How to Visit the Eggishorn (Best Viewpoint of the Aletsch Glacier in Switzerland!)

The Eggishorn viewpoint in Switzerland is one of the best views you can get over the Aletsch Glacier, the largest glacier in the Alps!  It’s part of the Aletsch Arena in Switzerland, nestled between Interlaken and Zermatt.  In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know to visit the Eggishorn, including how to get there, what cable cars you need to take, costs, things to do at the Eggishorn viewpoint and in the Aletsch Arena, when to go, and much more!

A hiker stands on a rocky outcrop overlooking a glacier at the Eggishorn viewpoint in Switzerland

The Aletsch Glacier in Switzerland might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Switzerland, and it might not be the first thing that pops up when researching your Switzerland itinerary, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth a visit!

The Aletsch Glacier is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is the longest glacier in the Alps, spanning a length of 20 km, and holding 800 meters of ice at its thickest point.  It’s pretty big!  And standing on a viewpoint overlooking its massive expanse as it cascades down from the backside of the epic Jungfrau massif is certainly quite a sight.

Because it originates from the Jungfrau massif, the Aletsch Glacier is most often seen from the incredibly popular Jungfraujoch excursion site, often known as “The Top of Europe”.  Nestled in a saddle between two peaks of the Jungfrau massif at the top of the highest rail station in Europe, Jungraujoch is one of the most popular places to visit in Switzerland, so it can definitely get crowded and feel a bit touristy, and it’s quite expensive to get to.

But you might be happy to learn that you can see the Aletsch Glacier from a much quieter, much less crowded (and much cheaper!) vantage point…

Let us introduce you to the Aletsch Arena, a region in the canton of Valais with epic viewpoints over the Aletsch Glacier.  Here, a series of three different cable car lines go up to quaint mountain villages as well as four different viewpoints that stretch across the mountain range lining the southern edge of the Aletsch Glacier.  These points offer a different view of the Aletsch Glacier where you can see its entire expanse as it cascades off the backside of the Jungfrau Massif and carves its way through the valley below.  On a clear day, you can even see the Jungfrajoch site perched on a rocky cliff above the glacier.

The Eggishorn is the highest viewpoint in the Aletsch Arena, at 2869 meters tall.  From this vantage point, you can see pretty much the entire expanse of the Aletsch Glacier, which is why we chose to spend our limited time in the area here.  At the Eggishorn viewpoint, you can walk a small interpretive loop, hike to the true summit of the Eggishorn for panoramic views, eat with a view at a restaurant, embark on a longer hike along the ridge or down towards the glacier, and even spend the night in a small but scenic room with a view.

In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know to visit the Eggishorn viewpoint in the Aletsch Arena of Switzerland.  We’ll share how to get there, when to go, passes you’ll need and costs, things to do on the Eggishorn, how to hike to the Eggishorn summit, and things to do in the broader Aletsch Arena if you have more time to spend.

In this guide to the Eggishorn in Switzerland:


Overview of the Aletsch Arena

People stand on a viewing platform overlooking a massive glacier on the Eggishorn viewpoint

Overlooking the Aletsch Glacier from the Eggishorn viewpoint

The Eggishorn viewpoint is part of the Aletsch Arena in Switzerland, which comprises the mountain range that borders the southern edge of the Aletsch Glacier.  This mountain range is accessed from towns nestled in the Rhone Valley.

The whole arena is a pretty big area with lots of things to do.  But the general gist is this:

  • Along the valley at the bottom of the mountain range are three main base towns that you can drive into or take a train to.

  • From each of these bottom stations, you can take a series of cable cars up to quaint car-free mountain towns at the midstations of each route.  Each of these midstation towns have activities, views, hiking trails, accommodations, and places to eat.

  • From these midstations, the cable cars continue their way up to one of four viewpoints along the top of the mountain range.  These viewpoints offer stunning panoramic views of the area, including over the Aletsch Glacier.

