on what we found works best for kids at various ages, from toddler to teen. These suggestions are also great for any casual hiker that prefers a more relaxed pace for their travel.

Zermatt Itinerary eBook

If you want a printable itinerary for Zermatt, you can purchase my new eBook:

Switzerland with Kids: 3 Days in Zermatt

It’s a detailed three day itinerary for families, exploring the best parts of Zermatt. For each day, I include options for no hiking, easy hikes, longer hikes, and fun extras for kids, like playgrounds and scooter rides. Plus family-friendly hotels and restaurants, where to shop for essentials, how to get discount tickets, and optional day trips for longer itineraries.

Overview of Zermatt

Here is the summer map for the Zermatt area. I’ve circled the three main mountain areas in different colors on the map. I suggest spending one day in each area, as described in the itinerary below. 

  1. Gornergrat & Riffelsee (red)
  2. Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (pink)
  3. Sunnegga (blue)

See also Favorite hikes in Zermatt

Day 1 – Gornergrat & Riffelsee

The Gornergrat area is our favorite place to hike and explore in Zermatt, particularly with kids. You ride a cogwheel mountain train up to the Gornergrat viewpoint, which gives an excellent view of the Matterhorn and a close-up view of the Gorner glaciers. You can visit the lovely Riffelsee lake and optionally hike down the mountain with Matterhorn in view.

I would plan to spend minimum 4 hours on this outing, longer if you plan to hike or eat lunch on the mountain.

Gornergrat viewpoint 

This cogwheel mountain train takes you from the Zermatt village up to the Gornergrat viewpoint shown here. The journey takes about 40 mins to reach the top. 

The train drops you off at the hotel, which has lots of places to enjoy the Matterhorn view, including the restaurant terraces.

Above the hotel, there is a higher observation deck and a short loop path, shown below, that allows you to enjoy more of the glacier view.

 

I would plan for about 1 hour at the top. After enjoying the views, you can ride the train back down or do one of the hikes mentioned below. The train leaves about every 25 mins, so check the schedule to make sure you don’t have to wait long at the station.

Learn more about the Gornergrat

Riffelsee lake

You don’t have to hike to reach this beautiful alpine lake. Simply ride the mountain train from Gornergrat down one stop to Rotenboden. From there, it’s an easy 5 min walk down to the Riffelsee lake on the dirt path shown here.

Zermatt Gornergrat Riffelsee

If you are lucky, you’ll get this classic photo with the Matterhorn reflected in the water. You can easily spend an hour here, strolling around the lake, taking pictures, and having a picnic.

Hiking options at the Gornergrat

There is a trail stretching from the Gornergrat top station, down to the Riffelsee, and all the way down to Zermatt. Since the trail parallels the mountain railway, you can start and stop at different stations, making it easy to adjust the trail length to suit your family’s abilities and energy levels.

More detailed info for all three hikes is in my Riffelsee post

Note that none of these options are stroller-friendly, so plan to carry small children.

Hike option 1 – Riffelsee to Riffelberg

For little kids, we suggest starting at the Riffelsee and hiking to Riffelberg. It takes about 1 hour and is safe and easy, all downhill. See trail map. If you are visiting in winter, this trail is groomed and possible with normal hiking shoes.

Hike option 2 – Riffelsee to Riffelberg

With kids aged 6+ that can hike, we suggest starting at the Riffelsee and hiking farther down the mountain to Riffelalp. This is the hike we always do when we visit. The terrain is varied and exciting with the Matterhorn almost always in view.

This hike takes about 2 hours, descending 580m of elevation. The second half of this trail is a bit more challenging for kids, with some steep switchbacks. But it’s not dangerous and is suitable for anyone with steady footing and average fitness. See trail map.

Option 3 – Gornergrat to Riffelalp

For a longer day with older kids, we suggest starting your hike at the Gornergrat top station, hiking down to the Riffelsee then continuing on to Riffelalp. This allows you to spend the most time with Matterhorn views and enjoy more of the upper section with views of the Gorner glacier.

This hike takes about 2hr45 and descends about 820m, which may be hard on the parents knees if you are carrying a small one. See trail map.

people hiking on trail from Gornergrat to Riffelsee in early October with view of Matterhorn
trail from Gornergrat to Riffelsee in early October

Cost of Gornergrat

The price of a round trip ticket from Zermatt to the Gornergrat varies by season. In 2023, a Gornergrat round trip ticket costs CHF 126 in June-August, CHF 110 in May/Sept/Oct, CHF 88 from Nov-April.

