Zermatt

Zermatt is the car-free village at the foot of the Matterhorn, where the mountain views are free even if everything else is not. The signposted hiking trails out of the village cost nothing, and wandering the streets for that first glimpse of the peak is the cheapest highlight in town. Budget travelers self-cater rather than eating out, since Swiss restaurant prices are steep, and pick clear-weather days to make the most of the trails before paying for any lift. Reaching Zermatt by train means changing at Visp on the line down from Bern, and the early summer and autumn shoulder seasons are quieter and easier on the wallet than peak ski months.