Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in Zermatt
One weekend in August, we took the legendary Glacier Express train to Zermatt. We then spent 2 days in this magnificent car-free town. We took the opportunity to visit the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, one of the most emblematic and spectacular attractions in the Swiss Alps. So to be honest, we’d never heard of it before.
So, in this article, we’re going to introduce you to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. We’ll also give you some tips for a successful visit to this incredible place. And not to be outdone, Kiki, the coach, will give you his opinion on his experience.
Introducing Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is a summit accessible by cable car, offering spectacular views of 14 glaciers and the surrounding mountains.
In fact, it’s Europe’s highest ski area, culminating at 3,883 meters, offering breathtaking panoramic views of some twenty peaks over 4,000 meters, including Mont Blanc.
Where is the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise?
The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is located in the Swiss Alps, above the ski resort of Zermatt, in the canton of Valais in French-speaking Switzerland. This majestic site lies on the border between Switzerland and Italy, and offers breathtaking views of the famous Matterhorn, one of the world’s most iconic mountains.
How do I get to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise?
To get to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, you must first travel to Zermatt, a car-free town. So you’ll need to park your car in Täsch, then take a train to Zermatt. There are also trains from Switzerland’s major cities, such as Zurich.
Then, once you’ve arrived in Zermatt, you need to get to the Furi station. You can walk there (about 15 minutes from the center of Zermatt) or take a shuttle bus.
Then take the first cable car to Trockener Steg station, and a second cable car to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. You’ll have an incredible view of the Matterhorn.
The ride is an adventure in itself, offering breathtaking views of the mountains. It takes around 40 minutes (that’s a long time!).
What to do in Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
There’s plenty to do after the long cable car ride.
Visit the Ice Palace
In the Ice Palace, you’ll discover spectacular ice sculptures and frozen tunnels carved into the glacier. It reminded us of the Jungfraujoch, where there was also an ice palace.
Unfortunately, we hadn’t anticipated this visit and therefore the cold. So we didn’t want to take the risk of ending up sick and frozen, and we made the visit on the double. We didn’t get to enjoy it as much as we would have liked.
The panoramic platform
We then headed to the viewing platform for a breathtaking view of the Swiss and Italian Alps.
At 3,883 metres, it is one of the highest viewing platforms in Europe. The view is incredible!
There’s also a cinema lounge where films about the Alps and the Matterhorn are shown. Given the cold inside, we didn’t really take the time to make ourselves comfortable!
You can also enjoy a coffee or a meal at the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise restaurant, which serves local dishes such as Rösti with a spectacular view. In fact, it’s the highest mountain restaurant in Europe. Here, we took the time to have a coffee and enjoy the incredible views!
You can also walk on the glacier, offering a unique experience of walking on eternal ice. You’ll need good shoes for this.
Trockener Steg
On the way back to Zermatt, we made a stop at the Trockener Steg station. Then, we walked down to the lake with an incredible view of the back of the Matterhorn. We felt like we were on another planet, it was so surprising and beautiful.
We really recommend stopping off at Trockener Steg on your visit to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. It’s a unique opportunity to see the Matterhorn from another angle. If you have time, you can walk around the lake to the foot of the Matterhorn.
How much does it cost to go to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise?
Unsurprisingly, this excursion comes at a price. A return ticket costs CHF 120 per adult. It’s advisable to book tickets in advance, especially in high season, to avoid queues. And if you want to be sure of good weather, you can watch the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise webcam.
If you’re staying in Switzerland for several days and traveling by train, we recommend the Swiss Travel Pass. Cable cars to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise are not included, but you can benefit from a 50% reduction on the price of a return ticket.
How long can I spend at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise?
We spent the morning at the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. I think we could have spent more time there if we hadn’t done the ice palace on the run. If you’re planning to do the lake tour at Trockener Steg, I think you can make a day of it.
What to do around Matterhorn Glacier Paradise?
If you’re planning to go to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, you’re bound to take the opportunity to visit Zermatt. You can check this article about the must-sees in Zermatt. Take the opportunity to visit the Gornegrat for an incredible view of the Matterhorn.
Kiki’s opinion of her visit to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
As you know, Sophie is a passionate adventurer. And how impressive it must be to be able to see the Matterhorn from another angle at an altitude of over 3,800 metres. But just the thought that the journey to the summit by gondola and cableway takes around 40 minutes, and Sophie’s taste for adventure flies out the window! At times like these, Kiki has to use all her powers of persuasion to encourage Sophie to go. But don’t worry, the trip is safe and absolutely worth it. In fact, weather permitting, a spectacular view of arguably the world’s most famous mountain awaits you.
Once at the top, however, a surprise awaits: which of these imposing peaks is actually the Matterhorn? Wait a minute, you might be wondering if the rarefied air of altitude has disturbed Kiki’s senses? Don’t worry, he’s not hallucinating! The view from the back of the mountain is indeed totally different. The characteristic curvature that makes the Matterhorn so recognizable remains hidden here. Kiki admits, however, that he was a little disappointed.
Over the weekend, it was an incredibly hot 32 degrees in Zermatt. But at the start station, people came up with skis. If you’re as surprised as Kiki, you should know that the Matterhorn Ski Paradise is Europe’s highest ski area, at 4,000 meters above sea level, so it’s open 365 days a year. So don’t forget to pack warm clothes! Otherwise, a visit to the Ice Palace becomes an exercise in involuntary survival.
Even so, you should treat yourself to this – admittedly expensive – trip, as it’s a unique experience that you won’t forget. Even Sophie ended up being enthusiastic, even if she was skeptical at first and had sweaty palms.
