Matterhorn Glacier Paradise: Everything You Need To Know
The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, found at the summit of Klein Matterhorn, is one of the most incredible things to do in Zermatt.
It is a magical experience and is considered a must-visit attraction in Switzerland.
This is why we have produced this article, so you can discover everything you need to know about the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.
We explain the easiest way to buy tickets for the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (Spoiler: the best way is to order them online here) and highlight all the best things to do at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.
We also give you practical tips and advice for planning your trip to Klein Matterhorn.
Before rounding everything up by answering some of the most frequently asked questions about the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.
We spent 4 magical days in Zermatt in Winter, and the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise was an undoubted highlight, so we can’t wait to share everything we got up to!
So, let’s dive into: Matterhorn Glacier Paradise: Everything You Need To Know
Disclaimer - this blog post contains affiliate links where we can earn a commission, if you make a purchase through them (at no extra cost to you). In addition, our visit to Zermatt was sponsored by Zermatt-Matterhorn. You can read the full disclosure at the bottom of the page.
What is the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise?
Let’s start with the basics first - what is the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise? Well, it is actually a little more confusing than you’d think…
Klein Matterhorn is a mountain peak near Zermatt, Switzerland. It is home to Europe’s highest cable car station at an impressive 3883m above sea level.
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is the name given to the mountain area at Klein Matterhorn, including the cable car station, the Matterhorn Glacier Palace and the ski runs. To add to the confusion, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is often the name given to the cable car that reaches the Klein Matterhorn.
Essentially, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is the collective name for all the incredible activities associated with Klein Matterhorn peak.
We know it can seem confusing, but the most important thing to know about the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is that not only is it one of the best things to do in Zermatt in Winter, but because it is open 365 days a year, it makes it an excellent year-round destination to visit in Zermatt, Switzerland.
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Quick Facts
The Summit Station is Europe’s highest Cable Car Station (3883m)
360º Viewpoint where you can see 38 mountain peaks over 4000m high
Home to a magical underground Glacier Palace
40 min ride to ascend from Zermatt to top of Klein Matterhorn
Accessible 365 days a year
The view from the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Cable Car
How to Buy Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Tickets
First thing to note here is that there are a variety of different combinations of tickets for stopping at each of the cable car/gondola stations along the route, but the ‘Zermatt - Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Return Ticket’ is what you will need to access the summit at Klein Matterhorn.
You have 3 options for buying a Matterhorn Glacier Paradise ticket:
Most convenient way - order a Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Ticket online here and once you arrive at the Matterhorn Valley Station, you can exchange your voucher for a physical ticket that allows you access to the cable cars.
Traditional way - you can, of course, buy your tickets directly at the Matterhorn Valley station towards the South of Zermatt Village. Remember though, particularly on busy ski days during the winter, the line may be fairly long, which is why we recommend ordering the ticket online first.
Included in your ski pass - if you are visiting Zermatt in the winter, our favourite season in Zermatt, you are granted complimentary access to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise provided you hold a valid ski pass for Zermatt.
Important to know: depending on the weather conditions and maintenance schedules, the cable car ride to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise can look different. You may be required to change cable cars more than once, for example.
Your Zermatt-Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Return Tickets covers cable car rides on these routes:
Zermatt - Furi, Furi - Trockener Steg, Trockener Steg - Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
*When we visited, the Furi-Trockener Steg cable car wasn’t operational, so our ticket covered the Furi - Schwarzsee and Schwarzsee - Trockener Steg legs of the journey too.
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Cable Car
How much does the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise cost?
The ticket prices for the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise vary month on month and season by season.
As we mentioned earlier, the ‘classic’ ticket you will need to purchase is the ‘Zermatt - Matterhorn Glacier Paradise return trip’ ticket. This is a return ticket that allows you to ride the cable car all the way to the summit at Klein Matterhorn.
The cheapest return tickets for the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise can be bought during the Winter months between November - April, where you will pay around 95 CHF per person.
In contrast, during the busy Summer months of June, July and August, you will pay in the region of 120 CHF per person for a return ticket from Zermatt to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise station at Klein Matterhorn.
Money-saving tip: you get 50% off your Matterhorn Glacier Paradise ticket when you own a valid Swiss Travel Pass. Not sure if you’re going to buy a Swiss Travel Pass? Well, our guide covers everything you need to know about the Swiss Travel Pass and Zermatt, so you’ll know whether it will save you money for your trip to this wonderful Swiss destination.
*It is worth noting that Matterhorn Glacier Paradise ticket prices vary from month-to-month so for the most up-to-date pricing, we recommend visiting the Matterhorn Paradise website.
**As mentioned, if you are visiting in the winter and intend to go skiing in Zermatt, access to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is complimentary with a full Zermatt Ski pass.
