Zermatt is located in the German-speaking section of the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It sits at the upper end of the Mattertal valley at 1620m, around 10km from the Swiss/Italian border. It is possible to ski over into Italy from Zermatt when the weather is good, and from the resort’s highest piste one can also see into France. It is about 3.5 hours from Zurich and about 4 hours from Geneva by train.

People from all walks of life visit Zermatt. Celebrities such as Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Elton John,  Robbie Williams, Nicole Kidman have all been seen in town over the years. The resort is also popular with families, corporate trips, mountaineers and so on. It’s a tremendous all-around resort.

Zermatt isn’t owned by a big corporation, it is still an Alpine village. There are a number of families in Zermatt who own much of the town’s property and businesses. The Julens opened their first guesthouse in 1910 and have since run successful hotels, bars, farms and ski shops. Other well known Zermatt families are the Perrens and Imbodens. The lift company runs the ski lifts and your lift pass also gives access to the mountain railways.

Geneva, Zurich or Sion are the main airports for Zermatt. From Geneva, catch a train from the airport train station. It should take approximately four hours by train or 2 hours 35mins by car. Zurich takes around 3.5 hours by train, a little more by car. Sion is closer than Geneva but offers less choice regarding flights. Sion is mostly for private aircraft. It should take 2.5hours by train or just over an hour by car.

Zermatt’s electros (electric taxis) are the main form of transport around town. Regular cars are not allowed, apart from exceptional circumstances (such as ambulances, or those with written permission from the police). Those who wish to drive to Zermatt can find parking in Tasch and then take the train shuttle or a taxi the last, short leg of the journey. Once in Zermatt, you can either walk, take an electric taxi, or use the village’s free small electric bus service to get around.

There are two main stations in Zermatt town. When you first arrive, you will disembark at the main station or Zermatt Bahnhof. Then right across the street is the Gornergratbahn, the world’s 10th highest railway. The cog rack train climbs to an elevation of 3090m. This train is open to walkers and skiers alike.