Gornergrat, Swiss Alps, Switzerland
4.5 (5.192 reviews) Spent More than 3 hours Ranking #3 in Swiss Alps Mountains • Lookouts • Observation Decks & Towers
Great views
The Gornergrat (3,089 m) is one of those places that everyone should visit at least once in a lifetime. The mountain panorama and the glorious view of the Matterhorn are unforgettable. With its sunny observation platform accessible all year, the Gornergrat, at an altitude of 3,089 m, has been one of Switzerland’s top excursion destinations since 1898. The Gornergrat Bahn was the world’s first fully electrified cog railway. Today it is a modern, eco-friendly railway, equipped with a regenerative braking system that generates electricity on the descent and so saves energy. All year: •Photo subject: 29 mountains above 4,000 m in view (Switzerland, Italy) •Shops •Restaurants: self-service and waiter-served, indoors and out •Large sun terrace •“Bernhard von Aosta” chapel •Panoramic viewing platform Summer: •Wild ibex near the viewing platform of the station •Starting point for hikes •Sunrise trips (bookable offer) •Sunset dinners (bookable offer) •For families: “Wolli and the climate detectives” (audio guides available from Zermatt Tourism and the Gornergrat Bahn cog railway) Winter: •Dining with the stars (bookable offer) •Moonlight visit (bookable offer) •Direct access to the pistes and winter hiking paths •Highest sledging slope in Switzerland (Rotenboden 2815 m - Riffelberg 2582 m) •Igloo village on 2727 m
Address
Bahnhof Gornergrat 1, Zermatt 3920 Switzerland
Mobile
Website
https://www.gornergrat.ch/
Current local date and time now
Monday, May 06, 2024, 11:19
User Ratings
4.5 based on (5.192 reviews)
Reviews
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5Veronica P 5:00 PM Sep 30, 2022
Hiking from Gornergrat Top Station
Took Gornergratbahn (cogwheel train) to Gornergrat top station and hiked down to Riffelberg Station. Views were amazing. Trail was rocky and steep in places. Shoes with good tread and hiking poles are recommended. Do not recommend eating at cafeteria closest to Riffelberg station. Food was uninspired and pricey, although outdoor deck was nice. Wish we had hiked downhill a little farther and eaten at Restaurant Riffelhaus 1853. We did stop there for apricot sorbet, delicious and beautifully presented in a pastry shell with fruit. Had planned to hike down to Riffelalp but weather looked threatening and we decided it was not a good idea to be up in the mountains in a thunderstorm, so we returned to Zermatt from Riffelberg station.
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4S L 5:00 PM Sep 24, 2022
Behold the Gornergrat Sights
The Gornergrat indeed featured a different set of sights from my experience with the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, but I found that what made it unique was the ascension using the GGB Train itself. As I travelled in September 2022, there was no snow covering the trip going up the GGB. I personally felt the views from Gornergrat cannot be compared to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, as they offer complementing perspectives. Gornergrat offers also a Zooom the Matterhorn VR experience (comes with your ticket) at the top station. Otherwise, you can eat at the restaurant atop. You can also alight at the Rotenboden stop and take a short hike to visit the Rifflesee, which offers a reflective view of the Matterhorn. The hike can be physically challenging at times, so do take it slow on the slopes and walk itself. Another alternative I heard of my friend is you can book a Hotel at Riffleburg (called Rifflehaus) and stay the night, to see both the sunset and sunrise (subject to weather also). Do note, you can book your tickets at the GGB Train Station right outside the Zermatt SBB Train Station, and remains valid for up to 10 days. Swiss Pass affords 50% off for a return trip.
See also
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