If you are hiking, you can mention that when buying your ticket and you may save a little compared to the full round trip fare.

You get a 50% discount with GA, Swiss Travel Pass, SBB Half-fare card and children 6-16. SBB Junior card and children under 6 ride free. 

During summer, I suggest booking tickets in advance so you can skip the ticket line, which can be long. 

Day 2 – Matterhorn Glacier Paradise & Schwarzsee

For the highest views in the region, you can ride the “world’s highest cableway” to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise at 3,883 meters (12,740 ft). From Zermatt, it takes about 1 hour to ride a series of cable cars to the visitor center, including the final dramatic step over a glacier.

© Photo by Zermatt Bergbahn
Photograph: © Zermatt Bergbahn

At the top, you get the best views from the small outdoor viewing platform reached by an elevator and stairs. From this point, you have a 360 panorama with views to the Italian side. It’s a safely enclosed area with high railings, suitable for children.

Photograph: © Zermatt Bergbahn

You can also explore the Glacier Palace, a series of tunnels and caves carved into the glacier ice 15 meters below the surface. In the cinema lounge, you can watch short films about the Swiss alps. They have a restaurant at the top with a view of the glacier.

In summer, you can play in the snow and sled. They also offer summer skiing on the glacier with a few prepared runs, more of a novelty. 

I would plan for about 1 hour at the top, a minimum of 3-4 hours for your visit including travel time from Zermatt.  Make sure to bring warm jackets, even in summer.

Learn more about Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

Cost of Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

The price of a round trip ticket from Zermatt to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise varies by season. In 2023, this round trip ticket costs CHF 120 in July-August, CHF 109 in May/June/Sept/Oct, and CHF 95 from Nov-April.

Book tickets in advance to skip the line

 

Hiking options near Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

You cannot hike at the top of Matterhorn Glacier Paradise since it’s on the glacier. But after visiting the viewpoint, you can ride the cable cars back down and optionally get off at one of the lower stations for a hike. Here are the hikes in this area that I recommend for families.

Tip: You can also do these hikes without visiting the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, with a much cheaper cable car ticket to the lower stations.

Hike option 1 – Matterhorn Glacier Trail to Schwarzsee

With older kids, we love the the Matterhorn Glacier Trail, which hikes over a rocky landscape close the base of the Matterhorn. To reach the trail, get off the cable car at the Tröckener Steg station. The trail ends at the Schwarzsee, where you can catch a gondola back down to Zermatt.

This moderate trail takes about 3hr with kids, 140m up and 480m down. It’s a mountain trail with uneven terrain and steep switchbacks. Best for those with some hiking experience and proper hiking shoes.

See trail map and learn more about Matterhorn Glacier Trail

Hike option 2 – Furi to Gorner Gorge

With younger kids, we suggest riding the gondola down to the Furi station. From here you can hike down to Zermatt, admiring the rustic mountain huts and alpine meadows.

All trails down eventually lead to Zermatt. But we suggest the one that visits the Gorner Gorge. For a small fee, you can walk through the gorge on elevated wooden walkways. This trail takes about one hour, more depending how long you linger at the gorge.

See trail map and learn more about Gorner Gorge.

Day 3 – Sunnegga Paradise

The Sunnegga area is the farthest away from the Matterhorn, but you can still easily see it on a clear day. This area has the most amusements for children, starting with a big adventure playground and picnic area at the Leisee lake. It also has kick scooters to ride down the mountain and a couple easy trails suitable for families. 

Photograph: © Pascal Gertschen

I would plan about 3-5 hours for this outing, depending on which activities you choose. If you do a hike, time at the playground, and kick scooters down the mountain, it’s enough to fill a whole day.

Sunnegga Playground

You can reach this playground with the Sunnegga funicular train from Zermatt, then a short walk down to the lake. The playground has a big structure with slides, swings and climbing obstacles. There is water play, including a raft to pull across the lake. There are several picnic areas with tables, fire pits and lounge chairs as well as a nearby restaurant.

Zermatt Sunnegga playground at Leisee in early October
Sunnegga playground in early October, Matterhorn hidden in clouds

In summer, the funicular costs between CHF 26-29/adult depending on which month you are there. Children are half-price and you get a discount with GA, Swiss Travel Pass, SBB Half-fare card and children 6-16. SBB Junior card and children under 6 ride free.

