Should I visit Zermatt or Grindelwald? [2024]
/Zermatt and Grindelwald are two of Switzerland’s most popular mountain towns, both in the summer and popular winter season. But which one should you visit? Let’s delve deeper!
8 min read
First Cliff Walk by Tissot, Grindelwald
If you’re visiting Switzerland on a time budget, you’re probably struggling to figure out which places to visit in one of the world’s most beautiful countries. With a seemingly endless list of destinations worth visiting – we get it – it can be difficult to make a choice!
Once choice you might be faced with is choosing between the quaint villages of Zermatt and Grindelwald. We had the pleasure of visiting both and want to tell you all about it.
These are two of Switzerland’s most popular ski towns, and it’s very easy to see why. Both are ridiculously beautiful, quiet and share a lot of similarities. However, there are slight differences between these gems that might make you choose one over the other. Which should you visit – Zermatt or Grindelwald? Let’s get into it.
Note: We’re not big skiers or snowboarders, so we’re not going to include which of these we think are better based on skiing or snowboarding. Instead, we’re going to focus our recommendations on what we thought of each town’s nature, convenience, location and other aspects.
Zermatt, Switzerland
Handpicked Tours
Trying my hand at skiing at Bodmi, Grindelwald
Looking to make the most out of your stay? Check out these amazing experiences, handpicked by us for you.
Grindelwald Guided Day Hike - soak up stunning views of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau peaks
Grindelwald Village Loop - stay away from big tourist crowds by visiting local pathways that most people never get to see. Features hidden panoramic views of the mountain range surrounding Grindelwald.
Paragliding tandem flight in Zermatt - such a fun activity to do! Glide through the gorgeous alps and tick off an adrenaline high.
Private 3-Hour Ski Lesson in Zermatt - perfect for ski beginners. Embark on a private tour where a 5-star, qualified instructor takes you through all the basics.
Zermatt Village walk and Mount Gornergrat Private Tour - Zermatt village has so many hidden treasures that you won't be able to find just walking aryoud by yourself. This private tour enables you to go with a local who can show you the best of the best.
Where to Stay
Where to stay in Zermatt
Zermatt is filled with amazing hotels and resorts, and you won’t find any shortage of places worth staying in - whether you’re a budget traveler, luxury jetsetter or somewhere in between. Here are our favourite places to stay in Zermatt.
Budget: Zermatt Youth Hostel
The well-reviewed Zermatt Youth Hostel is perfect for young travelers who want to experience the beauty of Zermatt without breaking the bank. The Hostel features inexpensive rooms, both with shared and private bathrooms. It’s certainly not the most glamorous place to stay in Zermatt, but for its price - there’s no better deal out there.
Take a closer look at the Zermatt Youth Hostel by clicking here.
Mid-Range: Hotel Pollux
This is a great option for those who want to stay somewhere comfortable, clean and established. Hotel Pollux is a 4-star establishment that will tick off all your boxes. Some of the rooms even have a sun roof! Hotel Pollux currently has a rating of 9.0 on Booking.com - which is extremely high.
Take a closer look at Hotel Pollux by clicking here.
Luxury: Grand Hotel Zermatterhof
We’ve recommended this one before, and we’ll continue singing its praises. The Grand Hotel Zermatterhof is the ultimate in Swiss luxury, and is not to be missed if you’re a luxury traveler. The pictures speak for themselves at this point. This is a bucket-list accomodtion that will be worth the hype, as it’s practically an icon of Zermatt.
Take a closer look at the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof by clicking here.
Where to stay in Grindelwald
There is a slightly smaller selection of hotels and accommodation options in Grindelwald compared to Zermatt, but don’t let this deter you from visiting. There are still some awesome places to stay in Grindelwald - and here are our top selections.
Budget: Basic Rooms Jungfrau Lodge
There aren’t a lot of budget options in Grindelwald, so this one is a gem. The rooms are super cozy, and the location of this lodge is really close to the centre of Zermatt town and train station. What’s not to love?
Take a closer look at Basic Rooms Jungfrau Lodge by clicking here.
Mid-Range: Hotel Cabana
Hotel Cabana is an uber-cute family-run hotel that overlooks stunning views of the Grindelwald mountains. Reviewers particularly love how comfortable the rooms are, and the friendliness of the property’s staff.
Take a closer look at Hotel Cabana by clicking here.
Luxury: Boutique Hotel Glacier
Boutique Hotel Glacier is absolutely one of the most unique properties in Grindelwald. Guests will love their heated outdoor pool and spa, as they’ll be treated to gorgeous views. But if you want to stay here - you’ll have to move quick. This hotel is known for being especially popular, and is often sold out.
Take a closer look at Boutique Hotel Glacier by clicking here.
Brief History of Zermatt and Grindelwald
History of Zermatt
Zermatt Town
With the Matterhorn as the town’s central focus, Zermatt is one of the most recognisable places in the world. Featuring 54 mountain railways/lifts and 360km of pistes, Zermatt is truly a skier’s paradise (although there are plenty of things to do for non-skiers in the winter as well!).
