Planning to travel in autumn in Zermatt with kids? In this travel guide, you will find information about visiting Zermatt in autumn and a quick family friendly travel itinerary for this picturesque mountain resort in the Valais region.
Autumn in Zermatt with Kids
Zermatt is a car-free mountaineering and ski resort nestled in the Swiss Alps. The enchanting mountain village is synonymous with the Matterhorn, one of the most famous mountains the world. Riding on the Gornergrat Railway, taking in the views of the Matterhorn and hiking the golden autumn trails were all highlights from our short stay in Zermatt.
Keep in mind when visiting Zermatt in autumn, that many hotels, restaurants and some mountain transport close in early or mid-October for a few weeks before the winter season begins. The Sunnegga funicular is an example of a mountain transport that closes for the season in early October. This underground railway takes visitors from Zermatt to the Sunnegga area, known for the Leisee lake and Wolli family adventure park.
The Gonergrat Railway and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise are popular tourist attractions in Zermatt that are open year round. Read on for more about our experience taking the Gonergrat Railway and hiking to Riffelsee for stunning Matterhorn views in autumn.
Things to Do in Zermatt in Autumn
Surrounded by golden larch tree forests, Zermatt is one of the best places in Switzerland for autumn hiking and seeing the beautiful fall foliage. Highlights of exploring Zermatt in autumn with kids include riding the historic cogwheel Gornergrat Railway, enjoying local cuisine in the charming village and hiking the golden trails.
Ride the Gornergrat Railway
One of the top things to do in Zermatt with kids is riding the Gornergrat Railway, which offers breath-taking views of the Matterhorn peak. The 35 minute cogwheel train journey takes you to the Gornergrat summit at 3100m, with four stops along the way for various options for hiking or snowshoeing.
Gornergrat is accessible in any season, 365 days a year. Children receive discounted rates on the Gonergrat Railway, with pricing varying depending on the season. In the summer season, May to October, children 6 years and under travel for free. In the winter season, November to April, children 9 years and under travel for free.
Children aged 15 and under with a Junior Card or Swiss Family Card also travel free of charge on the Gornergrat Railway and can pick up a free ticket for the entrance gates at the ticket counter.
Dogs are welcome on the Gonergrat Railway and travel for free, but they must be on a leash and are not allowed on the seats.
Tip: Try to get a seat on the right side of the train when heading up to Gornergrat, or on the left heading back down to Zermatt. This is the side to enjoy the best views of the Matterhorn during the journey.
Book tickets for the Gonergrat Railway Zermatt
The four intermediate stops on the Gonergrat Railways between Zermatt and Gornergrat are Findelbach, Riffelalp, Riffelberg and Rotenboden. Riffelberg is a popular station for winter activities, with great views towards the Matterhorn. Rotenboden is a high-altitude stop known for its convenient access to hiking trails and the Riffelsee lake.
Gornergrat Viewpoints
Upon arriving at Gornergrat station, it is a short walk to the viewing platforms to take in the panoramic views of the Matterhorn, 28 other 4000-metre peaks, including the Dufourspitze and the Dom and the Gorner Glacier.
The 360-degree viewing platform is located above the train station, behind the 3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat.
A fun activity at Gornergrat for families is to interact with the Stone Towers, perched below the adventure world of ZOOOM the Matterhorn. Look out for, expand on the formations or create new stone towers. Please respect existing stone formations.
Restaurants on Gornergrat
There is a variety of restaurants on the Gornergrat at the 3100 Kulmhotel. Four restaurants include Glacier Alpine Kitchen for classic Swiss cuisine, Sky Lounge offering stunning terrace views and cocktails, saycheese! for a fondue and raclette experience and Tiger Bowl offering takeaway Asian fusion rice bowls.
You can also find more dining options at the next stops along the Gornergrat Railway, Riffelberg and Riffelalp, from buffet restaurants to snack bars to fine dining overlooking the Matterhorn.
Autumn Hikes in Zermatt
One of the best hikes in Zermatt with kids is the 2km downhill hike from Gornergrat to Riffelsee. The hike to Riffelsee is an easy downhill walk, descending 270m of elevation and takes about 40 minutes. The path is a bit steep at times, but not particularly difficult.
The iconic Riffelsee is an alpine lake at 2757m, world-famous for its perfect reflection of the Matterhorn peak on calm days. The best times for photographers to capture this beautiful scene is in the early morning or late afternoon.
It is then a short 5 minute walk up from the Riffelsee to Rotenboden station, the next stop on the Gornergrat Railway back to Zermatt.
You can also follow the trails to carry on hiking down to either Riffelberg or Riffelalp, enjoying another hour or so with Matterhorn views. Another popular autumn hike is the Three Lake Hike from Riffelalp. This hike is an adaptation of the popular Five Lakes Trail, which is not possible after the Sunnegga-Blauherd cable car closes in early October.
