— the bernese oberland —
alpine heart of switzerland
— italian switzerland —
ticino – best of 2 cultures
The Matterhorn & Zermatt: the Matterhorn is the reason Zermatt has grown into a nearly urban alpine village. The View — the reason most Zermatt chalet balconies face southwest.
The Matterhorn & Zermatt:
Explore Iconic Switzerland, a Region of Alpine Giants
Zermatt without the Matterhorn would still be a world-class ski resort, hiking destination and mountaineering center. But the Matterhorn matters. The world’s most photographed mountain is the Swiss icon supreme. Walt Disney chose the Matterhorn as a major theme for his first theme park. Most people think of the silhouette of Matterhorn whenever the category is “mountain”. More than chocolate, cheese, and cowbells, seeing the Matterhorn tops most Swiss visitors’ must-experience lists.
In the Mountains
& In Zermatt
Zermatt — looking north down the Mattertal (Matter Valley). The pyramid is not the Matterhorn, rather the Zinalrothorn (4222m).
- The Matter-Vispa River channeled thru Zermatt.
To see any of the above slides in larger format on your PC, “right click” on the image, then click on the “View Image” menu item in Firefox or click on the “Open image in new tab” menu item in Chrome.
Home At First’s The Matterhorn & Zermatt
ZERMATT is the southernmost German-speaking community in Switzerland. Occupying the highest fertile land in the north-south Mattertal (Matter Valley), Zermatt is one of Switzerland’s highest farming regions. Although fine mountain cheese is crafted on the grassy slopes southwest of town, Zermatt’s farmers produce more crops than dairy. But no one comes to Zermatt for the cheese and potatoes. Zermatt’s big draw looms high above those same grassy slopes southwest of town. And that big draw is iconic: the unmistakable twisted pyramid of the Matterhorn (4,478m; 14,692′).
Zermatt is mile-high (1,608m; 5,276′) but lies deep in a valley. The village-cum-alpine-city straddles the Matter-Vispa River at the bottom of the Mattertal, a glacially-carved side valley of the Rhone River. Over the last century Zermatt changed from a rustic, alpine village of traditional wooden chalets and small, family-run hotels. Zermatt evolved into a bustling, commercial, car-free town blanketed with dozens of modern, chalet-style apartment buildings. More apartments appear every year. And each new apartment building jockeys for an unobscured view of the Matterhorn from its balconies.
The Matterhorn & Zermatt can be very busy during the ski season (December-April) and during the high summer (July-August). But even at these times the town quiets somewhat at dusk when day-visitors depart. Zermatt’s supermarkets, shops, and dozens of restaurants — many still owner-operated by local families — handle even its busiest times graciously.
ACTIVITIES: Active guests choose from hiking, climbing, mountainbiking, or man-made adrenaline adventures at Zermatt’s Forest Fun Park and challenging via ferrata. Less active guests find Zermatt ideal for a spa, strolling and window-shopping the traffic-free streets, and nursing a coffee, a beer, or a glass of wine at any of dozens of cafés.
For active adventure or for gawking at the scenery, visitors have several easy ways to ascend the surrounding alps: by fast underground funicular up to Sunnegga (2,278m; 7,474′) for the classic view of the Matterhorn, or higher to heavily glaciated Gornergrat (3,135m; 10,285′) via Europe’s highest open-air railway , and — highest of all — by aerial cablecar to the Klein Matterhorn (on the Swiss-Italian border where summer skiing is possible) at 3,883m (12,740′) the highest point in Europe reached by public transport. Traveling to the heights requires little effort, but does require warm clothing, and — for some open-air high points — no vertigo.
HISTORICAL SETTING. Surrounding The Matterhorn & Zermatt on three sides are some 38 peaks of 4,000 meters (13,120 feet) or higher, the greatest agglomeration of “four-thousanders” in the Alps, including most of the highest mountains in Switzerland. With so many peaks and glaciers offering superb walking, hiking, and mountain biking in warm months (late June into October) and skiing, snowboarding, and other snow sports in winter (Christmas to Easter), Zermatt has become one of the world’s most popular alpine playgrounds. Zermatt owes its international popularity to the sport of mountaineering which captured the world’s attention when the Matterhorn was first successfully climbed more than 150 years ago. although mountaineering continues to be a risky activity, more climbers flock to the Matterhorn & Zermatt every year. Zermatt’s mountain guides instruct and lead all comers — from novices to experts.
