How to Visit Gornergrat in Zermatt, Switzerland (+ Map and Things to Do)
One of the most popular places to visit in Zermatt is Gornergrat, home to some of the most iconic views of the Matterhorn as well as the famous Riffelsee Lake. And to get there, you’ll take a scenic ride on the highest open-air cogwheel train in Europe. In this guide, we go over everything you need to know to visit Gornergrat in Zermatt, including how to get there, costs, things to do, when to go, and more!
If you’re planning a trip to Zermatt, chances are that at least part of the reason you’re drawn to this quaint mountain town in the Swiss Alps is because you want to see those iconic Matterhorn views- you know the ones we’re talking about, where the mountain is towering behind a still lake that perfectly reflects the Matterhorn on its surface?
Well, that view (and many more) can be found on Gornergrat, one of Zermatt’s three main alpine excursion sites.
A visit to Gornergrat is definitely one of the most popular things to do in Zermatt, and possibly even in all of Switzerland- and for good reason! A scenic cogwheel train will whisk you from the town of Zermatt up to Gornergrat’s summit where panoramic views of the Matterhorn, the Alps, and massive glaciers await. And just below the summit, you’ll find that iconic reflective lake known as Riffelsee.
If you find yourself in Zermatt, a trip to Gornergrat is definitely worth it, and in this guide, we’ll share everything you need to know to visit Gornergrat in Zermatt, including how to get there, when to go, things to do, costs, how to plan your time, and all our best tips!
So, let’s get to it!
In this Gornergrat, Zermatt guide:
How to Get from Zermatt to Gornergrat
Getting from Zermatt to Gornergrat is quite simple! The Gornergrat Bahn is the highest open-air cogwheel train in Europe, and it will take you right from the town of Zermatt straight up to Gornergrat. Unlike the other peaks around Zermatt, there’s no need to make any transfers to separate trains or cable cars.
The Gornergrat Bahn heading from Zermatt to Gornergrat
The Gornergrat Railway is a super scenic ride from start to finish. Right from the very start, you’ll get iconic views over the town of Zermatt backdropped by the picturesque Matterhorn- be sure to sit on the right side of the Gornergrat train for these views!
While the Matterhorn stays in view for pretty much the whole train ride, you’ll also get gorgeous views over more of the Alps and their massive glaciers.
Early views of the Matterhorn from the Gornergrat Bahn as you leave the town of Zermatt
Catching Matterhorn views from the Gornergrat Bahn
The bottom station for the Gornergrat Bahn is found right in Zermatt, just across from the main train station (called the Gornergrat Bahn on Google Maps). It will be hard to miss.
It’s easy to walk to from anywhere in town (or you could always grab an e-taxi which are found zooming throughout the town).
The bottom station in Zermatt for the Gornergrat Bahn- super easy to find right across from the main train station
On its way from Zermatt to Gornergrat, the Gornergrat Railway makes various stops at different mountain stations along the route as it travels 1,400 m up the mountain. These stops include:
Findelbach (1774 m)
Riffelalp (2211 m)
Riffelberg (2582 m)
Rotenboden (2815 m)
Gornergrat (3089 m)
You can get off at any or all of these stations on your way up to Gornergrat before continuing on. They each have their own collection of views, trails, places to eat, and sometimes even places to spend the night.
What many people do, however, is take the train straight to Gornergrat without getting off. Then, you can make your way back down the mountain to Zermatt by a combination of hiking and taking the train. This is super convenient because if you are interested in hiking between stations, the hikes will be all downhill and also facing towards the Matterhorn- a win-win! We definitely recommend doing at least some hiking on Gornergrat because the views from the trails are really amazing (and it will save you some money on the train tickets, too!). We’ll share our favorite Gornergrat hikes in just a bit!
The Rottenboden station
Map of Gornergrat in Zermatt
Here’s a map of the Gornergrat Bahn in Zermatt to give you some perspective on the locations of the different station stops.
This map shows the Gornergrat Bahn line as it ascends from Zermatt to Gornergrat, with the different station stops labeled
How long does it take to get from Zermatt to Gornergrat?
