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Together In Switzerland

All Things Swiss

Exploring the Spectacular Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

Zoe| Valais

In our view and many others, the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is one of the most famous attractions located in Switzerland, specifically in the Swiss Alps. This is located, easily reachable and viewable from the town of Zermatt. The 360° views of the Alps on a clear day is one of the most stunning views in Switzerland, and something everyone should experience at least once!

Most tourists visit the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise either in Winter or Summer, since it’s beautifully white and snowy or delightful green and sunny. We’ve written this post based on factual information, as well as from our personal experience of visiting during Winter.

the cable car of the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
the viewing platform at the top of the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
The opening lift area of the viewing platform at the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

What is the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise famous for?

Spectacular views From The 360° Viewing Point

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise offers for most people stunning views of the Matterhorn, one of the most famous and iconic mountains in the world. The ride of 3883m to the klein Matterhorn is a beautiful route that everyone can experience.

In the distance on clear days, you can also spot so many points of interest. These views include seeing the mountains of Mont Blanc, Eiger, Breithorn, Jungfrau, and also local points like the village of Zermatt and the Gornergrat.

Visitors (even non-skiers) can take the cable car up to the summit and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and glaciers. The 360° views of the Alps is a must-see for everyone visiting Switzerland, where you can see Switzerland, France and Italy!

Highest cable car station in Europe

The cable car that takes visitors to the summit of Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is the highest in Europe, reaching an altitude of 3,883 meters (12,740 feet).

The cable car ride is an amazing experience in itself, as visitors are lifted high above the mountain slopes and travel through the clouds to reach the summit. The journey takes about 45 minutes and offers unparalleled views of the Matterhorn and other iconic peaks in the region. It starts in the village of Zermatt, which goes through Furi, Schwarzsee and then Trockener Steg.

With your ticket, you are able to get out at all the stations along the way, such as for taking photos or skiing of course. We did get out on the way back down to enjoy some different angles of views, as the highlight was of course getting to the top first thing!

This cable car is also a remarkable feat of engineering, as it enables visitors to reach an altitude that was once only accessible to mountaineers and extreme adventurers. It provides a unique perspective on the Swiss Alps and offers visitors the chance to experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the mountain landscape in a comfortable and safe way. Even if they are not going to ski or snowboard after arriving at the peak!

GET YOUR TICKETS: You can purchase your tickets online in advance or get them at the Zermatt Bergbahnen station (the first cable car station). We bought our tickets online before visiting (which also included a peak ticket to Gornergrat, which were automatically loaded on to our Swisspass cards.

Glacier Palace

At the summit, visitors can also explore the Glacier Palace, a chilly but interesting network of ice tunnels and caves carved into the glacier. The palace features ice sculptures and installations, as well as an ice slide and an ice bar. During our visit, there were ice feature statues of people, birds, a dragon and an ice chair to sit on!

The entrance is with a lift down to the opening of the glacier, and it was included in our tickets we had for the visit with the Matterhorn Glacier Express. So you can check this before arriving to see if its included in yours too!

The ice glacier tunnel to the ice sculptures inside.
One of the glacier ice sculptures inside the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

Skiing and Snowboarding

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is, as you may know it best, as a popular starting point for skiing and snowboarding, with lots of slopes and trails for all skill levels to choose from. From the peak, you can even choose to ski or snowboard into Italy with the adjoining slopes.

Visit The Cinema Lounge

While at the top, take a seat in the cinema lounge for watching a short film about the beauty of the Alps and region. If you are new to the area, it’s a great starting point to watch and learn before seeing the real thing in person!

Year-round activities

Unlike many ski resorts, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is open year-round, offering a range of activities in both summer and winter. So in the Summer, you can go hiking, mountain biking, or paragliding, while in the Winter they can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, or sledding.

We saw you can also book a helicopter ride in Zermatt, which would take you on a short ride around the Matterhorn and surrounding mountains. So if you want to make your visit more special, consider this!

We have only experienced the area during Winter, so we hope to be back in the Summer!

Me sat on the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise to the top of the Klein Matterhown

How Much Time Do You Need To Visit The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise?

If you are to visit like we did, 1 full day is best to truly enjoy everything without rushing. Keep in mind what we did was based on our visit in November, when there was already a lot of snow!

