Synopsis
Return to Zurich: The first leg is from Zermatt to Visp is a scenic route, passing through the Matter valley with yet another chance to view incredible alpine scenery. After reaching Visp, we’ll change trains to get a (fairly) fast train to the Zurich airport. We’re staying at the Hilton Zurich Airport for two nights because 1) hotels in Zurich proper were substantially more expensive than when we first arrived and 2) our home-bound flight leaves at 7am, simplifying logistics ever so slightly.
Commentary
It’s our last morning in Zermatt: gorgeous skies with cool temps, breakfast at Petit Royale (again), a meandering walk back to our hotel, and a final selfie with the Matterhorn. Zermatt does not allow privately-owned, gasoline vehicles, in part to prevent a haze of smog over the valley; fortunately, hotels are allowed electric vehicles to ferry guests/luggage to the train station, a welcomed contrast to walking our bags through town when we arrived. Our train arrived on-time, we boarded, and the left punctually at 11:37.
Zermatt to Visp
The train route from Zermatt to Visp is indeed gorgeous, bucolic, scenic, wonderful; unfortunately, we’d already seen it as it’s the Glacier Express travels the same track. The weather and light were substantially better – only the second day with sun – so we took more pictures and continued to work through the reflection problem discussed earlier. I did not notice any windows that opened.
Visp to Zermatt
We changed trains at Visp. having seven minutes to disembark, change platforms, and board the Intercity 8 to the Zurich airport. The real challenge was where to store luggage: Swiss railroads apparently do not acknowledge that customers often travel with more that a purse or backpack. Any provided storage fills quickly and remaining bags are strewn about the carriage in whatever free space.
Despite that, I positioned myself to get on quickly and found empty space in the much-to-small-and filling-quickly “designated” luggage area. This carriage has two levels, and our reserved seats are on the upper level with our luggage on the lower level.. Paranoia meant that I made occasional visits to ensure the bags didn’t walk off, and at the busy Berne and Zurich stations I watched as everyone got off the train.
[I brought my bike lock to potentially use to lock the bags together; I did not use it but saw that someone had locked their bags to the train. Perhaps I wasn’t paranoid?]
We rode one more stop from the Zurich Main Station to the Zurich Airport and then disembarked – with luggage – and eventually found the taxi stand. The Hilton Zurich Airport is close to the airport but not close enough to walk. Check-in, complimentary glasses of wine in the bar, dinner at the hotel restaurant, and up to our room.
And that concludes both our day and the trip’s scheduled train travel. Miraculously everything went according to plan. I am relieved!
Image Credits
- maps generated by Rome2Rio as part of their travel planning
- photos © 2025 Scott C Sosna, all rights reserved
