The Gornergrat Railway

The Gornergrat Railway (Gornergrat Bahn in German) is the highest open-air railway in Europe, giving uninterrupted views for the entire trip. It climbs from the center of Zermatt to a viewing platform at 3,089 meters, directly overlooking the Matterhorn and the glacier basin below. The appeal isn't just the panorama at the summit, but the climb itself, passing through larch forest, open alpine slopes, and high rocky ground, with the landscape shifting noticeably as altitude increases.

Built more than a century ago, this mountain railway was considered a major technical achievement when it opened in 1898. It became the first fully electrified cog railway in the world and still operates the same way today, using a rack-and-pinion system to safely grip the steep grades. For visitors staying in Zermatt, it makes an ideal half-day or full-day excursion, with regular departures that leave plenty of time to explore the summit and still get back to the village the same afternoon.

This guide takes you through the trip in detail, from practical details like schedules and tickets to what you’ll see along the route, and how to make the most of every stop.

No author/Philip Gross/CC BY-SA 3.0

Map of the Gornergrat Railway/

The Gornergrat Railway: the train

Route and facilities

Operated by Gornergrat Bahn AG, the Gornergrat Railway runs between Zermatt and the Gornergrat summit, a distance of just under 9.3 kilometers. The full ride takes around 33 minutes if you travel directly to the top without stopping. There are four stops in total between Zermatt and Gornergrat: Findelbach, Riffelalp, Riffelberg, and Rotenboden. Trains run year-round, roughly every 30 minutes during the day, with slightly reduced service in the early morning and late evening. 

The train itself consists of two to three comfortable yet simple cars with wide windows that allow unobstructed views of the peaks. The cars are heated in winter and cooled in summer. Luggage racks are available, and there’s level boarding for those using wheelchairs or strollers. 

There’s no café car on board the train, but you can bring food or drinks on board. There are also special “culinary” tickets that include dining at restaurants along the route, from fondue at the igloo village above Zermatt to the “Nostalchic” service in a historic car with food service at stations along the way.

Michael Lammli

The Gornergrat Railway train.

Tickets and passes

Ticket prices vary by season. A standard round trip from Zermatt to Gornergrat starts at 96 CHF. Swiss Half Fare Card and Swiss Travel Pass discounts apply. Interrail passes don't cover the line, as it's a private mountain railway. All trains are hop-on, hop-off services, and you can break up your trip at the four intermediate stops between Zermatt and Gornergrat, then rejoin the train using the same ticket.

You can buy tickets at Zermatt station or online in advance on the Gornergrat Bahn website. Since service may be disrupted due to weather, buying a ticket when you’re in Zermatt is recommended. 

Breaking up the trip

One of the best features of the Gornergrat Railway is the freedom to stop off along the way. Each station offers something different: a short forest walk, a hotel terrace, or a hiking trail that rejoins the line. If time allows, it’s well worth hopping off once or twice. If you decide to stay on board for the full trip, sitting back and soaking up the scenery is just as special.

Joshua Kettle

The Gornergrat Railway with the Matterhorn in the background.

The Gornergrat Railway: the journey

The journey begins in Zermatt, a car-free resort at the foot of the Matterhorn and one of Switzerland’s busiest year-round mountain destinations. It’s worth spending a morning exploring the old Hinterdorf quarter or visiting the Matterhorn Museum to understand the area’s mountaineering history. For something to eat, Restaurant Schäferstube is known for dishes made with locally sourced lamb and Valais specialties, served in a cozy, low-ceilinged wooden dining room.

Gabriel Garcia Marengo

Zermatt.

Leaving Zermatt, the train climbs steeply through the forest. Within minutes, the rooftops disappear below and the Matterhorn begins to dominate the skyline. The first stop, Findelbach, is mainly for hikers and photographers, with a trail that follows the railway back down to the valley.

The next stop, Riffelalp, sits at 2,211 meters above sea level and is the first major viewpoint. Here you'll find the historic Riffelalp Resort and the world’s smallest tramway, a short connection that runs from the station to the hotel in the summer months.

Radek Kozak

Views along the route.

As the line continues, trees give way to alpine meadows in summer and scree. At Riffelberg, Riffelhaus 1853 sits directly opposite the Matterhorn, and its terrace is one of the best spots for lunch with a view. In summer, the hotel is a good starting point for the Mark Twain Trail, a well-marked path descending back toward Riffelalp. The author walked the route in 1878 and detailed it in his book “Climbing the Riffelberg.” Hop off at Riffelberg station, hike the path, and hop back onto the train at Riffelalp to continue your journey to Gornergrat.

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Riffelsee.

A little higher up, Rotenboden is the best stop for the short hike to Riffelsee, a small mountain lake about a ten-minute walk away. On still days, the lake reflects the Matterhorn perfectly. It's one of the most photographed scenes in Switzerland, though conditions can change quickly with the wind.

David Gubler bahnbilder.ch

The Gornergrat Railway between Rotenboden and Gornergrat.

From Rotenboden to Gornergrat, the train climbs above 3,000 meters. The terrain becomes bare and rocky, with patches of snow even in summer. The summit station opens directly onto a large viewing platform. From here, you can see 29 peaks above 4,000 meters, including Monte Rosa, Liskamm, and the Breithorn. The Matterhorn appears in full view, close enough to see the texture of its rock and snowfields.

Claudio Schwarz

3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat.

At the top, there's a hotel, the 3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat, the highest hotel in the Swiss Alps, with a restaurant and terrace, plus an observatory run by the University of Zurich. In clear weather, it's worth staying for a meal or even overnight at the hotel to see the sunset and the stars.

Razvan Sassu

Views from beside Gornergrat station.

Onward from Gornergrat

To return to Zermatt, simply board any downward train with your round-trip ticket; there's no need to reserve a seat. If you're continuing your journey after Zermatt, regular connections run to Visp, where you can join the mainline toward Bern, Geneva, or Milan.

Many travelers combine the Gornergrat Railway with the famed Glacier Express route, which departs from Zermatt daily and can also be done using regular local trains (with connections). It’s the perfect slow travel route and an entirely different kind of journey, taking its time crossing hundreds of bridges and tunnels, passing glacial lakes, and running through deep gorges to reach St. Moritz. For a shorter onward trip, Gornergrat can also be paired with the Sunnegga funicular or the Klein Matterhorn cable car to explore the surrounding peaks from other directions.

Take a day trip along the Gornergrat Railway on a slow travel trip to Zermatt by train, or check out our other Switzerland train vacations. 

Read about more scenic Swiss Railways, like the Bernina Express route, the Golden Pass Line and the Arlberg Railway. 

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