The total train ride from Zermatt to Gornergrat is 33 minutes. The way down from Gornergrat back to Zermatt takes a little bit longer, about 44 minutes.
When is the Gornergrat Railway open?
The Gornergrat Railway actually runs all year, but the timetables change based on the season. You can find the Gornergrat Bahn timetables here, just be sure you are looking at the right schedule for when you plan on going.
In the summer months, the Gornergrat Bahn has the most trains running every day, and it runs earlier and later in the day. The first train up to Gornergrat starts at 7 am and the last one gets back to Zermatt just before 8 pm, and there is a train about every 24 minutes. Outside of these months, fewer daily trains run and they may start later in the day and end earlier in the evening. So just be sure to check these timetables carefully when planning out your day on Gornergrat!
How to get tickets for Gornergrat
You can buy tickets for the Gornergrat Bahn in advance online here, however we personally found this wasn’t necessary.
We visited Gornergrat twice while in Zermatt, and each time we were able to simply buy tickets either at the ticket counter or self-service kiosk right in the Gornergrat station in Zermatt without a problem and hop on the next train. There were no lines or wait times for anything. We will say that each time we did this, it was in the afternoon when the Gornergrat becomes less busy, so midday might be a little busier. But we think if you just get there a little bit early before the next train departs, you shouldn’t have an issue.
In general, we wouldn’t recommend buying Gornergrat tickets too far in advance. Weather in Zermatt is quite unpredictable, and the forecasts change often leading up to the actual day. It’s best to wait one or two days before to make any concrete plans. The Gornergrat is quite pricey, and such a high ticket price wouldn’t be worth it if the weather is terrible and the views aren’t out.
We always looked at the weather the night before, and double checked when we woke up in the morning, and then made our plans from there.
How Gornergrat Tickets work
While you can buy tickets that will take you from Zermatt all the way to Gornergrat, you can also buy tickets between any two stations along the route. With whatever option you buy, you are able to get off and back on again at any intermediate stop in between before continuing on.
Be sure to hang onto your tickets, because you have to scan them each time you get on the train, but also each time you get off. This allows the ticket to track where you’ve been because (and this is important)- you can’t re-ride any section of the route. These individual tickets are not for unlimited rides, and you can only ride each portion of the route in a given direction just once. So for example, if you bought a one-way ticket up to Gornergrat, but decided to get off at Rotenboden, you can get back on the train and Rotenboden and continue riding it up to Gornergrat, but if you instead decided to hike down to Riffelberg, you can’t get on the train and take it back up to Rotenboden without buying another ticket to go between those stations.
You’ll scan your ticket to get through a set of turnstiles each time you get on and off the Gornergrat Bahn
This is good to know when planning out your day on Gornergrat so you can figure out what tickets you need, and so you can plan to not have to re-ride any portion of the route.
Later in this guide, we’ll give suggestions for planning out your day on Gornergrat efficiently.
How much does it cost to visit Gornergrat?
Tickets for the Gornergrat Railway are quite expensive (but they are worth it in our opinion!).
Prices change depending on the season, with May to October being more expensive and November to April being a bit cheaper.
When we visited, roundtrip Gornergrat tickets were 132 CHF, while a one-way trip from Zermatt to Gornergrat cost 66 CHF, but you can check the most up-to-date prices here (scroll down and click on the “Price List”).
Matterhorn views from the right side of the Gornergrat Bahn
How to save money on Gornergrat tickets
While it has a big price tag, there are ways to save money on the Gornergrat Railway- a good amount, too!
Hike
It’s actually entirely possible to hike from Zermatt all the way up to Gornergrat, and to every station in between. This would be a huge undertaking, though, with a lot of steep elevation gain, and I don’t think a lot of people will opt for this when a rail can simply take you up!
But, there’s a much easier way to do it! We recommend buying just a one-way ticket from Zermatt to Gornergrat. Then you can get back down to Zermatt through a combination of hiking and the train. This way, all your hiking will be downhill (much easier!), with views of the Matterhorn in front of you rather than behind you. And, you’ll save money.
