The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is one of the most sought-after activities in the mountain village of Zermatt. It screams of thrill, adventure, and some stunning mountain sceneries. Moreover, it offers some of the most close-up views of the Matterhorn from its sister peak Klein Matterhorn and is totally a must if you are visiting Switzerland.
I fell in love with Matterhorn from the pictures in Toblerone packaging and therefore was ready to visit it in person.
The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is actually the highest mountain station in Europe at a height of 3883 metres above sea level. The viewing platform here offers a 360-degree panoramic view of 38 peaks above 4000 metres height, 14 breath taking glaciers and an unreal close-up of the mighty Matterhorn. To sum up, this view is well worth the name Glacier Paradise.
In addition, there is also a skiing area for ski lovers at the Theodul Glacier which is open every day of the year. Besides these, the Glacier Paradise offers a fine dining restaurant, as well as a glacier palace or cave carved in the glacier and a cinema lounge.
Best time to visit
There is snow 365 days of the year on the peak of the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. If you are a skier, you might want to visit in winter. There is snow until March in Zermatt. However, some of the gondola rides and cable cars don’t operate or close early in winter. So, check the timetable before you visit.
On the other hand, if you are more into the sceneries, I would suggest you visit Zermatt in June or July when the mountain flowers are in full bloom. Almost all the cable cars are open. In addition, there are plenty of scenic hiking routes.
Zermatt presents two completely different sceneries in winter and summer. So, choose wisely. In addition, do check the webcam footage on the official website for cloudy weather. You might not be able to see anything.
Getting there
The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise could be reached from any major city in Switzerland in 6 easy steps.
Step 1: Any major city to Visp by train.
Step 2: Visp to Zermatt by Gotthardbahn (panoramic train).
Step 3: Walk from Zermatt main station to Matterhorn Talstat (Valley or base station)
Step 4: Take the Matterhorn Express (gondola) from Matterhorn Talstat.
Step 5: Continue with the gondola to Furi, Schwarzsee until Trockener Steg
Step 6: Change stations to take the cable car from Trockerner Steg to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
Tip: You could get the tickets to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise from here or the Tourist Office in Zermatt railway station. However, there may be a long queue at the tourist office during peak season.
Tip: On a cloudy day, hardly anything would be visible. Therefore, I strongly recommend you check the weather before booking your tickets.
Tip: Although the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is not included in the Swiss Travel Pass, still, it does offer you a 50 percent discount on the tickets. The journey till Zermatt, on the other hand, is included in the Swiss Travel Pass.
Our Glacier Paradise experience
We visited the Glacier Paradise from Interlaken in July. First, we took an early train from Interlaken to Visp. After that, we took the Gotthardbahn from Visp to Zermatt and finally from Zermatt to the Glacier Paradise. After getting down at Zermatt we were exhilarated by the beauty and energy of the place.
Tips and Information
We bought the tickets from the tourist office in Zermatt railway station. The person at the tourist office was very helpful. We wanted to visit both Gornergrat and Glacier Paradise on the same day so she suggested we, therefore, buy the Peak2Peak pass. As a result, this would save us time and money and let us visit both places with ease. Moreover, she also suggested we visit the Glacier Paradise first followed by the Gornergratbahn.
Tip: The Peak2Peak pass is very easy and pocket-friendly. Therefore, I highly recommend it if you want to do both mountain excursions on the same day
Tip: The Glacier Paradise closes before the Gornergratbahn so if you are doing both on the same day, I would recommend you to visit the Glacier Paradise first.
Tip: There is a ticket office near the valley station of Glacier Paradise but the queues are too long. So, to avoid wasting time book your tickets online or at the tourist office in Zermatt train station.
Tip: If you wait for a little, it is easy to find a personal gondola for one person or a family. The gondolas are constantly moving so wait for the perfect moment before hopping in one.
Tip: The gondola gates will open and close in the intermediate stations of Furi and then Schwarzsee after that. However, if you get down at the intermediate stations it is difficult to find another empty gondola. So, if you want to go up to the Glacier Paradise do not get down in this station but in the end station, that is Trockener Steg.
Tip: You have to get in the gondola while it is moving. So, make sure your hands are empty, and if you need special assistance be sure to ask for it.
You may also like: Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in 1 Day – Peak2Peak Pass
Part 1: Matterhorn Express (gondola) from Talstat to Furi, Schwarzsee and Trockener Steg
We took the gondola from the base station at Zermatt and continued on to Furi. We did not get down and continued on the same gondola until Schwarzsee. The views were amazing from this gondola and we had it all to ourselves.
