Mountain town in Valais, Switzerland
Zermatt
Car-free Alpine village under the Matterhorn with ski lifts, glacier access and hiking from the door. Spectacular, but remote, very expensive and quiet outside the ski and summer seasons.
At a glance
- Safety5/5Very safeDetails
- Monthly budget$6,030–9,050Comfortable, one person · CHF5,000–7,500Details
- Value for money1/100Better value than 0% of places we coverDetails
- Best time to goJan–Mar, Jul–SepWarmest: Jul, 19°CDetails
- Internet281 MbpsFixed broadband, Switzerland medianDetails
- Tap waterYes, drinkableExcellent alpine water; village fountains are drinkable unless marked otherwise.Details
- LGBTQ+4/5WelcomingDetails
- Solo travel3/5English: widely spokenDetails
- Doctor's visit$145–265Private clinic, without insuranceDetails
- Getting aroundMatterhorn Gotthard BahnVery walkableDetails
- Cash or cardCards almost everywhereCards work in the village; carry francs for mountain huts, small cafés and some activity bookings.Details
Where to stay in Zermatt
Areas visitors base themselves in.
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Village center (Bahnhofstrasse) | Shops, restaurants and train access; short stays |
| Winkelmatten | Quieter, hillside chalets; walk to lifts |
| Täsch | Cheaper rooms down the valley, 12 min by train |
Apps that work in Zermatt
No ride-hailing apps work here; see the taxi note below.
- Maps: Google Maps
- Messaging: WhatsApp
- SBB Mobile: All trains, buses, boats and tickets
- MeteoSwiss: Mountain weather and storm warnings
- Taxis: No ride apps; electric taxis and hotel shuttles run within the village. Car parking is in Täsch.
Cash, cards and tipping
What to carry and how to pay. Money in Switzerland.
- Cards almost everywhere Cards work in the village; carry francs for mountain huts, small cafés and some activity bookings.
- Currency: Franc (CHF). US$1 ≈ CHF0.83 on 03 Oct 2026.
- ATMs: Bank ATMs often dispense francs and euros; decline the machine's currency conversion and check your bank's foreign fees.
- Tipping: Service is included by law; rounding up or a few francs for good service is plenty.
- Paying by phone: Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely accepted; TWINT, the local payment app, needs a Swiss bank account.
Before you go
Visa and entry
- Switzerland is in Schengen but not the EU: 90 days in any 180 across the whole Schengen area.
- The EU Entry/Exit System applies here too: non-EU visitors register fingerprints and a face photo at first entry.
- ETIAS (a €20 online pre-travel authorisation) is not required yet; its start has been delayed, so check before travel.
Emergency numbers
Police 117 · Ambulance 144 · Fire 118 · All emergencies 112
Plugs
Type C, J · 230 V, 50 Hz. Do I need an adapter?
SIM and eSIM
Prepaid SIMs from carrier shops, kiosks and supermarkets; passport registration required. Many EU roaming plans exclude Switzerland, so check before using yours. eSIMs work for visitors.
More places in Switzerland
Going to Zermatt solo?
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Sources
Prices are SoloSquare estimates; climate, air, safety and visa figures come from the sources listed. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.