You don't have to be a skier to enjoy Zermatt to its fullest in winter. It's not just a skier’s paradise - it’s a winter wonderland filled with unique experiences and fun activities for non-skiers too.
After many visits to this charming village, we've curated 18 fun things to do in Zermatt for non-skiers, from scenic hikes and thrilling gondola rides to cozy mountainside dining and relaxing spa days.
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18 Things to Do in Zermatt for Non Skiers
1. Have an aperitif with the Matterhorn as your backdrop
There’s nothing quite like sipping an aperitif with the Matterhorn as your backdrop. Bundle up and scout out a sunny spot, whether it’s your hotel patio or a bar terrace.
Zermatt knows how to make cold weather comfortable, with heat lamps, fire tables, lambskins and blankets to keep you warm while you take in those incredible views.
2. See the panoramic view atop Europe's highest cable car station
As the highest cable car station in Europe, the ride up to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is an experience in itself. At 3,883 meters, the station feels like something out of a movie - think James Bond or Dr. Evil's lair - perched dramatically on the mountaintop.
Your ticket includes a ride up the elevator to the viewing platform, where you’ll be treated to panoramic views of some of the highest Alps, including the iconic Matterhorn.
✔️ Top Tip: Even if it's cloudy in Zermatt, you might catch clear skies above. Check out the live stream webcam to see if the view is worth the ride before you go
🚠 Tickets for Matterhorn Glacier Paradise are easy to buy through GetYourGuide. We like how you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.3. Slide through a glacier tunnel
Ice palace and slide at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
Even if you're not hitting the slopes, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise offers some standout activities. Your ticket gives you access to an ice palace carved into the glacier, where you can explore glowing blue tunnels and admire intricate ice sculptures.
The highlight is the ice slide. Hop on a mat and glide down a tunnel carved right into the glacier. If you're nervous about tight spaces, don’t worry - the ride is short and opens up inside. I’m claustrophobic, and I was ok with it!
🚠 Buy your ticket for Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.4. Take the new Matterhorn Alpine Crossing to Italy
From the top of Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, hop on the new Matterhorn Alpine Crossing gondola to cross into Italy. Opened in 2023, this route makes it easy for non-skiers to reach the charming village of Cervinia.
If you’d rather not go all the way to Cervinia, you can stop at the Testa Grigia Station instead. Here, you’ll find a rustic cafe and panoramic views of the Italian Alps - it's a unique spot to sip an Italian espresso.
✔️ Top Tip: You can purchase a combined ticket for Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and the gondola to Testa Grigia through GetYourGuide.5. Try unique Lindt chocolate flavours
If you’re a chocolate lover, you can't miss the Lindt shop in Zermatt village. They offer a variety of unique flavours you might not have tried before, like pistachio, strawberries & cream, and Marc de Champagne.
Just scoop your favourites into a bag or decorative tin and pay by weight. It's a great idea for a gift.
6. Unwind at the spa
Zermatt offers an impressive selection of hotels with luxurious spas. On a stormy day, book a massage and destress in the sauna or hammam. Zermatt's climate makes it feel extra cozy.
🧖♀️ Browse spa hotels in Zermatt - just click "spa" in the Facilities section under the Filter By column. ✔️ Top Tip: If your hotel doesn’t have a spa, don’t worry! Some hotels offer spa passes to non-guests. Hotel Coeurs Des Alpes offers a pass for CHF 50, and Cervo Mountain Resort lets you access their Mountain Ashram Spa for CHF 85.7. Get out into the snow with snowshoes
Challenge Trail
Starting at Gornergrat and ending at Rotenboden, this 1.7 km trail is rated as easy (though the name might suggest otherwise!). It takes about an hour to complete.
Panorama Trail
This 2.5 km trail starts at Rotenboden and ends at Riffelberg. Rated as moderate difficulty, it takes around 1.5 hours to finish.
A bonus of doing the Panorama Trail is that you can celebrate your hike with a drink at Zirkus Chez Heini, a cozy new après-ski spot in Riffelberg. We were so excited when we discovered their satisfying hot dogs.
For those wanting a longer trek, you can combine both trails.
8. Take the cogwheel train up to Gornergrat
If snowshoeing isn't your thing but you want to experience the raw beauty of the Alps, hop on the cog railway to Gornergrat. After a 30-minute ride, you'll reach the summit at 3,100 meters, where you'll be surrounded by 28 snow-covered peaks over 4000m elevation, including the Matterhorn.
At the top, take your time to soak in the scenery and crisp mountain air, and enjoy a coffee on the restaurant terrace. Just be sure to bundle up in warm layers - it's chilly up that high!
The Gornergrat Bahn departs from Zermatt and takes about 30 minutes to reach the summit.
🚞 You can easily purchase tickets for the Gornergrat Bahn with GetYourGuide. We like how you can cancel up to 24 hours before for a full refund.9. Eat Swiss cuisine in a cozy chalet
Eat heartwarming Swiss cuisine in a traditional setting. These two restaurants in Zermatt village are our favourites for Swiss cuisine and classic chalet vibes:
Whymperstube: for Swiss cheese specialties
Whymperstube is the place to go for cheese fondue and raclette. After a day in the snow, warm up with bubbling cheese fondue, dipping bread or veggies into a mix of Gruyère and Emmental.
Next, order a few plates of their raclette, where a wheel of cheese is heated under an element until it crisps, then scraped over baby potatoes, cornichons, and pickled onions. They serve our favourite local brand, Altsenn.