TOURING: Open only to the north, the 25-mile-long Mattertal does not offer a quick exit. Its wonderfully scenic — but not very rapid — railway requires a full hour to reach connecting mainline trains at the town of Visp, gateway to the Mattertal in the Rhone Valley. Despite its remote location, the Matterhorn & Zermatt can be used as a base for exploring much of the Canton of Wallis (we use the French name, the Valais, in English) from Montreux in the west to the Rhone Glacier in the east, to Lake Thun (in Canton Bern) and the Swiss capital, Bern, in the north, and south via the Simplon Pass or Tunnel to Domodossola and nearby points in Lombardy, northern Italy.
View of old central Zermatt looking southwest from the zum Steg bridge over the Matter-Vispa River. Note the pedestrians, cyclists, and the red electric taxi. Except for permitted electric taxis and electric local buses, Zermatt is car-free, and very walkable. Good walking shoes & boots are necessary here.
SERVICES IN ZERMATT: Despite Zermatt’s small size (population about 5,800), there are more than 100 restaurants in town and on the surrounding alpine slopes, ranging from snack bars to 4-star dining, including several that have been awarded Michelin stars. Zermatt’s restaurants are tempting, but using your apartment’s kitchen can be practical and money-saving. Importantly, Zermatt has at three very good supermarkets and numerous small food shops, including bakeries, cheese shops, meat markets, and specialty food shops. Zermatt has two churches — one Protestant (the “English Church”) and one Roman Catholic (the Parish Church of St. Mauritius), both near the town center. (Zermatt, like most communities in Canton Wallis, is primarily Roman Catholic.) At the Bahnhofplatz (Railway Plaza) in the town center the well-staffed Tourist Information Office is a busy resource for answers, recommendations, and for booking all kinds of activities. For activities, Zermatt has an indoor pool, several spas, fitness centers, and gaming & amusement venues, as well as tennis courts, and adrenaline courses (the Forest Fun Park, and the via ferrata). Between Furi and the south Zermatt neighborhood of Winkelmatten a scenic downhill trail through the Gorner Gorge draws walkers and mountainbikers. In addition to its high-end shops for fashions, watches, perfume, and jewelry, Zermatt has myriad shops offering inexpensive souvenirs, and many offering sporting goods for sale & rental (including boots & poles for hiking and skiing, and mountain bikes). Zermatt has doctors, dentists, and pharmacies, but no hospital — the cantonal hospital at Visp is closest, There are several banks and other locations in town to get and exchange money. In addition to two train stations and two cablecar stations, the Matterhorn & Zermatt also has a highly respected helicopter services providing scenic flights, heli-skiing, emergency rescue and evacuation, and private transport. The Matterhorn & Zermatt’s mountaineering and ski schools are world class, and — along with the town’s professional mountain guides — maintain the great traditions that are the foundation reasons for the town’s evolution as a resort.
Home At First’s The Matterhorn & Zermatt —
How it Works: Locations & Lodgings
The View of the Matterhorn & Zermatt from a Home At First Swiss mountain home apartment balcony. The higher the balcony, the mightier the view.
Commune with the Matterhorn from your own Swiss mountain home apartment in car-free Zermatt.
Home At First guests in the German-speaking alpine town of Zermatt have their own Swiss mountain home chalet apartments. Sizes vary from studios to one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. Almost all come with balconies that have The View. One has a balcony with a fine alpine view, but not The View. (This apartment has other advantages, however.) All apartments come with friendly, English-speaking hosts on-site or available nearby remain on-call throughout your stay for questions, information, recommendations, and help should a problem or emergency arise.
Although a few apartments are decorated and comfortably furnished in traditional Swiss alpine style, most have modern furnishings. All apartments are clean, well cared for, and well-equipped.