Kick scooters down the mountain

From Sunnegga, you can ride kick scooters back down to Zermatt, about a 45 mins ride. It is suitable for children aged 9+ with a minimum height of 130 cm. Scooter rental costs CHF 18 per person, including helmet, or a family ticket for CHF 45 for 2 adults and 2 children. It’s not difficult, but it requires common sense, good balance and hand strength. 

Learn more about the Zermatt Three Lake Hike – Riffelalp to Sunnegga

Hiking options near Sunnegga

We have three hikes to suggest in the Sunnegga area.

Option 1 – Sunnegga Flower Trail

From the playground described above, you ride a gondola higher up the mountain to Blauherd and hike back down to the playground. The “Blumenweg” trail is lovely ramble over rocky hills and through flower filled fields.

The flowers are accompanied by informational signboards and labels (in English and German), which teach you interesting facts like which magical plant was used to restore a cow’s milk. 

The trail is downhill and not difficult, but it is a narrow dirt path and rocky, not suitable for strollers. It takes about 90 mins with kids. 

See trail map and learn more about Sunnegga Flower Trail

Option 2 – Five Lake Trail

The most popular hike in the Sunnegga area is the 5 Lakes Walk, which starts at the top of the Zermatt Blauherd gondola and ends at Sunnegga. It visits five lakes along the way, including the Moosjesee shown below.

It’s the longest hike in this itinerary at 9.8 km, about 3 hours+ with kids. It’s not particularly difficult as it’s mostly downhill, but probably better for older kids that can go the distance.

See trail map for the Five Lake Trail

Option 3 – Three Lake Walk from Riffelalp

If that hike seems a little too long, I have an excellent shorter version of this trail that visits three of these lakes. I actually like this much better than the 5 Lake version, not a compromise at all. It’s particularly beautiful in late September and the first week of October with the fall colors.

This trail starts at the Riffelalp station of the Gornergrat. Then it traverses the mountain through the beautiful landscape shown above. It converges with the 5 Lake Trail at lake #3 and continues until you reach the Sunnegga playground.

This hike is 5.6 km and takes about 2hr30 with kids. It climbs 245m and descends 175m, a little more work than other hikes in this post.

See trail map and learn more about the Riffelalp-Sunnegga Three Lake Trail.

When to go to Zermatt

The Gornergrat train and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise cable cars run almost all year long, meaning you can almost always ride up and see the views even if you can’t go hiking. But check current operating times before you go.

Hiking season in Zermatt starts about late June, when the snow has finally melted off the trails. Any earlier than that, you will likely find the trails closed due to snow or still under maintenance. Hiking season continues through early October, when much of the mountain transport closes for a few weeks break before winter season.

High summer season is July and August, when most tourists come and prices are higher, both for accommodations and mountain transport. But I wouldn’t avoid Zermatt during this time. We’ve been twice in late July and early August and it was absolutely wonderful. Yes, the trains are sometimes crowded but the trails rarely are.

Late August and early September are good times to visit because kids are back in school, most tourists are gone but the wildflowers are still out. If the weather cooperates, the first week of October is absolutely glorious with the fall colors. But it’s a bit risky as an early snow storm could make some trails impassible.

I would avoid going to Zermatt between April and early June, because there’s just not so much do. Trails won’t be open and many restaurants and other services will also be closed.

The mountain transport is open for winter season from end of November through mid April. During this time, you can ride up the mountain transport to see the views. If you don’t ski, you can do winter walks on prepared snow trails (no snowshoes required) and sled on very long sled runs (over 1 km), like this one at Rotenboden.

Getting around Zermatt

Once you are in Zermatt, all the mountain transport for the hikes is within walking distance of the village. The Zermatt train station is the center of the village, directly across the street from the Gornergratbahn, the most popular tourist destination here.

It’s an easy 500m walk (about 7 mins) to the Sungegga funicular and 1.2 km walk (about 15 mins) to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise cable car.

How to get to Zermatt

Zermatt is accessible by car or train from any of Switzerland’s main cities. If Zermatt is your main destination, it’s easiest to fly into Zurich, which has an easy train connection to Zermatt (only one transfer).

