The Best Things to Do in Zermatt in December

Zermatt is a small, quaint mountain village in the Swiss Alps, known for its stunning scenery and world-class winter sports, namely skiing and snowboarding. However, there's more to this village in winter than just sports. Let's take a deep dive into the other exciting things you can do in Zermatt, Switzerland.

The Gornergrat railway in Zermatt offers travellers scenic views as it passes through the landscape. Nestled above 3,089 metres of sea level, it's the highest open-air railway station in Europe. First opened in 1898, the railway has two platforms and two tracks at the station. Blessed with a viewing platform at the summit station, marvel at stunning panoramic views of the Matterhorn and the Monte Rosa mountains. It's a popular destination for tourists and hikers, as it passes through vegetation zones, from forest to alpine meadows and rocky terrain. The railway station is open all year round, and trains run every 30 minutes.

You can't plan a winter escape to Zermatt without planning a short stay in an igloo. This dome-shaped shelter, made entirely from blocks of snow, provides a strong, cosy home even when temperatures drop to -30. The igloo can maintain a steady temperature of 0 °C to -5 °C. To make sure you experience all the perks of staying in an igloo, there's even an igloo village between Riffelberg and Gornergrat, with a wide range of activities. Snowshoe hiking by night, sizzling hot tubs, fondue party, we can't think of anything more romantic.

The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is the highest mountain station in Europe at an altitude of above 3,883 meters above sea level. Here you can ski on a glacier, visit the Glacier Palace, experience the view in high altitude lifts and viewing platforms and much more.

Why not take the Matterhorn Express gondola and cable car lifts from Zermatt village? Then, the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise aerial tram takes you to the Klein Matterhorn, where you can enjoy breathtaking views. You can also visit the Glacier Palace, a series of ice caverns inside the glacier itself.

Zermatt in December undoubtedly offers plenty of stunning scenery to marvel at. One such wonder is Viewpoint, where you will experience the best village views towards the Matterhorn and other surrounding Alps. Whether you're standing at village level or near-village viewpoints, you can expect to experience one of the best photo spots for the Matterhorn. There are other pretty spots above the village where you can enjoy more scenic views, including village architecture, wooden chalets, and alpine meadows.

If you like the idea of taking in the alpine view from up in the sky, consider booking a helicopter ride to fly around the peak of the Matterhorn and over breathtaking glaciers. Air Zermatt offers sightseeing trips lasting either 20 or 30 minutes, including sightseeing flights, heli-skiing, Off-piste helicopter drops, and other aerial services. A standard sightseeing flight will cost around 230 CHF per person, but a memorable Matterhorn trip will cost slightly more at around 330 CHF. A private helicopter for 20 minutes costs around 1590 CHF.

Every year, hundreds of holidaymakers flock to Zermatt in December to experience the fabulous 50 km of winter walking and hiking paths around and above the area. Popular trails include the Matterhorn Glacier Trail, the Sunnegga to Riffelalp discovery hike, and gentle winter walks around the village and on lower-elevation paths.

These hikes and walks will take you around three hours, plenty of time to get lost in these epic views. Expect to experience the full scenic beauty of the area. But before you embark on any hike, make sure you're wearing sturdy boots with good ankle support, plenty of warm layers, including a waterproof outer layer, and, of course, hats, gloves, scarves, and sunglasses.

Zermatt in December offers skaters the opportunity to enjoy both indoor and outdoor skating. The village has a natural and an artificial outdoor rink, perfect for beginners and pros, as well as ice hockey and curling. There's also a sports centre, "Obere Matten", open daily from 10.00 to 19.00, plenty of time to indulge your love of skating. Groups can also rent the ice rink for roughly 150 CHF per hour.

Don't panic if you forget to pack your ice-skating equipment. Julen Sports shop, opposite the rink, has all the skating gear you need on hand to rent.

When it's really chilly outside, we recommend taking the adventure indoors in one of the many high-quality spa and pool facilities that welcome non-hotel guests with day passes. These venues often offer indoor heated pools and some outdoor warm pools.

Spa Newscens by Mont Cervin Palace has a 20 x 8 meter indoor pool. Resort La Ginabelle provides an outdoor pool heated to 34 -36 degrees Celsius. Hotel Sonne Zermatt has an indoor pool and a jacuzzi, and La Couronne Spa offers spa days, massages, and pool facilities against the stunning backdrop of the Matterhorn.

Zermatt is a magical place to spend the festive period. With its quaint Swiss Village backdrop, expect the ambience of a winter wonderland. The main high street in Zermatt, Bahnhofstrasse, really comes to life with odes of bright glittering Christmas decorations, sleigh rides across the incredible mountains, and, of course, an outdoor ice rink to skate around while listening to Christmas tunes courtesy of the local orchestra. Dive into this blog post to Celebrate Christmas in Zermatt: A Festive Alpine Experience to learn more.

Zermatt isn't just for winter; this stunning venue is perfect year-round. Whether you fantasise about staying in an igloo for the first time, embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime helicopter ride to take in mesmerising views of the Alps, or simply recharging your batteries at a relaxing Spa day, Zermatt has it all.

Considering buying a second home, why not move to Zermatt?  Steiger&Cie International Reality has an array of outstanding properties to view. Contact them today.