Magical 4-Day Winter Zermatt Itinerary
You’re planning to spend 4 days in Zermatt and you’re looking for the best things to do? You’re in the right place!
In order to help you plan your stay, we have prepared this perfect, curated 4-day Zermatt Itinerary in Winter.
During the trip, you will discover all the best things to see in Zermatt, as well as having plenty of time to ski on some of the best slopes in Europe.
On top of all the best places to visit in Zermatt for each day of your itinerary, we have also given you some handy insider tips for making the most of your Zermatt adventure, including our recommendation of the best place to stay in Zermatt.
So, let’s dive into: 4-Day Winter Zermatt Itinerary
Disclaimer - this blog post contains affiliate links where we can earn a commission, if you make a purchase through them (at no extra cost to you).
Disclosure: we were fortunate enough to be invited to visit Zermatt by Zermatt-Matterhorn, the official tourism board. While Zermatt-Matterhorn hosted us, all of the opinions and thoughts shared in this article are genuine and our own. We only recommend activities and places that we would pay to visit… and Zermatt is definitely one of those!
Where to stay in Zermatt?
Okay, this one is an easy place to start. Where is the best place to stay in Zermatt? There can only be 1 answer - the Swiss Alpine Hotel Allalin!
This adorable boutique hotel is where we stayed during our 4-day trip to Zermatt, and it is hands down one of the best hotels we have ever stayed in.
The entire hotel is decorated with beautifully carved wood, creating a cute alpine feel. Add to this a cosy fire in the evening, a lovely bar in the lobby and an exclusive guest-only Finnish sauna and relaxation room.
We honestly can’t speak highly enough of the Swiss Alpine Hotel Allalin - the location is perfect (less than 10 min walk from Sunnegga, Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise), the staff are incredibly friendly and hospitable, and the views of the Matterhorn from your balcony are completely unmatched.
Our favourite parts of Swiss Alpine Hotel Allalin:
Continental Buffet Breakfast
Boutique, Alpine vibes
Spa and Wellness Centre, including Finnish Sauna
The kindest staff we’ve ever met at a hotel!
Incredible Matterhorn Views from your Balcony
If you’re looking for the best place to stay in Zermatt for your 4-day travel itinerary, then the Swiss Alpine Hotel Allalin is where you should be looking!
The inviting bar area in Swiss Alpine Hotel Allalin - we spent quite a few hours relaxing here!
Is 4 days enough in Zermatt?
This is a tricky question to generalise, so we have split it up by traveller type so you can decide for yourself if you think 4 days in Zermatt is enough for you.
Visiting Zermatt in Winter (Skier/Snowboarder): 4 days is how long we spent in Zermatt during the Winter, and to be truthful, we felt very rushed. We only managed 1 full day of boarding on the slopes because we wanted to fit everything else in. If you want to make the most of the impeccable snow conditions in Zermatt, skiers/snowboarders should aim for at least 5-7 days!
Visiting Zermatt in Winter (Non-skier/snowboarder): 4 days is the perfect amount of time to explore Zermatt in Winter as a non-skier/snowboarder. You’ll have plenty of time to visit all the major sights, get to grips with the town, and have a chance to take it easy and relax.
Visiting Zermatt in Summer: 4 days is just about enough to visit Zermatt in Summer. You will be able to fit in 2 pretty significant hikes and still have plenty of time to relax in spas, eat cheese fondue and marvel at the Matterhorn!
Chez Vrony - found on the Sunnegga-Rothorn area in Zermatt
Best Things to do in Zermatt: 4-Day Itinerary
We’ve tried to split the itinerary into morning, afternoon and evenings so you can plan ahead and move things around if you need to.
Here’s a quick overview of our 4-Day Zermatt Itinerary for Winter:
Day 1 - Zermatt Village; Matterhorn Glacier Paradise; Glacier Palace
Day 2 - Full Skiing/Snowboarding Day; Alpine Spa Session
Day 3 - Skiing/Snowboarding at Schwarzsee; Ski into Italy; Sunset Viewpoint
Day 4 - Gornergrat Cog Train; Iglu Dorf; Tobogganing/Snowshoeing
*Quick notes: The itinerary is based on arriving in Zermatt early on Day 1 and leaving late on Day 4. It also involves 2 full days of skiing; non-skiers can tailor the itinerary and spread everything else out. It’s meant as a rough guide to inspire you!
Good to know: Zermatt is a car-free destination, so you will arrive by train. Does the Swiss Travel Pass cover Zermatt? Thankfully, yes it does, and it can save you a lot of money!
Zermatt Winter Itinerary: Day 1
Day 1 - Zermatt Village; Matterhorn Glacier Paradise; Glacier Palace
Morning
You should arrive in Zermatt on the morning of day 1 to begin your 4-day Zermatt Winter Itinerary.