The apartments are scattered across Zermatt. All are within reasonable walking distance to one or more restaurants. Some apartments are as close as a 3-minute walk from Zermatt’s Bahnhofstrasse main street central district with shops, restaurants, and the town’s two railway stations. Others may be as far as a 14-minute walk — of which half is uphill — or even a bus ride away from the Bahnhofstrasse. There is a trade-off: the closer your apartment is to the Bahnhofstrasse, the easier the walking but the more obscured The View. The further away from the Bahnhofstrasse — and the higher up the eastern side of the valley — the longer & steeper the walk home but the better The View.
Zermatt is car-free. Its electric buses (ride free with your Swiss Travel Pass Pass) and taxis (never free) provide transportation across Zermatt. If you want an apartment with the best View available, be fit enough to walk uphill at the end of the day, or be ready to pay for a taxi home.
We know you are coming to Zermatt in large part to see the Matterhorn. Remember that on cloudy days the Matterhorn may not be visible at all. On good days The View can be enhanced by taking any of the Matterhorn & Zermatt’s many lifts into the Alps south and east of town.
Home At First’s Swiss Mountain Homes:
the Matterhorn & Zermatt Lodgings
What are Home At First’s Zermatt apartments like?
Each is unique. They come in all sizes and shapes. Many feature Swiss chalet style furnishings — lots of blond spruce — although some are traditional and others modern interpretations. Some have several bedrooms and baths; others may have a single bedroom and bathroom. All have terraces or balconies, most with very impressive alpine views. All are secure private quarters with private bathrooms, and all must meet Home At First standards of quality and equipment:
• HOSTING: All Home At First chalet apartments in Zermatt have friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, accessible hosts. Hosts may be the lodging owners or their representatives. Some live in their independent apartment in the same chalet or a neighboring chalet. Others reside elsewhere in Zermatt. Hosts will welcome you, show you around the apartment, explain its workings, and be on-call if questions, problems, or emergencies arise.
• KITCHENS: Full kitchens or practical kitchenettes with at the very least: fridge, coffee maker, tea kettle, stove top range, oven and/or toaster oven and/or microwave. Most have additional counter appliances. Many have dishwashers as well as clothes washer/dryers. All kitchen and bath towels & linens provided.
• LAUNDRY FACILITIES: Those apartments without clothes washer/dryers will have a common laundry room in the chalet you may use or a laundromat nearby in the town.
A 10-minute bus ride south from the train stations in central Zermatt, this chalet-style apartment building houses two multi-bedroom, multi-bath Home At First apartments with patio views of the Matterhorn. This location is the furthest from central Zermatt that we offer. The upside? This location is closest to the Matterhorn and the trailheads.
• BEDROOMS: Most bedrooms have twin beds. Some twin beds can be secured and made-up together to form a large double bed. A few multi-bedroom lodgings may have a queen-size or king-size bed in one of the bedrooms, but these are less common. Larger family-size lodgings often have one bedroom with bunk beds.
• BATHROOMS: Most bathrooms have a shower stall or a bathtub with overhead shower. Some few bathrooms may have a bathtub with hand-held shower, or a bathtub for bathing only.
• LAUNDRY FACILITIES: Those apartments without clothes washer/dryers will have a common laundry room in the chalet you may use or a laundromat nearby in the town.
• PARKING: Zermatt is not accessible by car. We recommend that guests coming to the Matterhorn & Zermatt travel by public transportation using a Swiss Travel Pass or a regional pass. Visitors traveling by car will necessarily need to park in the parking village of Täsch and take the train south one stop to Zermatt. Driving from Täsch to other parts of the region is not necessarily faster or more convenient than touring by public transport. Add to the cost of a rental car the cost of parking in Täsch and commuting back and forth from Zermatt by train and it’s obvious that traveling by car in this region is is both restricted and rather expensive.