After getting down at Schwarzsee , we witnessed some of the best views of the Matterhorn. In addition, there is also a tiny lake where you can see the reflection of Matterhorn. The air was getting chillier as we ascended. We took some pictures and after that, we continued on the gondola to Trockener Steg.
Part 2: Trockener Steg to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
We took the Matterhorn glacier ride (cable car) from Trockener Steg to our final destination, Glacier Paradise (klein Matterhorn). This 9 minute ride was special because of the magical panoramic views of the glaciers and the snow clad mountain ranges.
Even though it was July, we had already entered snow territory.
Part 3: Activities at the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
Skiing Area
After soaking in the sudden change of temperature we headed to the skiing area because we were craving to touch some snow. The glacier was completely frozen with excited children and adults skiing in the snow. Meanwhile, we walked in the snow, took some pictures and breathed in the mountain air.
Glacier Palace
After that, we headed towards the Glacier Palace. Moreover, there were cave like tunnels carved through the ice and it really seemed like a palace. There were also many ice sculptures carved by artists and it was very very cold. As a result, this was a very interesting creation and I am sure a treat for children.
Cinema Lounge
After this, we made a quick stop at the cinema lounge. It is free to enter and offers a soothing atmosphere with shell like chairs and mood lighting. in addition, there are films playing in a screen mostly showing films about mountaineering and nature.
Glacier Paradise viewing platform
We had left the best for the last. We headed towards the highest point at the viewing platform. Although, there was a short queue at the lift which took us to a stairway, the views here were absolutely spectacular and was well worth the wait. We climbed to the top and admired the view for several minutes.
It gets a bit crowded here but with a little bit of wait everyone gets a perfect view. We were lucky to have witnessed amazing weather. We could see the glistening Jungfrau and Mont Blanc mountains at a distance. This is probably the closest look you will get at the Matterhorn. You cant help but admire this timeless beauty.
After spending some quality time at the peak we headed down the same way we came. The cable car surprisingly had heated seats on our way back, so we got some relief from the chill. In conclusion, it indeed was a very exciting and memorable mountain excursion.
You may also like: Gornergrat Railway – Mountain Excursion to Matterhorn from Zermatt
What to eat
There is an amazing restaurant at the summit of the Glacier Paradise. You could enjoy a drink or some fine dining there. However, it is expensive like the rest of Switzerland.
Where to stay
You could stay in one of the many accommodation options at the mountain village of Zermatt and as a result, could easily make a day trip to the Glacier Paradise.
Activities and Budget
Must Do
- Walk in the snow at the Theodul Glacier
- Enjoy a panoramic view of the snow clad peaks from the viewing platform.
Unique Experience
- Take a walk around the Glacier Palace
- Watch a short film at the Cinema Lounge
Budget
The entire trip to the Glacier Paradise does not have any expense except for the transport fee. If you want to splurge, you have the option of eating at the restaurant at the Glacier Paradise.
A trip to the Glacier Paradise costs 115 Euros and in addition, there is a discount of 50 percent with the Swiss Travel Pass.
2 Responses
Hello, I really enjoyed reading your blog and it helped me decide that I want to visit Peak2peak instead of only Gornergrat. I have a few questions and I hope you can help me out:
What time is the first “Express” train from Zermatt to Glacier Paradise?
I plan to visit Glacier Paradise in the second week of April but I’m worried about the weather and visibility. I read on your blog that long lines can be an issue, so I’m wondering if it’s possible to buy peak2peak tickets online on the day of my visit? I don’t want to buy tickets in advance if the weather might make it difficult to see the views.
How can I identify the correct train or line to take when traveling from one place to another? For example, when going from Zermatt to Glacier Paradise, is there a sign or any other way to know which express train or line to board?
Is it possible to do both peaks on the same day without rushing? I noticed you mentioned getting lost and spending extra time on Riffelsee.
Hi Emanuel,
You can easily buy the Peak2Peak pass on arrival at the tourist center at Zermatt train station. Also, ask them for a time table for both Glacier Paradise and Gornergrat for the most current information.
To enjoy a laidback day at Zermatt, I would recommend you to start early and start with the Glacier Paradise first because it closes earlier.
The Glacier Paradise can only be reached by a cable car and there is no specific time for it. It runs continuously. You don’t need to stand in a queue if you have the Peak2Peak pass. Make sure to take the shortcut while coming down from Glacier Paradise with the cable car from Furi to Riffelberg. From there you can take the Gornergratbahn. For more details, check out this blog.
Regards,
Emily.