Remember that Zermatt is an entirely car-free village, so the easiest way to get to Zermatt is via the train. For this, we recommend buying a Swiss Travel Pass to save money on train fares. It’s especially handy if you are going to be visiting anywhere else in Switzerland other than Zermatt.
Once you’ve arrived and left your luggage at your hotel (remember, we can’t recommend Swiss Alpine Hotel Allalin enough!), you have the entire morning to explore the village.
We recommend wandering in and out of the boutique ski shops before heading to the Hinterdorf area. Here, you will find fascinating wooden houses dating back to the 15th Century - some of them are still occupied today!
Even the Aprés Bars in Zermatt have a lovely Alpine feel to them
Afternoon
In the afternoon, we suggest riding the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise to get incredible views of the Matterhorn and the surrounding Alps. Not sure what this is? Well, here’s everything you need to know about the iconic Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.
We recommend ordering a Matterhorn Glacier Paradise ticket online before you arrive. Then, you simply exchange your voucher for the actual lift ticket at the station.
The station is called ‘Zermatt-Matterhorn Valley Station’, and you need to get on the Matterhorn Express Cable Car up to Trockener Steg. From here, you will transfer onto the brand new Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Gondola that will take you directly to Europe’s highest cable car station at 3883m.
Once you’ve enjoyed the views and taken plenty of photos, make sure to check out the incredible Glacier Palace inside the glacier. Yes, that’s right, you get to go directly into the glacier, see some incredible ice sculptures, and ride a slide through a crevasse! It’s easily one of the best things to do in Zermatt during winter!
Make your way back down the gondolas and cable cars and head back to the hotel to shower and get changed.
Ben looking out from the Viewing Platform at the summit of Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
Evening/Dinner
For your 1st dinner in Zermatt, we recommend trying something local and traditional. What better way to do this than experiencing an authentic cheese fondue in Switzerland? Sharing a cheese fondue is one of the most romantic things to do in Zermatt for a reason!
We recommend the Swiss Chalet Restaurant in the centre of the village. It’s got a really cute, alpine feel to it, and the fondue is insane! Pair it with a local Zermatt Beer, and it’s the perfect combination!
Swiss Chalet Restaurant
Good to know: Zermatt is small so you need to reserve a table for every dinner. You can do this yourself by going to the restaurant during the day, asking your hotel to reserve a table for you, or by downloading the Zermatt-Matterhorn App and reserving directly from there.
Zermatt Winter Itinerary: Day 2
Day 2 - Full Skiing/Snowboarding Day; Alpine Spa Session
Morning
Day 2 of your Zermatt Winter itinerary is all about skiing (or, in our case, snowboarding)! Skiing in Zermatt is one of the premier reasons why people choose to visit this incredible destination. Thanks to the 360km of skiable terrain and guaranteed snow 365 days a year, Zermatt is one of the best ski resorts in Europe for couples.
We recommend beginning your day at the Sunnegga Ski Area by taking the 4-and-a-half-minute underground Sunnegga Funicular. If you’ve ordered your ski pass online ahead of time, you can redeem it at the kiosk before jumping on the funicular.
From the top of the funicular, you can head to Wolli Park, which is a great starting place for beginners, or to get your ski legs back up to speed.
Spend the rest of the morning enjoying the incredible selection of cruisy, wide, blue and red runs at Sunnegga before heading to Adler Hitta for a spot of Aprés. We loved sitting in the deckchairs, sipping on a cocktail and watching the Matterhorn.
If you prefer, though, Adler Hitta does offer an exclusive sun terrace throughout the winter with an extensive sit-down menu.
Views from the Sunnegga-Rothorn Ski Area in Zermatt
Afternoon
After spending the morning at Sunnegga, catch the Hohtälli gondola to the Gornergrat ski area. By the afternoon, this area will be in the sun and full of brilliant, long red runs. Now you’ve well and truly got your ski legs back.
Best of all, you can ski all afternoon here and then either ski runs 39, 41 and 42 (all red runs) back down into the village or, if you’re tired, jump on board the Gornergrat Cog Railway and ride down the mountain in style - your ski pass grants you access to the train!
Skiing/Snowboarding is the best thing to do in Winter in Zermatt
Evening/Dinner
Once back at the hotel, head to the spa downstairs for the perfect after-skiing tonic. Let your muscles recover in the Finnish sauna before heading to the silence room for the ultimate chill-out time.
For dinner tonight, we recommend the Schweizerhof Hotel Kitchen, the main restaurant in the Schweizerhof Hotel in the village. In our opinion, we believe it serves the best pizzas in town - Ben ordered the ‘Diavola’ and Orla got the ‘Miss Italia’. They were unbelievable!!
‘Miss Italia’ Pizza from Schweizerhof Hotel Kitchen
Zermatt Winter Itinerary: Day 3
Day 3 - Skiing/Snowboarding at Schwarzsee; Ski into Italy; Sunset Viewpoint
Morning
Another full day of skiing/snowboarding is on the cards for day 3 of your epic Winter Zermatt travel itinerary. Today, however, we suggest returning to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, beginning at the ‘Zermatt-Matterhorn Valley Station’.
