In this article, I will provide you with some tips for photographing the Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland. In addition, I will share a few tips on how to plan a trip to Zermatt.
One of the most famous Alps peaks in Europe is the Matterhorn, located in south Switzerland along the border with Italy. With a height of 14,692 feet (4,478 meters) above sea level, it is characterized by a sharp pyramid shape.
Tourists and photographers have always been attracted to its pronounced shape.
Photographing from the Swiss side
Since the most beautiful views of this mountain are located here, on the northeast side, I will focus on this side. The south Italian side of the Matterhorn can be climbed, but there is no viewing point from which to see the mountain’s emblematic pyramid shape.
The Problem
Because Matterhorn and the nearby Swiss Alp-resort Zermatt are among the most visited places in Europe, its beauty is also a curse.
Japanese and Chinese tourists are especially prevalent lately, as the place is overrun with tourists. There is no way around it: Zermatt is expensive. Low-budget photographers will immediately notice that most tourists here have good finances and can easily afford to travel to such a place.
Low-Cost Option
If you are willing to backpack and sleep in a tent or walk during dusk or twilight hours with a headlamp, you can still plan a relatively low-budget trip to some of the most stunning locations in the world.
There are two advantages to this: you will not only be at photogenic locations, but you will also be there at the right time – around sunset or sunrise. In addition, you won’t need to book expensive hotels in Zermatt, no matter how busy the season may be.
Where to go in Zermatt
Located in the Swiss Alps, Zermatt is a charming Alpine village with many wooden houses set against a majestic mountain backdrop. Zermatt is unique in that you can only see the Matterhorn once you reach it. Other than that, they’re all tiny shops, restaurants, a church, and posh shopping streets.
Hotel Room
When you walk out of the train station in Zermatt Town on a clear day, you will be able to see the Matterhorn. The mountain may also be visible from your room, depending on where you stay and which direction your room faces. I could see it from our room at the Hotel Alex.
Vispa River
There is no doubt that the almighty Matterhorn is a beauty, and taking a picture of it is not difficult at all – after all, it is so high it cannot be missed, and its shape makes it photogenic regardless of where you are standing.
Taking a picture from the Vispa River is the easiest way to get this awesome view of the Matterhorn. It is impossible to miss the river that flows through Zermatt, so I recommend walking from the town center to the Matterhorn. In addition to taking pictures, there are many benches along the way so you can rest as well – always keep the Matterhorn in sight.
Kirchplatz
First-time visitors to Zermatt are often surprised to discover that the Matterhorn isn’t visible as they emerge from the train station.
Take your time and enjoy Bahnhofstrasse’s cafes and shops until you reach Kirchplatz or Church Square.
For your perfect first picture of the Matterhorn, climb the first few steps of the church and line up the historic wooden chalets in the foreground.
Where to go in the Mountains
To begin with, we aren’t talking about hiking or climbing the Matterhorn. Even experienced mountain climbers find this peak challenging due to its height and prominence. For tourists and photographers alike, it is definitely not an attraction they can easily hike.
If you want to create beautiful compositions, you need to go to places with beautiful views. The following are some favorite locations for photographers:
Stellisee
The 5-Seenweg (the 5-Lakes Trail) and Stellisee in particular are highly recommended. Located about 9 miles (15 km) southwest of the Matterhorn peak, Stellisee offers magnificent reflections of the peak.
In Summer, except for around 3-6 pm in the afternoon, the sun is always in a favorable position for good photographs. It is a perfect location for sunrises and sunsets.
In late summer and early autumn, you can see the Milky Way right around the Matterhorn peak from here. Autumn and winter are the seasons when the sun sets near or behind the mountain.
Grindjisee
A visit to Grinjisee is the second stop along the 5 Lakes trail. Even though the Matterhorn peak is also reflected on the surface of Grinjisee, its setting and location are significantly different from Stellisee.
This lake is much smaller, it’s in a deep valley, and it’s flanked by nice trees on its southwest side. It’s the perfect place to be in the autumn.
Near the lake, there are some large boulders, and behind it, a steep slope allows for compositions from a higher vantage point. If you want the foreground around the lake to be lit by sunlight, shoot 1 hour after sunrise and 1.5 hours before sunset.
Riffelsee
There might be more fame associated with the Riffelsee lake than with the previous two lakes, but I am not more impressed with photos taken at this lake. This place is easily accessible by a famous cog railway called Gornergrat Bahn, which is why most photos in online galleries and stock databases are from here.
In comparison to the 5-Lake Trail, the train takes you higher and closer to the summit. However, the trails are very crowded here.
Visit this website to learn more about this lake and the railway.
Note: A round trip ticket on the Gornergrat Bahn costs around 126 CHF. Photographers will appreciate the fact that this train operates from dawn until dusk.
Ze Gassen
Ze Gassen lies on a slope near Zermatt and looks like an old-fashioned village. Walking back from the 5 Lakes trail, you will pass this village. There are some very picturesque wooden cottages and houses.
Findelbach Bridge
There is a deep valley spanned by a railway bridge just a few hundred meters below Ze Gassen village. This is a good spot for getting a shot of the Matterhorn while waiting for the train.
Fluhalp
Just a few hundred meters from Stellisee (at 8,550 feet / 2,606 meters), there is a mountain hut called Fluhalp. When hiking the 5-Lakes Trail, do not miss this place – you can have a nice lunch there and get some nice compositions with the hut in the foreground.
Being at the Right Place at the Right Time
Most of the recommended places are high in the mountains. Cog railway trains and ski lifts are the most common modes of transportation. However, they don’t operate at sunset or sunrise during the summer.
Therefore, camping near one of the lakes, preferably the Stellisee, and sleeping in a tent is recommended. This will provide you with a lot of benefits. You will:
- Have plenty of time in favorable light conditions such as, the golden hour, blue hour, and possibly night shots as well.
- Experience some more “intimate” moments with the landscape and wildlife (no dangerous wildlife to contend with) while skipping the crowds
- Get calm and glassy lake surfaces between dusk and dawn – it is usually windy during the day.
- Spend less on hotels in Zermatt and save money.
If you can’t camp and backpack, then take the last cable car, lift, or train just before closing time, and walk down during the blue hour, reaching Zermatt at night. Make sure to have a headlamp. Aside from some summer storms and some rocks you might stumble on, there are no bears or real hazards to worry about.