Is the trip worth it?
Honest answer: yes, on a clear day, if you want to stand among glaciers. The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise sits at 3,883 metres, the operator counts 14 glaciers and 38 four-thousanders in view, and you can see across three countries. Inside the glacier there is an ice palace, and from the top you can ride on to Italy.
It is not worth it in cloud, in strong wind or if all you want is the classic photo of the Matterhorn above a lake. For that, the Gornergrat is the usual choice, and in winter 2026/27 the two return tickets cost almost the same. Look at the webcams in the morning, then decide.
What you get at the top
The cable car ticket covers all of this, except the glass-floor cabin and the crossing to Italy.
Glacier palace
An ice cave about 15 metres below the glacier surface, with an ice slide and ice sculptures. Entry is included in the lift ticket and the Peak Pass.
Viewing platform
The open terrace gives you the view over the glaciers and the Matterhorn. There is also a restaurant and a shop on the same level.
Cinema Lounge
Billed as the highest cinema in Europe, on the same level as the viewing platform.
Crystal Ride cabins
On the two glacier lifts, special cabins with a glass floor cost CHF 10 per section as an extra (price list for winter 2026/27).
The ride has three parts. The Matterhorn Express takes you from Zermatt via Furi to Schwarzsee, and the line continues to Trockener Steg. Then the Matterhorn Glacier Ride I climbs to the Glacier Paradise. Glacier Ride II continues to Testa Grigia.
Our picks: Glacier Paradise
A guided half day and two tickets. The operator sells tickets too.
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.
Glacier Paradise small-group half day
Three hours with a Swiss guide from the tourist office, all lift tickets and the attractions at the top included. Booked yourself, the return costs CHF 104 in winter 2026/27.
Check availability →
Cable car ticket to Testa Grigia
Return ride to Testa Grigia on the Italian border, with the Glacier Paradise platform, the glacier palace and snow tubing when it runs. Not valid for the onward trip to Cervinia.
Check availability →Matterhorn Glacier Paradise cable car ticket
Return cable car, viewing platform and glacier palace. The operator's own winter 2026/27 return is CHF 104 and Half Fare Card holders get 50 % off there, so compare before you book.
Check availability →Glacier Paradise tickets and tours
Tickets for the Glacier Paradise, the Gornergrat and day trips from Zurich and Geneva, with live prices and availability.
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Prices for winter 2026/27 and summer 2027
Adult fares from Zermatt, valid from 1 November 2026. Prices can change, and the operator's price list is the final word.
| Ticket | Winter 2026/27 (1 Nov 2026 to 30 Apr 2027) | Summer 2027 (1 May to 31 Oct 2027) |
|---|---|---|
| Single | CHF 64 | CHF 69 |
| Return | CHF 104 | CHF 138 |
| Afternoon return, from 1:30 pm | CHF 84 | CHF 110 |
| Return to Furi | CHF 18 | – |
| Return to Schwarzsee | CHF 53 | – |
| Return to Trockener Steg | CHF 69 | – |
Half Fare Card, GA and Swiss Travel Pass give 50 % off. Children aged 9 to 15 pay half, younger children travel free, and children with a Junior Card ride free when accompanied. The afternoon ticket cannot be combined with these cards.
Summer 2026 prices (CHF 120 for a return in September and October) end on 31 October 2026, so ignore them for later trips. The afternoon ticket also needs thought: in winter the ice palace closes at 3:15 pm until 29 January 2027 and at 3:45 pm after that, and the ride up takes part of your time.
Peak Pass: when it pays off
The Peak Pass covers the Glacier Paradise, Gornergrat, Rothorn, Schwarzsee, the ice palace and the train from Randa and Täsch to Zermatt. It is not valid for skiers.
| Peak Pass | Winter 2026/27 | Summer 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | CHF 190 | CHF 246 |
| 2 days | CHF 208 | CHF 270 |
| 3 days | CHF 238 | CHF 308 |
| 1 day with Half Fare Card, GA or Swiss Travel Pass | CHF 142.50 | CHF 184.50 |
The catch: the discount for Half Fare Card, GA and Swiss Travel Pass holders is only 25 % on the Peak Pass, not the 50 % you get on single tickets. Older guides often get this wrong.