By train to Zermatt

Zermatt has a train station in the center of the village: Zermatt, Bahnhof. Below are sample train travel times to Zermatt. Your journey may vary depending on which connections you take:

  • From Zurich or Lucerne about 3hr15
  • From Bern or Interlaken about 2hr30
  • From Geneva or Milan about 3h45
  • From Lugano about 5hr

The map below shows the train journey from Zurich to Zermatt, connecting through Bern and Visp.

All trains journeys leading to Zermatt will connect through Visp, requiring you to change trains there. On busy days, the train from Visp to Zermatt can be very full and you might struggle to find a seat. The train from Visp passes through Täsch but you usually won’t need to change trains there, you can ride all the way to Zermatt. 

It is possible to do Zermatt as a day trip from Zürich, if you or your visitors have limited time in Switzerland. The train journey is long but very beautiful, so consider that part of the experience. It’s important to go early so you can maximize your time in Zermatt. If you catch the 7:02 train from Zürich main station, you can be in Zermatt by 10:14 and to the top of the Gornergrat by 10:53.

Discount train tickets

If you are traveling for a few days around Switzerland, we suggest getting the Swiss Travel Pass, which includes all public transportation and discounts on mountain railways. (Only available for non-Swiss residents). This pass is likely cheaper than paying individually for your train tickets from major cities to Zermatt and would also discount the excursions in Zermatt.

Another option is the Saver Day Passes, where can be purchased in advance for as low as CHF 52 (or CHF 29 with a SBB Half-fare card). But remember these discounted day passes do not give you discounts on any mountain transport within Zermatt.

By car to Zermatt

You need to drive to Täsch where you can park and ride the train the remaining 5 km to the car-free village of Zermatt.

Parking in Täsch

In Täsch you can park your car in the large parking structure adjacent to the train station, which costs CHF 16 for 1 day. You can reserve a parking place ahead of time, which is a good idea for busy weekends, holidays and high summer season.

Then you take a train into Zermatt, which costs CHF 8.20/adult each way. This journey is included in GA, SBB Day Pass and Swiss Travel Pass. SBB Half-fare and the Junior Travelcard are accepted. Children under 6 are free. The train runs every 20 mins and the ride takes 12 mins to reach Zermatt. 

Depending on where you are driving from, getting to Täsch may require driving over mountain passes or taking a train car shuttle through a tunnel.

By car from Zurich or Lucerne to Zermatt 

If you are coming from eastern Switzerland, you can drive over the mountain passes (summer only) or use the Furka car train shuttle through a tunnel, which is about 20-30 mins faster than driving over the pass.

On weekends and holidays, it runs every 30 mins, otherwise every 60 mins. In 2023, a standard car costs CHF 33 in winter and CHF 27 in summer for one way through the tunnel. Get the timetable, live traffic updates and more info on the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn website.

To reach the car train shuttle, drive to Realp and follow signs to Autoverlad Furka. You wait in line until they are ready to load the train. Then you simply drive onto the train and put your car in park. You stay in the car during the train ride. On the other side of the tunnel at Oberwald, you drive off the train and continue your journey.

In summer, we usually drive over the passes to get the views, which is part of the experience. We usually drive over the Grimsel pass, which I think is the prettiest drive, lots of places to stop and take pictures. But you can also drive over the Furka pass, which is also very pretty and passes close by a glacier. But if you hate driving narrow 2 lane winding mountain roads, definitely take the shuttle.

By car from Bern, Interlaken or Basel to Zermatt

From Bern, Interlaken or Basel, you will drive to Kandersteg and load your car on the Lötschberg train shuttle that goes through a tunnel through the mountains. There is no road over the mountains in this area.

It runs about every 30 mins on weekends and holidays (otherwise every 60 mins), costs about CHF 28 one way and the journey lasts about 25 mins. On busy weekends, there may be a long wait at the tunnels. Get the timetable, current wait times and more info on the BLS website.

By car from Geneva to Zermatt

From Geneva and western Switzerland, you can simply drive through Valais valley, no tunnels or mountain passes required.

By car from Milan to Zermatt

From Italy, you’ve got a lot of small mountain roads as shown below.

Where to stay in Zermatt

If possible, we suggest staying in the Zermatt village, within close walking distance of the main train station and shopping street. The village is quite large and some hotels are very far from the center and on the hill, which can be inconvenient with children. There is bus service around the village, but it is doesn’t cover the whole village and isn’t super frequent.

