Zermatt is probably the prettiest place I have ever been! I really wish we could have spent a lot more time here! Our stop in Zermatt was a part of our quick change trip that was originally Paris, but because of the protests and riots back in December 2019 we decided to pivot to Milan and Zermatt! The view was absolutely incredible and definitely a check off the bucket list. Our number one disappointment is that we didn’t bring our ski clothes! We both were kicking ourselves and now for sure need to go back to ski! We were completely mesmerized by the snow, the Swiss Alps, and of course the Matterhorn.
Zermatt is a car free ski town in Switzerland and the only way in is via the train. We bought our tickets from Milan to Zermatt with trainline and it was very easy to use and understand. We had two stops along the way in Brig and Visp where we had to change trains but each were very efficient and well marked. Our total travel time was right at 4 hours and the views were spectacular.
Train Station in Zermatt 
Train ride in
Hotel carriages 
Downtown Zermatt
The hotels in peak winter season were EXPENSIVE and very picked over. Remember we planned this trip 3 weeks out from going so we didn’t have many choices when it came to reservations. We luckily stumbled upon Hotel Albana Real and we loved it! It was the perfect Swiss Chalet full of so much character, warmth and hospitality. Breakfast was included in our stay and our room was a suite with so much space and great views.
Hotel Albana Real
Bedroom 
Living Room
Hotel Bar 
Hotel dining room
What we ate
The food in Zermatt was absolutely amazing. Everywhere we go, we try to dive deep into the local environment and experience their traditions, customs, and culture. We love drinking the local beers and eating all the traditional cuisine just like if we were locals. First stop, we were going all the way to the top. The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Restaurant is Europe’s highest mountain restaurant at an altitude of 3,883 meters (12,739.5 feet) We had amazing panorama views of the Swiss Alps while enjoying our delicious meal. They really had quite the assortment of food from burgers, pasta and pan specialties, to chicken tenders and French fries. They also had a full bar with a great beer and wine list! To get to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Restaurant you will need to buy an individual return ticket from Zermatt and take the lift all the way to Europe’s highest station. The ride takes about 40 minutes and they offer brand new Crystal Ride cabins for a real thrill.
Buffet line 
Views 
Zermatt Beer
We popped into Mont Cervin Palace in town to check out the bar and grab a snack before heading to get ready for our dinner. This place was so dreamy with the fires going and plush furniture, we could have sat here all night. Adam, of course, ordered an old fashioned while I had to try some Swiss hot chocolate with Baileys!
Dinner, of course was my favorite! Because this was such a last minute trip it wasn’t only hard to find hotel reservations but also dinner reservations. A lot of the “to do” restaurants were either closed due to weather conditions or completely booked up. But once again, we lucked out big time. We were able to score a reservation at Restaurant du Pont which is the cutest, quaintest restaurant fairly close to our hotel (remember Zermatt is a car free town so everywhere we went, we walked). We ended up in a booth in a cozy corner and had the time of our lives and the food was beyond fabulous! I ordered a broth soup (that if I could figure out how to recreate this, I’d eat it once a week). It was to die for! I also ordered the cheese fondue which came with bread and potatoes to dip. I mean could this meal get any better? Adam ordered an omelet and we enjoyed a delicious Italian red to wash it all down. After dinner we walked to Elsie’s wine and champagne bar, sat at the bar and enjoyed a post dinner drink.
Elsie’s 
The hotel breakfast was complimentary and we were so impressed! The restaurant was so cozy and they offered a full buffet including mimosas! I think my favorite part was they actually had real Swiss cheese ! Haha
What we did
Skiing is a must when visiting Zermatt. Unfortunately, we did not bring any ski gear and honestly we would not have had enough time. But, we will definitely be going back as soon as possible. The coolest part about the slopes is that they allow non skiers to ride all the lifts and walk along the runs. I will say at times this was actually very scary for us non skiers crossing over ski runs! We found out there was a igloo hotel and bar (Iglu-Dorf) in the middle of the slopes so naturally we walked uphill both ways dodging skiers for the apres ski party!
Iglu-Dorf
We took the Gornergrat Bahn from the Zermatt station to the summit of the Gornergrat. This train is Europe’s highest open-air railway. It runs 365 days a year and takes about 30 minutes to reach the top. Prettiest 30 minutes of your life! The Gornergrat is a rocky ridge of the Alps at an elevation of 10,151 ft., and the panorama is among the finest in the world. At the summit lies Europe’s highest-altitude hotel the Kulmhotel Gornergrat, the “Bernhard von Aosta” chapel, restaurants, shops and a sun terrace. The views were spectacular and we had plenty of time to explore and take photos before catching the train back down the mountain.
Gornergrat Bahn 
Gornergrat Station
Kulmhotel Gornergrat 
Bernhard von Aosta chapel