Mattterhorn Museum (pictured left) in the foreground, while St Mauritius Church (pictured right) is in the background.
The village was first discovered in the mid-19th century, when British mountaineers such as Edward Whymper would head to Zermatt to climb the Matterhorn. Tragically, the first successful summit ended up being tragic expedition, as only 3 of the 7 climbers survived the descent. You can learn more about the story (and more generally about Zermatt’s history) by visiting Zermatt’s Matterhorn Museum.
History of Grindelwald
First, Grindelwald
On the other hand, Grindelwald’s is at the center of a few famous mountains – including the Wetterhorn, Mettenberg, Schrekhorn, Eiger and Männlichen. Grindelwald’s history stretches all the way to the 1100s, where there were already traces of inhabitants during that era. Although the scenic town has a really interesting history involving Kings, Dukes and Monasteries – Grindelwald’s tourism industry didn’t really develop until the late 18th century, when again, British climbers visited to take on the surrounding peaks.
Read more: Should I visit Oslo or Bergen?
Why You Should and Shouldn’t Visit Zermatt
Why you should visit Zermatt
In my opinion, Zermatt has the most breathtaking scenery out of any town or village I’ve visited in Switzerland. After doing a short 15-minute hike up to the Zermatt Matterhorn Viewpoint, I was instantly speechless at the sheer, aesthetic beauty of this place – especially when it’s covered in powder snow.
Photographed at Zermatt Matterhorn Viewpoint.
If we’re talking pure visual value, I would give the edge to Zermatt over Grindelwald. It’s simply undeniable that the Matterhorn is a sight you just have to see once in your lifetime.
Taken from the Gornergrat.
You should visit Zermatt if you’re looking for an all-inclusive experience that puts convenience at the centre. Zermatt is a small town, which means getting from place to place is easy and walkable. There are multiple viewpoints and places to go skiing/snowboarding, all within an relatively short walk from each other – Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Gornergrat Railway and Rothorn are prime examples of this.
Zermatt’s mountain peaks are simply awesome.
In saying this, Zermatt is big enough to have a lot of amenities, and this comes in really handy. For example, Zermatt is home to a McDonald’s, a cinema, several pharmacies, shops, restaurants and cafés. Naturally, you’ll get a wider range of accommodation here – whether you want to stay in a luxury resort, or more affordable options. Though it’s a mountain town, it almost feels like a small city at times. The flip side to this is that it gets much more crowded than Grindelwald, especially in peak season.
You can find a McDonald’s in Zermatt.
If you’re just staying in Zermatt and not embarking on any outside trips, then Zermatt has more to offer. Attractions such as the Matterhorn Museum, St Mauritius Church and Mountaineer’s Cemetery are enough to keep you occupied for a day or two. Of course, if you’re skiing, then you’ll be even more spoiled for choice.
St Mauritius Church, Zermatt
Why you shouldn’t visit Zermatt
There are a few reasons you might want to avoid Zermatt. The most obvious one to me is the distance between Zermatt and any other major city in Switzerland. If you’re coming from another country, chances are you’ll be either flying or taking the train first into one of the bigger Swiss cities (Zurich, Geneva, Basel or Bern). The closest city to Zermatt out of these four is Bern, and even then it takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes to reach Zermatt. Although Geneva looks geographically close to Zermatt on a map, it will still take over 3.5 hours to arrive. If you’re short on time, these long commutes might be a significant factor to take into account.
Zermatt Town.
The next one is that there isn’t quite as much choice for day trips from Zermatt. There are options - such as visiting Montreaux, Hinterdorf, Visp and Brig - but to be honest, there are more choices in Grindelwald.
Another shot of Zermatt Town.
Another reason why Zermatt might not be for you is that everything relates back to the Matterhorn. Zermatt is literally all about the Matterhorn. This might not be a bad thing at all (for us, we were totally fine with it as the Matterhorn is iconic and deserves all the praise it gets), but if you’re someone who gets easily bored of scenery, you should take this into account. Virtually every cable car you go up, every attraction you visit – you will either be treated with views of the Matterhorn, or learning about the Matterhorn.
It’s all about the Matterhorn in Zermatt.
How long should I stay in Zermatt?
Set aside at least 2 days to visit Zermatt.
At least 2 full days, but longer if you want to take it slow and/or are a hiker, skier or snowboarder. Read about my reasons in my other blog post.
Zermatt – In Summary
You should visit Zermatt if...
You’re looking for jaw-dropping mountain scenery, and don’t mind a slightly more crowded village;
You want peaceful Swiss town vibes, but still want to be close to amenities such as a pharmacy, restaurants and a McDonald’s, and you want a wide range of accommodation options;
You’re not really planning to take any day trips outside of Zermatt;
You love the Matterhorn and don’t mind gazing at it over and over again; and
You don’t mind the long journey to Zermatt.
