Zernez is a picturesque mountain village and gateway to one of the most famous national parks in Switzerland. It’s perched 1,474 metres above sea level and is a great base for year-round adventures in the Swiss Alps. From cosy B&Bs, self-contained apartments and luxury hotels to riverside campgrounds, you’ll find accommodation for every taste and budget in Zernez.
Things to do in Zernez
Arriving in Zernez feels like stepping into a storybook. The town is set in a grass-covered valley and framed by rugged peaks. Engadine-style houses with stone walls, gable roofs and decorative facades add to the charm. Stroll around the village centre, visit the postcard-perfect Romanesque church and enjoy lunch on a sunny terrace.
Zernez is on the doorstep of Swiss National Park, one of the largest and most pristine nature reserves in the country. It’s a sanctuary for Alpine flora and fauna, including species like chamois mountain goats, ibex and golden eagles. Well-marked hiking and cycling trails make it easy to explore the park on foot. The scenery is spectacular and ranges from evergreen forests and wildflower-strewn meadows to tumbling waterfalls and azure lakes.
Use Zernez as a base for excursions in the Engadine, a picturesque region of the Swiss Alps. Ride the Corvatsch cable car up a 3,303-metre-high mountain and visit charming Alpine villages like Guarda. The Inn River snakes through the region and provides a backdrop for water-based activities.
Winter sees Zernez dusted in fresh powder almost daily. Ski and snowboard in world-class ski resorts in the Engadine and explore a network of scenic cross-country ski trails. Race down the family-friendly Mount Baselgia toboggan run and take a spin on the outdoor ice rink.
Getting around Zernez
Zernez is pedestrian-friendly and easy to get around on foot. The village is in Engadine, a 30-minute drive from St Moritz and 2.5 hours from Zurich. Trains run between Zernez and St Moritz in 45 minutes. Zurich Airport is a three-hour drive away.