Here is an overview of each of the cable car lines as you would find them traveling from west to east through Rhone Valley (from Brig).  The further east you go down the ridge, the higher the viewpoint is over the Aletsch Glacier and the closer the view you have to the head of the glacier at the Jungfrau massif.

Base town: Morel

  • Midstation mountain town: Riederalp (you can take one of two cable car lines from Morel up to this midpoint)

  • Summit viewpoints: From the Riederalp area, you can take one of two cable cars up to either the Hohfluh viewpoint (2227 meters) or the Moosfluh viewpoint (2333 meters)

Base town: Betten

  • Midstation mountain town: Bettmeralp (again, you can choose from one of two cable car lines to go from Bettern to Bettmeralp)

  • Summit viewpoint: Bettmerhorn (2647 meters)

Base town: Fiesch

  • Midstation mountain town: Fiescheralp

  • Summit viewpoint: Eggishorn (2869 meters)

In this guide, we are focusing on the Eggishorn viewpoint.  We had limited time in the Aletsch Arena, and we chose to spend it on the Eggishorn because it is the highest vantage point from which to see the Aletsch Glacier, and from up here, you can see almost the entire expanse of the glacier, including where the different glacier heads combine to form the massive ice field at the base of the Jungrau massif, and as it curves through the entire valley below. 

A man looks out over a large glacier from the Eggishorn viewpoint

Looking out over the massive expanse of the Aletsch Glacier from the Eggishorn viewpoint

On a clear day, from the Eggishorn viewpoint you can see the entire Jungfrau massif, and if you look closely, you can even see the buildings of the popular Jungfraujoch excursion site (accessed on the other side of the valley in the Jungfrau region) sitting on a rocky perch above the glacier. 

From the Eggishorn, you also get panoramic views of the entire area, and if it’s clear, you’ll even be able to spot the Matterhorn in the distance among a sea of jagged peaks.

On a quick trip to the Eggishorn, you can take in the views, walk a short interpretive loop, eat lunch, and make a quick but steep hike up to the true Eggishorn summit for even more incredible views over the Aletsch Glacier.

With more time, there’s a few more things to do at the Eggishorn and in the general Aletsch Arena, and we’ll go over all of these in just a bit!

Map of the Eggishorn and Aletsch Arena

This map of the Aletsch Arena is taken from the Aletsch Arena website and shows where the Eggishorn is in relation to the glacier and the other main viewpoints and cable car lines in the area.

A map of the cable cars, towns and viewpoints in the Aletsch Arena in Switzerland

In this map of the Aletsch Arena (taken from the Aletsch Arena website), you can see the base towns labeled in yellow at the bottom, the three midstations in red, and the four viewpoints in blue at the top. The Eggishorn is the top viewpoint on the far right.


How to Get to the Eggishorn Viewpoint in Switzerland

The Aletsch Arena is in the upper Valais region of Switzerland, conveniently located between two other very common places to visit- Interlaken (the gateway into the Jungfrau Region) and Zermatt (home of the Matterhorn).

Views of meadows and mountains from the Eggishorn cable car

Views over Rhone Valley from the cable car to the Eggishorn

Because of its location, it’s possible to do a day trip to the Eggishorn from Interlaken or Zermatt.  Or, you can do what we did and visit the Eggishorn on a travel day between Interlaken and Zermatt (it made for a good way to spice up a travel day!).

Here are the distances to Fiesch (the base town for the cable cars up to the Eggishorn) from different places across Switzerland:

  • Interlaken to the Eggishorn:  About 2 hours by car or train

  • Zermatt to the Eggishorn: About 2 hours 20 minutes by train (1 hour by car)

  • Zurich to the Eggishorn:  About 3 hours by car or train

  • Lucerne to the Eggishorn:  About 3 hours by train (2 hours by car)

  • Geneva to the Eggishorn:  About 3 hours by car or train

If driving to Fiesch, there is a paid parking lot just across the street from the cable car station for the Eggishorn.