Viewing platform at the top of Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
What to do at the top of Klein Matterhorn? Best things to do at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
360º Viewing Platform - Highest Viewing Platform in the Alps
Arguably the most impressive thing to do at the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is to enjoy the 360º Viewing Platform - it is one of the main reasons to visit Matterhorn Glacier Paradise after all.
The views from the top are truly staggering! In fact, we’d go as far as saying that the views from the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise are one of the main reasons you should visit Zermatt this year! They stretch over 3 countries - Switzerland, Italy and France - and, on a clear day, you can see an impressive 38 mountain peaks over 4000m and 14 different mountain peaks.
It’s honestly hard to describe just how mesmerising the view is from the top of Matterhorn Glacier Paradise until you experience it for yourself. We spent at least 20 minutes at the top, capturing as many photos and videos as we could, and trying to take in as much of the view as possible!
Zermatt is obviously a destination that is famous for its scenery and spectacular views, but we think that the view from the top of Klein Matterhorn might actually top them all!
Important to know: to reach the viewing platform, go right once you leave the cable car and take the lift up one floor. From here, you climb the stairs to the viewing platform.
The view over the glacier from the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Viewing Platform
Matterhorn Glacier Palace
The most unexpected thing we experienced during our magical 4-day Winter Zermatt Itinerary was the Matterhorn Glacier Palace.
An astonishing underground ice world that gives you access to the inside of the Matterhorn Glacier. Entry to the palace is included in your cable car ticket.
That’s right, you take a quick lift 15m down, and follow a series of tunnels carved into the glacier. It really is a magical experience to explore inside a glacier, the colours of the ice are incredible.
Down in the Matterhorn Glacier Palace you’ll find a series of intricately carved ice sculptures on display, but our highlight was definitely the ice slide.
Towards the back of the palace, up a small ramp, there is a hole in the wall and, if you’re brave enough, you can clamber into the hole and slide through to the other side.
Top tip: little mats are provided for you to sit on while you slide, but we recommend going without because they slow you down too much
The Matterhorn Glacier Palace will blow you away!
Cinema Lounge
Europe’s Highest Cinema is located at the top of the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.
With comfortable, individual seating pods, the Cinema Lounge is a great place to relax and take a second after braving the cable car all the way up to 3883m.
The cinema itself showcases a number of short films on things like the local wildlife, alpine climbing, skiing, glaciers and the Zermatt lifts and railway system.
It’s a good stop-off point between riding the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Cable Car and exploring the viewing platform above.
Found in the Breithorn Tunnel, the cinema lounge is also a good place to shelter from any bad weather you may encounter on Klein Matterhorn.
Cinema Lounge at the top of Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
Crystal Gondola Ride
One of the lesser known activities to do at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is actually possible before you’ve even arrived at Klein Matterhorn.
As if riding the highest cable car in Europe wasn’t enough. You can actually take a luxury gondola up to the summit - the Crystal Gondola Ride.
At first glance, it looks like any other ordinary cable car, but when you get inside you will notice something distinctly different - the floors are made of glass!
What’s particularly cool is that the floors aren’t transparent straight away, so you have to wait in suspense before the glass becomes see-through during the ride, revealing the views below.
It adds a whole other dimension to the viewing experience on the Matterhorn Glacier Cable Car. On the Crystal Gondola Ride, you can view the mountains above you, in line with you, and directly below you. It really is quite impressive.
They are called ‘Crystal’ gondola rides because the inside of the cable car is also decorated with crystals to go alongside the see-through glass floor.
Important to know: the Crystal Gondola Ride is only available during the summer months on the cable car ride from Trockener Steg to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and/or the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise to Testa Grigia route.
It is only possible to book the Crystal Gondola Ride in Winter for groups of 10+, and well in advance. To get Crystal Gondola Ride tickets in summer, we recommend going directly to the ticket desk instead of booking them online, it is much simpler to work out the additional charges that way.
Crystal Gondola Ride with floors made from glass!
Hiking from Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
Hiking in the snow is one of the best things to do at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and thankfully, you can enjoy it in every season!
During Summer, you can easily walk in the snow around the cable car station, but there are dedicated trails to take if you want to experience a proper snowy hike.
One of the more adventurous but still popular hikes to embark on from the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is the 5.4km (round-trip) hike to Breithorn Peak (4164m).
Despite it being one of the more accessible 4000m+ peaks in Zermatt, you will still need proper hiking equipment. To summit the peak, you must cross a glacier, so crampons and hiking poles are necessary.
If you are an inexperienced mountain hiker and looking to summit Breithorn Peak in summer, our advice would be to hire a guide who will be able to look out for you during the hike.
In the Winter, hiking from the cable car station at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise to the Testa Grigia station on the Italian border is possible. From here, you can either walk back to the original station or catch the short cable car back to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.