• ELECTRONICS: Apartments have televisions, usually the flat-screen, cable variety. Most have free WiFi, although service can be spotty away from the apartment in this region of ultra-high mountains. A few apartments come with telephones, some with free international calling. Bring or rent a cell phone for your trip, but remember that service is spotty in the Swiss Alps. NOTE: WiFi service is available on some trains.
• PROXIMITY TO STORES & SERVICES: All apartments in Zermatt are within 2-15 minutes walking distance to restaurants, stores, services, and transportation. Opening times for stores varies by season, with long opening hours most days during the high seasons.
The Matterhorn & ZERMATT
SAMPLE SWISS MOUNTAIN HOME APARTMENTS & SETTINGS
Detailed descriptions of four of our favorite chalet apartments in Zermatt. We have many different apartments to choose from across Zermatt, in different sizes, styles, and locations. Contact Home At First for availability information for apartments right for your occupancy dates and numbers. To see any one of the slides in larger format on your PC, “right click” on the image, then click on the “View Image” menu item in Firefox or click on the “Open image in new tab” menu item in Chrome.
The Matterhorn & Zermatt: Sample Lodging
Lower Matten
Maisonette
NORTH-CENTRAL
2-Story Plus-Quality apartment; central location & The View
2-BEDROOM, 2-BATH apt.
on the TOP floor & LOFT
Balcony with exceptional
Matterhorn views
north-central zermatt
THE LOWER MATTEN MAISONETTE APARTMENT is a spacious 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment on the top (5th) floor with an upstairs loft. Large furnished balcony with an outstanding view of the Matterhorn & Zermatt. The apartment is comprised of:
• 5th floor plus-quality apartment accessed by elevator. The apartment has central heating with individual adjustable room registers.
• Apartment capacity: 2-6 persons. Suitable for a family or for two couples. A supplement may apply for under 4-person occupancy.
• The main (lower) floor has a well equipped eat-in kitchen (large fridge/freezer, microwave, oven, range, dishwasher, coffeemaker, & lots of cupboard and counter space) and dining area that seats six. The spacious, comfy living room features overstuffed sofas and chairs and a large, flat-screen TV. Off the hall are a master double bedroom and a twin bedroom and a master bathroom with tub/shower and built-in washing machine.
• Furnished balcony accessed from the open-plan living room/kitchen/dining area. The sweeping balcony view across neighboring rooftops is one of the better glimpses of the slightly obscured Matterhorn from central Zermatt.
• A loft overlooking the main floor living room, kitchen, and dining area is furnished loft accessed by spiral staircase of 14 steps. The loft includes two convertible day-beds with storage and a bathroom with shower. The loft might best serve children between 12-16.
• THE OWNER/HOST
The pleasant and very knowledgeable English-speaking owner/hostess lives nearby and is reachable by telephone during day-time hours, and 24/7 for emergencies.
• THE LOCATION
The apartment building is 5-minutes (steady but not steep) downhill from Zermatt’s main street, the Bahnhofstrasse, at the town’s main Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn railway station where guests arrive and depart at the start and end of their visit. Clustered along/near the Bahnhofstrasse in the town center, supermarkets, shops, and restaurants are 5-10 minutes walking distance from the Lower Matten Maisonette’s apartment building.
The building is 7-minutes walk from the Gornergrat Railway station, and less than ten minutes walk from the Zermatt station of the Sunnegga Express fast underground funicular. A 1-2 minute flat walk leads to a bus stop serving the Zermatt’s electric buses for the 10-minute Green Line trip to the valley station of the Klein Matterhorn Glacier Paradise at Zen Stecken on Zermatt’s south end.
ARRIVAL NOTE: your hosts meet you at an appointed time at the apartment building after you take an electric taxi with your luggage on the short journey from the main railway station.
ENTRANCE NOTES: once at the apartment building entrance, your hosts will direct you to the elevator and show you the apartments and its details.
ELECTRONICS: flat-screen cable TV. Secure WiFi (free).
LAUNDRY: the Lower Matten Maisonette has its own clothes washer built into the master bathroom on the lower floor.
The Matterhorn & Zermatt: Sample Lodging
Highview
Apartment
NORTHEAST
Large Premium-Quality apartment with superior Matterhorn views
3-BEDROOM, 2-BATH APT.
