Gornergrat

Must knows about the Gornergrat

• From here you can see the highest peaks of the Alps, all over 4000 m high. This includes the Matterhorn;
• Many rail passes allow for discounted traveling to the Gornergrat;
• There are 4 stops along the way that allow you to explore the Alps on foot.

How to travel to the Gornergrat

The Gornergrat can be reached by cogwheel train from Zermatt. Zermatt can be reached by train only. If you plan to travel by car you can park in Täsch and take the train to Zermatt from there.

The Gornergrat railway

The station of the Gornergrat railway can be found right across the street from the train station in Zermatt.

Excursion to the Gornergrat

The cogwheel train from Zermatt to the Gornergrat is part of the fun. The ride takes about half an hour. It starts at an altitude of 1605 m and ends at 3090 m on the Gornergrat ridge. The train crosses forests and a high alpine landscape later on, and stops in four different stations along the way. Each of these stations is a great starting point for hiking.

Once you reach the Gornergrat, you will have an amazing view of the Matterhorn and the Monte Rosa massif. This includes the Dufourspitze (4634 m), which is the highest peak in Switzerland. There is a hotel, a restaurant, and plenty of space to walk around and enjoy the scenery.

Spending the night

The Gornergrat is one of the mountain tops in Switzerland where you can comfortably spend the night.

Preparation

Check the weather forecast as there's no point in going up if the Gornergrat and the surrounding mountains are covered in clouds. Dress in multiple thinner layers so that you can adapt to the different temperatures throughout the day. Take along gloves, sun glasses and perhaps a winter sports hat. Solid shoes help if you plan to walk around a bit or combine your visit with a hike.

Allow at least an hour to visit the Gornergrat. This does not include the time to get there. The whole round trip from Zermatt takes at least 2.5 hours.

The Gornergrat is located at an altitude of 3090 m. Anyone can suffer from (light) altitude sickness from about 2000 m. Usually it helps to take things slow and sit down for a while. Special precautions apply to children under 2 years old, as well as people who are pregnant or in poor health: before visiting areas over 2500 m, you'd better consult your doctor. In most cases though, staying at such altitudes for just a few hours is no problem.