Ski Resorts Near Zermatt by Train
Zermatt is car free, so the train is both how you arrive and how you reach every other resort, and the rail line that serves it opens up a string of fine Valais and Glacier Express options. Saas Fee, the other great car free glacier resort, is the closest at around an hour and a quarter. Crans Montana, Leukerbad and the Val d'Anniviers villages sit roughly an hour and a half to two hours down the valley, and Andermatt is the headline stop on the famous Glacier Express. Journey time is the deciding factor, so we have ranked every resort by it below.
By the Ski Resorts for Kings editorial team · Last reviewed June 2026
Every resort, ranked by how long the train takes
Zermatt sits at the end of a single mountain railway that drops to Visp and Brig in the Rhone valley, where it meets the main Swiss network and the Matterhorn Gotthard line. From there, almost every Valais resort is a connection or two away, and the celebrated Glacier Express runs east toward Andermatt, Disentis and on to St Moritz. None of these is a quick hop, since mountain trains are scenic rather than fast, but all are car free friendly and genuinely doable. Here is every resort worth the trip, ordered by how long the journey takes.
| Resort | By train | Area | The verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saas Fee | Around 1h 15m | Saas Valley | The other great car free glacier village, snow sure and dramatic, the natural twin trip to Zermatt. |
| Leukerbad | Around 1h 30m | Valais | A thermal spa resort with gentle skiing, the best choice for soaking sore legs in alpine hot pools. |
| Crans Montana | Around 1h 45m | Valais plateau | A sunny, chic plateau resort with shopping and long views, reached by a funicular from Sierre. |
| Aletsch Arena Riederalp | Around 1h 45m | Aletsch | Car free balcony villages above the great Aletsch glacier, calm, scenic and family friendly. |
| Grimentz | Around 2h | Val d'Anniviers | A beautiful old timber village with serious, snow sure skiing and real Valais character. |
| Zinal | Around 2h | Val d'Anniviers | A quiet, high village at the head of the valley, linked to Grimentz with grand mountain scenery. |
| St Luc Chandolin | Around 2h | Val d'Anniviers | Sunny, gentle and uncrowded balcony skiing, a lovely low key family choice in the same valley. |
| Bellwald | Around 2h | Goms | A small, sunny sun terrace village above the Goms valley, peaceful and good value for families. |
| Obergoms | Around 2h 15m | Goms | Cross country heaven in a string of pretty hamlets, more about Nordic trails than downhill. |
| Andermatt | Around 2h 30m | SkiArena Andermatt Sedrun | The big one on the Glacier Express, a revitalized resort with steep terrain and deep snow. |
| Disentis | Around 3h 30m | Surselva | A quiet, snow sure monastery town further along the Glacier Express, big and uncrowded. |
| St Moritz | Around 5h, the full Glacier Express | Engadin | The grande dame of the Alps and the Glacier Express terminus, a journey and a destination in one. |
Best for a day, a weekend, a full week
For a day trip from Zermatt, Saas Fee is the obvious move, around an hour and a quarter away and a glacier resort every bit as dramatic as your base, with the same car free calm and a couple of standout mountain restaurants. Leukerbad is the other great day out, less for the skiing than for its vast thermal baths, the perfect place to soak tired legs in steaming open air pools with the cliffs rising above you.
For a weekend, the old timber villages of the Val d'Anniviers reward the slightly longer ride. Grimentz and Zinal share a snow sure, linked area and some of the most atmospheric mule track lanes and raclette cellars in the Valais, while sunny St Luc Chandolin across the valley is gentler and quieter. Crans Montana is the polished alternative, all long lunches, designer shops and southern sun on its plateau.
For a full week, the journey itself becomes the holiday. Ride the Glacier Express to Andermatt for steep, snow sure terrain and a handsomely restored village, or stay aboard all the way to St Moritz for the grandest scenery and most glamorous evenings in the Alps. Both are long days on the rails, but the views from the panoramic carriages are reason enough to go.
Trains, passes and the practical bits
Because Zermatt is car free, you arrive by train to begin with, parking in Tasch and riding the shuttle up, or coming all the way by rail from Geneva or Zurich. That makes onward train trips natural, and a Swiss rail pass or regional day ticket usually covers the scenic lines and the connections. The Glacier Express requires a seat reservation in winter, so book the panoramic carriages ahead in the busy weeks.
Lift passes, spa entry and seat reservations are all cheaper and less stressful arranged before you travel, and booking ahead almost always beats turning up on the day. If you are still choosing a base, our Zermatt resort review and the wider Switzerland guide cover the options, and our region pages go deeper on each valley.
Book the extras and save
Transfers, rail seat reservations, spa entry and lessons are where a car free trip quietly leaks money. Booking ahead almost always beats buying on the day.
Compare lift passesBook a transferFind lessonsReserve ski hireTravel insuranceSkiing near Zermatt by train FAQs
What is the closest ski resort to Zermatt by train?
Saas Fee is the closest, at around an hour and a quarter by train and bus down the valley and up the neighboring Saas valley. Like Zermatt it is car free and built around a glacier, which makes it the natural twin trip. Leukerbad and Crans Montana follow at roughly an hour and a half to an hour and three quarters.
Can you do a day trip from Zermatt by train?
Yes. Saas Fee for skiing and Leukerbad for its thermal baths are both comfortable day trips of around an hour and a quarter to an hour and a half each way. The Val d'Anniviers villages and Crans Montana are doable too at around an hour and three quarters to two hours, though they make better weekend trips.
Is Zermatt connected to the Glacier Express?
Yes, Zermatt is the western terminus of the Glacier Express, the famous panoramic train that runs east to Andermatt, Disentis and on to St Moritz. It is a scenic journey rather than a fast one, so Andermatt is around two and a half hours and St Moritz around five, but the views from the panoramic carriages are the point.
Do you need a car to ski around Zermatt?
No, and you cannot drive into Zermatt anyway, since the village is car free. You arrive by train, parking in Tasch or coming all the way by rail, and every onward resort here is reachable on the scenic Swiss network. A regional or national rail pass usually covers the connections.
Which resort near Zermatt is best for a relaxing trip?
Leukerbad for its enormous thermal baths and gentle skiing, or the calm balcony villages of St Luc Chandolin and Aletsch Arena Riederalp. All offer a slower, scenic pace with soaking, sun and easy pistes rather than big mileage or nightlife. They suit a recovery day or a quieter week.
How long does the train from Zermatt to St Moritz take?
The full Glacier Express journey from Zermatt to St Moritz takes around five hours, crossing the heart of the Swiss Alps over passes and viaducts. It is best treated as a day out and an experience in itself rather than a commute, ideally with a seat in the panoramic carriages booked in advance.
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