Whether you are interested in a full day climb up the snowy mountains of Brighthorn or Pollux or a few hours on the rocky outcrops at Rotenboden, Zermatt has both beginner and advanced climbing options (the Breithorn is the easiest of the 4,164 m. peaks to summit under the guidance of one of Zermatt’s trained mountain guides).

Every year in July or August, visitors may sign up to enjoy Zermatt’s annual Alpine "Matterhorn Eagle Cup", which is comprised of three days on the 9-hole course at the Matterhorn Golf Club (41 27 967 70 00). Each day highlights a different style of play and day two ends with a wine pairing directly on the course.

There are two ways to reach the top of Gornergrat at 10,134 ft., from which you can enjoy direct views of the Matterhorn. In both the summer and winter an open-air cogwheel train runs from the Gornergrat train station in Zermatt (across from the Brig-Visp-Zermatt Railway station) to the top of the mountain, which takes about 45 minutes. As an alternative, you can start a four-hour hike at the base of the Matterhorn Paradise gondola in town. From the top you can either ski down or enjoy a special starlit dinner at the summit, including a visit to the observatory.

Enjoy a round-trip flight through the snow-covered Valais alps, glaciers, and view the summit of the Matterhorn up close on an exhilarating 30-minute journey through the famed 38 peaks. Indagare members can contact our Bookings Team to arrange a tour.

With more than 200 miles of hiking and walking trails, Zermatt and its neighboring villages offer a wide selection of trails of varying difficulty. Hiking is best in the summer and fall when the temperatures are moderate.

For an up-close view of the glaciers, take Europe's highest aerial cableway gondola from town to the Klein Matterhorn station, located at 12,740 ft. In both winter and summer, you can ski on the glacier and visit the world’s highest glacier palace. From here you can also ski over the pass to Cervinia, Italy.

Under a glass dome next to the St. Mauritius Pfarrkirche, the Matterhorn museum is a surprisingly comprehensive look at Zermatt's history from the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865 (and the four mountaineers who perished in an accident on the way back down) and the evolution of mountaineering to the present.

Each April, Zermatt hosts Zermatt Unplugged, a music festival to highlight acoustic national and international musicians with the famed Matterhorn as a backdrop. In September, Zermatt also hosts the Zermatt Festival, highlighting classical musicians from around the world.

Located on the main floor of the Hotel Post (Bahnhofstrasse 41; tel: +41 27 967 19 31), the Pink Live Music Bar is one of the most popular music venues in Zermatt. Hosting a variety of artists and styles, from blues to funk (the main focus is Jazz), the bar is a great place to spend the evening over cocktails and live music. The Broken Bar Disco is located beneath the hip Hotel Post in one of the oldest cellars in Zermatt. This is the destination to dance the night away (sometimes patrons even climb onto their iconic wine barrels). It’s crowded until late night with a vivacious, young crowd.

For those who are looking for a dose of adrenaline and an intimate view of the mountains surrounding Zermatt, paragliding is a popular option. To book your tandem glide you can contact Paragliding Zermatt (Bachstrasse 8; 41(0) 27 967 67 44; email: info@paragliding-zermatt.ch).

For an alternative to hiking, the Forest Fun Park consists of a high-ropes course for children and adults (ages four and older). Courses of varying degrees of difficulty are tailored to accommodate different age groups and include zip lines and tree top bridges.

Zermatt is home to over 300 km (almost 200 miles) of skiable pistes that are accessed by 74 lifts spanning three ski areas (it’s possible to ski across the entire area in a “ski paradise safari”, although not for beginner skiers). While the majority of the pistes at Zermatt are intermediate (the level of a blue/black in the US), there are areas with runs for all levels of ability. The ski season in Zermatt can begin as early as November and end as late as May, while the Klein Matterhorn glacier at 12,740 ft. is skiable 365 days. Peak times are Christmas, February and Easter. For guides and ski instructors, contact the Zermatt ski school and reach out to the Indagare Bookings Team for personalized guide recommendations.

The MCP Beauty Spa at Mont Cervin Palace provides a large assortment of spa services to both guests of the hotel and non-guests. Facilities include saunas, steam rooms, ice baths, a lap pool and an indoor/outdoor Jacuzzi. Children under 16 are not permitted. The Vita Borni wellness complex at the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof houses a large pool, whirlpool, sauna, steam bath, alpine grotto, ice bath and five treatment rooms. The spa also offers patrons the choice between the product lines of Ligne St. Barth and Cellcosmet Cellmen, an alpine line using typical Valais ingredients.

Rebuilt in 1913, St. Mauritius is a Roman Catholic parish church located right on the main street on top of the foundation of an older church from the 1500s. Its church bells still ring each quarter hour and on the hour. It hosts weekly services and is also a venue for classical music concerts during the Zermatt Festival in September.

Located in the center of town across from the Mont Cervin Palace, the Alpine Center provides visitors with information about all outdoor activities and guides. While guests can confirm all of their activities through the hotel concierge, the Alpine Center is a good resource for additional information about day hikes, skiing, activities and guides.