Mountain town in Valais, Switzerland
Zermatt for solo travelers
Is Zermatt good for solo travel?
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.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 3/5 · Good, with some effort |
|---|---|
| Locals | Polite but reserved |
| English | Widely spoken |
| Safety | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Solo women | Comfortable alone, including in the evening. |
How to meet people in Zermatt
Hostels in the village, ski school group lessons and guided hikes are the easiest ways to meet people; the scene is mostly couples and groups.
Good things to do alone
- Ride the Gornergrat train for Matterhorn views
- Hike the 5-Seenweg lakes trail
- Ski or snowboard at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
- Walk to Trift gorge
- Join a guided glacier hike
Where to stay in Zermatt
| 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 |
Solo travel across Switzerland
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Geneva | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Lucerne | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Interlaken | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Basel | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Lausanne | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Lugano | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Grindelwald | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Zermatt | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| Bern | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| St. Moritz | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| Montreux | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
Quick answers
Is Zermatt good for solo travelers?
Good, with some effort (3/5). Car-free Alpine village under the Matterhorn with ski lifts, glacier access and hiking from the door.
How do you meet people in Zermatt?
Hostels in the village, ski school group lessons and guided hikes are the easiest ways to meet people; the scene is mostly couples and groups. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Zermatt?
Widely spoken.
Is Zermatt safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable alone, including in the evening.
More about Zermatt
Going to Zermatt solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Zermatt meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.