For families, we can recommend Hotel Butterfly (Best Western) and Hotel Schweizerhof & Residence. Both have family rooms but you may need to call the hotels directly to book the family room. One time we rented a one bedroom apartment, Hausroc Zermatt, that was adorable and had nice Matterhorn views. The kids slept on the pull-out sofa. 

Although accommodations in Zermatt may be more expensive than neighboring villages, you will save on time and money by not traveling back and forth to Zermatt each day. If you cannot find suitable accommodation in Zermatt, I suggest looking in Täsch, where the Zermatt car parking is. My good friend recommends the Täsch camping in summer.

If you plan to explore other mountain areas in this region, I suggest staying in Visp, which has the most efficient road and train connections to other parts of Switzerland.

Trip itineraries for all regions of Switzerland, particularly suited for families.

Popular Tours

Comments

Before leaving a comment, please review our privacy policy to understand how we process and store data submitted through the comment form below. 

21 Responses

  1. This is excellent information. Your website has really helped us plan our trip (2 adults 2 kids ages 6 and 9)

    Quick question – what is the difference between a Junior Card and a Swiss Family Card. From what I understand, the Junior Card costs 30 CHF for the year, but the Swiss Family Card is free.

    We are planning on buying the Swiss Half Fare Card, so would we need to buy the Junior Card to get our kids in for free or would we be fine with the Swiss Family Card?

    Thanks again for all the info.

    1. Hi Sam, If you buy the Swiss Travel Pass, you get also a Family Card for free for each child aged 6-15 (you need to indicate the children’s ages when purchasing the STP). If you do not have a travel pass and buy individual tickets (also with a SBB Half-fare Card), you can buy SBB Junior Travelcard for each children aged 6-15. This card costs CHF 30 and is valid for 1 year. With this card, the child rides free with a parent who has a valid ticket. I hope this helps. Have fun!

  2. Hi,
    First of all very informative n interesting sharing. Thank you so much.
    I will travel n stay in zermatt for 1 night only. I think it is limited for us to do all. (Last minute travel planning).
    Can you suggest the best thing to do with kids (3,5 and 8 yo) and we have swiss travel pass.
    We will travel to zermatt today, this morning from interlaken (14 july). And will travel to zurich the next day.

    Your advice is really much appreciated.

    1. Sorry I’m late replying to your comment. I was on holiday. For one day in Zermatt, I would go to the Gornergrat and Riffelsee. If a playground is important, I would go to Sunnegga instead.

  3. Hi Tanya,
    Thank you for all your hiking posts. They have been super helpful for all my hikes so far. I live in Zurich and have half fare card. I am planning to stay in Zermatt for 3 nights. Is there any special pass we can buy, which covers most of mountain trains/gondola? For example- like we have in appenzell region (oskar card)

    Many thanks
    Rupal

    1. There is the Peak Pass, but it is very expensive. With a half-fare card, you get a 25% discount on the pass. For example, a 4 day pass is CHF 303. This is much more than you would pay to go up the mountains individually each day for 4 days with a half-fare card. I don’t think it’s worth it. https://www.matterhornparadise.ch/en/Book/Online-tickets/Peak-pass https://www.matterhornparadise.ch/en/Information/Tickets-prices/Peak-Pass

  4. Hi Tanya,
    I am planning to stay at Zermatt for 3 days and nights with my family ( two adults (including me) and two kids of 8 and 12. You suggested going to the nearby village of Saas Fee. Is the transport convenient? My kids love small animals and look forward to seeing marmots. Is it easy to spot these lovely animals along the marmot trail near Blauherd?

    I also read that people can have better chances to see spot these animals at close up distance and can even feed them in Saas Fee. Is it true? Is it worth it to get there from Zermatt?

    Thank you.

    1. Hi, yes there is a marmot trail in Saas Fee and I hear that you can very often see marmots there. A friend of mine has done this trail and did see some marmots when she visited. But I haven’t done it myself. And of course, there’s any guarantee of seeing wild animals, so you’ll have to decide if it’s worth it. It’s a bit far by public transport from Zermatt to Saas Fee, about 2 hrs by train and bus. In Zermatt, you can often see other animals on the trail. On the Riffelsee, you usually see sheep. We have seen mountain goats on the Matterhorn Glacier Trail. You just need a bit of luck.

  5. Loved reading your post! We are trying to figure out where to spend 3 nights in Swiss alps in late July as a family of 4, 2 adults and our 2 kids are 12 and 8. Thinking Zermatt might be the place, but also considering Lauterbrunnen and other spots. Would love any thoughts you have!

