Getting there!
Overview
Zermatt is not as far as it may seem. From the UK, it typically takes a good half day to get there, which is comparable to many other resorts. There isn’t usually time to ski on the day of arrival, but if you book a late flight back then you can often get a full day’s skiing on departure day.
There are many ways of getting to Zermatt, including by private jet to Sion airport followed by a helicopter transfer. But we think that’s a bit of a waste unless the chopper is dropping you off directly onto a glacier full of powder!
A car is not really useful because Zermatt is entirely car-free – all cars must be parked in Tasch, the last village before Zermatt – from where there is a shuttle train or taxi into Zermatt (12 minutes).
So our recommended method is to fly to Geneva and take the train. It’s convenient, relaxing, reasonably fast, and scenic. Zermatt is one of the few ski resorts which has its own dedicated train line, and we prefer trains to either coaches or cars. Especially Swiss trains. The journey usually takes 3:55 hours with one change in Visp. If you are arriving late or you are in a hurry, then the last, slower part of the train journey from Visp to Zermatt can be replaced with a taxi transfer which gives a total journey time of around 3 ¼ hours.
Note that if you’re coming from any airport other than Geneva or Sion, you will change for the Zermatt train in Brig as opposed to Visp.
However, because Geneva is a major gateway for skiers, flights can become expensive at peak times. Fortunately, there are several alternative airports which come into consideration, some of which are just as close - such as Milan Malpensa.
Here is an overview of average train times and driving times from surrounding airports to Zermatt.
Transfer : by train by car
Sion 2:001:15
Geneva 3:55 2:45
Bern 3:152:45
Milan Malpensa3:452:45
Milan Linate4:003:20
Basel 4:303:45
Zurich 4:453:45
Geneva and Zurich have train stations at the airports, while the other destinations require a transfer from the airport to the nearest train station. This takes 10 minutes at Milan Malpensa and up to 60 minutes at Milan Bergamo. We give you more details below under each airport heading.
The two essential tools which we use when travelling ourselves are:
Skyscanner simultaneously searches all low cost flights by all carriers between any two points in Europe, and gives you total prices including all fees and surcharges, thus making comparisons very easy.
All train times including to Italy are taken from the Swiss Railways website:
http://fahrplan.sbb.ch/bin/query.exe/en
Top Tip: Swiss railways offer visiting tourists the opportunity to buy a return transfer rail ticket from any airport in Switzerland to their final destination for a flat rate of GBP 57 per adult in second class and GBP 88 per adult in first class (further discounts and free tickets for children). Because these must be purchased outside Switzerland, please visit http://www.swissrailways.co.uk to buy yours online.
Geneva Airport
Easyjet, BA and Swiss all have numerous flights from a total of 21 UK airports. New routes from the UK this year include Stansted (Easyjet, Globespan); Bournemouth, Doncaster and Belfast (Easyjet ); Exeter and Norwich (FlyBe).
In our experience the best deals are either with Easyjet or Swiss – the latter can be surprisingly cheap, especially from London City Airport, which will have a dedicated DLR train station this season . If you can’t find a good price, then it’s worth looking at Milan Malpensa. There are also many charter flights, especially on Saturdays, so it can be worth having a look at charter broking websites such as www.charterflights.co.uk
The train station is in the airport building and you can take baggage trolleys on the escalators – they have specially designed rubber teeth! Take the mainline train toward Brig and change at Visp for the small-gauge red train which winds its way up the valley to Zermatt. Trains usually leave at 27 min past the hour.
Because the last mainline train which connects to Zermatt leaves Geneva Airport at 18:00, it is sometimes necessary to do the final leg, between Visp and Zermatt, by taxi. This costs around CHF50 per person if there are 4 or more travelling together. This can mean that it is well worth taking a later flight if it is more affordable – the morning arrivals tend to be the most expensive! Taxis need to be pre-booked and we would be glad to do so for you.
Last train with connection to Zermatt:
Geneva Airport dep: 18:01
Change in Brig onto bus
Zermatt arrive:21:42
Last direct train to Visp:
Dep. 21:27, arrive in Visp: 23:59
Very last train (but two changes required):
Dep. 22:25 arrive in Visp: 01:10
First Train from Zermatt to Geneva:
Zermatt dep. 05:30
Geneva airport arrive 09:33
Milan Malpensa Airport
This airport is as close to Zermatt as Geneva is, however the transfer to the train station and the connections are slightly less convenient. On the other hand, flights can be very low cost. It lies to the North-West of Milan, toward the Swiss Alps. The nearest train station is a 10 minute, 10 euro taxi ride away at Gallarate. From there mainline express lines go to Brig in Switzerland where you change onto the little red train. Total train journey time is usually 3:45 hours.
In addition to BA and Alitalia, Easyjet will start flights from London Gatwick to Malpensa in December and prices are currently very advantageous, particularly at peak dates such as school holidays. It is of course perfectly feasible with Easyjet to fly out to Geneva and back from Malpensa, for instance.
Last connecting train from Gallarate to Zermatt (change in Brig):
Gallarate dep. 16:57
Zermatt arrive 20:42
Last train from Gallarate to Brig (via Milano Centrale) followed by a taxi into Zermatt: 19:02
Last train from Milano Centrale (main station) dep. 20.25
Brig arrive 22:12
From Brig you can get a 45min taxi ride up to zermatt this costs about CHF50 per person based on 4 sharing (CHF 160 for one person alone).
If you are taking a train from Milano Centrale, and not Gallarate, then you can also get to Centrale by shuttle bus; it takes 50 minutes and departs every 20 minutes.
First good connection from Zermatt to Gallarate:
Zermatt dep. 09:30
Gallarate arrive 13:01
Milan Linate Airport
This is slightly less convenient than Malpensa because you need to go around or through Milan to head toward the mountains. On the other hand, the transfer to Milano Centrale train station is quite fast (20-30 minutes by taxi) and the shopping is divine! The last connecting train to Zermatt is at 18:25. The last train to Brig leaves at 20.25 arriving at 22.12, from there you can get a 45min taxi ride up to zermatt this costs about CHF50 per person based on 4 sharing (CHF 160 for one person alone).
Milan Bergamo Airport
The attraction of this airport is that it is served by Ryanair which means cheap flights. This airport is 1/2 hour further than Linate, also requiring you to go around or through Milan to head toward the mountains. The transfer to Milano Centrale train station is by shuttle-bus and takes 50min. The last connecting train to Zermatt is at 18:25. The last train to Brig leaves at 20.25 arriving at 22.12, from there you can get a 45min taxi ride up to zermatt this costs about CHF50 per person based on 4 sharing (CHF 160 for one person alone).
Zurich Airport
This airport is approximately 1 hour further away than Geneva from Zermatt, whether by train or by car. However, it is equally convenient in having a train station under the airport building. Although Easyjet no longer flies there, the Swiss low-cost airline helvetic.com does from Luton. Scheduled flights by Swiss can also be very good value.
Last trains:
Zurich airport dep. 16:43
Zermatt arrive21:42
Zurich airport dep. 22:13
Brig arrive 01:27
Basel Airport
Similar distance as Zurich, but the train station is not in the airport. Easyjet flies there among others.
Bern Airport
This is a small provincial airport, however Flybe flies there from Southampton and Birmingham. Darwin from London City, but not on Saturdays.There are also charters.
Sion Airport
The closest airport. However, there is currently only one international flight per week, a charter operated by Flybe out of London Gatwick on Saturdays. Tickets can be bought from http://www.ski-flights.com/sionflights.html.