Why You Should and Shouldn’t Visit Grindelwald
Why you should visit Grindelwald
Although there are even quieter towns than Grindelwald (Switzerland is literally filled with gorgeous small towns and villages, so there’s something for everyone), Grindelwald is definitely feels less crowded than Zermatt.
It manages to really retain a ‘small town vibe’, despite being a popular attraction. When you think of a charming Swiss alpine town, Grindelwald is probably closer to what you would imagine than Zermatt. The town is a lot smaller than Zermatt, and even more walkable.
Grindelwald Town.
Just like Zermatt, Grindelwald is also extremely visually appealing - but it might take a little longer to see the full extent of that. Because it’s nestled in between numerous peaks, the vistas are wide and all-encompassing.
Grindelwald’s many mountain peaks.
One of the best parts about staying in Grindelwald is the opportunity for amazing day trips. Within less than an hour, you can visit other must-see towns such as Murren, Wengen and Lauterbrunnen. The adventure getaway of Interlaken is also a short train journey away.
Wengen is just a short train ride away from Grindelwald.
Don’t forget to visit neighbouring Lauterbrunnen when staying in Grindelwald.
If you’re a hiker, the Bachalpsee Lake is considered by many to be a must-do when in Switzerland, and can conveniently be reached by staying in Grindelwald.
Bodmi, Grindelwald
Grindelwald is also ever so slightly easier to get to from Switzerland’s major cities than Zermatt. For example, it will take roughly 2 hours and 45 minutes to get from Zurich to Grindelwald - about half an hour less than what it would take from Zermatt. From Bern, it would take just under 2 hours to reach Grindelwald.
Why you shouldn’t visit Grindelwald
Grindelwald is a small town, so it doesn’t have a lot of amenities. As a result, there is a smaller range of restaurants, slightly more limited accommodation options, pharmacies, and so on. As an example, I had to get a COVID-19 PCR test done in Grindelwald, but there weren’t any testing facilities in town at the time. This meant I had to take a train ride to Grindelwald Terminal (another train station in Grindelwald) at an incredibly limited time slot to get my test done.
The view at First, Grindelwald.
Another reason why Grindelwald might not be the best choice for you is if you plan to stay in one place the whole time. If you’re just planning to plant yourself in Grindelwald and not embark on any day trips or other excursions from the Village, then Grindelwald might seem rather limited in terms of sightseeing. In saying this, you’ll still be able to walk to the cable car that takes you to First, and then walk to the First Cliff Walk by Tissot – an unforgettable hair-raising walk that traverses through a dramatic cliffside.
First Cliff Walk by Tissot – not for the fainthearted!
However, there are a lack of other attractions sitting directly within Grindelwald village’s limits. You’ll have to venture out a little more and either go on a hike or take a train ride to attractions such as Grosse Scheidegg, Männlichen and Jungfrau – Top of Europe.
View from First Cliff Walk, Grindelwald.
How long should I stay in Grindelwald?
At least 2-3 full days to fit in time for multiple day trips to Wengen, Jungfrau and Lauterbrunnen – all worth a visit.
Grindelwald – In Summary
You should visit Grindelwald if...
You’re seeking the classic, Swiss alpine village experience;
You love spending time in quiet areas, and don’t mind staying in a place with fewer amenities;
You’re keen on taking great day trip opportunities;
You’re easily bored of seeing the same scenery, and want to be surrounded by different peaks; and
You’re a little short on time and want to embark on shorter train rides.
On a side note, I also just wanted to say that if you are visiting Grindelwald, I would also highly recommend staying at the Hotel Belvedere, Grindelwald – considered the best hotel in Grindelwald. I had an amazing time here, which you can read all about in my blog post about that.
Which one should I visit – Zermatt or Grindelwald?
To be honest, it’s a tie! I know that’s not what you want to hear, but trust me, you can’t go wrong with either choice. You’ll thoroughly enjoy your visit to both Zermatt or Grindelwald.
Zermatt’s scenery was unbeatable.
I personally thought Zermatt’s scenery and town was more awe-inspiring, but preferred the quiet vibe of Grindelwald. It also helped that I loved my accommodation in Grindelwald.
Grindelwald is also packed with small-town charm.
Overall, Zermatt was just a tad more memorable for me, but I also have a great desire to come back to Grindelwald and explore its surroundings further.
How do I get from Zermatt to Grindelwald (and vice versa)?
The journey from Zermatt to Grindelwald takes just over 3 hours, and usually involves 4 transfers. The most common route will take you from Zermatt to Visp, Visp to Spiez, Spiez to Interlaken Ost and finally, Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald.
When going from Zermatt to Grindelwald (or vice versa), you can stop by Spiez – another worthwhile destination in Switzerland.
It can be a bit exhausting transferring that many times, but the overall length of journey isn’t actually that long.
Agree or disagree with us? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
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Zermatt and Grindelwald are two of Switzerland’s most popular mountain towns, both in summer and winter. But which should you visit? Let’s delve deeper!