If you are traveling by train to the Eggishorn, you’ll likely have a connection in Brig.  From Brig, you’ll hop onto one of the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn lines which will take you right to Fiesch on a scenic ride through the Rhone Valley, and conveniently, it stops right at the Eggishorn cable car station.

This station is a big info center, and you can purchase your tickets for the Eggishorn cable cars here.

Good to know:  If you’re visiting the Eggishorn on a travel day like us, there are lockers here that you can store your luggage in for the day (just 5 CHF for up to 24 hours).
A view of small homes and buildings in a valley between forested mountains in Rhone Valley

Views of Rhone Valley from the train to the Fiesch

A ticket window at the Eggishorn cable car station

The bottom station for the Eggishorn cable cars


The Eggishorn Cable Cars

To get from the town of Fiesch up to the Eggishorn, you’ll take a series of two cable cars.

In our experience arriving at midday, the cable cars to the Eggishorn were practically empty!  There were no waits or lines, and we had no issue walking right up to the ticket counter at the station in Fiesch, purchasing our tickets, and jumping on the next cable car which we had all to ourselves.

A man walks through a turnstile for the Eggishorn cable car

No lines for the first Eggishorn cable car!

The first lift is a ten- person gondola that takes about 12 minutes to get up to the midstation at Fiescheralp.  These gondolas are continuous so you won’t have to wait to grab one.  The ride is nice and scenic, with constant views over the town of Fiesch and the valley beyond.  As you get higher, you’ll be riding over the rolling meadows of the mountain plateau, and the sea of jagged peaks across the valley will continue to open up.

A man sits in a gondola looking out to mountain views on the Eggishorn cable car

Mountain views from the Eggishorn gondola

Views of a cloud-filled valley with jagged mountain peaks as seen from the Eggishorn cable car

Jagged peaks appear above a cloud-filled Rhone Valley

Once in Fiescheralp, follow signs to the Eggishorn to get to the next lift.  This cable car leaves for the Eggishorn about every 30 minutes, so you may have a bit of a wait here.  This second lift is a large tram that can fit lots of people (and is mostly standing room only).  When we were here, we had to share with only a handful of other people, so we were able to freely walk around to enjoy the views (a nice change of pace from many of the other tram rides we had in the Alps!). 

A staircase leads to the Eggishorn cable car station in Fiescheralp

The Eggishorn cable car station in Fiescheralp (you can see the cable car heading up!)

A man stands in a large cable car to the Eggishorn

A nearly empty Eggishorn cable car!

From this cable car, the scenic views continue as you can look out over the small town of Fiescheralp to the jagged mountains in the distance.  As you get higher, the terrain beneath you transitions from rolling green meadows to rocky slopes and steep cliffs.  It was from up here that we also noticed that we could see the Matterhorn in the distance!

The view from the Eggishorn cable car over a small mountain town with jagged peaks in the distance

Looking back down to Fiescheralp

A view from the Eggishorn cable car over meadows, a lake, and jagged mountain peaks in the distance

Views from the Eggishorn cable car- can you spot the Matterhorn?

It's only about a five- minute ride to the Eggishorn station.

Can you hike to the Eggishorn?  Yes!  It’s totally possible to hike from Fiesch to the Eggishorn, or to take the cable car to Fiescheralp and hike from there (much more common) .  Keep in mind this will be a big undertaking, as you’ll need to climb over 1800 meters from the valley floor, or 600 from Fiescheralp.  You can always choose to take the cable cars up and then save some money by hiking back down.

How much do the Eggishorn cable cars cost?

To get to the Eggishorn, you’ll need to buy two tickets- one for each of the cable car legs to the top.   Currently, the price from Fiesch to Fiescheralp is 27 CHF for a roundtrip ride, and from Fiescheralp to Eggishorn it’s 32 CHF roundtrip.

For the most up-to-date prices for one-way and roundtrip rides, including discounts for children and if you have other travel passes, check here and click on the “Prices Single Trips” link for the pdf price list.

