How To Get To Zermatt From Zurich Airport? Answered!
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Are you about to land at Zurich airport in a few days, and one of the destinations you really want to see is the magical village of Zermatt? You’re right here. In this article, I’ll show you how to get to Zermatt from Zurich airport in the fastest and easiest way. I’ve spent 3 years living and traveling around Switzerland. So now I have the ultimate answer for you.
How To Get To Zermatt From Zurich Airport
You have two options to get to Zermatt from Zurich airport. Either take trains and change twice or opt for a private transfer.
Swiss trains are the most organized and reliable in the entire world. They’re almost always on time. If you need to change trains, your connecting one will be waiting for you on the platform or coming soon. From Zurich airport to Zermatt, you’ll need to change trains twice. In this article, I’ll explain everything step-by-step, so you have the most comfortable journey. I’ll also recommend a pass that’ll make the journey much cheaper than booking a regular train ticket.
From Zurich airport to Zermatt, you’ll need to change trains twice.
You can also book a private transfer if you want more comfort. A private transfer will drive you directly from Zurich airport to Zermatt. But remember that we’re in Switzerland, so it’ll be costly. Also, Zermatt is a car-free village, so your private transfer will only be able to drive you close to Zermatt, called Matterhorn Terminal. From there, you’ll have to take a train anyways (about 12 minutes ride).
Zermatt is a car-free village and the private transfer can only get you to the Matterhorn Terminal (12 minutes by train away from Zermatt).
1. Take Swiss Trains From Zurich Airport To Zermatt
If you want to enjoy the comfort of trains and already see this country’s beautiful landscape on the way, take Swiss trains.
The train journey from Zurich airport to Zermatt takes between 3 hours & 30 minutes to 3 hours & 45 minutes.
Several connections can get you from Zurich Airport to Zermatt. Generally, you’ll have to change the train once or twice. The changes are always made in Visp town. In addition, you might also have to change at Zurich main station or in Bern. Here you have the most popular train connections between Zurich airport and Zermatt:
- Zurich Airport – Visp – Zermatt
- Zurich Airport – Bern – Visp – Zermatt
- Zurich Airport – Zurich main station – Visp – Zermatt
Your connection depends on the time you want to travel throughout the day.
Use SBB App For Your Orentation
Sometimes, navigating the Swiss train stations in bigger cities such as Zurich and Bern might be a little tricky. The train connections are well organized and run after one another. This usually gives you only 7 to 10 minutes for the change.
SBB App is an application for Swiss trains. It shows Switzerland’s train, bus, and boat connections. Just type in your destination, and it’ll navigate you. You can use the English version of this app. So download it for free before you travel.
However, you don’t have to be worried. The SBB app shows you the exact platform from which the next train departs. This way, you can prepare to get off the train and immediately walk to your next platform. Even before arriving at the next station, the announcements on the train talk about the next connections from the station with platforms and departure times, so pay attention.
If you have the SBB App, it’ll make your journey a lot more comfortable. You’ll easily navigate where you are and what train to take next.
How Much Does A Train Ticket From Zurich Airport To Zermatt Cost?
I think you’ve already heard that Switzerland is not the cheapest country. This applies to everything, food, drinks, transportation, and accommodation. But there is always a way to make your journey more affordable, so stick with me.
A regular train bought in an office or a ticket machine at the train station costs approx. 130 Swiss Francs, almost $140. Just for a one-way ticket to Zermatt.
If you want a discount, go into the SBB App. You’ll get a deal if you buy your ticket via the SBB App one or two days before your journey. But not much, it still costs almost $100 with the discount.
Half-Fare Card For Switzerland Travel
Another option is to get the Half-Fare Card. A Half-Fare Card is a transportation card you buy for 120 Swiss Francs. It’s valid for a month. Once you have this card, you’ll get all other trains, bus, and boat tickets for half price. In this case, traveling from Zurich airport to Zermatt, you would pay $70 instead of the full price of $140. However, you must pay $130 upfront to obtain the Half-Fare Card.
Generally, I’m not the biggest fan of this card. I recommend getting it if you’re staying longer in Switzerland and calculating it’ll be worth it. With the card, you’ll also get a discount for cable cars and funiculars in Zermatt.
If you decide to travel using Half-Fare Card, you can purchase it on the official website.
Swiss Travel Pass & Swiss Travel Pass Flex
What I consider the best option to travel the country in almost all cases is the Swiss Travel Pass. With this pass, I traveled Switzerland for 8 days, saving tons of money. So let me explain to you why and how.
Swiss Travel Pass Price For Your Trip
Swiss Travel Pass enables you to travel the entire Switzerland using trains, buses, and boats on the Swiss lakes ”for free’. You can have it for 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 days. Additionally, you’ll have public transportation in cities included and entry to over 500 museums in the country.
Children under 16 years old can travel entirely free. Also, you’ll get a 50% discount for mountain excursions in Switzerland.
So let me do the math for you. Let’s say you want to visit Zermatt for 3 or 4 days.
