Zermatt Village

Fur-coated holiday makers, mountain men fresh from epic trips and tourists from all over the world happily mingle in Zermatt.

In the centre of Zermatt there remains a tiny cluster of ancient chalets where livestock huddles in stalls beneath ramshackle, twisted living quarters. The rest of the village - now more of a town - is a mix of modern and restored buildings that, thanks to the lack of motor vehicles, retains a charming, relaxed feel, where people happily stroll despite the electric taxis hurtling past with a moaning whine. There’s a mix of non-skiing, fur-coated holiday makers, mountain men fresh from epic trips, tourists from all over the world and ski instructors cycling the snowy cobbled streets with ski boots on.

The town stretches along the river and has extended over the years up each side of the valley. The main street reaches from the station to the church and beyond. Restaurants, bars, and shops – a mix of luxury (watches and jewelry) and more practical but still high quality ski and book shops and even supermarkets - are concentrated along here with some of the major hotels. A separate area of apartments and chalets at Winkelmatten, up a steep hill on the far side of the river, south east of town, is good for access to the Klein Matterhorn lifts and great views of the Matterhorn. On the east bank of the river more hotels, restaurants and bars are to be found, less densely packed than in the centre.