Hiking at Gornergrat is a great way to see amazing views and save a little bit of money!
You can hike all the way back down to Zermatt, or you can hike one or two stations down and hop on the train. Some of the stations along the way have kiosks where you can purchase tickets for the Gornergrat Bahn (Gornergrat, Rotenboden, and Riffelalp all have these). At the other stations that don’t have this kiosk (Riffelberg and Findelbach), you can simply buy a ticket from the train staff once on the Gornergrat Bahn. We were able to do this with a credit card, so they make it very easy!
Because you can buy tickets between any of the stations, it’s possible to do a combination of hiking and taking the train back to Zermatt. So for example, from Gornergrat you can hike to Rotenboden. At Rotenboden, buy a one-way ticket down to Riffelberg, hop off the train there and continue hiking down the mountain. Or, from Rotenboden, you can buy a one-way ticket all the way back down to Zermatt.
Spending the day on Gornergrat like this is a good way to save some money while spending more time enjoying the views of the Matterhorn.
The Swiss Travel Pass and Half Fare Card
If you plan on visiting a few different regions of Switzerland, it’s a good idea to purchase either a Swiss Travel Pass or a Swiss Half Fare Card. These travel passes get you discounts on train and bus travel throughout the country. For more info on each of these passes and whether or not they might be worth it for you, check out our Zermatt Guide.
The Swiss Travel Pass is a one-time purchase that gets you free and unlimited travel on trains and buses throughout the country. You buy the pass based on the number of days you plan on spending in Switzerland. While it sounds like a good deal, this pass is quite pricey, so it might not be totally worth the cost.
The Swiss Half Fare Card is a one-time purchase that is good for one month and gets you half off all train and bus travel in Switzerland. It’s much cheaper than the Swiss Travel Pass, so this is the card that is often more worth getting.
Both passes get you 50% off most of the mountain lifts around Switzerland- including those in Zermatt! So with either the Swiss Travel Pass or the Half Fare Card, the Gornergrat Bahn is half off- quite a big savings!
To decide which of these passes would be more worth it for you, it’s really good to have a rough itinerary for your Switzerland trip in advance. Figure out what trains, buses, and mountain lifts you’ll likely be taking and add the ticket costs up. Then compare that total to the discounted prices, plus the cost of the travel pass. This will give you a rough idea of whether one of these passes would be worth the purchase (it usually is!).
The Peak Pass
The Peak Pass is a local Zermatt pass that gets you unlimited rides on all the mountain lifts in Zermatt, including the Gornergrat Bahn. It’s a one-time purchase based on the number of days you plan on using it. And if you have the Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card, the Peak Pass is 25% off.
While this seems like a no-brainer, it may not be the most cost-effective travel pass to get in Zermatt. If you didn’t buy a Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card, then the Peak Pass is definitely worth it, but if you already have one of these other travel passes, then the Peak Pass might not be the most cost-effective way to buy Zermatt lift tickets.
We planned to only ride up to each of Zermatt’s three peaks (Gornergrat, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, and Rothorn) once. When we added up the cost of each of the individual roundtrip tickets with the discounted half off rates and compared it to the cost of the Peak Pass, the individual tickets were actually cheaper.
In this case, the Peak Pass really only becomes worth it if you plan on visiting some of the peaks more than once, or you really want or need a lot of flexibility to ride and re-ride each of the lifts.
The Peak2Peak Pass
This is a good money-saving pass if you have a limited time in Zermatt. This pass allows you to visit two of Zermatt’s peaks (Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise) on the same day by giving a discounted price on all the necessary lifts.
If you get a particularly nice clear day out, visiting both on the same day could be worth it so you can see the Matterhorn from both spots!
If visiting in the summer, note that this pass is only available in July and August.
Things to Do at Gornergrat
Now that we’ve gone over everything you need to know about getting from Zermatt to Gornergrat, what’s there to actually do on Gornergrat?
Next, we’ll go over all the best things to do on Gornergrat and some of the intermediate stations now!
