Zermatt & Gornergrat day tour: Matterhorn views by train

The cogwheel train climbs to 10,000 feet where 20 four-thousanders come into view.

This small-group day tour departs Bern by intercity train, crosses the Lötschberg Base Tunnel into Valais, and arrives in Zermatt for a guided walk past the village graveyard and Monte Rosa hotel before ascending the Gornergrat Railway to alpine views of the Matterhorn and glacier world. The tour includes all transport from Bern, entrance fees, and a live English-speaking guide. The day runs nine hours total.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Lake Thunpass by
2. Gornergrat Railway2h · entry included

Train journey and Zermatt exploration

• Train ride from Bern to Visp
• Pass by Lake Thun
• Pass through Lötschberg Base Tunnel
• Change train at Visp to Matterhorn-Gotthard Railway
• Cogwheel train to Zermatt
• Walk through old alpine village of Zermatt
• Visit viewpoint for Matterhorn village picture
• See the graveyard of climbers
• View Hotel Monte Rosa historical site
• Cogwheel train ride to Gornergrat summit
• Explore Gornergrat mountain ridge and viewpoints
• Return train ride from Zermatt to Bern

The experience

The journey starts with a 50-minute train ride from Bern to Visp, skirting Lake Thun on the northern edge of the Alps before passing through the 34.6-kilometre Lötschberg Base Tunnel that cuts under the Alpine chain. At Visp you board the Matterhorn-Gotthard cogwheel train for a 55-minute climb into Zermatt, a car-free alpine village where wooden chalets line narrow streets and the Matterhorn dominates every view.

Your guide leads a walk through Zermatt's old quarter, stopping at the graveyard where climbers who died on the Matterhorn are buried (a sobering reminder of the mountain's risks), and at the Hotel Monte Rosa, where the first ascent of the Matterhorn began in 1865. These stops anchor the village's climbing history before you board the Gornergrat Railway for a 30-minute cogwheel train ride that gains nearly 1,500 metres of altitude. At 3,135 metres, the ridge sits between two glaciers and opens views across more than 20 four-thousanders, including Monte Rosa and the Liskamm. The Matterhorn rises in sharp relief. The Kulmhotel at the summit is the highest mountain hotel in Switzerland. A multimedia experience centre here covers the Matterhorn and its alpine world in detail, useful when cloud cover limits the view outside.

The return journey retraces the route: cogwheel train down to Zermatt, Matterhorn-Gotthard train to Visp, then the intercity train back to Bern, arriving after a two-hour descent. Priority boarding on the Matterhorn railway and all entrance fees are included. The guide speaks English throughout the day.

What’s included

• All intercity and cogwheel train transport from Bern to Zermatt and up to Gornergrat.
• priority boarding on the Matterhorn railway.
• entrance fees to all sites.
• a live English-speaking guide for the full day.
• all taxes, fees and handling charges.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:45

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (6 to 15 years) · Infant (under 6)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by SwissTravelGuide.ch

Is this one for you?The small-group format keeps numbers low, so the pace stays intimate and the guide can linger at the graveyard and Hotel Monte Rosa without rushing. If you prefer a larger group or a different departure time, check for other Zermatt options, but this one is built for those who want to absorb the village's climbing history before heading to the high alpine views.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 15 years); Infant (under 6).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long does the train ride take from Bern to Zermatt?

The intercity train from Bern to Visp takes 50 minutes, then the cogwheel train from Visp to Zermatt takes 55 minutes, for a total of just under two hours of rail travel before the village walk begins.

What is the Gornergrat and why does it matter for Matterhorn views?

Gornergrat is a mountain ridge at 3,135 metres, located three kilometres east of Zermatt between two glaciers. The cogwheel train climbs nearly 1,500 metres to reach it, opening views across more than 20 four-thousanders and placing the Matterhorn in sharp relief against the glacier world below.

Does the tour include food and drinks?

Food and drinks are not included in the tour price, so you'll want to bring snacks or plan to eat at one of the restaurants or cafés in Zermatt during the village walk or at the Kulmhotel on Gornergrat.

What happens if the weather is bad at Gornergrat?

Gornergrat sits in year-round snow and cloud can obscure the views, but the multimedia experience centre at the summit covers the Matterhorn and surrounding alpine world in all dimensions and is designed as a worthwhile visit even when visibility is limited.

Is this tour suitable for people with limited mobility?

The tour is wheelchair accessible and suitable for all physical fitness levels. Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller, and service animals are allowed throughout.