What's on in Zermatt (Matterhorn), Switzerland through the year

Busy — Christmas holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it

• Rule

  Car-free village

  1 Jan – 31 DecClosures

  No combustion cars in the village: you leave the car at Taesch and take the shuttle train the last five kilometres, or come the whole way by train from Visp. Source ↗

Still on: Ski season (20 Nov – 1 May (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Car-free village (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Ski season (20 Nov – 1 May (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Car-free village (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Ski season (20 Nov – 1 May (usually))

Busy — Easter holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Zermatt Unplugged

  7–11 AprMajor festivalBook early

  Five days of acoustic sets in April on stages from a tent at 2,600 metres to hotel bars, with skiing in the morning and the concerts after. Beds go early for it. Source ↗

Still on: Car-free village (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Ski season (20 Nov – 1 May (usually))

Busy — Spring holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Closure

  Between-seasons shutdown

  5 May – 15 Jun · usually

  May is the one dead month: the ski area drops to the glacier, hotels take their break and the high trails are still under snow. Late October and November run much the same way. Source ↗

Still on: Car-free village (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Ski season (20 Nov – 1 May (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

• Season

  Summer glacier skiing

  1 Jun – 31 Oct · usuallySki season

  The glacier keeps a handful of lifts turning through the summer, mornings only, which is where the national teams train. A small area, and the snow is gone by eleven.

• Season

  Trail and hut season

  20 Jun – 15 Oct · usuallyTrail seasonBook early

  The Hoernli and Monte Rosa huts and the paths under the north faces run from about the solstice to mid-October, with the Gornergrat railway taking the climb out of the easy version.

Still on: Car-free village (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Between-seasons shutdown (5 May – 15 Jun (usually))

Busy — Summer holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Car-free village (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Summer glacier skiing (1 Jun – 31 Oct (usually)), Trail and hut season (20 Jun – 15 Oct (usually))

Busy — Summer holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Folklore Festival

  8–9 AugMajor festival

  Valais villages bring their costumes, flag throwers and alphorns down for the second weekend of August, with a parade through the main street. Local rather than staged. Source ↗

Still on: Car-free village (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Summer glacier skiing (1 Jun – 31 Oct (usually)), Trail and hut season (20 Jun – 15 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Car-free village (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Summer glacier skiing (1 Jun – 31 Oct (usually)), Trail and hut season (20 Jun – 15 Oct (usually))

Busy — Autumn holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Car-free village (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Summer glacier skiing (1 Jun – 31 Oct (usually)), Trail and hut season (20 Jun – 15 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Season

  Ski season

  20 Nov – 1 May · usually

  One of the highest areas in the Alps, linked over the ridge to Cervinia in Italy. The top station is at 3,900 metres, which is why the season is long and the spring snow holds.

Still on: Car-free village (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — Christmas holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Car-free village (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Ski season (20 Nov – 1 May (usually))