View the Matterhorn and the Gorner Glacier
One of the reasons Gornergrat is so popular is because of the iconic views you get of the Matterhorn. But the Matterhorn is just one part of the stellar view you get from Gornergrat.
From the top, you’ll have panoramic views of the snow-capped mountains and glaciers of the Swiss Alps, including the Monte Rosa Massif which contains the tallest peak in Switzerland.
But the most jaw-dropping view from Gornergrat? The Gorner Glacier. This massive glacier is the third longest in the Alps and when you first hop off the train and see it, your jaw will probably drop. This glacier is so gorgeous and massive and feels literally right at your feet. It’s one of our favorite views ever!
The views of the Monte Rosa massif and the Gorner Glacier from Gornergrat
At Gornergrat, there are a few different places to take in the incredible mountain views.
First is the giant viewing terrace right as you get off the Gornergrat Bahn.
The first viewing terrace at Gornergrat
Matterhorn views from Gornergrat
Then, continue up the ramp that leads to the buildings above. On this short walk up, you’ll pass by some photo spots (like the Golden Spot themed trail, which has information about the construction of the Gornergrat Bahn, and a cute little locomotive you can pose with).
Once at the top, you’ll find the 3100 Kulmhotel- walk around the hotel for a bit to take in the view on all sides.
Views from Gornergrat
Glacier views
Finally, head up the path behind the hotel to the highest viewing terrace at Gornergrat, also referred to as the “Best View Matterhorn”).
From up here, you’ll have gorgeous panoramic views of the Matterhorn, Gorner Glacier, and the surrounding sea of mountains and glaciers.
The Matterhorn from Gornergrat
Walk the Scenic Loop at Gornergrat
Behind the hotel at Gornergrat is the start of a short scenic walking loop. We highly recommend this short walk (it will only take about 20 minutes). From this loop, you can enjoy the views away from the crowds because for some reason unknown to us, this small path hardly gets any traffic! But we’re not complaining- we loved the solitude back here. It was our favorite thing to do at the Gornergrat summit.
To find the trail, walk behind the hotel and you’ll see a signpost- the right points to the high viewing platform. The sign that points left is labeled “Rundwanderweg”- this is the name of the scenic loop trail. You can start the loop in either direction, it really doesn’t matter too much. We went left and did the scenic loop in a clockwise direction, ending at the high viewing terrace.
Look for this sign behind the 3100 Kulm Hotel that marks the start of the Gornergrat scenic loop
Starting clockwise, the wide trail skirts the slope and gives amazing open views out over the Alps across Zermatt Valley. You’ll also see a picturesque lake below called Gornergratsee. In the distance, you can also see one of Zermatt’s other mountain sites, Rothorn, which we highly recommend visiting on another day! (Check out our Rothorn Guide here!)
Views from the Gornergrat scenic loop
In no time at all, you’ll come to a junction. Head right up a small rocky path, following the sign for the “Rundwanderweg”. This is where views of the Gorner Glacier and Monte Rosa Massif come back into view- and it’s stunning.
The narrow dirt path skirts the edge of the cliff, with wide open views the whole time. We found a small rock bench along the trail and decided to sit and enjoy the view and eat our packed lunch. We were here for over an hour and barely saw anyone! We definitely love finding little spots like this away from the crowds.
Head right at this junction and head up the short rocky climb to continue on the Gornergrat scenic loop trail
Stellar views of the Gorner Glacier from the scenic loop trail
From here, the trail continues on a short climb up to the high viewing platform overlooking Gornergrat and the Matterhorn.
The end of the Gornergrat scenic loop as it heads up to the viewing platform
Check out ZOOOM the Matterhorn
ZOOOM the Matterhorn is an interactive exhibit to showcase the beauty of the Matterhorn and the Alps. You’ll notice the small building for ZOOOM the Matterhorn just beside the hotel- you can’t miss it.
Inside, you can look through periscopes out to the mountains around Gornergrat, watch movies in a 3D cinema, and perhaps most unique, try out a virtual reality paragliding experience.
