We are going in Sept/Oct 2011. We want to see both of these places. Anyone know how to get to these places? Travel times from Milan/Rome respectively? And maybe even travel costs? So many of the sites I've found are very confusing and I never seem to get any real info :) Thank you for any help!!
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16384 posts
Leslie, do you want to see the Matterhorn from the Swiss side (at Zermatt) or the Italian side (where it is called Monte Cervino)? If Zermatt is your goal, you can easily reach it by train from Milan in 3 1/2 hours. The trip generally requires one train change, at either Brig or Visp. the price for the one-way journey on the Swiss rail site (rail.ch) is 78 CHF. The Trenitalia site is not very helpful right now; it looks like they are still updating with the new schedule. If you want to see Monte Cervino from the Italian side, you would travel to Val d'Aosta and specifically the village of Valtournenche. As far as I know, trains don't go there but there must be a bus. Maybe someone else can help you with further informationon that; I've never been to that area.
Posted by
OP
Lewiston, ID
99 posts
We had originally planned on going through Switzerland then it looked like it was going to take forever and be fairly expensive. But with your info on the Italy side it sounds to take just as long. I didn't realize it has different names, so thank you for that! Any opinions on which direction? is one destination better then the other? from the expense/travel viewpoint. Thank you again.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16384 posts
Since I haven,t been to the Val d,Aosta it is hard to compare from personal knowledge, but I can tell you what I found online and in mt Walking Italy book. The book says that you can take a train to Chatillon and then a SAVDA bus from there. Or a SADEM bus from Milan or Turin. Valtournenche appears to be more of a ski resort than an actual village. There are hotels scattered throughout the area, most have a three night minimum in summer and run 30 to 60 euro per person per day. And all seem to close sometime in September. This area seems a bit "off the beaten path" and that may or may not work for you. If it is the classic Matterhorn view you want, the narrow pyramid with twist at the top, that would be Zermatt. This town Has a reputation for high prices and crowds. We did not find it that way in early July, and it may be even less crowded in late September. As for the expense, yes there are fancy hotels there. But there are also affordable one and two-star places for much less. You can see the options on zermatt.ch, just sort for the 1 and 2star places. If you are hiker's you could also consider the Berghotels (mountain inns) that you reach by a hike from town. These are well off the crowded tourist path and some offer gorgeous views of the mountain. And now that I've written all that I hope you aren't thinking of just a day trip, as you have to be very lucky to catch the mountain free of cloud cover if you show up in Zermatt with just a few hours to spend there.