You can make it all the way to the Matterhorn Glacier or decide to get off at any of the stations en route and enjoy all the amazing runs in the Schwarzsee Ski Area.
For lunch, there are a couple of great options at the Trockener Steg Station, including the Ice Bar, which serves as a bar, buffet restaurant and pizzeria, all rolled into one.
Main ski run from Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Cable Car Station
Afternoon
For the afternoon, provided that you have bought the ‘International ski pass’, we recommend skiing down into the Italian resort of Cervinia.
From the top of the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, there are lots of skiable routes down into Cervinia. The majority are narrower red runs, but once you get half down, they open up into really nice, wide blue runs to rest your legs.
If you do ski on the Italian side, remember to begin your ascent back up to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise at 3pm (absolute latest!) to avoid being stuck on the Italian side of the border.
To get back to Zermatt, you can either take the gondola down or, if you’re up for a challenge, take the longest continuous ski run in the Alps that stretches an impressive 25km from Klein Matterhorn to Zermatt. It’s mainly a red run, but your legs will be burning by the time you get into the village!
Important to know: If you miss the final chair back up the mountain, we’ve heard reports that the taxi from Cervinia to Zermatt can cost upwards of a whopping 400 CHF!!
Some of the ski runs in Zermatt are narrow and tree-lined
Evening/Dinner
Providing your legs feel fresh enough, before dinner this evening, we suggest hiking to the famous Zermatt Matterhorn Viewpoint at the top of the village to watch the sunset.
The viewpoint will be crowded, but if you get your own little pocket of space, it can be a really magical experience watching the sunset over that most famous of mountain peaks. The pictures are also pretty epic from up here too!
Matterhorn Sunset Viewpoint above Zermatt Village
For dinner this evening, it’s a short walk down from the viewpoint to Casa Mia, one of our favourite restaurants in Zermatt. It serves lovely Italian pastas and they really are delicious. Orla got the ‘Funghi Tortelloni’ and Ben opted for the ‘Beef Ragu Orecchiette’ - both were incredible but for us, the orecchiette was definitely the winner!
Orla’s ‘Funghi Tortelloni’ with Truffle shavings from Casa Mia
Zermatt Winter Itinerary: Day 4
Day 4 - Gornergrat Cog Train; Iglu Dorf; Tobogganing/Snowshoeing
Morning
For the final day of your epic 4-day adventure in Zermatt, it’s time to tick off everything from the bucket list you haven’t yet seen.
Starting with taking the Gornergrat Cog Railway from Zermatt station in town all the way to the top station, which happens to be called ‘Gornergrat Station’.
Again, we recommend ordering a Gornergrat Cog Railway ticket online before you arrive. Then you simply exchange your voucher for the actual train ticket at the station - it saves a bunch of time!
The viewpoint at the top of Gornergrat is absolutely breathtaking. Make sure to take those Instagram-worthy shots with the Golden train carriage!
Once you’ve finished gawking at the incredible views, hope back on the train and travel one stop to the Rotenboden station. From here, we recommend following the signs for the 15 minute walk to Iglu Dorf - an Aprés Ski bar in an igloo that doubles up as a hotel in the evenings!
Top tip: to make it even more magical, you can rent snowshoes at the Rotenboden Station for around 10 CHF per person.
Iglu Dorf Bar - a winter wonderland in Zermatt
Afternoon
Once you’ve had a drink and a bite to eat at Iglu Dorf, hike back up to the Rotenboden Station for your final winter adventure in Zermatt.
At the station, you can rent toboggans for 15 CHF per person, and there is a dedicated Rotenboden toboggan run that runs all the way from Rotenboden station to Riffelberg station. The trail allows you to get a surprising amount of speed on the toboggans so watch out!
Best of all, you can drop your toboggan off at the Riffelberg station and jump straight on the Gornergrat Train back down into the village, saving you from hiking back up to the original rental place.
On our snowy hike from Rotenboden Station to Riffelberg Station
Evening/Dinner
The final evening is completely free for you to have a wonderful final night in Zermatt. If you have another night of accommodation booked, then you can simply wander around the village and find a lovely place to eat and enjoy your last few hours in this breathtaking Alpine haven.
If, like us, day 4 is the final day of the trip, you can simply head to the Zermatt Train Station to catch your connection to the airport or elsewhere in Switzerland. Remember though, if you’re heading elsewhere you need to buy a Swiss Travel Pass to save you money on all the train fares.
There we have it, folks, your ultimate curated 4-day Zermatt Itinerary in Winter. Obviously, we don’t expect you to follow this itinerary to the last detail, but we hope it has given you a good idea of how to spend 4 days in Zermatt. It’s an absolutely magical place to visit, especially in the depths of Winter, so hopefully, this has inspired your Zermatt itinerary - we wish we were going back with you!
