A closer look
Walking through an elite Swiss ski town usually means dodging luxury SUVs, but Zermatt opted for militant environmentalism instead. To protect the pristine alpine air and prevent smog from obscuring the jagged, iconic peak of the Matterhorn, the entire village banned traditional cars decades ago. If you want to get your heavy ski gear to the chalet, you have to rely on horse-drawn carriages or quirky, boxy electric milk floats that quietly hum through the snowy streets. It creates a surreal, peaceful atmosphere broken only by the clinking of fondue forks.