You can buy the Eggishorn cable car tickets online in advance at the link above, but as we said before, we had no problem just buying our tickets at the Fiesch station in person and hopping right onto the next lift up.

If you’re looking to spend more time in the Aletsch Arena area and plan to do more than just visit the Eggishorn, then you can also check out the Aletsch Explorer ticket.  This is essentially a regional pass that gives you unlimited travel on all the lifts in the Arena, and travel on the train between Brig and Fiesch, for a set number of days.

Are the Eggishorn cable cars included on the Swiss Travel Pass?

Yes!  If you have the Swiss Travel Pass or the Swiss Half Fare Card, you’ll get a 50% discount on the Eggishorn cable car tickets.

Eggishorn cable car timetables

The Eggishorn cable cars have different timetables for summer and winter. 

Summer on the Eggishorn is typically from early June to late October.  The first cable car between Fiesch and Fiescheralp has a longer window of running time each day, starting at about 7:15 am and running as late as 9:30 pm.  However, the cable car between Fiescheralp and Eggishorn only runs between about 9 am and 5 pm.  Be sure to check the most updated and accurate timetables on their website.


Things to Do at the Eggishorn Viewpoint in Switzerland

The Eggishorn viewpoint is a small area, but there are a few things to do on the Eggishorn to make the trip up worth it.

Walk the scenic loop on the Eggishorn

As soon as you step out of the cable car station, you’ll follow a boardwalk with amazing views over the Rhone Valley and surrounding peaks.

A boardwalk stretches across a rocky summit towards a stone building and mountain views at the Eggishorn viewpoint

The boardwalk at the start of the scenic loop on the Eggishorn

After just a few steps, the views over to the other side of the summit will open up, and you’ll be hit with your first views of the massive Aletsch Glacier.  You can see all the way out to the backside of the Jungfrau massif where the glacier begins, and watch it wrap its way through the valley below.  You’ll also get panoramic views of the jagged peaks that surround the valley on all sides.

A small viewing area overlooks a large glacier and mountains at the Eggishorn viewpoint

Views of the Aletsch Glacier

The boardwalk will take you past a picture point (so of course stop here and snap a pic!) and then past the summit restaurant.

 
A man smiles for the camera at a photo spot overlooking the Aletsch Glacier on the Eggishorn

A perfect photo-op over the Aletsch Glacier

 

From here, you can follow the  Eggishorn scenic loop along a stone path that curves back around, taking you past some informational signs and a couple of different viewing terraces over the Aletsch Glacier.

Informational signs line a stone pathway with mountain views on the Eggishorn viewpoint

The Eggishorn scenic loop with informational signs

A man stands on a viewpoint overlooking a large glacier at the Eggishorn viewpoint

One of the viewpoints over the Aletsch Glacier

People stand at two viewpoints overlooking the Aletsch Glacier on the Eggishorn

The stone path then wraps back up and around to the cable car station.

A hiker walks up a stone path on a rocky hill on the Eggishorn scenic loop

The Eggishorn scenic loop is a quick and easy walk to get some of the area’s best possible views over the Aletsch Glacier!

Hike to Eggishorn summit

The Eggishorn viewpoint (where the top cable car drops you off) is actually not the true summit of the Eggishorn- but the summit is in sight!  In fact, it’s less than a half mile hike away (and only about 300 feet of climbing).

A girl stands on a rocky outcrop overlooking a glacier on the Eggishorn summit

The view of the Aletsch Glacier from the Eggishorn summit

To get to the Eggishorn summit, you’ll follow a rocky and steep path to the top, but from there, you’ll get amazing panoramic views over the Aletsch Glacier and surrounding mountains and valleys, including views all the way out to the Matterhorn on a clear day!

A hiker ascends a rocky path with mountain views on the Eggishorn trail

Hiking up to the Eggishorn summit

We’ll share all the details of the Eggishorn summit hike in the section below.

Grab lunch with a view at the Horli Hitta Restaurant

Just near the Eggishorn station is a nice restaurant with a patio overlooking the Aletsch Glacier where you can grab lunch and take in the views. 

