lugano to zermatt

The best way is via Milan; you'll change trains there and at Brig. The journey takes about 5 1/2 hours if you make the right connections. You should view the schedules at www.rail.ch. Depending on when you are going, the schedule may be affected by construction/track work (it is for the next week or so, but there is a 9:48 dpearture from Lugano that makes the right connections). As for the lift, there is no lift "to" the Matterhorn. The Klein Matterhorn lift system goes up onto the Matterhorn glacier and then to the peak of the Klein Matterhorn. Or you can go up to the schwartzsee area, which is on a ridge coming down from the Matterhorn (but well below th esummit). Both of these areas are accessed by a lift that starts in Winkelmatten, at the far end of the Zermatt village area from the main train station. There are hotels in that area (winkelmatten) if you want to stay close by. Hotel Hemizeus is one but it may not be the closest. You could consult the lodging map at www.zermatt.com for location information on the hotels.

nancy, One of the most direct routes I could find was a departure from Lugano at 07:12, arriving Zermatt at 13:52 (travel time 6H:40M, two changes in Olten and Visp, reservations compulsory for some legs). There are other routes available, however I focused on the least number of changes. Happy travels!

There is always the scenic Glacier Express (the "slowest express train in the world"), from Andermatt to Zermatt. Lugano to Andermat takes 1h 52m with 2 train changes in Bellinzona and Göschenen.