Zermatt is one of Switzerland’s most popular wedding and elopement locations, and for good reason. The bustling town is surrounded by sweeping mountains on all sides, and most prominently, the famed Matterhorn summit towers over. If you’re dreaming of an incredible mountain wedding destination, this is your best guide on how to get married in Zermatt.
Most couples get married and elope in Zermatt due to the unique draw of the Matterhorn’s iconic view. While you can see the Matterhorn in town, the best places to take it in are by riding a cable car or train up the valley. Many locations make use of the Gornergrat Bahn, a railway that connects numerous mountain hiking trails and ski slopes. Here are a few Matterhorn wedding locations that are easy to access:
The Riffelsee (lake) is one of the Matterhorn’s most photographed views, thanks to the uninterrupted panorama and perfect reflection of the peak often seen. You can access the Riffelsee just a ten-minute walk from the Rotenboden train stop on the Gornergrat Bahn.
Another Zermatt wedding location is the Riffelalp, also accessed via the Gornergrat Bahn. Numerous trails lead from the Riffelalp so you can wander to a quiet spot to enjoy the incredible landscape. The Riffelberg Bruder Klaus Church is a scenic location for many.
If you ride the Gornergrat Bahn all the way to the top, eventually, you’ll arrive at the Gornergrat summit. Here, you’ll find dining options, and can even stay at Switzerland’s highest hotel, 3100 Kulmhotel. Zermatt has so many views to enjoy beyond the Matterhorn, and you really get a feel for that atop the Gornergrat.
The Stellisee is another small high-altitude lake hikers seek out for its beautiful reflections of the Matterhorn and surrounding mountains. You can access the Stellisee via a short, 20-minute walk from the top of the Sunnegga-Blauherd Cable Car.
If you’re holding a micro-wedding or destination wedding in Zermatt, here are some venue options that can accommodate a variety of capacity sizes. While many hotels in Zermatt offer wedding packages, few have a great view of the mountains. If that’s something important to you, I’d recommend Riffelhaus 1853 (best Matterhorn wedding views) or Bergrestaurant Blatten (pretty scenery and a more rustic feel).
Zermatt is a car-free town, which means the only way to arrive is by train or a private taxi service. Everyone traveling to Zermatt will pass through the village of Täsch. Here, you can either park your car and catch the train into Zermatt, or else book a private taxi service.
Once you’re in Zermatt, you can get around town on foot, by bike, taking the electric buses, or hiring an electric taxi.
You can find a full breakdown of transportation to and from Zermatt here.
Best Airports: The best airports to fly into if you’re getting married in Zermatt are Geneva (about 3 hours driving) and Zurich (about 4 hours driving).
While you can get married in Zermatt year-round, the best months to elope in Zermatt are December-February for winter elopements, and mid-July through early October for summer and autumn elopements. Spring brings frequent rain, so the Matterhorn is less likely to make an appearance. We also recommend avoiding early summer, since Zermatt is a high-altitude location and many spots will be slushy, muddy, and even inaccessible.
Zermatt draws in all kinds of people due to its unique mixture of luxury travelers, mountaineers, and hiking fanatics. Here’s some activity inspiration for your Zermatt wedding and elopement.
While you likely won’t scale the Matterhorn during your elopement, there are plentiful hiking trails with jaw-dropping views that will leave you in awe. Switzerland’s trail system is well-marked, so the only hard part is narrowing down which trail to explore!
Matterhorn helicopter tours with glacier landings are an exciting way to get married year-round. There are two main helicopter bases you can fly out of – Zermatt, and Raron. If you take a wedding helicopter flight with landing in Zermatt, you’re required to hire a mountain guide for the trip. While the Raron base takes about 1-hour to get to from Zermatt, you are not required to hire a mountain guide.
If you stay in one of the mountain hotels or mountain huts above the valley, stargazing during your Zermatt elopement can’t be missed! The night sky is spectacular in both summer and winter. If this is something you know you’d like to do, let your photographer know so you can book the right date that will align closest to a new moon.
Paragliding is one of our favorite adventure elopement activities, and Zermatt is one of the ideal places to do it. If you’ve ever wanted to see the mountains from above (without the expense of a helicopter ride) this is the way to kick off your experience in a one-of-a-kind way.
If you love to ski and snowboard, you’re in for a treat- Zermatt offers year-round slopes. That means you can get the best of both worlds, even in summer. Summer skiing and snowboarding takes place at the top of Klein Matterhorn (tickets cost 95 CHF) and is open daily until the early afternoon.
In winter, you can take a 1km round-trip dogsled ride with huskies. During the ride, you can learn more about the dogs and also spend time playing with them. In summer, you can also book guided hikes with the huskies.