Wooden tables sit on a deck overlooking mountains and glacier on the Eggishorn viewpoint

Eat lunch with a view on the Eggishorn

Take on the Eggishorn via ferrata

If you’re up for an adventure and have a few hours to spare, consider tackling the Eggishorn via ferrata!  Using harnesses, cables, and carabiners, you’ll make your way across exposed rocky cliffs on iron rung ladders, suspension bridges, and even a zipline.

You can do the via ferrata on your own if you have your own equipment and experience on via ferratas, or you can hire a guide.

Check out more about this via ferrata here.

Hike around the Eggishorn

As you walk around the Eggishorn viewpoint, you’ll notice lots of hiking signs pointing in every direction, and that’s because there are lots of hiking trails that start from the Eggishorn! 

If you take a look at the map above of the Aletsch Arena, you’ll see a variety of hiking trails connecting all the different stations of the Aletsch Arena.  You can hike back down to lower cable car stations, or you can hike various paths across the ridge to other viewpoints over the glacier.

One hike we really wanted to do was the hike from the Eggishorn to the Bettmerhorn viewpoint.  You can do this hike one of three ways. 

The first is by traversing the 3 km rocky ridge that connects the two viewpoints.

However, this trail involves a lot of rocky climbing with light scrambling, scree, metal trail features like rungs and ladders, and a bit of exposure along the top of the ridge, so it might not be for everyone.

A rocky ridge sits in front of snowcapped mountains near the Eggishorn in Switzerland

Looking out over the ridge that connects the Eggishorn to the Bettmerhorn

However, you can also traverse between the two viewpoints via a path along the lower slopes of the ridge.  A trail will bring you off the ridge, past a scenic lake, and down along the rocky slopes that sit just above the Aletsch Glacier.  The up-close views of the glacier along this path look absolutely amazing.

A narrow trail runs along the meadows alongside a glacier beneath the Eggishorn viewpoint

Can you see the trail? This trail runs beneath the ridge right alongside the glacier!

Starting at the Eggishorn, you’ll end at Bettmeralp, the cable car station just beneath the Bettmerhorn viewpoint.  It's a longer hike, at 14.5 km, but looks totally worthwhile if you have a half day to spare.

To do either of the Eggishorn hikes above, you’d want to make sure you purchase the correct lift tickets in advance.  You’ll want a one-way ticket up to the Eggishorn, and then a one-way ticket down from either Bettmerhorn or Bettmeralp (depending on where you end your hike).  Once you take the cable cars down to Betten, you can use the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn to travel back to Fiesch where you started, or to continue on to your next destination.  If you have the Aletsch Explorer Pass, all of the cable car rides and the train ride in the valley is included!

A third option for hiking near the Eggishorn is to combine the two trails we mentioned above into a massive loop, starting and ending at the Eggishorn.  This is called the Eggishorn Circular Route, and brings you along the upper ridge out to Bettmerhorn, and along the lower slopes back to the Eggishorn.  It’s the best of both world if you have a full day for hiking around the Eggishorn, but it will be a big hike with about 2600 feet of elevation gain.

To make it an even longer day, try out this trail that connects Fiescheralp, Eggishorn, Bettmeralp, and Bettmerhorn all in one hike.

Spend the night at the Eggishorn

Just steps away from the Eggishorn cable car station is the Aletsch Cube- and yes, it’s quite literally a cube!  It’s a box-shaped accommodation with plenty of front-facing windows, giving picture-perfect views of the Aletsch Glacier from the comfort of your bed.

A small cabin with a front porch on the Eggishorn in Switzerland

A cute and scenic spot to spend the night!

It’s a simple accommodation and a small space, but it’s a unique experience and gives the opportunity to enjoy the landscape and viewpoints without the daytime crowds. 

But this luxury comes at a price, with the rates starting at 455 CHF per night for two people, with dinner included from the nearby restaurant.  It can be booked for nights between July and October.