In all seasons, however, if you are looking for hikes in Zermatt, we recommend getting the cable car down to the Schwarzsee or Furi cable car stations and hiking from there instead. The options are much more varied!
If you look very closely, you can just about make out a group of hikers making their way across the glacier from Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
Skiing from Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
One of the most unique things about Zermatt is the guaranteed snow 365 days a year - they don’t call it the ‘Snow Sure’ resort for nothing.
This means all year round, yes, even in the height of summer, you can ski at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.
The small ski area on the Plateau Rosa is the only area you can ski in Zermatt during summer, and although it is relatively small, it is quite a unique experience to be able to ski during the hottest months of the year.
Of course, during Winter, Zermatt is a skier’s paradise. With around 360km of skiable terrain, it is the perfect destination for skiers and snowboarders, and when you factor in the incredible views and the alpine village, one of the best ski resorts in Europe for couples.
During Winter you can even ski directly into Italy from the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, provided you have purchased an international ski pass.
Ski run from the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Cable Car Station
Cafe/Souvenir Shop
As with any major tourist attraction, even those on the summit of a mountain, there is a cafe/restaurant and souvenir shop on standby for all your dining and shopping needs.
It may not surprise you to learn that the cafe is very expensive! When we visited, a 500ml bottle of still water from the cafe cost 6.80 CHF and a 330ml Zermatter Beer was 7.00 CHF.
Our advice would be to bring drinks and snacks with you up the gondola, rather than purchasing them at the cafe.
Having said that however, the views from the restaurant were extraordinary, so if you are willing to spend that bit of extra money, you’ll certainly be treated to a meal with a view.
The souvenir shop sells various Zermatt/Matterhorn themed gifts and we were actually pleasantly surprised because usually gift shops from tourist attractions can be tacky and outdated, but the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise souvenir shop sells things you’d actually get use out of - like cute Matterhorn ski goggle covers for example.
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Souvenir Shop leading to the Café
Frequently Asked Questions about the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
Is the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise worth it?
There is no denying that the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise experience is expensive, but with that said, we do believe the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is worth visiting.
The combination of 360º panoramic views of the Alps, the magical Glacier Palace experience, and the 365 day skiing, makes the experience totally worth it.
In order to get your money’s worth, we recommend trying not to rush the experience and spending plenty of time enjoying each activity.
Of course, it is important to consider the weather when assessing whether the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is worth it.
If it is a very cloudy day, your experience isn’t going to be anywhere near as good as a clear day. The views will be dramatically reduced. So it’s worth bearing that mind before you purchase your cable car tickets on a very overcast or cloudy day.
How long is the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Ride?
The cable car ride from the Zermatt Valley Station to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Station at Klein Matterhorn takes between 30-40 mins.
It depends on which cable cars/gondolas are operational on the day you visit. You are always required to change cable cars at least once at Trockener Steg, during the trip to the summit, and sometimes you may have to change twice.
When does Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Cable Car open?
The first gondola from Zermatt Valley towards Matterhorn Glacier Paradise sets off around 8-8:30am (depending on the season). They continue regularly throughout the day, so there is no need to try and plan a specific time to jump on board the cable car.
The last descent changes seasonally, but is often between 3-5pm. We know this is vague, but the differences throughout the year are quite stark.
Our recommendation would be to visit the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise station early in the morning and ask on the day when the cable car will be operational until.
Important to know: if you plan on riding the cable car all the way back to Zermatt, instead of hiking from Furi for example, then you will need to make sure you know the last descent time to avoid being caught out.
You can check current opening times here.
Is the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise open all year round?
Weather-permitting, the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is open all year round. With 365 days of skiing at the top, the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is an excellent year-round destination in Zermatt, Switzerland.
Can Matterhorn Glacier Paradise only be reached by Cable Car?
Yes, the only way to reach Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is to ride the cable car up to the summit of Klein Matterhorn. You can buy your cable car tickets online here.
Can you see the Matterhorn from the Glacier Paradise?
On a clear day, you are treated to amazing panoramic views of the Matterhorn and the surrounding alps from the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. For the best vantage point, head to the 360º Viewing Platform, where you should see 38 mountain peaks over 4000m.
Wonderful Panoramic Views from the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise viewing platform
There we have it, folks, our complete round-up of everything you need to know about visiting the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. Riding Europe’s highest cable car was one of our favourite experiences in Zermatt and we hope this article has inspired you to test it for yourself. We appreciate that a ticket is expensive, but we promise riding the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise will be one of your most memorable activities in Zermatt!
Disclosure: we were fortunate to be invited to visit Zermatt by Zermatt-Matterhorn, the official tourism board. While Zermatt-Matterhorn hosted us, all of the opinions and thoughts shared in this article are genuine and our own. We only recommend activities and places to visit that we would pay to visit… and Zermatt is definitely one of those!
