The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is an epic viewpoint at 3883 m, with a spectacular view of the Matterhorn as well 38 four-thousand-meter peaks and 14 glaciers in both Switzerland and Italy.

You reach this tourist attraction by riding a series of cable cars up from the Zermatt village (including the highest cable car in Europe at 3883m). At the top, you take an elevation and staircase to a small observation deck at the top of the Kleine Matterhorn peak.

Location: cable car – Schluhmattstrasse 121, 3920 Zermatt

Open: year round.

Current conditions: live status • webcams • weather

There are a few other amusements including the Glacier Palace, a series of tunnels and caves carved into the glacier ice cave 15 meters below the surface. You can walk on the glacier snow and even sled (they usually have free sleds to use on a small sledding hill).

• Learn more about visiting Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. 

How to get there

The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise gondolas at located at Schluhmattstrasse 121, 3920 Zermatt, about a 15 min walk from the Zermatt train station. Or you can ride a shuttle.

You ride to Furi, then Trockener Steg. Then transfer to the big fancy cable cars for the last section over the glacier up to Kleine Matterhorn. The full journey to the top takes about 1 hour one way. I'd plan at least 3 hours for this outing, longer if you plan to hike.

Note: During October and November, some cable cars on this route may be temporarily closed for maintenance. But you can still get to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise via alternate routes as described on the Zermatt website.

Tickets

To visit Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, you’ll need a return ticket on the cable cars from Zermatt. You can purchase tickets at the gondola station or online beforehand. You do not need a reservation. The price varies by season.

• Book tickets*

You get a 50% discount with Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Half Fare Card, GA, and children 9-15. No discount with Eurail, SBB Day Pass, or Gemeinde Day Pass. Dogs are allowed and travel for free.

Children aged under 9 ride free. Note that children under 3 are not allowed on last cable car from Trockener Steg to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise due to risk of altitude sickness.

Is it worth it?

This is a good choice for non-hikers that want to catch epic views without all the work. But if you can choose only one expensive mountain outing in Zermatt, we much prefer Gornergrat, where you more room to wander around.

Also, if you are thinking of visiting other glacier viewpoints during your Switzerland trip (like Jungfraujoch or Titlis), I would probably just pick of them since the experiences are pretty similar.