ON THE TOP (4th) FLOOR
Balconies with outstanding
Matterhorn views
NORTHEAST ZERMATT
THE HIGHVIEW APARTMENT is a spacious, near-luxury, 3-bedroom, 2-bath apartment on the upper floor of a 4-story chalet-style apartment building. The building is set on a steep hillside which provides it a commanding view of the Matterhorn & Zermatt.
IMPORTANT: Because of its uphill location, this apartment is not right for those who cannot walk steadily and partly steeply uphill for 6-10 minutes unless willing to pay for electric taxi service.
The apartment is a premium quality lodging: a supplemental charge applies even at maximum occupancy of 7 persons. The apartment features tastefully modern décor:
• 4th floor premium-quality apartment with 3-bedrooms, 2-bathrooms, and two balconies with grand views of the Matterhorn & Zermatt. Large open-plan kitchen, dining area, and living room. Entrance to the apartment building is at the 3rd floor level by the neighborhood street accessible by electric taxi. An entry elevator serves the building, making arrival and departure with luggage convenient from/to the taxi.
• Apartment capacity: 4-7 persons. Suitable for a family or for two couples. As a premium lodging, a supplemental per person charge applies for all occupancy numbers.
• Apartment furnishings include: a well equipped eat-in kitchen (large fridge/freezer, microwave, oven, convection oven, food prep island with electric range, dishwasher, coffeemaker, & lots of cupboard and counter space) and dining area that seats six. The spacious, comfy living room features overstuffed chairs, leather sofas, a large, flat-screen TV twinned with a black-glass fireplace.
• Bedrooms with views: Off the hall are two double bedrooms (queen beds) and a triple bedroom (twin beds). One double bedroom has its own balcony with a western view and a glimpse of the Matterhorn & Zermatt. The second double bedroom and the triple bedroom each have a large faux balcony floor-to-ceiling windows with fine views.
• Bathrooms: Two large bathrooms open off the main hall by the bedrooms. One features a large walk-in shower. The other has a large tub/shower. Both have large, double-basin sinks.
• Furnished balcony accessed from the open-plan living room/kitchen/dining area. The eagle’s eye view across Zermatt provides one of the finest views of the Matterhorn & Zermatt available from inside the town limits.
• THE OWNER/HOST
The pleasant and very knowledgeable English-speaking owner/hostess lives nearby and is reachable by telephone during day-time hours, and 24/7 for emergencies.
• THE LOCATION
The apartment building is 10-15 minutes (first downhill to the river bridge, then uphill steep) from Zermatt’s main street, the Bahnhofstrasse, at the town’s main Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn railway station where guests arrive and depart at the start and end of their visit. Clustered along/near the Bahnhofstrasse in the town center, supermarkets, shops, and restaurants are 10-15 minutes walking distance from the Highview Apartment.
The building is 13 minutes walk from the Gornergrat Railway station, and less than ten minutes walk from the Zermatt station of the Sunnegga Express fast underground funicular. A 7-minute downhill walk leads to a bus stop serving the Zermatt’s electric buses for the 10-minute Green Line trip to the valley station of the Klein Matterhorn Glacier Paradise at Zen Stecken on Zermatt’s south end.
NOTES ON THE SETTING: The walk from the riverside up to the apartment is a steep and steady 8 minutes, all on paved, traffic-free narrow residential streets. Two local neighborhood restaurants and a take-out shop are within 3-5 minutes of the apartment.
ARRIVAL NOTE: your hosts meet you at an appointed time at the apartment building after you take an electric taxi with your luggage on the journey from the main railway station.
ENTRANCE NOTES: once at the apartment building entrance, your hosts will direct you to the elevator and show you the apartments and its details.
NOTE: The apartment’s secure entrance is at street level. A common indoor stairwell leads to all four individual apartment entries.
ELECTRONICS: Flat-screen cable TV. Secure WiFi (free).
LAUNDRY: The apartment building’s shared laundry facilities are located on the ground floor.