The Valais Blacknose Sheep are a unique breed of sheep that come from the canton of Valais, where Zermat is located. These sheep are incredibly adorable, and you can visit them a couple of ways. The first, is to book a tour of the farm where the sheep live. This is available from December-April on Wednesdays. The second, is to hike to the sheep on the mountain in summer. Online, there’s even a GPS tracker so you can find them!
In winter, a private horse and carriage ride through Zermatt is the perfect way to cozy up and end your elopement day.
The mouth of the Furgg Glacier has an ice cave that can be explored in both summer and winter. This would be an incredibly cool and unique Zermatt elopement location. Due to the risks of walking inside of a glacier, the ice caves should be explored with a certified mountain guide, and the trip does require a moderate hike.
Switzerland boasts 48 summits over 4,000 meters tall. One of the easiest summits, the Breithorn, can be climbed in just 90 minutes (one-way) if you take the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Cable Car. While the peak is technically easy, it is glaciated and requires crampons and crevasse safety so you should go with a certified mountain guide.
After a big day in the mountains, how about winding down at a cozy wine bar with local food? The Rex Hotel, Zermatt, offers great options for couples looking for a unique drink and multi-course fine-dining.
These are four of the most unique places to stay during your Zermatt wedding or Matterhorn elopement.
If you want comfort, luxury, and the best possible views for a sunrise or sunset elopement, book a stay at the Riffelhaus 1853. The hotel is located above town and can only be accessed via cable car, the Gornergrat bahn, or hiking. When the cable cars and train stop running for the day, you still have access to some of the best views, without the crowds. This is an ideal place to stay for stargazing elopements.
In winter, you can overnight at Iglu Dorf Zermatt, a small igloo village equipped for comfortable overnight stays with a unique-twist. When you book a stay at the Iglu Dorf, it is a luxury experience. Packages include everything from offering whirlpool and sauna options, to fondue and champagne aong guided nighttime snowshoe hikes. Each igloo is also equipped so you can stay warm and comfortable. Iglu Dorf Zermatt is also located on the mountain, only accessible by cable car or the Gornergrat railway.
At the top of the Gornergrat Bahn at just over 3,000m (over 10,000 feet!) sits the Kulmhotel. Here, you can enjoy great food, stargazing, and even stay in a suite with a private jacuzzi that has a glass ceiling that opens up to the night sky. It’s a luxury stay everyone should experience once.
For couples who love to hike, you can’t pass up an experience to overnight at the Hörnlihütte, a traditional Swiss mountain hut. This hut sits directly at the base of the climbing routes up the Matterhorn. The hut and the hike itself also boast some of the most picturesque views in the area. While the Hörnlihütte is a mountain hut, it’s also modern and up-to-date. Private, double rooms with a bathroom are available for booking. The hike to the hut is moderate but steep, and at altitude. It also has a few chain-secured sections due to steep drop-offs, so it’s not suitable for beginners or those with a fear of heights. With that being said, it is one of the coolest hut experiences I’ve been able to enjoy, and I’d recommend it for any couple looking for a more rugged Matterhorn elopement experience.
Here are the common mistakes I see couples and photographers make when planning Zermatt weddings and elopements. Hiring vendors who are familiar with the region and seasonality logistics will help your adventure run much more smoothly.
If you’re ready to start making your wedding or elopement in Zermatt a reality, you can check out our Zermatt elopement packages here. You can also contact us to set up a free consultation call.
Every Matterhorn Elopement Package Includes:
As your Zermatt elopement photographer, I offer so much more than just taking photos. I work with every wedding couple to create a unique, tailored-to-them experience via personalized questionnaires, custom location guides, and support calls.
Here’s what my couples have shared about working with me:
”Planning an elopement on a short-ish time frame on another continent can certainly feel stressful even if you choose to elope to help minimize the stress, but Christine was so so helpful in curating our day to exactly what we were looking for on our elopement day. From the first video chat to helping select options for locations and hikes to timeline arrangements, Christine has all her bases covered to help you through the planning process and to make your day the best for what you’re imagining.
…Our elopement day and hikes were all we wanted it to be, and the images we received after just helped us to relive those moments. We loved the combination of the more portrait type photos (which still felt natural even though we are definitely not naturals!) to the images of us hiking or just being “us” with each other. Above all, working with Christine makes it easy to see how much she loves helping couples create the elopement day that fits their dream. Our day was perfectly us, and we’re so thankful to Christine for all the care and support she provided to help us have such a memorable day to start our marriage together.”
If you’re looking for information on not only where to elope in Switzerland, but how to plan your Switzerland elopement, check out our complete guide linked below.