If the Cube is a little bit out of your budget, there are a variety of guesthouses and hotel options in Fiescheralp (the cable car station just below the Eggishorn), or at any of the other midstation or valley towns along the Aletsch Arena.  Staying in Fiescheralp in particular will put you just one cable car ride away from the Eggishorn so you can be the first one up to enjoy the views in solitude.


How to Hike to the Eggishorn Summit

As we mentioned above, one of the best things to do on the Eggishorn is to hike to its true summit.  It’s easily seen from the Eggishorn cable car station, and it’s a relatively quick, albeit steep and rocky, hike to the top.  We recommend tackling this hike to get the best panoramic views over the Aletsch Glacier!

Eggishorn summit hiking stats

  • Eggishorn summit distance: 0.85 miles roundtrip

  • Eggishorn summit elevation gain: 311 feet

  • Eggishorn summit hiking time:  About one hour for the round trip hike (but plan on spending some time at the summit!)

Eggishorn summit hike description

To find the start of the Eggishorn summit hike, walk past the restaurant, and instead of following the well-defined stone path down towards the interpretive signs and viewpoints, continue straight ahead towards the Eggishorn summit on a path marked by a red and white blaze.  From here, if you look closely, you can see the trail zigzag its way up to the summit.

A hiker walks along a rocky path toward the Eggishorn summit in Switzerland

The start of the hike to the Eggishorn summit, which can be seen ahead

From here, a wide rocky path heads down a bit towards the base of the climb.  It looks like it’s a bit exposed here, but I wasn’t phased by it at all because the path was so wide and there weren’t any sharp drop-offs.  Plus, I was already so distracted by the views!

A hiker walks a narrow rocky path along a ridge with a glacier view on the Eggishorn hike

Hiking the narrow ridge on the way to the Eggishorn summit

A hiker stands on a narrow ridge at the base of the Eggishorn summit in Switzerland

Just before the start of the climb to the Eggishorn summit

After the short flat section at the bottom, the climbing begins, and it doesn’t let up until you’ve reached the summit.

Most of the climb is made up of bulky rocks and stone steps, but no scrambling is required.  It’s easy to follow on its own, but also marked by the red and white blazes to keep you on course.  The path zigzags its way up the steep slope, and while you’re always kind of on the edge of the slope, it never felt really exposed or scary.

A hiker ascends a rocky path up to the Eggishorn summit

The typical terrain on the Eggishorn hike

A hiker ascends a stone staircase with mountain views on the Eggishorn hike
A hiker ascends a rocky path with mountain views on the Eggishorn hike
A hiker ascends a steep stone trail above mountain and glacier views on the Eggishorn hike

Beautiful mountain views from the Eggishorn hike

As you climb, be sure to take breaks to look behind you at the ever-expanding views of mountains and the glacier, and see if you can spot the Matterhorn in the distance!

A view of rocky mountains and distant snowcapped peaks from the Eggishorn hike

Looking back at the Eggishorn viewpoint and the Matterhorn in the distance!

A hiker looks out over a glacier and mountains from the Eggishorn hike in Switzerland

Looking out over the foot of the Aletsch Glacier, with the Matterhorn in the distance

As you near the Eggishorn summit and make a final turn towards the top, a view will open up on the other side of the summit down to a large lake.  Here, there is a short part of the trail where there is a scary bit of exposure, but just keep heading towards the top and it passes quickly.

A view over a meadow with a lake and distant mountain views from the Eggishorn trail

You’ll know you’re close when you see the summit cross ahead.  Up here, the Eggishorn summit is basically a giant rockpile, so just make your way up the path of least resistance.  Once you’ve reached the top, take in the awesome panoramic views of the entire area…you’ve earned it!

A hiker navigates a rock pile at the summit of the Eggishorn

Navigating the rock pile on the Eggishorn summit (you can see part of the summit cross peeking out at the top)

A hiker stands near a cross on a rocky summit with mountain views on the Eggishorn

The Eggishorn summit!