It sounds like a really cool experience- one that we skipped out on that I’m kind of bummed about looking back. It’s included in your ticket to Gornergrat, so if you have a bit of extra time (and if the wait time isn’t too long), we think this is definitely something worth checking out.
Eat and shop at Gornergrat
In the ground floor of the hotel, you’ll find two different restaurants, as well as typical Swiss souvenir shops and restrooms.
Visit Riffelsee
Perhaps the most iconic photo of the Matterhorn is the one from Zermatt’s famous lake- Riffelsee. Odds are you’ve seen pictures of this view before, and it’s a view that attracts lots of people to this mountain town. A visit to Riffelsee is definitely one of the best things to do on Gornergrat.
This small lake is perfectly backdropped by the Matterhorn, and if the conditions are just right, the mountain reflects beautifully on its surface.
Matterhorn reflection on Riffelsee
Riffelsee is located along the Gonergrat Railway, and it’s pretty easy to get to, which is in part what makes it so popular.
There are a few ways to get to Riffelsee- the easiest is to hop off the Gornergrat Bahn at Rotenboden, the station just before Gorgergrat.
At Rotenboden, find the gate that marks the entrance to the Alpine Garden and follow the trail downhill towards the lake.
The hike down to Riffelsee from Rotenboden is just a few minutes!
The hike from Rotenboden to Riffelsee
Another longer but more scenic option is to hike from Gornergrat to Riffelsee.
This Gornergrat hike is one of the best hikes in Zermatt. It starts right from the Gornergrat train station and heads downhill for 2 km (or 1.2 miles) to Riffelsee below.
The entire hike is filled with beautiful views of the Matterhorn, the Gorner Glacier, and the surrounding peaks. It’s a super scenic hike, and it’s relatively short and not too challenging- though it does have some steeper parts with loose rock and rugged trail, so make sure to have a good pair of hiking shoes on.
Epic views on the hike from Gornergrat to Riffelsee
Evening Matterhorn reflections
Hike from Gornergrat to Riffelberg and beyond
Like we mentioned earlier, a good way to explore Gorgergrat is to take the Gornergrat Bahn from Zermatt to Gornergrat and then spend some time hiking back down towards Zermatt. Hiking trails parallel the train line in between each station, so you can hike as little or as much as you want before getting back on the train.
If you want to do a shorter hike, you can simply hike to the next station down the line and hop on the train from there, or if you wanted a longer hike, you can hike a few stations down the mountain, or even all the way down to Zermatt.
No matter what, though, you’re guaranteed amazing views of the Matterhorn and the Alps pretty much the whole way- if you have clear weather!
We hiked from Gornergrat down to Riffelsee near the Rotenboden station, then continued to Riffleberg, and then to Riffelalp.
Scenes from the trail while hiking near Gornergrat
Mountain views on the hike to Riffelalp
An evening hike to Riffelberg
The trails on Gornergrat are straightforward and easy to follow, with tons of signs to guide you. But the trails can get a bit rugged and steep with some loose rock and gravel underfoot, so you’ll definitely want to be prepared with proper footwear.
For more pictures and tips for hiking on Gornergrat, check out our guide to Riffelsee Lake, where we show you what to expect on the trails between Gornergrat, Riffelsee, Riffelberg, and Riffelalp, and include all the trail stats and plenty of pictures from the trail.
Meet the Sheep
Ok, I won’t lie- the promise of seeing Zermatt’s famous blacknose sheep was the thing I was most looking forward to for our trip to Zermatt! Okay okay, maybe seeing the Matterhorn was the most anticipated thing- but the sheep were a very close second.
During the summer months (usually from sometime in June to early September), a herd of very cute and fluffy blacknose sheep roam the side of Gornergrat. You might just have a chance encounter with them while on the trails, but the really cool thing is that some of the sheep have GPS trackers on them!
That’s right- you can embark on a sort of sheep scavenger hunt on Gornergrat! Between 9 am to 4 pm, this tracker shows where you can find them.
The year we visited Gornergrat, the last day this tracker was up and running and the last day for the sheep to be on Gornergrat was September 8th, which just happened to be the day we went up to Gornergrat! We were able to spot them from the train- they were all hanging out at their little barn in between the Riffelalp and Riffelberg station, and that’s really the only time we were able to spot them.
