This cogwheel mountain train connects the Zermatt village to the Gornergrat viewpoint at 3100m. The journey takes From here, you get a fantastic view of the Matterhorn peak and Gorner glacier.

Open: year round except short maintenance break in early November. See timetable.

Location: Bahnhofpl. 1, 3920 Zermatt

How to get there

The Gornergrat mountain train is located across the street from the main Zermatt train station.

Route info

The full journey is 33 mins from Zermatt to the Gornergrat. The train stops a few times along the way, making it easy to access a variety of trails and viewpoints. The stops in order:

1. Zermatt Gornergrat station

2. Findelbach

3. Riffelalp - end of long trail from Riffelsee

4. Riffelberg - restaurant here, end of short trail from Riffelsee

5. Rotenboden - to access the Riffelsee lake

6. Gornergrat - top of the mountain

Tickets

Tickets are expensive. A return ticket to the top starting around CHF 110/adult depending which month you visit.

Discount with Swiss Travel Pass and Swiss Half Fare Card.

We suggest buying tickets online, so you can skip the ticket desk line and go directly to the train boarding. But you don't have to pre-book these tickets as they don't sell out.

➡️Book Gornergrat tickets

Gornergrat is a mountain viewpoint above Zermatt at 3,135 m above sea level. It's super easy to reach this viewpoint with the Gornergrat cogwheel mountain train.

At the top, you get fantastic views of the Matterhorn and Gorner glacier. There are easy paths around the top, accessing a variety of viewpoints.

Open: year round except short maintenance break in early November. See timetable.

Accessibility: This is a great option for non-hikers and those with limited mobility. Most of the viewpoints are wheelchair and stroller accessible, with elevators and paved paths.

How to get there

The Gornergrat mountain train is located across the street from the main Zermatt train station - Bahnhofpl. 1, 3920 Zermatt

The train ride is 33 mins from Zermatt to the Gornergrat, dropping you off at a spectacular viewpoint next to the hotel and restaurant.

Tickets

The train ticket is expensive, starting around CHF 110/adult depending on which month you visit. 50% discount with Swiss Travel Pass and Swiss Half Fare Card

We suggest buying tickets online, so you can skip the ticket desk line. But the tickets don't sell out, so you don't have to pre-book.

➡️Book Gornergrat tickets

What to do there

The Gornergrat train drops you at the top of the mountain, just below the Gornergrat hotel. You can get some great views at the stone wall directly across from the train station.

However, best to walk up to the Gornergrat Observation Platform just above the hotel, which is a much better place for pictures. To get there, either walk up to the hotel or use the elevator. Then follow the path around the right side of the hotel and up a couple of switchbacks on the obstacle-free path.

The platform itself is large, room for everyone to spread out. There are walls on the sides to prevent you from falling off. But if you have small children, keep them close so they don't wander into unsafe territory.

TIP: At the far side of the platform, there is a dirt path that leads out on the ridge. We recommend walking out here, even just for a few minutes, as you can escape some of the people can get some amazing photos of the glacier.

Services

The Gornergrat hotel has a self-serve restaurant, gift shop, and toilets.

Why we like it

This mountain is our favorite in the Zermatt area, with the prettiest trails and classic Matterhorn views. We much prefer the Gornergrat to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, which is technically closer the Matterhorn but the angle is different so it doesn't look quite right.

We love particularly like this area for families and non-hikers because you can get amazing views and pictures without much work. But if you do want to hike, there are great trails of varying length and difficulty, something for everyone.

Add-ons

As part of this outing, you should definitely visit the nearby Riffelsee lake. To get there, you can ride the train down one stop or hike there on the Gornergrat Scenic Trail.

• Learn more in my Gornergrat article.

When visiting the Gornergrat, make sure to walk up to the observation platform above the hotel. It has more unobstructed views of the Matterhorn and glacier, a much better spot for picture taking.

How to get there

When you first get off the Gornergrat train, most people rush over the wall directly across from the train and spend a lot of time here taking pictures.

Instead, we suggest going directly to the observation platform for better views and more room. Walk up to the hotel on the path, or use the elevator, helpful if the path is icy in winter). Then follow the path around the right side of the hotel and up a couple of switchbacks on the obstacle-free path.

Accessibility: The path up to the platform is paved, accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. But it is a bit steep and can be icy in winter. So use caution.

What to do

The platform itself is large, room for everyone to spread out. There are walls on the sides to prevent you from falling off. But if you have small children, keep them close so they don't wander into unsafe territory.

💡At the far side of the platform, there is a dirt path that leads out on the ridge, aka the "360° loop". We recommend walking out here, even just for a few minutes, as you can escape some of the crowds and get some amazing photos of the glacier.