The Matterhorn & Zermatt: Sample Lodging
Chalet
Barbara
NORTH-CENTRAL
Classic Swiss chalet; 1-2 persons studio; ideal central location
3rd FLOOR STUDIO APARTMENT
Balcony with Obscured View
Quiet Family Residence
Extremely convenient location
NORTH-CENTRAL ZERMATT
THE CHALET BARBARA STUDIO APARTMENT occupies the 3rd floor under the sloping eaves of a lovely, traditional Zermatt family chalet home. This 1-2 person guest apartment is above the family residence on the chalet’s lower two floors. The apartment’s furnished balcony has window boxes full of colorful geraniums, but, sadly, an obscured view of the Matterhorn. The apartment is comprised of:
• 3rd floor standard-quality apartment accessed by stairs in a common stairway leading from the chalet entrance to the secure front door of the apartment. The apartment has central heating with individual room registers.
• Apartment capacity: 1-2 persons. Suitable for a couple or for a single guest. (Singles should inquire about applicable rates.)
• The main room is a combination of twin-bedded sleeping area, and living area with upholstered sofa, chair, plus small table and flat-screen cable TV. Furnishings are simple, solid, and practical. There is adequate storage space for clothing and suitcases.
• Furnished balcony accessed from the open-plan living room & sleeping area. The view across the chalet’s garden to neighboring chalets and apartment houses is pleasant, private, quiet, but, except for a glimpse of the peak Matterhorn, lacks a dramatic vista of the Alps. However, the colorful geraniums of the balconies three window boxes add an unmistakable Swiss-ness to the balcony. (Guests are encouraged to water and tend the geraniums, just like local residents.)
• The eat-in kitchen: the apartment’s small, complete, eat-in kitchen includes a fridge, electric oven & range, and coffee maker, and lots of cupboard space, but no dishwasher or microwave. A small table with seating for two fits nicely in the kitchen. A large, openable skylight with alpine exposure adds natural light and fresh air on demand to the room.
• The bathroom: the apartment’s private bathroom has a tub/shower positioned beneath a large skylight with a view of the Alps.
• THE LOCATION
Chalet Barbara is 4-minutes (not steep) downhill from Zermatt’s main street, the Bahnhofstrasse, at the town’s main Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn railway station where guests arrive and depart at the start and end of their visit. Clustered along/near the Bahnhofstrasse in the town center, supermarkets, shops, and restaurants are 4-10 minutes walking distance from the chalet.
Chalet Barbara is 6-minutes walk from the Gornergrat Railway station, and less than ten minutes walk from the Zermatt station of the Sunnegga Express fast underground funicular. A 1-2 minute downhill walk leads to a bus stop serving the Zermatt’s electric buses for the 10-minute Green Line trip to the valley station of the Klein Matterhorn Glacier Paradise at Zen Stecken on Zermatt’s south end.
• THE OWNER/HOST
Barbara — the eponymous owner/hostess of both Chalet Barbara and the nearby Riverview Apartment (1-2 minutes below Chalet Barbara) — resides with her family on the lower two floors of the chalet. Barbara and her husband, Jules, a Zermatt native, operate a noted restaurant in town. Both are fluent in English, German, and French. Barbara is a delightful, experienced hostess who is usually at home when not at the restaurant. Guests can expect to see Barbara often at the chalet, but can always reach her in the event of problems or emergencies.
ARRIVAL NOTE: your hosts expect your arrival at the chalet at an appointed time determined by your train arrival in Zermatt. From the train station it is an easy 4-minute walk slightly downhill to the chalet. Nevertheless, you may wish to hire an electric taxi to bring you and your luggage on the short first journey from the main railway station to Chalet Barbara.
ENTRANCE NOTE: once at Chalet Barbara, if your hostess, Barbara, is at the family restaurant, there will be written instructions and apartment keys waiting for you in the chalet’s ground floor entry hall. The 3rd floor guest apartment is reached via approx. 20 stair steps up from the ground floor entry. Whether or not your hostess is at home when you arrive, she will meet with you to explain the workings of the apartment, answer your questions, and make recommendations for activities, shopping, dining, etc.
