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Matterhorn Glacier Paradise or Gornergrat which is better

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise or Gornergrat? That’s a difficult decision to make and might be confusing to choose from. Don’t worry, I got you here. I’ve made both of these excursions on my own and explored every single part of them so that I can compare and give you insights into which one will be better for you to visit.

While there isn’t a general answer, because everyone likes something different, I’ll give you many thoughts, so you can decide which excursion fits your interests the best.

Are you ready to explore the 2 best mountain excursions in Zermatt? Let’s do it!

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Vs. Gornergrat: Which Is Better To Visit? Answered!

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is better for dramatic scenery and a thrilling cable car ride experience, while Gornergrat is a train excursion with more diverse scenery and easier hiking options.

You can’t really tell which one is better to visit, because each of them offers something completely different, but this is my general thought.

Keep reading for more detailed comparisons so you can choose for yourself.

Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in one day it's possible
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise & Gornergrat

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What Is The Difference Between Matterhorn Glacier Paradise And Gornergrat?

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is the highest cable car station in Europe (3’883 m/12’400 ft.), and you can get there by cable car. Gornergrat has a lower altitude (3’135 m/10’285 ft.), and you can get there by train.

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is higher, and you can experience snow even in the summer. It has more dramatic Alpine scenery (38 peaks over 4000 m and 14 glaciers), while Gornergrat has more diverse scenery from grey rocks to green pastures and is surrounded by glaciers.

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise 360 viewing platform snow
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise station
matterhorn glacier paradise or gornergrat which is better gornergrat station
Gornergrat station

Visiting Matterhorn Glacier Paradise: Pros & Cons

Here are the pros and cons of visiting Matterhorn Glacier Paradise:

Advantages Of Visiting Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

😍 Dramatic scenery
😍 See 14 glaciers and 38 peaks over 4000 m high
😍 Go skiing in the summer
😍 Experience snow in the summer
😍 Ice Palace experience
😍 3S cable car ride above glaciers
😍 Cross the border to Italy in a cable car
😍 Not so crowded

Disadvantages Of Visiting Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

πŸ˜ͺ Scenery isn’t so diverse
πŸ˜ͺ
Not so many and easy hiking trails
πŸ˜ͺ
Bathroom costs 2 CHF

matterhorn glacier paradise zermatt
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise station

Visiting Gornergrat: Pros & Cons

Here are the pros and cons of visiting Gornergrat:

Advantages Of Visiting Gornergrat

😍 Diverse scenery (glacier, massive peaks, but also green meadows)
😍
Spectacular train ride
😍
Great views of Matterhorn
😍
Experience the Black Sheep
😍
Many and easy hiking options
😍
VR experience flying above Swiss mountains
😍
See the highest Swiss mountain (Dufourspitze – 4’634 m/15’000 ft.)

Disadvantages Of Visiting Gornergrat

πŸ˜ͺ Slightly more expensive than Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
πŸ˜ͺ
No cable car experience
πŸ˜ͺ
Lower altitude and less dramatic scenery
πŸ˜ͺ
Very crowded with tourists after 10:00 am

matterhorn glacier paradise or gornergrat which is better gornergrat station glaciers 3100 Kulmhotel
Gornergrat – Glaciers – 3100 Kulmhotel

πŸ‘‰ READ ALSO: 8 Best Mountains In Switzerland You Need To Visit: My Experience

Transportation & Getting There: Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Vs. Gornergrat

You can only get to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in a series of cable cars. At the same time, you can only get to Gornergrat by train. That’s the main difference between these excursions, which will also provide diverse experiences.

How Long Does It Take To Enjoy Each Mountain Excursion?

The cable car journey from Zermatt to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise takes approx. 45 minutes (1 change of cable cars on the way). To enjoy all the highlights that Matterhorn Glacier Paradise offers, including the cable car journey, plan 4 – 5 hours for the entire excursion.

The train ride from Zermatt to Gornergrat takes 38 minutes (direct, no change). Plan 4 – 6 for the entire Gornergrat excursion if you want to enjoy everything it offers (including hiking and hanging around the Riffelsee Lake).

3S cable car highest mountain station in Europe Trockener Steg is matterhorn glacier paradise worth it
3S Cable Car To Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in one day gornergrat train from riffelberg to gornergrat
Gornergrat train

πŸ‘‰ READ ALSO: Best Of Switzerland Itinerary: 8 Days By Train

Activities Comparison: Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Vs. Gornergrat

I would say both of these excursions offer an equal amount of activities to do. But again, they vary, so it depends on what you prefer doing.