With 1 full day we suggest the following itinerary;

  1. Head up to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in the morning when the cable car is opening. It can get busy like a normal commuting rush hour, so arrive early if you want to get up to the peak before 10am.
  2. Visit the 360° viewing platform and spend some time here taking in the beauty of the Alps
  3. Head to the restaurant for a small snack to eat or warm drink – during winter we had Gluhwein here!
  4. Take the lift down to the Glacier Palace ice tunnels and admire the sculptures.
  5. Watch the short film in the cinema area
  6. Take the cable car down to Trockener Steg and have some lunch. They have a buffet area as well as a pizza restaurant. Both have amazing views of the surrounding Alps. There is also a free exhibition called InfoCube Zermatt that you can visit, which shares information on the construction of the structure in the Matterhorn.
  7. Head next down to the Schwarzsee cable car station. Here you can get out and walk to the “Zermatt” sign with the Matterhorn in the background for photos! We also took our drone out for making some timelapse and videos.
  8. Take the cable car again down to Furi. It’s a great place to walk around and enjoy, with pretty views of Zermatt too. There are also many restaurants here if you would want another drink or bite to eat.
  9. Lastly to hear back down to Zermatt, either by walking one of the hiking routes or with the last part of the cable car.

You can of course choose to skip the lower stations and spend half a day at the top, so if you are tight for time, you should still enjoy a visit to the peak!

If you want to keep your visit efficiently in seeing everything, you can also consider booking a private tour! We didn’t try this, but it looks like a fantastic opportunity to see all in one short sweet visit!

The Zermatt sign along the way of the cable car

Top Questions Asked About Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

Will I get Altitude Sickness on Matterhorn Glacier Paradise?

Many people will experience the affects of being at a higher altitude, which may include a little headache or a feeling of faint dizziness. You’ll probably feel the affects of the altitude because the air is so thin at this altitude.

Take the following cable car back to Zermatt if you feel any serious signs and symptoms, and alert a staff member so they are aware to help you.

When we visited, I definitely had altitude sickness issues (mostly dizziness) but after a 10min sit down and relaxation in the restaurant area I mostly got used to it and it became manageable. Whereas Dawid was totally unaffected by the altitude change!

Can I Use My Swiss Travel Pass On the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise?

Yes you can! You can get up to 50% discount on tickets to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, so make sure to remember this and save yourself money on tickets.

What Is The Best Time To Visit The the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise?

We suggest visiting first thing in the morning of your visit. Of course it does depend on when you are visiting, but from our experience visiting in winter, the cable car was busy with mostly skiiers in the morning. So the actual viewing platform and restaurant at the peak was not busy since everyone was already skiing down the slopes instead!

The Alps view at the Klein Matterhorn

Personal Experience Of Our Visit To Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

From our own personal experience, we enjoyed visiting the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise during the start of the Winter period in November. We are non-skiers, so our full weekend experience in Zermatt did not include skiing. However it was a fun, romantic trip with the most amazing views from the mountains.

Since it was the start of Winter, the snow had just arrived and not every hotel or restaurant was open. We had booked the weekend at the beautiful House Mojo, which had direct views of the Matterhorn. We mostly did our own food to keep costs down, but there were a few restaurants already open for the season nearby that were perfect.

Still wondering if you should visit? Our answer = Visit!!

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise - www.togetherinswitzerland.com
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise - www.togetherinswitzerland.com
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Ciao, I’m Zoe!

Zoe Together In Switzerland

I’m a native Brit-turned-Dutch expat living in Ticino, Switzerland with my boyfriend and kitty cat since 2022.

Our site highlights our most fun adventures and experiences while exploring local life in Switzerland.

Enjoy!

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Swiss Travels!

2022

  • Basel – April 2022
  • Zurich – April 2022
  • Chiasso – September 2022
  • Zermatt – November 2022
  • Zurich – December 2022

 

2023

  • Vaud – January 2023
  • Rest – Let’s see!

