Welcome to Switzerland’s Wonderland. Zermatt is one of those fairytale-like places you can visit in real life.
Every direction I looked at took my breath away. It is one of the world’s most beautiful vacation villages. Idyllic, heavenly placed at the foot of Matterhorn, car-free and nicknamed “Matterhorn glacier paradise” - what else could you wish for?! This is what I call the perfect weekend getaway.
As I mentioned above Zermatt is car-free, but you can drive up to Täsch, where you can park your car for 10CHF per day. The parking is located exactly at the Täsch train station.
If you have half fare card, one-way train ticket from there to Zermatt is 4,10CHF. The normal price for a one-way ticket is 8,20CHF. The train ride up to Zermatt is between 12 and 15 minutes.
Once, arrived in Zermatt, you can walk to your accommodation or if it’s like in our case, some hotels provide free shuttle arrival and departure services. The only private transport in Zermatt is electric vehicles. You could get a bus to a stop closer to your hotel or also rent an electric taxi to wherever you are headed to.
WHERE TO STAY IN ZERMATT.
Maisons Matthiol
Our choice fell on Maisons Matthiol and we couldn’t have imagined it better than that. Nature elements in harmony with modernity. Peace, fresh mountain air, Matterhorn views, private spa and good food - the perfect escape to find your inner peace and get involved in a new adventure.
We had a spa room with our own sauna and hammam in it. Due to the current situation, we had the choice to have our breakfast à la carte in our room or the restaurant. We preferred getting room service and it was amazing enjoying the breakfast in our slippers and bathrobes.
Other facilities you might enjoy in the hotel are outside jacuzzi, spa area, fitness and fine dining at Filet et Fils (the restaurant of the hotel).
Aaand let’s mention again the Matterhorn view straight from your window (depending on your room).
This place washed all our worries about the ‘’new normal’’ away… well at least for the weekend.
Instagram: @maisons_matthiol
Book here: www.matthiol.com
RESTAURANTS.
The Zermatt cuisine is oriented mostly in Swiss traditional meat and cheese dishes, but I also found some vegan/ vegetarian options for myself in each of the restaurants we went to.
Here are the restaurants, we went to, except for the last one, which is on our list for the next time:
● Filet et Files – Grill restaurant / mostly meat
● Casa Mia and Molino – Italian restaurants
● Walliserstube -Swiss and International cuisine
● Chez Vrony – multiple-award-winning venue; serving organic produce; located at 2’130 metres in Findeln above Zermatt.
MATTERHORN.
The weekend didn’t start promising that we will be seeing Matterhorn because it was too shy and completely hidden behind the fog and the clouds.
However the day after the sky slowly started to clear and on Sunday, we did it – we enjoyed the best view ever.
The Matterhorn railway has several stations, the last one of which is Gornergrat. One way-ticket price for those who have half fare card is 25,50CHF; normal price – 51CHF.
Gornergrat is at 3’089 metres above sea level. We couldn’t do it this time, but it’s on our list for the next trip to Zermatt.
We left the train one station before Gornergrat at the Rotenboden station, which is located at an altitude of 2’815 metres above sea level. There, there is a magical tiny lake, called Riffelsee, where you can see the reflection of Matterhorn in it. Of course, this is only possible if the weather is on your side. We were lucky and got to see it for 15 minutes – double Matterhorn = double Toblerone (for those who might not know Matterhorn is on the Toblerone’s packaging).
To reach Riffelsee, once you are out at Rotenboden station, expect an easy hike down for about 10 minutes to get to the lake. Et voilà! Time to admire this beauty and take some breathtaking pictures for the archives.
TOP TIP: Right now, the canton of Valais, offers 100CHF voucher to be used in participating restaurants, shops, cable cars, the Matterhorn railway and other. Once they are issued, the vouchers are valid for 30 days. You can get your 100CHF offer between 27th July and 15th of December 2020. For more details and if you are eligible to participate, click here.
Zermatt is one of those must-visit Swiss destinations, which you shouldn’t skip. The landscapes, the air, the vibe… it takes you to another a better world, where simplicity takes over the unnecessary, so that the necessary may speak.
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