A worked example for winter 2026/27. Without a card, return tickets for the Glacier Paradise (CHF 104), Gornergrat (CHF 102) and Rothorn (CHF 70) add up to CHF 276, so the one-day pass at CHF 190 saves money. With a Half Fare Card the same three tickets cost CHF 138 and beat the reduced pass at CHF 142.50. Two lifts with a card are clearly cheaper as singles. For summer 2027 the Gornergrat fare had not been published in October 2026, so compare again once it is.
Dynamic pricing applies to ski passes only, not to the Peak Pass or single tickets.
Alpine Crossing to Cervinia
From the Glacier Paradise you can cross the border to Cervinia in Italy by cable car. The trip from Zermatt takes about 90 minutes one way, so a return day trip is around 3.5 hours of travel before you have a coffee in Italy.
- Zermatt to Cervinia, single: CHF 127.50 in winter 2026/27, CHF 138 in summer 2027. Return: CHF 208 and CHF 276.
- Glacier Paradise to Cervinia: single CHF 63.50 in winter 2026/27 and CHF 69 in summer 2027, return CHF 104 and CHF 138.
- Discounts: 50 % with Swiss Travel Pass, Half Fare Card or GA, but not with a Swiss Transfer Ticket. Children under 9 travel free, ages 9 to 15 pay half. Luggage costs CHF 20 per piece up to 23 kg.
The crossing was closed completely from 7 September to 23 October 2026 for maintenance on the Italian side. It reopens on 24 October 2026, when Cervinia starts its winter season. Until then only the return trip to Testa Grigia runs.
Closures and practical tips
Check these before you plan the day.
Revisions
Glacier Ride I has its revision from 28 September to 30 October 2026 and again from 26 April to 21 May 2027, with a shuttle cabin in between. Glacier Ride II is closed from 7 January to 26 February 2027, so there is no crossing to Italy in that time. The Glacier Paradise itself is open all year.
Last ride to Cervinia
The last ride from Zermatt towards Cervinia leaves at 2:50 pm until 29 January 2027 and at 3:20 pm from 30 January 2027. Do not start late.
Bring your passport or ID
You cross a national border. We could not confirm whether anyone checks documents on this route, so take a passport or ID card to be safe. The price lists also ask for an official ID with a date of birth for discounts.
Altitude
3,883 metres is very high. Walk slowly, drink enough water and descend if you feel dizzy or have a headache or nausea. Take warm clothes, sunglasses and sun cream even in winter.
Summer skiing on the Theodul Glacier restarted on 14 October 2026 after a pause since 31 July. A one-day summer ski pass starts at CHF 99 and is valid from 14 October to 4 November 2026. Conditions for summer 2027 had not been published in October 2026.
Plan the rest of your trip
The Glacier Paradise works best as one half of a day in the mountains.
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise: frequently asked questions
How much does the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise cost?
A return ticket from Zermatt costs CHF 104 from 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027 and CHF 138 from 1 May to 31 October 2027. The afternoon return from 1:30 pm costs CHF 84 in winter 2026/27 and CHF 110 in summer 2027.
How high is the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise?
The top station is at 3,883 metres, which the operator calls the highest cable car station in Europe. Some other sources give 3,820 or 3,821 metres. We use the operator's figure.
Does the Peak Pass give a 50 % discount with the Swiss Travel Pass?
No. Holders of the Swiss Travel Pass, Half Fare Card and GA get only 25 % off the Peak Pass. The 50 % discount applies to single tickets, so with a card, single tickets are often cheaper for one or two lifts.
Do I need a passport for the Alpine Crossing to Cervinia?
You cross into Italy, so take a passport or ID card. The operator's pages do not say whether the border is checked on this route, and we could not confirm it. Taking the document costs nothing.
Can I visit the Glacier Paradise in November or January?
Yes, it is open all year. Plan around the revisions: Glacier Ride I runs with a shuttle cabin until 30 October 2026, and the connection to Testa Grigia and Italy is closed from 7 January to 26 February 2027.
Is the ice palace included in the ticket?
Yes, entry to the glacier palace is included in the lift ticket and in the Peak Pass. It is open daily in winter, until 3:15 pm up to 29 January 2027 and until 3:45 pm after that.