From vintage steamboats on teal blue lakes to cable cars floating over the Alps to cogwheel trains straight out of a postcard and even bus rides on winding mountain roads. Travel days can be long, boring, and tiring — but not in Switzerland! Let’s tick off our top 21 rides to add to your Swiss Transportation Bucket List.
Obviously there are thousands of potential rides in this tiny country, so this isn’t a comprehensive list, just the top experiences to enjoy on your first, second, or infinite number of future trips to Switzerland. Keep in mind that you probably won’t be able to squeeze all of these into one trip, so just bookmark the ones that feel most can’t-miss to you!
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Speaking of your Swiss vacation, we’re Jana and Brett, Aplins in the Alps, and our goal is to help you travel Switzerland with confidence!
For your added convenience, we’ve grouped these experiences by train pass coverage and region. Because what’s better than an epic ride that costs you zero extra Swiss Francs?! So buy your train pass, grab your camera, and hop on board!
Rides fully covered by the Swiss Travel Pass
Let’s kick off our Bucket List with a handful of rides that are all completely free if you’re traveling with the Swiss Travel Pass — which also means an SBB Day Pass or Saver Day Pass would cover them too. And we’ll head to the Jungfrau Region first…
Jungfrau Region: Swiss Travel Pass Valid
1 | Narrow-Gauge Railway from Grütschalp to Mürren
If we only had one day to spend in the Jungfrau Region, we’d head straight to Mürren. And what better way to get there than to ride along the Narrow-Gauge Railway from Grütschalp to Mürren.
After a quick ascent on the cable car from Lauterbrunnen, hop on one of the old-fashioned train cars or even a slick modern one. As you travel 4km past alps and forests, you get sweeping views of the Big 3 peaks: the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. And after just 12 minutes, you arrive in the car-free alpine village of Mürren. We first fell in love with this place on our honeymoon back in 2012, and the train from Grütschalp is still our favorite way to enter the village!
In addition to the Swiss Travel Pass, this ride is also covered by the Eurail and Interrail passes, Jungfrau Travel Pass, and Berner Oberland Pass. You can learn more by watching our 1-Day in Mürren video.
- Length: 4km
- Travel time: 12 minutes
- Max gradient: 5%
Train Passes | The railway from Grütschalp to Mürren is covered by the Swiss Travel Pass, Eurail, Interrail, Jungfrau Travel Pass, and Berner Oberland Pass.
Learn More | 1-Day in Mürren, 1-Week Guide to the Jungfrau Region
2 | Wengernalp Railway from Lauterbrunnen to Grindelwald
Enjoy a ride on the world’s longest cog railway, the Wengernalp Railway from Lauterbrunnen Valley to Grindelwald.
This route delivers one of the best views of Lauterbrunnen Valley — right after you leave the Lauterbrunnen station and just before you arrive in Wengen. And you also get a unique perspective of Grindelwald as you slowly chug down the other side. Not to mention that it takes you past one of our favorite secret spots to stop for drinks with a view, which happens to be included in our 1-Week Guide to the Jungfrau Region.
If you want to ride the entire length of the Wengernalp Railway, it’ll take you 1 hour 40 minutes, including a train change and layover in Kleine Scheidegg — plenty of time to see if you can spy someone climbing the famous Eiger North Face!
- Award: longest cog railway in the world
- Length: 19,144 meters
- Travel time: Lauterbrunnen to Kleine Scheidegg = 42 mins, Grindelwald to Kleine Scheidegg = 24 mins
- Max gradient: 25%
Train Passes | The Wengernalp Railway is covered by the Jungfrau Travel Pass, Swiss Travel Pass (only between Lauterbrunnen and Wengen), Eurail/Interrail Passes (only between Lauterbrunnen and Wengen), and Berner Oberland Pass (only between Lauterbrunnen and Wengen).
Learn More | 1-Week Guide to the Jungfrau Region
3 | Lötschberg Steamboat on Lake Brienz
Step back in time as you board the Lötschberg Steamboat on Lake Brienz. This beauty was built in 1914 in the Belle Epoque style, and cruises over the milky teal waters every day in the summer. Step inside to watch the engine churn, and don’t forget to watch the paddles spin after you disembark.
In addition to a super relaxing ride with magnificent views, we like to ride this steamboat to Giessbach Falls or the Swiss village of Brienz, both taking a little over an hour to reach from Interlaken. And along the way, we can’t resist coming up with creative new names for the water color, like Brienzer Blue, Milky Teal, or Gatorade Blue Ice.
- Travel time: 1hr 10min Interlaken Ost to Giessbach Falls, 1 hr 20 min Interlaken Ost to Brienz
- Note: There are 4 boats in the Lake Brienz fleet, so check the SBB App to see when the Lötschberg is running!
Train Passes | The Lötschberg Steamboat is covered by the Swiss Travel Pass, Eurail/Interrail Passes, Jungfrau Travel Pass, Berner Oberland Pass
Learn More | Things To Do in Brienz, 3 Waterfalls Hike from Iseltwald to Giessbach, 1-Week Guide to the Jungfrau Region
CENTRAL SWITZERLAND (NEAR LUCERNE): SWISS TRAVEL PASS VALID
Now let’s move on to rides covered by the Swiss Travel Pass in Central Switzerland near Lucerne.
4 | Stanserhorn CabriO Cableway (and funicular)
How would you like to ride on top of a cable car? Well, you can at the Stanserhorn, which can be reached from Stans! We loved first riding on the historic open-air funicular, which was the first electricity-powered railway and the steepest when it was built back in 1893. Then we transferred to the CabriO cable car, the world’s first double-decker aerial cableway, and climbed up the steps to the rooftop for no extra charge. During this 7 minute ride, you can see everywhere from Mt. Pilatus and the city of Lucerne to Mt. Rigi and beyond Lake Lucerne!
