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Quick Information

ADDRESS

Schluhmattstrasse 28, 3920 Zermatt, Switzerland

RECOMMENDED DURATION

4 hours

Timings

09:00–16:00

VISITORS PER YEAR

500000

TICKETS

From $140.42

EXPECTED WAIT TIME - STANDARD

30-60 mins (Peak), 0-30 mins (Off Peak)

Plan your visit

Did you know?

It is one of the few places in Europe where you can ski or snowboard 365 days a year on a natural glacier.

The viewing platform offers 360° views of peaks across Switzerland, Italy, and France.

From here, you can connect to Italy via the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing, a seamless international cable car route.

What is Matterhorn Glacier Paradise?

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is a mountain station on the Klein Matterhorn, opened in 1979 as a year-round gateway to the high Alps. You can step inside the world's highest Glacier Palace, admire its intricate ice sculptures, stroll across a glass skywalk, and unwind at the cinema lounge.
The station also houses restaurants, exhibitions, and direct links to ski slopes in winter and hiking trails in summer, making it a year-round destination. Whether you’re planning a short cable car trip or a full day in the high Alps, it’s designed to be both accessible and unforgettable.

Plan your visit to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

Opening hours

  • Open year-round, daily
  • Summer: 8:30am– 4:30pm
  • Winter: extended hours for skiing

Note: Weather may affect operations, check seasonal variations here

Check Glacier Paradise operating hours

Best time to visit

  • Summer (Jun–Sep): clear skies + hiking
  • Winter (Dec–Mar): best for skiing
  • Late spring/early autumn: fewer crowds, good visibility
  • Best time of the day: mornings, fewer queues, sharper views
Detailed guide to visiting Glacier Paradise

Location

  • On Klein Matterhorn above Zermatt
  • Cable car via Furi & Trockener Steg
  • Base station: Matterhorn Talstation, 8–10 min walk (650m) from Zermatt railway or 3-min ride on the Green Line bus
  • Ride time: 45 mins to summit
Get directions to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

What to do at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise?

Ride the highest cable car in Europe

Glide from Zermatt to 3,883 meters in a modern gondola, enjoying sweeping alpine views, a gentle yet breathtaking experience.

✔️Access included with Glacier Paradise tickets

Step into the Glacier Palace

Explore ice tunnels and sculptures carved deep in the glacier. Shimmering walls and hidden chambers create a magical, family-friendly adventure.

✔️Access included with Glacier Paradise tickets

Walk the panoramic viewing platform

Stand on a breathtaking mountain platform with panoramic 360° Alpine views. Clear mornings are best, sunsets add dramatic silhouettes.

✔️Access included with Glacier Paradise tickets

Ski and snowboard year-round

The mountain station offers Europe’s highest slopes, open even in summer. Rentals are available for skiers of all levels.

❌ Not included in Glacier Paradise tickets

👉To avail on-site

Explore alpine dining

Relax at the Matterhorn Glacier Restaurant with large glass windows offering panoramic snowy peak views. Sip hot chocolate or Swiss specialties.

❌ Not included in Glacier Paradise tickets

👉To avail on-site

What to see at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise?

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise with snow-covered peaks and clear blue sky.

Matterhorn

This pyramid-shaped peak dominates the skyline. Best viewed from the summit platform, especially at sunrise when it glows golden.

Signalkuppe with Margherita Hut on Monte Rosa massif in Pennine Alps, Switzerland.
Gornergrat Railway train traveling through snowy Alps with view of Klein Matterhorn in Switzerland.

Experiencing the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise altitude

At almost 3,900 meters, the thin mountain air can cause shortness of breath, mild dizziness, or fatigue after arrival. These effects are normal and usually ease as you adjust. Children, older travelers, and those sensitive to altitude may notice it more. Many visitors naturally pace their time with short stops, whether watching a film in the cinema lounge or enjoying a meal at the summit restaurant, before heading back to the panoramic decks or glacier attractions.

​Plan ahead with our insider tips & hacks →

Climbing the Matterhorn

When people say climbing the Matterhorn, they mean reaching its 4,478-meter peak, not the Glacier Paradise summit station. This demanding ascent requires experience, fitness, and acclimatization. The classic Hörnli Ridge route begins at Hörnli Hut (3,260m) and is usually tackled with professional Zermatt guides who provide gear and support. With their expertise, climbers navigate exposed ridges and icy passages, turning the Matterhorn ascent into a true alpine achievement.

Frequently asked questions about Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

Absolutely! Matterhorn Glacier Paradise isn’t just a viewpoint, it’s Europe’s highest mountain station, with the world's highest Glacier Palace, and panoramic viewing platform in the Alps.

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