The Swiss Travel Pass costs 229 Swiss Francs per person. With this Pass, you can travel as follows:
- Day: Travel from Zurich Airport to Zermatt (all trains included)
- Day: Spend a day in Zermatt doing a mountain excursion, seeing local museums
- Day: Travel from Zermatt back to Zurich (or wherever you want) – option to take any train and even take a boat on a Swiss Lake.
You can do these activities without extra cost for only 229 CHF. You’ll only have to pay additional fees if you want to do a mountain excursion in Zermatt (but only 50%).
Comparision Half-Fare Card vs. Swiss Travel Pass Price For 3-Day Trip
Whereas with the Half-Fare Card, you would still overpay. As my calculations show, you would pay firstly for the half-fare card (120CHF). Then you’ll pay for a ticket from Zurich to Zermatt (60CHF), then you’ll have to pay for any mountain excursion (full price) or entry to a museum. After, you’ll have to pay 60CHF again for a train back to Zurich.
You’ll be fixed on this train and won’t even have the option to travel freely on your last day wherever you want. You can only take the boat if you pay extra again.
So the option with Half-Fare Card is 120 + 65 + 65 = 250 CHF just for the train rides, excluding activities in Zermatt.
You get the point. With the Swiss Travel Pass, you’ll save a lot. The more days you choose to travel with the Swiss Travel Pass, the more you’ll save.
Swiss Travel Pass Flex
If you stay longer in Switzerland, you can also get the Swiss Travel Pass Flex. The difference is that with the Flex Pass, you can travel on a chosen number of days (3, 4, 6, 8, 15) within a month.
Whereas with the Swiss Travel Pass, you can only travel continuously. So calculate for yourself which one will be more valuable for you, depending on the activities you want to do and where you want to travel.
If you want to learn even more about the Swiss Travel Pass, check out my article, ‘Is Swiss Travel Pass worth it.’ You’ll learn what is included, which mountain excursions are covered, and which of them you can do with a 50% discount.
You can book the Swiss Travel Pass by clicking on the image or button below. Once you purchase, they’ll send it to you via email. You can then print it and use it to travel in Switzerland.
Check Out Swiss Travel Pass Flex
2. Book A Private Transfer From Zurich Airport To Zermatt
The second option for you to get to Zermatt from Zurich Airport is by getting a private shuttle. Walking outside the airport and desperately looking for a shuttle to your destination can be scary. However, bear in mind that for many people, Zermatt is far away from Zurich Airport, so many might refuse. Therefore, it’s best to book your transfer in advance.
I recommend booking your transfer with GetTransfer. They offer shuttles all over the world and are very reliable. They have professional drivers, funny, and some of them can even explain a little bit about Switzerland on the way.
Booking their transfer is very easy. Go to their webpage, request a transfer from Zurich Airport to Zermatt, choose the date and time, and they’ll get in touch with you.
Zermatt Is Car-Free Village: Taking A Train & Hotel Shuttle
Bear in mind that Zermatt is a car-free village. So the transfer will only drive you to the last parking lot before the village. It’s called Matterhorn Terminal. From there, you’ll have to take a short train ride (12 minutes). But you don’t have to be afraid. Ask the driver for directions. Some might even guide you to the train and show you the exact way.
Once you’re in Zermatt, you can walk everywhere, as the place is super tiny. I know that you might have heavy suitcases, so don’t worry. Hotels in Zermatt always offer a free shuttle from the train station to the hotel. Just contact your hotel and request one.
Hotels in Zermatt always offer a free shuttle from the train station to the hotel.
Best Hotels In Zermatt
Last but not least, I’d like to give you some accommodation tips in Zermatt. These are my top 4 hotels in the beautiful car-free village. They have great service, a free shuttle from and to the train station, a relaxing wellness area, and professional staff.
If you want to stay in the highest hotel in the Swiss Alps, book yourself at the Kulmhotel on Gornergrat. You’ll be surrounded by mountains, with the best views of Matterhorn. Breakfast and dinner are included:
- 3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat – higest hotel in the Swiss Alps
More Travel Tips For Switzerland
These are the two best options for you to get to Zermatt from Zurich Airport. It's simple. Just follow these guidelines, and you'll be fine. Think about the best pass to make the journey most affordable. And most importantly, enjoy the stunning landscape from the train.
It'll already make you fall in love with Switzerland. So phones down and look outside the window. I personally love taking Swiss trains just like that. It's the best relaxation for me. Hoping on a train, listening to music, and staring out the window.
In case you're in Paris and want to get the fastest way from Paris to Zermatt, check out my separate article.
If you want more inspiration for Switzerland, check out my separate page with all the articles. Also, get my 8-day Switzerland itinerary if you want to see the country's highlights. Or visit some of the most beautiful mountains in Switzerland.
Learn more about mountain excursions in Zermatt in another article.
In case you want to get even more out of your Swiss Travel Pass, check out the top 5 panoramic trains in Switzerland.
I also highly recommend you see the Jungfrau Region. It's the most stunning one from the entire Switzerland.
Have fun, enjoy the beauty, and visit a mountain. That's all you have to do in Switzerland :).
