Gornergrat in brief
The Gornergrat is a ridge at 3,089 metres above Zermatt. The cog railway starts opposite the railway station in the village and takes 33 to 35 minutes to the top. The railway lists 33 minutes, and a German page of the same operator says 35, so plan with both. There are four intermediate stations, and with one ticket you can break the trip at any of them, once per section and direction.
From the viewing platform you see 29 four-thousand-metre peaks, with the Matterhorn at 4,478 metres among them. A common stop on the way down is Rotenboden, for the Riffelsee.
Gornergrat Railway: prices winter 2026/27 and summer 2026
Adult fares from Zermatt, 2nd class. The winter figures come from the operator’s price list of June 2026.
| Section | Altitude | Winter 2026/27 return | Summer 2026 return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zermatt to Findelbach | – | CHF 46 | – |
| Zermatt to Riffelalp | – | CHF 56 | CHF 58 |
| Zermatt to Riffelberg | 2,582 m | CHF 78 | CHF 84 |
| Zermatt to Rotenboden | 2,815 m | CHF 96 | CHF 114 |
| Zermatt to Gornergrat | 3,089 m | CHF 102 | CHF 132 |
| Rotenboden to Gornergrat | – | CHF 40 | CHF 42 |
| Riffelberg to Gornergrat | – | CHF 58 | CHF 66 |
Winter 2026/27 means November 2026 to April 2027. Summer 2026 prices are valid until the end of October 2026. The single ticket to the top is CHF 51 in winter and CHF 66 in summer 2026. The summer 2027 price list had not been published in October 2026. Some websites quote CHF 96 for winter. The operator’s own list of June 2026 says CHF 102.
The Half Fare Card, GA and Swiss Travel Pass give 50 %. The Swiss Travel Pass does not make the ride free. Children aged 9 to 15 pay 50 %, and children with a Junior Card travel free. The footnotes in the price list are not fully consistent, so check the age rules when you book. Dogs travel free.
Our picks: Gornergrat
A full day from Zurich, a guided half day and the plain ticket.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in Swiss francs (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency. We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
Zermatt and Gornergrat small-group trip from Zurich
A guided day by train from Zurich main station with all train tickets, the Gornergrat Railway and the Matterhorn Museum included. Meals are extra.
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Gornergrat small-group tour with Swiss guide
Four hours from the tourist office in Zermatt with all train tickets and an English-speaking guide. The return ticket alone costs CHF 102 in winter 2026/27.
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Gornergrat Railway return ticket
The return trip with entry to the ZOOOM exhibition at the top. CHF 132 matches the operator's summer 2026 fare; from November 2026 the official winter fare is CHF 102, and Half Fare Card holders pay half at the station.
Check availability →Gornergrat tickets and Matterhorn tours
Gornergrat Railway tickets, combined days with the Glacier Paradise and guided trips from Zermatt, with live prices and availability.
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Gornergrat Railway: timetable and closures
November 2026 is the month to plan around.
Until 1 November 2026
Trains run every 24 minutes from 08:00, and the first train leaves Zermatt at 07:00. This is the summer timetable.
2 to 14 November 2026
The railway is closed completely for construction work. There are no trains at all.
15 to 27 November 2026
Trains run every 48 minutes from 08:24. The first train is at 07:00, Monday to Friday.
From 28 November 2026
Winter timetable with a train every 24 minutes from 08:24. The operator’s timetable shows this pattern through the winter. Dates from April 2027 had not been published in October 2026.
A round trip is also sold as a package. The Gornergrat round trip with the Riffelberg Express (Zermatt, Riffelberg Express, Gornergrat, back to Zermatt) costs CHF 113 from December 2026 to April 2027. With the Riffelberg Express in both directions it is CHF 111.
Stations on the way up
Four intermediate stops and the terminus.
Findelbach
The first stop above Zermatt and the cheapest section ticket: CHF 46 return in winter 2026/27.
Riffelalp
The access to the Riffelalp Resort at 2,222 metres.
Riffelberg (2,582 m)
Home of the Riffelhaus 1853 and the Bruder Klaus chapel, whose shape recalls the Weisshorn. You can reach Riffelberg also from Furi by the Riffelberg Express.
Rotenboden (2,815 m)
The stop for the Riffelsee, about 10 minutes on foot from the station. In winter the Rotenboden toboggan run, about 2 km long, starts here.
Riffelsee guide →Gornergrat (3,089 m)
The terminus with the viewing platform, the exhibition ZOOOM the Matterhorn and the 3100 Kulmhotel.
What you find at the top
A viewing platform, an exhibition and a hotel.
The viewing platform looks onto 29 four-thousanders. ZOOOM the Matterhorn is an exhibition, and entry is included in the train ticket. The 3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat has 22 rooms and 44 beds, was modernised in 2024 and has a Sky Lounge since December 2024. It is marketed as the highest hotel in the Swiss Alps.
The Stellarium Gornergrat is a research centre of the universities of Bern and Geneva with a 60 centimetre telescope. It is open to hotel guests by arrangement. A guided sunrise trip ran on Sundays in summer 2026, but there is no announcement for 2027.
Mornings are the usual advice for a clear Matterhorn. Look at the webcams before you buy a ticket.
Combine it: Peak Pass and Peak2Peak
If you ride more than one mountain, compare the options before you pay.
The Peak Pass covers the Gornergrat, the Glacier Paradise, the Rothorn, Schwarzsee, the ice palace and the train from Randa and Täsch to Zermatt. One day costs CHF 190 in winter 2026/27 and CHF 246 in summer 2027. Half Fare Card and Swiss Travel Pass holders get only 25 % off the Peak Pass, not 50 %.
Peak2Peak combines the Glacier Paradise and the Gornergrat on one day. Both operators sell it, and their prices differ, so compare the price on both websites before you book. A change of route costs extra.
Gornergrat: frequently asked questions
How much is the Gornergrat Railway?
CHF 102 return in winter 2026/27 (November 2026 to April 2027) according to the price list of June 2026, and CHF 132 in summer 2026 until the end of October. The summer 2027 price is not published yet.
How long does the Gornergrat train take?
33 to 35 minutes from Zermatt to the top, depending on the operator’s page. You can interrupt the trip at intermediate stations.
Is the Gornergrat Railway closed in November 2026?
Yes, from 2 to 14 November 2026 there are no trains. From 15 to 27 November trains run every 48 minutes, and from 28 November every 24 minutes.
Does the Swiss Travel Pass include the Gornergrat?
No. The Swiss Travel Pass, the Half Fare Card and the GA give 50 % off the fare.
Can I walk from the Gornergrat to the Riffelsee?
Yes. Walk or ride to Rotenboden and then about 10 minutes to the lake. Hikers can continue to Riffelberg: 4.7 km and 1 hour 25 minutes from the top, mostly downhill, from July to October.