4 Best Ways to see the Incredible Matterhorn in the Fall (September, October, November)

Zermatt in the Fall is truly magical. You have snow, you have beautiful autumn colors on the trees, and you have the Matterhorn. If you're planning to visit Zermatt on your next trip to Switzerland with hopes of seeing the incredible Matterhorn then you've come to the right place. We're sharing our best tips on Matterhorn viewing in the fall months as well as the 4 best places we found to see the Matterhorn from our most recent visit earlier this month.

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Before you Visit Zermatt...

Before heading off to the adorable mountain village of Zermatt, there's a few things you should know to make the most of your trip. Not to worry, we've gathered these into an easy to read list for you below :

• No Cars : That's right, Zermatt has NO CARS! To get around town you can either walk or take a taxi (also not a car but rather a small e-car almost like an enclosed golf cart). Taxis are typically about 4CHF (about $4.58) per person through town. Even if you plan to drive your own car or rental, the farthest you'll be able to drive it is the town of Tasch.
• Arrival by Train : If you can't drive to Zermatt, then you might be wondering how exactly you get there. You can either drive yourself, or take public transport (bus or train) to the nearby town of Tasch - however from here everyone will need to take the train.
• Food is EXPENSIVE : Ok so this applies to all of Switzerland, but if Zermatt is the only place you're visiting in Switzerland then the prices of food will most certainly be a shock the first time you go grocery shopping or out to eat. We highly recommend staying at an Airbnb or place you can purchase groceries and cook at home to save some on your budget. If you're dying to try some fondue (like we were) we highly recommend Restaurant Schaferstube - they had a great basic cheese fondue meal that was fairly reasonably priced but very delicious!
• Off Season : If you're planning to visit Zermatt in the Fall, then you've chosen a great time. However, it's worth noting that the fall months - as well as the springtime - is Zermatt's "off season" and chances are you'll notice a few places will be closed. Both restaurants and hotels take this time to revamp and rest up before the upcoming tourist seasons of winter and summer.

Looking for a place to stay? We stayed at this Airbnb and it was perfect for solo travelers or couples!

Where to See the Matterhorn

1. Gornergrat Railway
Hands down the best way to see the Matterhorn in any season is on the Gornergrat Railway. Beginning in Zermatt, you'll be taken on an approximately 45 minute ride to the top - nearly 3100 meters high - and have nearly constant views of the Matterhorn itself. We highly recommend adding the "priority boarding" option since seating is first come first serve, and this way you'll be able to snag seats on the right side of the railway. If you get good weather, you'll have the best views of the Matterhorn during the ride - with even better views at the very last stop where you can get out and explore. (You can actually also get out at the other 3 stops on the way as well, however in the winter it might be a little cold and snowy while you wait for the next rail.) At the Gornergrat Station there's a few buildings you can check out - including a hotel, restaurant, and "ZOOOM the Matterhorn" - an interactive virtual reality experience where you can go paragliding over the peak of the Matterhorn! Luckily for priority pass holders this experience is completely included in your ticket.

Book your adventure on the Gornergrat Railway!

2. Zermatt City
If you're looking for some cheaper (*free*) views of the Matterhorn, then your best bet is right in the city center of Zermatt. There are a few areas we would actually recommend, including the Kirchbrucke Bridge and the Forest Fun Park Zermatt. The Kirchbrucke Bridge is located right in town, easily accessible, and you'll see many tourists stopping here with their luggage. The Forest Fun Park is a little on the edge of town, and also the park itself was closed when we visited, the views from here are absolutely stunning, especially with the fall colors and Matter Vispa River running through it. When we were there, this area was especially quiet minus a few locals going out for a walk, and it was nice to enjoy and take in the views just by ourselves.

3. Murini Hill
Another fairly popular spot (maybe even more popular than the Kirchbrucke Bridge) is Murini Hill. Be warned, this hike might knock the wind out of you for a little while but it's 100% worth the short hike uphill. We did this hike fairly early in the day, around 9 am, for the best chance of avoiding the clouds that always seemed to cover the peak of the Matterhorn around midday. It might have also been to avoid the crowds, and even at this time in the day there were quite a few people joining us for the hike. From the center of town it was just under a one mile hike each way, with an incline of about 600-800 feet (varies depending on various hiking sites) the top not only offers an incredible view of the Matterhorn, but also of the town of Zermatt sprawled out below you. The hike took us about 15 minutes each way. Pro Tip : Follow the tourists, seriously. We accidentally took the first set of stairs on the right and turns out this was not the correct way. Take the path on the right that begins as a paved stone walkway and then turns into stairs. (see what we mean in our video below)

4. Zermatt - Zmutt via Zmuttweg
Another hike offering incredible views of the Matterhorn, this was a hike Tyler did on his own and it's a bit longer than Murini Hill. Clocking in around 5 miles roundtrip, make sure to dress warm with proper shoes that have good grip (or invest in some quality crampons). Unfortunately because we visited on our world trip we definitely did not have proper winter gear, and Tyler only ended up making it about 4/5 of the way there. It's said to bring you to a beautiful lake showcasing a reflection of the Matterhorn in the center of a deep valley. This hike is also a bit steep, and if you're visiting in the winter it's essential to make smart choices - and never walk out onto the lake unless you know with certainty how thick the ice is.

If you're visiting Switzerland for the epic views, then we also recommend checking out the 5 minute hike to Riffelsee Lake off the Gornergrat Railway or making your way to the Top of Europe! (seriously.)

Watch our Adventures in Switzerland here!

Other Switzerland blog posts :

• Best Places to View the Matterhorn
• 7 Things Not to Miss in Lucerne

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