ELECTRONICS: Flat-screen cable TV. Secure WiFi (free).
LAUNDRY: there are no available laundry facilities at Chalet Barbara. Guests should take laundry to the local laundromat 6 walking minutes away in the town center.
The Matterhorn & Zermatt: Sample Lodging
Riverview
Apartment
NORTH-CENTRAL
Quality 2-bedroom apartment in quiet central location
2-BEDROOM, 1-BATH APARTMENT
2nd Floor • Large Balcony
but lacks Matterhorn view
Very convenient location
NORTH-CENTRAL ZERMATT
THE RIVERVIEW APARTMENT is on the 2nd floor of a 6-story apartment building. This 2-4 person apartment is reached by stairs or elevator. The apartment’s large, wrap-around balcony is accessed from one bedroom, the living room, and the kitchen, with fine views east and south, but, unfortunately, not of the Matterhorn. The apartment is comprised of:
• 2nd floor standard-quality apartment accessed by stairs or elevator from a secure lobby entrance. The apartment has central heating with individual room registers.
• Apartment capacity: 2-4 persons. Two bedrooms, each with twin beds. One fully-tiled bathroom with tub/shower. Suitable for 1 or 2 couples, 3 individuals, or for family up to 4 persons with adequate storage space for clothing and suitcases.
• The main room is a combination of living area with balcony access, and eat-in kitchen with balcony access. The living area has an upholstered sofa & love seat set, plus small table and flat-screen cable TV. The kitchen has electric range & stove, microwave, fridge, dishwasher, and coffee maker. The dining table seats 4. Quality furnishings are used throughout.
• THE LOCATION
The Riverview Apartment is along the channeled Matter-Vispa River, 5-minutes (not steep) downhill from Zermatt’s main street, the Bahnhofstrasse, at the town’s main Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn railway station where guests arrive and depart at the start and end of their visit. Clustered along/near the Bahnhofstrasse in the town center, supermarkets, shops, and restaurants are 4-10 minutes walking distance from the apartment building.
Riverview Apartment is 7-minutes walk from the Gornergrat Railway station, and 8-minutes walk from the Zermatt station of the Sunnegga Express fast underground funicular. Just 75 yards from the apartment building entry is a bus stop serving the Zermatt’s electric buses for the 10-minute Green Line trip to the valley station of the Klein Matterhorn Glacier Paradise at Zen Stecken on Zermatt’s south end.
• THE OWNER/HOST
Barbara — the owner/hostess of both the Riverview Apartment and the nearby Chalet Barbara (1-2 minutes up the street from the Riverview Apartment Chalet Barbara) — resides with her family on the lower two floors of Chalet. Barbara and her husband, Jules, a Zermatt native, operate a noted restaurant in town. Both are fluent in English, German, and French. Barbara is a delightful, experienced hostess who is usually at home when not at the restaurant. Guests can expect to find Barbara often available at the chalet, but can always reach her in the event of problems or emergencies.
ARRIVAL NOTE: your hosts expect your arrival at the apartment at an appointed time determined by your train arrival in Zermatt. From the train station it is an easy 5-minute walk steady (but not steep) downhill to the apartment building. Nevertheless, you may wish to hire an electric taxi to bring you and your luggage on the short first journey from the main railway station to the Riverview Apartment.
ENTRANCE NOTE: Your hostess or her representative will meet you at the appointed time to let you in and explain the workings of the apartment, answer your questions, and make recommendations for activities, shopping, dining, etc.
ELECTRONICS: Flat-screen cable TV. Secure WiFi (free). Telephone.
LAUNDRY: there are no available laundry facilities at the Riverview Apartment. Guests should take laundry to the local laundromat 7 walking minutes away in the town center.
THE MATTERHORN & ZERMATT readily combines with all other Home At First Swiss regional destinations as well as most Home At First European destinations.
Achieve more than one European travel goal for just one transatlantic airfare.
Request Free Proposal for a Custom-Made Combination Trip with Price Quote Here