Starting at the far side of the Gornergrat Viewing Platform, this short walk leads out on the ridge, looping around a little peak then back to the Gornergrat hotel.

Walk: 10 mins • 500m • 17m up & down
See trail map

It's a nice way to escape some of the crowds and stretch your legs. Along the way, you'll have some fantastic photo spots, a more natural setting than at the observation platform.

It's a dirt path, but not difficult. It does not have barriers on the side, so careful if you have small children or dogs.

How to get there

Ride the Gornergrat mountain train to the top. Walk up and around the hotel, following signs to the Viewing Platform.

At the viewing platform, walk to the corner on the far left side and follow the "Rundwanderung" signs.

If there is snow or ice, I probably wouldn't do this trail as it could be dangerous.

This trail starts at the Gornergrat viewpoint and leads down through a rocky landscape to the Riffelsee lake. It's a great way to spend quality time with views of the Matterhorn and Gorner glacier.

Trail: moderate • 40 mins • 2km one way • 270m down
See trail map / check trail status (Scenic Trail Nr. 15)

The trail is not difficult, but the terrain is very uneven and rocky, best done with sturdy shoes and steady footing.

After this hike, you can walk to the Rotenboden train station and ride the Gornergrat mountain train down to Zermatt.

Or you can continue hiking to Riffelberg (+1h) or Riffelalp (+2h), which are both mountain train stops.

How to get there

This trail is accessed with the Gornergrat mountain train, which is located across the street from the main Zermatt train station - Bahnhofpl. 1, 3920 Zermatt

The train ride is 33 mins from Zermatt to the Gornergrat, dropping you off next to the hotel and restaurant. This Scenic Trail starts here, following signs to Riffelsee.

Learn more on SwissFamilyFun.com

This iconic lake is an essential part part of the Gornergrat experience. We suggest first riding the mountain train up to the Gornergrat viewpoint and spending about an hour exploring the top.

Then ride the mountain train down one stop to Rotenboden. The train leaves about every 25 mins, so check the schedule to make sure you don’t have to wait long.

• Tip: From Gornergrat, you can hike down to the Riffelsee instead of riding the train. The "Höhenweg" trail takes about an hour, descending about 270m. See trail map.

From the station, it's about a 10 min walk down to the lake. You can easily spend an hour here, strolling around the lake, taking pictures, and having a picnic.

• More info in our Riffelsee Trail article.

Hiking

After visiting the lake, you can walk back up to the train and ride down the mountain. But it's so much nicer to hike a bit to spend more time with the Matterhorn views and escape the crowds.

The trail past the lake splits a few times. For the shortest walk, follow signs to Riffelberg, about 1 hour (View trail map).

Or a longer, more difficult descent to Riffelalp, about 2 hours. Either way, you can catch the mountain train at the end and ride down to Zermatt. (View trail map)

You could even hike all the way down to Zermatt, if you have a few hours to spare.

How to get there

The Gornergrat train station is directly across from the Zermatt train station: Bahnhofplatz 1 Zermatt. The Riffelsee is at the Rotenboden stop.

In most cases, you need a round trip ticket to the Gornergrat. You get a discount with the Swiss Travel Pass, SBB GA and Half-fare.

➡️Book Gornergrat tickets

If you plan to hike, you can pay a little less. The ticket office staff speak English and can help you buy the correct ticket.

When to visit

Most tourists visit this area between 9:00 and noon. So either get up very early or visit in the afternoon, when things quiet down a bit. The train is open year round. But this area is usually free from snow from about mid June to mid October.

Conditions: webcam • forecast • trail status

This trail leads from the Riffelsee lake to the Riffelberg mountain train station. It's one of the easiest hikes you can do on the Gornergrat mountain, a good option for non-hikers and children if you would like to spend more time on the mountain.

Trail: 1h • 2.3 km • 220m down
See trail map.

The trail starts at the Rotenboden mountain train station, one stop below the Gornergrat viewpoint.

Then a short walk down to the Riffelsee lake. After the lake, follow signs to Riffelberg (not Riffelalp). There are a couple parallel trails that lead to Riffelberg, it doesn't matter which one you take.

At Riffelberg, you'll find a restaurant, cafe, and toilets.

You can catch the Gornergrat railway here back down to Zermatt. The train runs about every 25 mins and takes 34 mins to get to Zermatt. Check current schedule on SBB.ch.

The trail is a dirt footpath with some uneven terrain. But it's not dangerous or difficult. Though we prefer it with hiking shoes, you can do it with a comfortable walking shoe.