    1. Zermatt and Lauterbrunnen are both nice and quite different from each other. Zermatt is a higher elevation, so more rocky, more glacier. And you get the Matterhorn. Lauterbrunnen is more green, more waterfalls. It just depends on your preferences on what you want to see and do. For only 3 nights, I would probably choose just one destination to maximize your time.

  6. Hello, thanks for the info. I loved this 3day itinerary to Zermatt. I was planning on copying it exactly:-)
    I have a 3.5 and 5.5 yn old, so the easy walks BUT works would the 1st week in June too early for that? I think it’s being a bad year for snow but would we still find difficulties due to snow?
    We’re going from Geneva.
    I’ll surf your blog for tips on budget accommodation over there.
    Thanks

    1. Glad you like the itinierary. It’s possible that the snow may have melted on the trails. In that case, the Gornergrat trail would probably be fine. But for the other two, it depends on whether the mountain railways are running. You should check the Zermatt summer timetables to see.

  7. Hi Tanya,

    Thank you so much for all the detailed information. I find it very helpful. My husband and I are planning to go to Zermatt at the end of September. We’re thinking of hiking on the trails that you have posted information. I was wondering if one week in Zermatt in September will be too much time. We would like to visit Grinderwald as well. But I am hesitant to go to both areas because we would have less time to spend in each places. Would you suggest that we stick to just Zermatt? We live in the Netherlands so we can try to go to Grinderwald on another trip, I guess. In September will there be high chances of rainy days in Zermatt? Thank you for your insights in advance.

    1. I think 2-3 days in Zermatt is enough. Honestly after 3 days on our fall trip that year, I thought maybe we should go home a day early. I felt that I had seen it all. Zermatt is only a 2hr20 train trip from Interlaken. If you are here for 6 days or so, I would split your time. But you are right about the risk with the weather. Having more days gives you a better chance of seeing the Matterhorn. Perhaps stay in Zermatt, but plan some day trips to nearby valleys like Saas Fee or Aletsch Arena. Those are absolutely amazing. Then save Grindelwald for another trip.

  8. Hi Tanya,

    Is a trail that is “closed” not safe to access, even if you bring equipment like snow shoes? My partner and I are active hikers, but don’t have any experience with mountain hikes (we are new to Switzerland!) Many thanks!

    1. Hi. When a mountain resort website lists a trail as “closed”, that typically means that there is something wrong with the trail. It could be small or big. In winter, it usually means means there is avalanche danger, so they close the trail until the danger slope has been cleared with a snow cannon or snow conditions improve. In summer, it could be a landslide that needs to be cleaned up, the trail hasn’t been cleaned up after winter season, there is still too much snow on the trail to make it passable, perhaps dangerous snow bridges exist on the trail(though some people may still try and hike it). You can always ask at the ticket office and they can often explain the reasons.

  9. Hi Tanya, we are planning a trip to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in the morning, followed by doing the Matterhorn Glacier Trail with our 4-year old. Will the hiking route be too rocky and steep? If yes, we will consider bringing the child carrier.

    1. Unfortunately, the Matterhorn Glacier Trail is still closed due to snow. I checked the website and they listed this trail as closed. In fact, I think all mountain trails in the Zermatt area will be covered in snow. You can see what’s open on this page. https://www.zermatt.ch/en/Media/Planning-hikes-tours But you can still go up the mountain transport to catch the views. Good luck! (For future reference, the hike is a bit tough and I think it would be best to bring a child carrier for a 4 year old.

  10. Where exactly was your family photo taken in front of the Matterhorn? We are staying in Zermatt for 3 days at the end of the month with our 7yr old daughter and are looking for hiking trails she would enjoy as well.

    1. The family photo was taken in front of the Riffelsee, an easy 5 min walk from the Gornergrat train (Riffelsee stop).

  11. Pingback: Zermatt in winter: when we didn't check the weather forecast

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Welcome

Hi! I’m Tanya and our family has been living & hiking in Switzerland since 2005, collecting dozens of fun hikes and activities for all ages and abilities. More about us…

Need help planning?

Short on time? Get our interactive map with curated itineraries. Learn more…

Have questions? Book a video call with me to create a custom itinerary.

Need inspiration? Get our Switzerland Bucket List ebook with twenty “Top 10” checklists.

Subscribers may login below. At the moment, membership is by invite only.