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Cloudy today, but don't let that stop you explorin Cloudy today, but don't let that stop you exploring > Here's a photo from Gandria from the boat! 🇨🇭
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Happy Thursday 🌹 We are counting down to the we Happy Thursday 🌹 We are counting down to the weekend for some hiking! 
On 1st April, many places are reopening, such as Monte Tamaro, Monte Lema and already Monte Generoso! ⛰️
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♡ / Celebrating 8 wonderful months in Switzerlan ♡ / Celebrating 8 wonderful months in Switzerland 🇨🇭
Wow time flies when your having fun! 
We've explored already so much of our home canton of Ticino as well as visited the cantons of Vaud, Valais, Zurich, Luzern, Basel, Bern and Zug. ☀️
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Bring on the next few exciting months until our 1 year swiss expat anniversary! 🎉
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One boat ticket to Paradise please 🇨🇭 The @ One boat ticket to Paradise please 🇨🇭
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I was last on the boat from Morcote back to Lugano Paradiso. The staff were so welcoming and friendly! 
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Flower power at Gambarogno Botanical Park 🌸 If Flower power at Gambarogno Botanical Park 🌸
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We visited today, in the 18°c sunshine. There must have been only 4 other people there so it seemed like we had the whole gardens to ourselves ☀️
Afterwards, you can also buy some plants from their shop on site! So if your local, check it out! 💐
📍 Gambarogno, Ticino Switzerland 
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Taken this morning 25.02.2023, the clouds are floating below Monte Bré ⛅ 
The best way to see the sunshine and low clouds is on one of the many Ticino peaks, such as;
- Monte Bré
- Monte San Salvatore (in images opposite)
- Monte Tamaro
- Cimetta 
- Monte Generoso 
📍 Lugano, Switzerland 
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#luganoswitzerland #luganolake #luganolake🇨🇭 #switzerlandtravel #swisstravel #travelcouplelife #luganoregion #luganomycity  #lugano2023 #switzerlandwonderland #luganoregion #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #ticino #swisstourism #luganophotographer #luganoturismo #luganocity #lugano🇨🇭 #lakelugano #ticinoswitzerland #cantonticino #visitswitzerland #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #togetherinswitzerland #tessin #srfmeteo
Buongiorno Lugano 🦢 My Italian language skill Buongiorno Lugano 🦢 
My Italian language skills is slowly, and I do mean slowly, improving. For today, a swan is cigno 😅
It's a cloudy day ahead so we'll be likely staying in, working first, then relaxing and a possible new blogpost on the site! 
Link is always in my bio! 💻
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Fun throwback: I took this selfie in November 2021 Fun throwback: I took this selfie in November 2021 when we were visiting Ticino as tourists. I fell in love instantly as it was my first time! ❤️
Little did we know at that time, that we'd actually be moving to Switzerland only 8 months later!!
📍 Bré, Switzerland
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#luganoswitzerland #luganolake #luganolake🇨🇭 #switzerlandtravel #swisstravel #travelcouplelife #luganoregion #luganomycity  #lugano2023 #switzerlandwonderland #luganoregion #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #ticino #swisstourism #luganophotographer #luganoturismo #luganocity #lugano🇨🇭 #lakelugano #ticinoswitzerland #cantonticino #visitswitzerland #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #togetherinswitzerland #tessin
They are magnolias, right?! 🏔️🌸 . . . . . They are magnolias, right?! 🏔️🌸
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.#tessin #ticinomoments #ticinoturismo #ticinoswitzerland #tessintourismus #ticinonline #srfmeteo #asconalocarno #asconaswitzerland #ascona #lugano #magnolia #magnoliaflower #magnoliaflowers #sweetmagnolias #snowmountains #mountainslovers❤️ #cimetta #cima #switzerlandtravel #togetherinswitzerland #switzerlandpictures #swissphoto #swissphotographer
Venus & Jupiter floating above Lugano last night 🪐
As of Match 3rd last night, Venus is moving away from Jupiter, as the altitude of the gas giant begins to decrease in the evening sky. 📷
Jupiter will sink into the Sun’s glare before reaching solar conjunction (on the opposite side of the Sun to the Earth) on 11 April 2023. ⭐
I personally don't do much night photography, but I'm glad to have captured both planets! ❤️
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#luganoswitzerland #luganolake #luganolake🇨🇭 #switzerlandtravel #swisstravel #travelcouplelife #luganoregion #luganomycity  #lugano2023 #switzerlandwonderland #luganoregion #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #ticino #swisstourism #luganophotographer #luganoturismo #luganocity #lugano🇨🇭 #lakelugano #ticinoswitzerland #cantonticino #visitswitzerland #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #togetherinswitzerland #tessin #jupiterandvenus #srfmeteo #nighttimelapse #venusandjupiter #conjunction

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