Schäferstube: for Swiss meat specialties
Schäferstube is the go-to spot for meat fondue. This woodsy restaurant is known for its high-quality dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. What sets it apart is that they’re one of the few places in Zermatt offering single servings of meat fondue, so you don’t need a second person to join in if they want something different.
10. Meet up with your skiing friends at après-ski parties
You don’t have to be a skier to get in on the après-ski fun. Some spots may require wearing winter boots and walking up a snowy trail to get there, but it’s worth it!
These après-ski spots are all within walking distance:
Zermatt centre
- Harry's Bar 🎉
- Elsie's 🍷
- Papperla Pub 🍺
- Bar 55 🍸
Sunnegga
- CERVO 🎉
Furi
- Hennu Stall 🎉 - it's the furthest away, but one of Zermatt's liveliest and most famous.
11. See the Alps from a new perspective
Our helicopter tour with Air Zermatt
12. Light a fire in your room and play board games
Relax by the fireplace in your hotel room and unwind with some games. There's something about a warm, crackling fire and festive jazz that makes downtime feel extra special. Bring along cards or a couple board games and enjoy a laidback evening.
13. Warm up in the hot tub
After a day in the cold, warm up by soaking in the hot tub back at your hotel. If your room has a spa tub, run yourself a bath, put on Radio Swiss Jazz, and relax.
We loved how our stay at Coeurs Des Alpes had an outdoor hot tub overlooking the Matterhorn.14. Hike to a mountainside restaurant for lunch
If you’re up for a scenic winter hike with a delicious reward, take the Zermatt - Furi winter trail (Nr. 118) to the quaint hamlets of Blatten and Zum See, both known for their cozy mountainside chalets:
The Route: 4.7 km roundtrip | 158 m ascent | 158 m descent
- From Zermatt Village, it takes about 30 minutes to reach Restaurant Blatten, where you can pause for a hot beverage on their spacious outdoor terrace.
- From there, it's a short 7-minute walk to Restaurant Zum See, a Michelin-recommended spot serving traditional heartwarming dishes in a classic wooden chalet. It was one of our best meals in Zermatt.
- After your meal, head back down to Zermatt with a 25-minute downhill walk.
Don't want to hike uphill? Instead, take the cable car to Furi Station and do the itinerary in reverse - start at Restaurant Zum See, then head to Restaurant Blatten, and finish with a downhill hike to Zermatt village.
15. Try Swiss wines
Switzerland has an impressive wine scene with over 200 grape varieties, but you won't find much outside the country, as only about 2% is exported! The Valais region, where Zermatt is located, is the largest of the country's six wine regions.
Our favourite varieties are Heida, a white wine which pairs perfectly with fondue or raclette, and Cornalin, a red that's a fantastic match for cured meats.
We recommend two great spots to taste Swiss wines:
- Elsie's Wine & Champagne Bar: a cozy hangout popular with locals.
- L‘Atelier Grandsire: a charming patisserie and wine boutique.
16. Discover Zermatt's culinary scene
Zermatt is a foodie’s dream, with over 100 restaurants in the village and mountains, and 14 earning spots in the Michelin guide. Here are our top picks, each offering something special:
- Chez Vrony: A must-visit for lunch with a view, this iconic mountainside spot offers Matterhorn vistas paired with delicious alpine cuisine.
- Brasserie Uno: This laidback spot features a Michelin-starred, six-course prix fixe menu focused on high-quality, organic ingredients.
- Sonnmatten & Pinte: these restaurants are where to go for wiener schnitzel - Sonnmatten offers an intimate setting, whereas Pinte is more casual.
- After Seven: Michelin-starred fine dining with an adventurous menu and amazing decor by Swiss architect and designer, Heinz Julien.
- Whymper Stube: this Swiss chalet-style restaurant offers the quintessential comfort food experience. It's our go-to for cheesy favourites like raclette and cheese fondue.
- Schäferstube: This restaurant that feels like a mountain hut serves top-notch Swiss specialties and it's one of the few places where you can order a single portion of meat fondue.
17. Shop the charming boutiques in the village
Walking through Zermatt’s snow-dusted village feels like stepping into a Christmas movie, with its wooden chalets and charming boutique shops. Save time to wander the streets, there are a lot of cute stores to shop.
We picked up a raclette machine, an orange Le Creuset fondue pot, and some adorable wooden Swiss animals that make perfect holiday decorations.
18. Enjoy a relaxed morning at Manud Cafe
Start your day at Manud, a cozy cafe that is a local favourite. In the morning, they serve hot drinks and pastries. By evening, the cafe transforms into a laid-back wine bar offering regional pours and Asian-inspired dishes.
We hope you enjoyed these fun things to do in Zermatt for non-skiers!
Don't miss our other Zermatt guides:
Get started on booking your trip to Zermatt
- 🌃 Accommodation: Booking.com is our go-to for finding places to stay. Sort by top reviewed.
- 🚆 Book your train: compare rates with Trainline.
- 🚁 Book a fun excursion: Browse highly-rated tours through Viator.
- ✈️ Compare flights: with Skyscanner.
Don't forget about travel insurance
👩⚕️ For affordable travel insurance: go with SafetyWing - it's budget-friendly and you can even buy it while abroad, but note the max medical coverage is $250,000 USD. 🏥 For comprehensive travel insurance: go with World Nomads - it's more expensive, but the max emergency medical coverage is $5-10 million, depending on the plan.Check out our other guides for non-skiers:
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