Views over a long glacier, mountains, and lakes from the Eggishorn summit in Switzerland

Views of the Aletsch Glacier from the Eggishorn summit

Views over a mountain range and a valley with towns below from the Eggishorn summit

Views back down into the valley

Once you’ve caught your breath, we recommend heading just past the summit and towards the glacier a little bit more.  From the summit, you can’t quite see the entire glacier in full view, because this front end of the summit blocks it a bit.  But if you walk further out, the whole expanse of the Aletsch Glacier comes into view.

To do this, you’ll have to navigate the boulder field that is the Eggishorn summit, and this might require a scrambling move or two, so just take your time and watch your footing.

A hiker navigates a boulder field on the Eggishorn summit

Hiking along the boulders on the Eggishorn summit

A view up a rocky pile to a cross on the summit of the Eggishorn

Looking back up the boulders to the Eggishorn summit

A hiker stands on a rocky outcrop overlooking a large glacier on the Eggishorn summit

An awesome view of the Aletsch Glacier from the Eggishorn summit

A view over mountains and glacier from the Eggishorn summit

Looking out over the foot of the Aletsch Glacier

Something we really loved about the Eggishorn summit is that we were pretty much the only ones up here!  There were a handful of others on the trail, but by the time we made it to the summit, we had it completely to ourselves for almost an hour, so it’s a really great hike to do in Switzerland that avoids the insane crowds found in other popular places like Zermatt and Interlaken!

Once you’re done taking it all in, simply retrace the trail back to the Eggishorn cable car station.

A hiker descends a rock pile towards views of mountains on the Eggishorn trail

Hiking back down the Eggishorn

A hiker walks along a narrow rocky ridge on the Eggishorn hike

Walking along the narrow ridge before the final short climb back up to the Eggishorn station


When to Visit the Eggishorn in Switzerland

The best time to visit the Eggishorn is on a clear day between July through September, when the viewing points and trails are likely to be snow-free.  It all depends on the particular weather and snowfall for any given year for how late the snow lingers and how early it begins again in the fall.  And of course, you’ll want to make sure you go on a clear day where you can actually see the views!

We visited the Swiss Alps in early to mid-September, and while typically September has pretty decent weather, we had a streak of bad luck with early high elevation snow, but we did end up getting an okay window to visit the Eggishorn.  It was a little cloudy around the mountain tops, but we could still see the full expanse of the Aletsch Glacier!

A hiker sits on a rock overlooking a large glacier on the Eggishorn summit

Cloudy September views of the Aletsch Glacier from the Eggishorn summit

Be sure to check the weather before heading out.  We liked to use MeteoSwiss for general weather forecasts as well as Mountain Forecast and the Aletsch Arena website for more specific forecasts for the Eggishorn area.

We also loved checking webcams in Switzerland to monitor weather and views before going anywhere. You can check them on their website and they also have them in the bottom cable car station in Fiesch if you need to make a last minute call about whether or not the trip up will be worth it.

In terms of crowds, I don’t think there is a good or bad time to go, because surprisingly, this was one area of Switzerland that wasn’t bursting with people!  In fact, after spending time in both the bustling areas of Zermatt and Interlaken, the Aletsch Arena felt like a breath of fresh air- we had gondolas to ourselves, viewpoints to ourselves, and hiking trails to ourselves right in the middle of the day.  It’s really a great area to visit that’s a little bit more off-the-beaten tourist path in Switzerland!  This is one of the things that we feel make a visit to the Eggishorn well worth it.

Note:  You can visit the Aletsch Arena in the winter, too!  There are plenty of things to do, such as skiing, snowshoeing, and snow tubing. Just be sure to look at the specific timetables and prices for the winter cable cars, which generally run from mid-December to early June.

Tips for Visiting the Eggishorn in Switzerland

People walk along a stone path with views of mountains on the Eggishorn scenic loop trail

Here are a few extra tips for planning your trip to the Eggishorn!