Here is a list of activities you can do when visiting Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and Gornergrat:

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise: Activities

πŸ“ Ride on the 3S cable car above glaciers
πŸ“
Learn about 3S cable car construction in the InfoCube
πŸ“
Visit cinema lounge
πŸ“
Enjoy 360 panoramic views of 14 glacier, 38 peaks above 4000 m high, and 3 different countries
πŸ“
Explore Ice Palace
πŸ“
Go skiing (even in summer)
πŸ“
Walk on the snow (even in summer)
πŸ“
Climb Breithorn Mountain (over 4000 high)
πŸ“
Enjoy Matterhorn Alpine Crossing (cross the border to Italy in a cable car)
πŸ“
Have lunch in a traditional mountain hut
πŸ“
Hike the Matterhorn Glacier Trail

Gornergrat: Activities

πŸ“ Enjoy a spectacular train ride to the top through green meadows and snowy mountains around
πŸ“
Better views of Matterhorn
πŸ“
Exhibition ZOOOM the Matterhorn @Gornergrat – VR flying over the Swiss mountains, learn about mountaineering and mountain guides
πŸ“
Visit the second-highest hotel in Europe (3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat)
πŸ“
Explore a small chapel
πŸ“
Enjoy stunning views of glaciers & highest mountain in Switzerland (Dufourspitze)
πŸ“
See the reflection of Matterhorn in Riffelsee Lake
πŸ“ Go hiking (easy and beautiful trails)
πŸ“
Pet the Black Sheep

πŸ’‘ PRO TIP: These are all the activities and attractions you can experience in each of the excursions. So I would say, choose those that you’re more interested in and pick the excursion accordingly.

3S cable car Matterhorn Alpine Crossing Cervinia Italy Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
3S cable car – Matterhorn Alpine Crossing
Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in one day gornergrat viewing platform train
Gornergrat
matterhorn glacier paradise ice palace ice cave
Ice Palace
gornergrat views glaciers dufourspitze monte rosa Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in one day
Views from Gornergrat – Monte Rosa – glaciers – Dufourspitze

Hiking Options: Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Vs. Gornergrat

Gornergrat has more hiking options and easier trails than Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.

You can’t do any hiking on the top of Matterhorn Glacier Paradise; it’s just a mountain station surrounded by giant Alpine peaks. You can only walk outside a bit on the snow.

However, you can challenge yourself and climb the Breithorn mountain with a local guide on the snow.

But you can go hiking in Trockener Steg, a mountain station below Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. From there, you can follow the stunning Matterhorn Glacier Trail, which changes scenery. You’ll be closest to the Matterhorn and walk on the rocks at first until you make it to Schwarzsee station with green pastures.

Gornergrat, on the other hand, offers a variety of hiking trails. You can hike from Gornergrat to Riffelsee Lake to see the Matterhorn reflection. Then, you can continue from Riffelsee Lake to Riffelberg Station and chase the Black Sheep. There are QR codes on the trail that you can use to locate them.

Then you can also keep walking from Riffelberg to other stations and even back to Zermatt.

You can choose which section to hike and take the Gornergrat train between the stations. Get on and get off the train as you like.

At Gornergrat, you’re further away from the Matterhorn. Still, you’ll get better views of it than hiking around Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.

Breithorn mountain
Breithorn – Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
matterhorn glacier paradise or gornergrat which is better riffelsee matterhorn views
Riffelsee Lake & Matterhorn Views – Gornergrat
Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in one day Theodulgletschersee Trockener Steg
Theodulgletschersee at the Trockener Steg station – Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
gornergrat and matterhorn glacier paradise in one day Swiss Top Walk from rotenboden to riffelberg
Me enjoying the Swiss Top Hike from Rotenboden to Riffelberg – Gornergrat
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Cost Comparison: Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Vs. Gornergrat

OOverall, Gornergrat is slightly more expensive than Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, but just by a few Swiss Francs. So the costs are more and less the same.

In the summer, the Gornergrat excursion costs 132 CHF (round-trip), and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise costs 120 CHF (round-trip).

In the wintertime, Gornergrat costs 96 CHF (round-trip), and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise costs 95 CHF (round-trip).

Both excursions offer 50% discount if you have the Swiss Travel Pass and the Half-Fare Card. So below is an overview of prices with different passes:

πŸ”† SWISS TRAVEL PASS HOLDERS: get 50% off in the summer and in the winter for both excursions:

  • Gornergrat in the summer: 66 CHF (round-trip)
  • Gornergrat in the winter: 48 CHF (round-trip)
  • Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in the summer: 60 CHF (round-trip)
  • Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in the winter: 47.50 CHF (round-trip)

πŸ”† HALF-FARE CARD HOLDERS: get 50% off in the summer and in the winter for both excursions

  • Gornergrat in the summer: 66 CHF (round-trip)
  • Gornergrat in the winter: 48 CHF (round-trip)
  • Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in the summer: 60 CHF (round-trip)
  • Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in the winter: 47.50 CHF (round-trip)

πŸ”† PEAK2PEAK PASS: This pass costs approx. 153 CHF and covers both excursions within 1 day (it’s a great value, you’ll save a lot of money, and get to see both).

πŸ”† PEAK PASS: This pass costs approx. 180 CHF covers the entire area around Zermatt, including all trains and cable cars. The longer you’re in Zermatt and the more activities/excursions you want to do, the more it’ll pay off.

is Matterhorn Glacier Paradise worth it cost tickets and passes reduction

πŸ‘‰ READ ALSO: Is Switzerland Expensive? Ultimate Guide To Budget Your Trip

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Which One Has Better View: Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Or Gornergrat?