For the Three Lakes Hike, take the Gornergrat Railway to Riffelalp, then hike across to Sunegga, passing three alpine hikes along the way. The autumn colour highlights along the trail include the golden larch trees and red blueberry bushes.
During autumn in Zermatt, you can also enjoy seeing the vibrant fall foliage along hiking trails in the area surrounding the village. Again, you must plan carefully as lifts and services start to close in early October.
When we visited Zermatt in autumn, we stayed in a holiday rental above the OMNIA Hotel. From that area, we could access a hiking trail providing sweeping views of Zermatt and the Matterhorn. It was a calm and beautiful spot among the golden larch trees that we were lucky to have steps from our vacation rental in Zermatt.
What to do in Zermatt
The main street of Bahnhofstrasse in Zermatt is a prime destination for shopping and dining. Along with luxury retailers and alpine-themed stores, you can find independent boutiques, popular Swiss chocolate shops Lindt and Läderach, unique souvenir shops and bookstores.
Top things to do in autumn in Zermatt with kids include exploring the traditional timber houses in Hinterdorfstrasse, Zermatt’s historic old town, and visiting the underground Matterhorn Museum – Zermatlantis.
Hinterdorfstrasse is a preserved section of the old village offering a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of Zermatt. This picturesque cobbled street is a fascinating journey through time, showcasing wooden chalets that date back centuries.
The Matterhorn Museum – Zermatlantis is an underground museum where visitors can learn about Zermatt’s alpine history, the story of the first ascent of the Matterhorn and how Zermatt has developed over the years. The interactive exhibits and displays at the Matterhorn Museum give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the mountain world of past centuries.
Where to Eat in Zermatt
When planning a trip to Zermatt in autumn, remember to book restaurants in advance since some restaurants close for a few weeks until the start of the winter season. Since Zermatt is a popular tourist destination even during the quieter shoulder season, many restaurants do get booked up well ahead.
I can highly recommend the following restaurants in Zermatt, for their charming atmosphere and great local cuisine.
Restaurant Schäferstube
Tradition Julen Hotel Superior, Riedstrasse 2, 3920 Zermatt, Switzerland | www.julen.ch/en/restaurant-schaeferstube
Restaurant Schäferstube, the cosy traditional restaurant located in the Julen Hotel, is renown for its authentic Valaisian cuisine, raclette and cheese fondues. Schäferstube offers an alpine hut atmosphere and specialises in Zermatt lamb dishes cooked in a wood-fired grill.
Lamb speciality dishes served at Restaurant Schäferstube include grilled rack of lamb served with potato gratin and vegetables (pictured), lamb stew with rice and vegetables and braised lamb shank in a strong red wine sauce.
View the menu at Restaurant Schäferstube
The meat fondue consists of slices of veal, beef and pork (beef only pictured above), which are prepared on the table in a pot with a broth, served with several sauces, fruit, pickled vegetables and French fries.
In the autumn, Restaurant Schäferstube also serves a special game menu, with dishes that include roasted deer steak with pumpkin, cranberry and ginger chutney, as well as saddle of venison with honey cream sauce served with spätzli and chestnuts.
Le Gitan Grill
Bahnhofstrasse 64, 3920 Zermatt, Switzerland | www.legitan.ch
Located on Zermatt’s main street, Bahnhofstrasse, Le Gitan Grill is a family-run restaurant serving delicious local cuisine, hearty salads, soups and risottos and meat dishes cooked on an open fire grill.
Popular items on their grill menu include the beef skewer, the entrecôte steak and the rack of lamb with herbs.
When we visited Zermatt in autumn, Le Gitan Grill was also offering a seasonal autumn menu and I enjoyed their pumpkin ravioli dish topped with chestnuts.
View the menu at Le Gitan Grill
Getting to Zermatt Valais
The two main ways to get to Zermatt are taking the train to Zermatt centre or driving into neighbouring Täsch and then taking a taxi service. The closest airports to Zermatt are Zurich and Geneva, and both airports offer twice-hourly train connections from their in-airport train stations.
If you are travelling by car to Zermatt, you will need to park your car in the neighboring village of Täsch. About 6km from Zermatt, Täsch serves as a gateway to Zermatt, offering various options for indoor and outdoor parking. The primary indoor facility is at the train station, Matterhorn Terminal, with over 2100 spaces and operating 24/7.
Other options are at private car parks, which often offer additional services such as taxi transport or electric car charging. We booked a parking space in advance at Taxi Christophe, a private covered parking lot in Täsch. Taxi Cristophe also arranges the taxi transfers and e-taxis to and from Zermatt.
The taxi transfer dropped us off at a taxi station at the entrance of Zermatt. An e-taxi then picked us up moments later and brought us as close as possible to our holiday rental in Zermatt.
If you travelling to Zermatt by train from Zurich or Geneva, you will take Swiss Federal Railways which typically involve one change in Visp or Brig. The small-gauge red mountain train that takes you between Visp and Zermat travels up the Vispatal valley, offering views of waterfalls and the Alps as you ascend.
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