Wear good sneakers or hiking shoes:  Even if you don’t plan on doing a big hike, the Eggishorn is a rocky viewpoint and having good supportive shoes will be helpful.  If you hike up to the Eggishorn summit, definitely make sure to wear hiking shoes or boots with good support and traction.

Wear layers: The Eggishorn viewpoint is over 9600 feet in elevation, so it can be much cooler and windier here than in the valley below, so bring layers.

Sunscreen and hat:  Sun protection is a must on the Eggishorn where high altitude is combined with complete exposure to the sun.

Plan ahead: If you want to do a longer hike from the Eggishorn, plan ahead and know which cable car tickets you’ll need (one-way vs roundtrip and from which stations).  When buying tickets in Fiesch, we were told that we would not be able to purchase cable car tickets from the top station at the Eggishorn, so we kind of had to know what we wanted to do before buying our tickets (whether or not we wanted to just do a roundtrip up and down from the Eggishorn or do a one-way hike between stations). 

And be sure to keep your cable car ticket on you for the whole day!  You’ll need to scan it to get both on and off the cable cars at each station, so keep it in a safe place.


Things to Do with More Time in the Aletsch Arena

Admittedly, the Eggishorn is just one small area of the Aletsch Arena.  There are so many different cable car stations, each with their own things to do, and we definitely wish we had more time to explore it all!

We visited the Aletsch Arena as a quick stopover as we travelled between Interlaken and Zermatt, but if you have more time and choose to dedicate a whole day or more to the Aletsch Arena, then there are plenty of things to do to keep you busy.  You can easily dedicate a full day to each of the cable car lines if you wanted to!

Riederalp

Riederalp is the midstation on the way up to the Hohfluh and Moosfluh viewpoints.  Here, you can visit exhibits at the Pro Natura Conservation Center, ride on mountain carts, go mountain biking or paragliding, play a round of golf at the Riederalp Golf Club, visit the Lische Family Park for kid-friendly activities, set off on a hike, dine at restaurants, and of course, ride the cable cars to visit the two viewpoints at the top of the ridge. 

Bettermeralp

Bettermalp is the midstation on the way up to the Bettmerhorn viewpoint.  Here, you can visit and swim in the scenic Bettmersee Lake, go mountain biking, ride a mountain scooter, conquer rope courses, set off on various hikes, and visit the scenic Bettmerhorn viewpoint at the top of the ridge. 

Fiescheralp

Finally, Fiescheralp is the midstation on the way up to the Eggishorn, where you can dine, hike, mountain bike, or take off on a paragliding adventure. 

Walk on the Aletsch Glacier

Another really cool thing to do in the Aletsch Arena is to go on a glacier tour where you can actually walk out on the Aletsch Glacier!  They leave from various points in the area, such as Fiescheralp and Riederalp- learn more about different tour options here.


Is the Eggishorn Worth It?

A view from the top of a cable car line over meadows and mountain peaks at the Eggishorn viewpoint

Looking back down to Rhone Valley from the top of the Eggishorn cable car line

Since visiting the Eggishorn and the Aletsch Arena is a a little bit out of the way and off the main tourist trail in Switzerland, you might be wondering if the Eggishorn is worth the visit?

And we’d say…yes!  A resounding yes at that.

We thought the views over the Aletsch Glacier were definitely worth the slight detour out to Fiesch.  And if you have more time than us- at least a full day to spend- then it’s more than worth your time.

What we thought made the Eggishorn especially worth it were the lack of crowds.  After spending time in other popular areas in Switzerland, particularly Interlaken, it felt so refreshing to experience the Swiss Alps in relative solitude and peace, and to get a view that not many people who visit the country get to see!

For us, getting such amazing views over the Aletsch Glacier from this lesser visited location versus the more popular Jungraujoch was more than worth the detour.  And if you already have the Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card, the cost of the cable car rides are a little bit more palatable.


More Switzerland Guides


Are you planning to visit the Eggishorn viewpoint in Switzerland?  Let is know if you have any questions, and how your trip went in the comments below!

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