Our quick glance at the Gornergrat sheep from the train!
We totally wish we could have come to Zermatt earlier to have more time to wander Gornergrat and search for them out on the trails!
If you come in winter between December and April, it’s possible to visit the Blacknose Sheep Barn in Zermatt on Wednesdays on a guided tour.
Outside of these summer and winter months, the sheep roam the hillsides without GPS trackers, so you might get lucky and spot one, but it’s not a guarantee.
While walking around the town of Zermatt, we did see a few here and there in local’s backyards, but they had been shorn and without their huge fluffy wool coal. Still super cute, though!
A pair of sheep we saw while walking around town
Dine or spend the night on Gornergrat
There are several restaurants along the Gornergrat Railway where you can eat lunch or dinner with a view.
And if you want to spend the night, there are several options along the route, too! Spending the night on the Gornergrat is a great way to avoid the midday crowds and see sunrise and sunset over the Matterhorn.
The 3100 Kulmhotel at the Gornergrat summit is an option, and there are places to stay in Riffelberg, Riffelalp, and Findelbach as well. Each of these stations also have places to eat.
Hotels and restaurants in Riffelalp
The Riffelberg train station and hotel
How Much Time Do You Need on Gornergrat in Zermatt?
We would say that a half day is an ideal amount of time to spend exploring Gornergrat. Taking the Gornergrat Railway all the way up, exploring the views from the top and walking the short scenic loop, visiting Riffelsee, and doing one short hike or two before heading back down on the train can take about 3 hours. You can also grab a bite to eat at one of the mountain stations, or extend your hikes further down the mountain to add more time to your day on the Gornergrat.
Hiking around Gornergrat
Gornergrat itinerary: how to plan your day
Here’s our suggestion for how to plan out your time on the Gornergrat. We suggest heading up one of the first trains in the morning to avoid the big midday crowds and for the best chance at clear weather before any afternoon clouds roll in.
8:00 am: Take the Gornergrat Bahn from Zermatt to Gornergrat
8:30- 9:30 am: Take in the views at Gornergrat, walk the scenic loop, explore the shops, and experience the ZOOOM Matterhorn.
9:30- 10:30 am: Hike from Gornergrat to Riffelsee (or take the train from Gornergrat to Rotenboden and walk to Riffelsee from there).
10:30- 11:00 am: Take the train back to Zermatt OR
10:30 am and on: Take the train or hike from Rotenboden to Riffelberg and have some lunch. Continue hiking to Riffelalp or Zermatt.
Can You Do Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in One Day?
As Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise are two of the most popular places to visit in Zermatt, this is a pretty common question, and the answer is yes!
It’s definitely possible to visit both, though of course you may not have any time for the bigger hikes in either area. But if you are just looking to sightsee and maybe do one or two shorter hikes, then visiting both Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and Gornergrat in one day is doable.
Amazing views from the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise lifts with the Matterhorn on the left
To do this, we definitely recommend buying the Peak2Peak Pass, which gives you a discounted price on all the required lifts for a single day. This pass is only available in July and August, though. If you’re visiting Zermatt outside these months, you can still visit both in one day, you’ll just have to buy the individual lift tickets.
Also, something that makes visiting both Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in one day easier is the Riffelberg Express. This cable car connects the mountain station Riffelberg on the Gornergrat line with the Furi mountain station on the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise line. So it’s kind of like a shortcut between the two peaks, and definitely saves you time and money versus going all the way back down to Zermatt and running across town to get from one bottom station to another.
The Riffelberg Express is only open from July to mid or late August. Again, it’s possible to visit both without using the Riffelberg Express, the transit time between the two will just be a bit longer.
The last bit of advice we have for doing Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in one day is to do the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise first. That’s because the Gornergrat Bahn runs much later in the evening than the lifts to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, so you can make the most of your day by visiting in this order.
Which is Better: Gornergrat or Matterhorn Glacier Paradise?
Let’s say you only have the time or weather conditions for one peak- which should you do?
