Traveling Expats

Andermatt is a charming mountain village in the heart of the Swiss Alps.  The setting is breathtaking, it’s like a real life mountain movie set. It’s at an elevation of 1,437 meters / 4,714 feet and has a population of just under 1,500 people.  The population will likely be growing in the future due to investment and expansion of the ski region. 

If you are driving, Andermatt is easily accessible from the A2 highway*   The nearest international airports are Zurich (77 miles), Milan, Italy (112 miles) and Geneva (207 miles). Andermatt is reachable by train from Göschenen (via the Matterhorn-Gotthard bahn, more on that later) which has connections from Zurich and Milan airports.  Andermatt is 70 beautiful miles from Zermatt at the base of the Matterhorn and 83 miles from Lauterbrunnen. 

Those travelling here with their EPIC ski card will need to get a card produced for the local slopes.  This can be done by taking your EPIC card to one of the ticket offices in town (train station or the Gemsstock gondola station) and paying a 5 CHF deposit.  They will ask you how many days you plan on skiing and will create you a card that is valid for those dates.  When your ski dates are over, take your card back to one of the ticket offices and they will return your 5 CHF.  Along with your local ski pass, you can purchase a ticket to use the Matterhorn – Gotthard train for the section between Andermatt and Disentis at a sharply reduced rate.  This allows you to ski from Andermatt to the other ski towns and ride the train back to Andermatt when you are tired at the end of the day.  

The ski area consists of the villages Andermatt, Sedrun and Disentis. 

If visiting in the summer or fall, Andermatt is a fantastic place for a hiking adventure for trekkers of all abilities and motivation levels. Whether your looking to conquer far off mountain peaks or just a gentle climb to a crystal-clear mountain lake, Andermatt has a trail for you.  Offering over 500 KM / 310 miles of trails and 16 mountain huts, the Alps are yours to explore here. 

Other than skiing/snowboarding and hiking, Andermatt is a fantastic place to relax and enjoy mountain culture. If you don’t ski, you must ride the Matterhorn – Gotthard Bahn to Disentis.  The train departs Andermatt every hour, takes approximately 50 minutes (each way) and is one of the most scenic rides you will ever take.  The train travels over the Oberalppass at an elevation of 2,044 meters / 6,706 feet and makes several stops along the way allowing you get out and explore.  When you’ve had enough adventure, get back on the train and return to Andermatt.  

 While strolling the picturesque lanes and alleys of Andermatt you can’t help but relax.  Admiring the Alpine architecture, listening to the church bells ring and an occasional “moo” from one of the local dairy farms, the worry and stress of our day-to-day struggles don’t seem so important here.  

One place that you must visit is the St. Peter and Paul parish church which was constructed in 1602.  The church is typically old-world cute on the exterior, but inside it is a lavishly decorated showcase of the baroque style.  Another point of interest in town is the Ursern Valley Museum which is located in the middle of town in one of the most beautiful houses in the entire valley. The museum building was built in 1786 and served as a headquarters of Russian General Suvorov during the War of the Second Coalition.  

Something that might come as a surprise to “big city folk” is the self-service, honour system dairy kiosk.  At this “shop”, which is just a small protective awning with a refrigerator and cash box, customers are able to buy milk, eggs, cheese, and jam.  The prices are listed on the refrigerator door, customers take what they need and leave the appropriate payment in the cash box. 

After skiing, hiking, or strolling the alleys all day you will not doubt get hungry.  When in Switzerland, you must try fondue.  Fondue is a pot of bubbling mountain cheese in which you dip cubes of bread in with a long fork, it’s delicious!  Fondue is served at various locations in Andermatt, we tried it at a couple of places and it was great both times.

The renowned Gasthaus Ochsen offers a diverse selection of fondue options, such as bacon, tomato, and mushroom variations. Their menu is full of delectable dishes showcasing delicious alpine cheese. Given its immense popularity, booking a reservation is advisable to guarantee a table. The restaurant opens at 3:30 p.m. Consequently, we simply visited to secure reservations, a process that proved to be quite straightforward. During our dinner, we observed several disappointed tourists being denied seating due to the restaurant’s high demand.

We indulged in fondue for the second time during our visit at Gasthaus zum Sternen, our hotel, where fondue is available throughout the day. While the selection is limited to one type of fondue, the quality matches that of Gasthaus Ochsen. At this establishment, the fondue is exclusively prepared with white wine, contrasting with Gasthaus Ochsen, which incorporates both white wine and cherry schnapps, imparting a more pronounced alcoholic flavor initially.

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions you may have or just to say hello! Your presence and engagement mean a great deal to us.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy our YouTube video showcasing our Andermatt escapade below!

Happy Travels!

Betty and Lee