Visitors to Zermatt come from all over the world and a common question from our guests is “What is the best way to travel from Zurich airport to Zermatt by train?”
How to travel from Zurich Airport to Zermatt by train
In this blog post, we look at how to travel from Zurich airport to Zermatt by train. We cover how to book, how long it takes and what it costs, as well as other options:
- Where is the station in Zurich airport?
- How to buy your ticket in advance
- How much does it cost from Zurich to Zermatt by train?
- How long does it take from Zurich to Zermatt by train?
- Taxis, Hire Cars and helicopter Transfers from Zurich
Flying into Zurich from the UK
Around half a dozen UK airports offer direct flights to Zurich with times ranging from 1h30m to 2h15m.
The leading airlines that operate scheduled flights to Zurich are Swiss, Jet2, EasyJet, British Airways and Edelweiss Air.
Direct flights depart from London Heathrow, London City, London Luton, London Gatwick, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester.
Trains from Zurich to Zermatt
We always recommend that you ‘let the train take the strain’.
Switzerland’s public transport system is ranked in the top 5 worldwide and the country has a reputation for its superb rail network – expect trains to leave exactly on time.
Where is the station in Zurich airport?
There is a train station located at the airport. Turn right out of the arrivals area and follow the well-marked signs on a five-minute walk to the station.
Buy your ticket online in advance
If you’ve bought your ticket in advance from the SBB website or a Swiss Travel Pass (useful if you want to explore Switzerland further), you can walk straight onto the platform.
If not, there are many ticket machines that are all easy to use, with instructions in multiple languages.
How much does it cost to travel from Zurich to Zermatt by train?
A return journey by train from Zurich to Zermatt start at around CHF90 (remembering that that includes the Täsch-Zermatt section which everybody has to pay for – see below).
You can save by booking your tickets in advance rather than at the last minute.
Investing in a First Class ticket is a good way of guaranteeing extra space and even better views.
How long does it take to travel from Zurich to Zermatt by train?
The quickest journey by train from Zurich to Zermatt will take about 3 hours 30 minutes, changing at Bern.
If you want to keep things simple, you can make one less change.
Trains depart every hour to Visp where you will need to change to a Zermatt-bound train on the Matterhorn Gotthard line. This option will take about four hours, depending on connections.
Taxis, Hire Cars & Helicopters
Taxis
If you arrive very late, it might be a better option to take a taxi or book a hire car.
There are several taxi companies that will drive you from Zurich to Zermatt, from CHF500. With larger MPV vehicles the cost can fall to around CHF60 per person.
Most taxis will only be able to take you as far as Täsch. Both Taxi Zermatt and Taxi Christophe have permission to drive past the carpark in Täsch and deliver you to the edge of Zermatt, from where you can take an electric taxi to your accommodation.
Hire Car
Zurich Airport is home to most major car hire companies. We like Holiday Autos as it’s an easy-to-use site offering a wide range of companies.
The 255km journey will take you to Bern, via Spiez and the Thunersee to Visp, when the ascent to Täsch begins.
On arrival, you can leave your hire car in one of the 3000 indoor and outdoor spaces in Täsch, which is about 5km from Zermatt.
The cost of parking in Täsch is CHF15.15 per day (making travel by train even better value).
Täsch to Zermatt
If you travel by car or with most taxi companies, you will need to change at Täsch.
The train to Zermatt runs 24 hours a day with departures every 20 minutes. It takes just 12 minutes from to travel between Täsch and Zermatt.
Prices are CHF 16.40 return for adults and is half-price for children aged 6-16, free for children under 6 years old.
Zurich to Zermatt by Helicopter
The fastest way to get from Zurich airport is to fly directly with Air Zermatt by helicopter.
This will cut down the travel time to one hour and costs from CHF6000 for a single journey for up to five people.
For Matterhorn Chalets guests, we can arrange this for you using our concierge service.
Arriving in Zermatt
The town of Zermatt is car-free. On arrival in the resort, you will see a large number of electric taxis, which can take you to your property.
If you are a Matterhorn Chalets guest, we will pre-book a taxi to meet you off your train. If you prefer to book your own, we recommend Christophe Taxis.
Alternatively there is a regular service of electric resort buses that circulates the town over two different routes.
Serviced chalets and apartments in Zermatt
If you haven’t booked your trip yet and want ideas on where to stay and more info on travel options, please give us a call and one of our knowledgeable team will assist you.
Call +41 79 247 15 88 or fill in our contact form on our website.