Well, this is a very tough question. They are both such good experiences, so I guess it depends on what you’re looking to do most.
If you’re looking for the iconic views of the Matterhorn, and want to do mostly sightseeing with the option to do some shorter easier hikes, then Gornergrat is the way to go.
If you’re looking for some longer and more challenging hiking and more of an alpine experience, then the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise might be the better option for you. At Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, you get phenomenal alpine views where you really feel like you’re in the heart of the Alps, and you can even visit an ice palace, walk on snow, ski, or snow tube in the summer.
The views of the Matterhorn from here aren’t the typical ones you see in pictures, though, so that’s a bit of a trade-off here.
The view of the Matterhorn from the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise viewing terrace
However, from Trockener Steg, a midstation on the way up, you can do both the Matterhorn Glacier Trail and the hike to the Hornlihutte- our two favorite hikes in Zermatt!
The Matterhorn Glacier Trail takes you across the rugged alpine landscape right at the base of the Matterhorn, and gives you several different perspectives of the mountain. It’s relatively easy and mostly downhill, with stellar views of the Matterhorn and the Alps.
In-your-face views of the Matterhorn from the Matterhorn Glacier Trail
For something challenging, head up to the Hornlihutte. This trail has exposure, metal platforms and stairs, steep climbs, and ropes for extra safety, so it’s not for the faint of heart. But the views of the Matterhorn are breathtaking from this trail, and you’ll hike right up to the foot of the mountain to a hut where mountaineer’s set up base before their summit attempt.
One of the fun features on the hike to the Hornlihutte
Best Time to Visit Gornergrat
In the summer, we’d say the best time to visit Gornergrat is between July to mid-September. By July, higher elevations should be clear of snow (at least enough to not require any special winter hiking gear). In July and August, the temperatures are warm, and many of Zermatt’s lift operate with longer daily windows so that you can make more of your days.
If you only have one day in Zermatt to explore, we definitely recommend visiting in July or August, as you can take advantage of the Peak2Peak Pass, the Riffelberg Express, and the favorable lift schedules to really make the most of your limited time in Zermatt.
Sunny skies and clear trails on Gornergrat
By September, the weather in Zermatt can be somewhat sporadic, so just be prepared for anything- rain, snow, sun, hot or cold temperatures, you name it. We experienced it all during our September visit! Some of the lifts around Zermatt will also have shorter windows of operation, and you can’t take advantage of either the Peak2Peak Pass or the Riffelberg Express.
Regardless of when you visit Gornergrat, Zermatt is subject to mountain weather in general, which can be fickle and unpredictable. You really want to make sure you have a decent day when heading up to Gornergrat and that most of the views are out to really make the expensive trip up worth it.
To figure out the best time to go to Gornergrat, we recommend being as flexible as you can be and checking the forecast one to two days out at most (if not the day of) before making any concrete plans. Forecasts for Zermatt and the surrounding peaks change a lot, so it’s hard to rely on any forecast further out than that.
For Gornergrat weather, we liked to check the Gornergrat website as well as Mountain Forecast.
Even if the weather is clear, you never really do know if the Matterhorn itself is going to be out or shrouded in clouds. It pretty much makes its own weather, and you just have to hope for the best. One thing we found really handy were the webcams throughout Zermatt where you can see what the view of the Matterhorn is from most of the mountain stations. We liked checking these before deciding where to go on any given day, especially because you might not be able to see if the Matterhorn is out from down in Zermatt valley depending on where you’re staying. Also, sometimes the Matterhorn could be seen from one peak (like Gornergrat) and not another (like Rothorn) due to how the clouds settled in the different valleys. Or sometimes Zermatt experiences an inversion where the town is socked in but the views are open on top of the peaks. You can check the Gornergrat webcams here.
It is common for the Matterhorn to be out in the morning and then clouded over in the afternoon (this happened to us on our first trip up to Gornergrat!), so often a morning visit to Gornergrat is best. But sometimes you might get lucky and the Matterhorn might be out all day (also happened to us!). Again, just check a combination of the forecast and weather to see what’s going on.