Both excursions offer stunning views; it again depends on what you prefer.

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise offers more dramatic scenery with 14 glaciers and 38 peaks that are over 4’000 m/13’120 ft. high, and you’ll also see 3 different countries. The scenery is full of giant peaks and snow.

Gornergrat offers a more diverse scenery. You’re not as high, yet you’ll see massive glaciers, the highest Swiss mountain (Dufourspitze – 4’634 m/15’000 ft.), and green pastures with meadows full of flowers.

matterhorn glacier paradise or gornergrat which is better views from Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
Views from Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
matterhorn glacier paradise or gornergrat which is better gornergrat station
Views from Gornergrat

Which One Offers Better Matterhorn Views: Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Or Gornergrat?

Gornergrat offers better views of Matterhorn than Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.

When you visit Matterhorn Glacier Paradise or hike the Matterhorn Glacier Trail (from Trockener Steg to Schwarzsee), you’ll be the closest to Matterhorn, and the views are still beautiful.

But Gornergrat just offers more spectacular views of Matterhorn from far away.

matterhorn glacier paradise or gornergrat which is better riffelsee matterhorn views
Riffelsee Lake & Matterhorn Views

Which One Is Better To Visit With Kids: Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Or Gornergrat?

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is better to visit with kids (if they are above 3 years old because younger kids can’t take the 3S cable car to the top due to high altitude). I think the Ice Palace, the snow, the stunning views, and the thrilling cable car will be more interesting for kids than sitting on a train for 38 minutes until they get to Gornergrat.

The VR entertainment at Gornergrat would be interesting for kids, but it’s not as great as the Ice Palace, and you often have to stand in a long queue to experience the VR.

matterhorn glacier paradise ice palace ice cave
Ice Palace

Gornergrat And Matterhorn Glacier Paradise In One Day

And you know what…? Let me make it a lot easier for you. Why don’t you just visit both of these amazing excursions even if you only have a day? It’s possible to visit Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in a day if you have good timing and an itinerary.

I’ve created a full itinerary for you to follow to visit both of these amazing mountains in a day. Check it out by clicking on the image below and make it easier for you:

πŸ‘‰ READ ALSO: Epic Zermatt Itinerary For 2 Days: Full Guide

Get My Swiss Parking List

If you’re wondering what to wear for these mountain excursions and what to pack in general for your Swiss trip/time in Zermatt, get my free packing list for Switzerland by clicking on the image below:

FAQs

I’ve also answered some of the frequently asked questions about these two mountain excursions. So check my answers below:

Can You Do Gornergrat And Glacier Paradise In One Day?

Yes, you can do both excursions within 1 day. Start with Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (count with about 4 hours, including all the cable cars and time spent up there), and then take the Matterhorn Express cable car to Furi station.

From Furi, change to a different cable car to Riffelberg station. From there, take the Gornergrat train to Gornergrat. At the end of the day, take the train from Gornergrat back to Zermatt (count with about 4 hours for the Gornergrat part).

It’s best to get the PEAK2PEAK Pass as it covers both excursions within a day and will save you a lot of money.

Is It Worth Visiting Matterhorn Glacier Paradise?

Yes, it’s 100% worth it to visit the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. It offers stunning views of glaciers and Alpine peaks; you can walk on the snow even in the summer and enjoy a thrilling 3S cable car ride above massive glaciers.

Can You See Matterhorn From Gornergrat?

Yes, Gornergrat offers some of the best views of Matterhorn. You’ll have it constantly in front of you as you watch from Gornergrat or hike in the area, e.g., the Swiss Trop Walk from Rotenboden to Riffelberg station.

Where Is The Best Place To See The Matterhorn in Zermatt?

Zermatt Matterhorn Viewpoint is the best place to see Matterhorn in Zermatt, and it includes views of the town.

If you just want to stay in the town and don’t walk too far, then the ‘KirchbrΓΌcke‘ (Church Bridge) is the best spot for Matterhorn views.

WRAP-UP: Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Vs. Gornergrat

These are my thoughts on visiting both mountain excursions from Zermatt. It depends on your personal preferences and interests which one you’ll enjoy more. So I hope this article will give you all the necessary information to decide which excursion you’ll take.

I personally enjoyed both of them and would do both if you have the time.

If you have any questions or need help planning your trip to Zermatt/Switzerland, contact me at info(at)voicesoftravel.com. I’ll be happy to design your travel itinerary.

Happy Travels!

voices of travel about me profile photo

About the author: Nicoletta is a travel enthusiast and passionate language learner. While traveling, she loves to connect with locals using her language skills to learn about new cultures. Look for her skiing, hiking in the mountains, or exploring new destinations as she designs travel itineraries for her clients.

SWITZERLAND: Interested in more articles for Switzerland?
Check out my Switzerland Travel Page.