Afternoon views from Gornergrat after clouds moved in and completely block the Matterhorn on an otherwise clear and sunny day
There are a few more reasons to visit Gornergrat in the morning as well. Heading up first thing will allow you to avoid the heavy midday crowds that this peak sees. We definitely noticed the trails and viewpoints were a lot busier mid- morning and early afternoon than they were in either the morning or the late afternoon (at which time the trails became virtually empty!).
Morning on Gornergrat also has really good lighting on the Matterhorn. The sun often sets just behind the Matterhorn, making evening lighting on the mountain super harsh. The plus side to this is that the rest of the landscape has a beautiful alpenglow on it, so it’s still really beautiful.
Finally, if you’re looking for those picture-perfect reflections of the Matterhorn on Riffelsee, the morning is best (and the evening, too), when conditions are likely to be calm enough. But you might get lucky at other times of the day.
Matterhorn reflections on Riffelsee are often best in the morning and evening
Evening alpenglow across the Gornergrat landscape
Is Gornergrat Worth It?
So, is the high price tag of Gornergrat worth it? We’d definitely say so! Particularly if you have a money-saving pass like a Swiss Pass or Half Fare Card. The iconic views of the Matterhorn and the breathtaking view of the Gorner Glacier really can’t be beat and are worth every penny.
The harder question is… is Gornergrat worth it if the Matterhorn isn’t out?
You might be surprised, but we’d still say yes! On our first trip up to Gornergrat, the day was beautiful, sunny, and clear. That morning the Matterhorn was out. But by the time we made it to the top of the peak, afternoon clouds rolled in and the Matterhorn hid for the rest of the day. Admittedly, we were totally bummed and at first felt like we wasted the trip up.
But it didn’t take too long for me to realize that we really hadn’t! The Matterhorn is actually just one small part of the epic views at Gornergrat, so we still really loved being up here and were glad that we had an otherwise clear day to see everything else.
Of course, we did still want to see those iconic Matterhorn views, so we made a second trip up a few days later. But, if you only have one shot at it and the weather looks good otherwise, we’d still recommend going up to Gornergrat. You’ll be glad you did!
Even though the Matterhorn wasn’t out, these thought these epic views were still more than worth the trip up!
Tips for Visiting Gornergrat in Zermatt
Here are a few of our final tips for visiting Gornergrat.
Bring layers- Gornergrat is pretty high in altitude and can be colder and windier than Zermatt, so make sure to bring some warm layers, and also some rain gear just in case.
Wear proper hiking shoes- If you plan to do any hiking on Gornergrat, make sure to have a good pair of hiking shoes or boots. The trails here, despite being popular, can get rugged, steep, and slick.
Typical rocky trail conditions on hikes near Gornergrat
Wear sunscreen- And have other types of sun protection. You’ll be totally exposed to the sun and at altitude. And speaking of altitude…
Prepare to feel the effects of altitude- Gornergrat sits at over 3,000 meters in elevation. And from Zermatt, the train takes you over 1400 meters high in just a half hour. That’s a big elevation change in a short time, without any time to acclimate. Take your time exploring and expect to feel a little more lethargic than you’re used to.
More Zermatt Guides
Want more tips and ideas for planning your trip to Zermatt? Check out all our Zermatt guides!
Things to Do in Zermatt + The Ultimate Zermatt Summer Guide
How to Visit the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in Zermatt
How to Visit Rothorn, Blauherd, and Sunnega in Zermatt
The Complete Guide to Riffelsee- Zermatt’s Famous Lake
The Matterhorn Glacier Trail in Zermatt: The Complete Guide
How to Hike to the Hornilutte in Zermatt
How to Hike the Kristalweg Trail and Visit Stellisee Lake in Zermatt
The Ultimate Zermatt Itinerary for 1 to 4 Days
Are you planning on visiting Gornergrat in Zermatt? The Gornergrat is one of the best places to visit in Switzerland, so we hope you love it, too! Let us know if you have any questions about things to do at Gornergrat, Zermatt in the comments below. Happy travels!