In addition to the Swiss Travel Pass, this journey is fully covered by the Tell-Pass — our favorite train pass for Lucerne and Central Switzerland.
- Awards: first electricity-powered railway, steepest railway (when built in 1893), first double-decker aerial cableway in the world
- Travel speed: 8m/sec
- Travel time: 7 minutes
- Capacity: 465 people/hour
Train Passes | The Stanserhorn CabriO Cableway is covered by the Swiss Travel Pass and the Tell-Pass
Learn More | Stanserhorn & Bürgenstock
5 | The Cogwheel Railway from Vitznau to Rigi Kulm
Beyond the Bucket List rides and panoramic views, we’re also giving you a bit of a history lesson. Because this spot opened in 1871 as Europe’s first mountain railway! It’s the Cogwheel Railway from Vitznau up to Mt Rigi.
Before we even grabbed a seat on this train, we were like little kids watching the engines spin around in the station. Then we kept our camera ready for the entire 32-minute ride to capture views of Lake Lucerne and as far as the Jura Mountains and Black Forest.
As a bonus, you can ride this cogwheel train up the mountain, and then ride down on the cable car from Rigi Kaltbad to Weggis. We almost listed this cable car separately on our bucket list because it literally feels like you’re going to plunge into the lake as you descend with these incredible views!
- Award: first mountain railway in Europe
- Travel time: 32 minutes
- Notes: Ride in a restored carriage from 1871, or catch one of the steam train rides!
Train Passes | The Rigi Cogwheel Railway is covered by the Swiss Travel Pass and the Tell-Pass
Learn More | Ultimate Guide to Mt. Rigi
6 | The Stoosbahn
If you love to hike then you’ll definitely want to head to Schwyz and climb on board the steepest funicular railway in the world.
We were already impressed to learn that the Stoosbahn climbs at an average gradient of 47°. But then we were blown away during our ride when we realized that each individual cabin is self-leveling so you’re always standing perfectly upright. This truly is an engineering marvel! Of course there are perfect views of the easily recognizable Grosser Mythen, but we were honestly quite distracted by the funicular itself!
But once you reach the village of Stoos after the 7-minute journey, don’t stop there. You’re just a short walk and chairlift ride away from one of the best hikes in Switzerland: the Stoos Ridge Hike!
- Award: steepest funicular in the world
- Length: 1740 m
- Travel time: 4-7 minutes
- Max gradient: 47°
- Capacity: 1500 people per direction per hour
Train Passes | The Stoosbahn is covered by the Swiss Travel Pass and the Tell-Pass
Learn More | Stoos video (coming soon!)
OTHER REGIONS OF SWITZERLAND: SWISS TRAVEL PASS VALID
There’s one more category of Bucket List Rides covered by the Swiss Travel Pass. But this is a good time to mention that Switzerland is famous for its scenic train rides like the Glacier Express and Bernina Express. Although these are pretty epic, we’re not including any of the official panoramic routes in this blog since we’re planning to make another blog all about them.
7 | The GoldenPass Belle Époque First Class Carriage
If you are on the hunt for a nostalgic and luxurious ride, look no further than First Class on the GoldenPass Belle Époque train between Montreux and Zweisimmen.
We absolutely love the attention to detail and classic wooden interiors. Not to mention that you can settle into the plush seats for 2 hours while you gaze out the bay windows at the sparkling waters of Lake Geneva followed by traditional green alps dotted with barns and villages.
We first rode this back in 2012 when — I’m pretty sure we accidentally sat in First Class even though we only had Second Class tickets! So make sure you’re prepared for this ride with a First Class ticket, pass, or seat upgrade.
- Travel time: 2 hours 8 mins
- Note: The Belle Époque design is featured in both First and Second Class carriages, and there are some additional wood-lined Second Class carriages as well.
Train Passes | The GoldenPass Belle Époque Train is covered by the Swiss Travel Pass, Eurail/Interrail Passes, and the Berner Oberland Pass (excluding seat reservations, which are not mandatory)
Learn More | How to Ride the GoldenPass Express
8 | The GoldenPass Panoramic VIP Seat
But the GoldenPass journey gets even better when you upgrade your status to VIP.
Along the same route, you can hop on board the GoldenPass Panoramic VIP Carriage and literally ride in the very front of the train! In fact, the conductor is driving from the booth just above your head. We rode this in the late afternoon and the perspective right over the track was spectacular — and kinda looked like a green screen! We wish more Swiss trains had this feature, because it’s totally worth the upgraded ticket, in our opinion.
Unfortunately, they no longer advertise which trains include the VIP car, so you’ll simply have to hope to get lucky. But if you happen to hop on board a GoldenPass Panoramic train that has this feature, simply pay the train staff the additional fee to ride as a VIP!
- Note: There is an extra fee for riding in the VIP carriage, which is paid directly to the train staff on board when they check for your ticket.
Train Passes | The GoldenPass Panoramic Train is covered by the Swiss Travel Pass, Eurail/Interrail Passes, and the Berner Oberland Pass (although you will need to pay an additional surcharge on board to ride in the VIP carriage, in addition to having a valid ticket).
Learn More | How to Ride the GoldenPass Express
9 | The 2-Lakes Cruise from Neuchâtel to Murten
Last year we celebrated our wedding anniversary in Neuchâtel, and we loved every bit of the 2-Lakes Cruise from Neuchâtel to Murten.
You cruise across Lake Neuchâtel, the largest lake completely within Switzerland, with the Jura Mountains behind you and vineyards on the far shore. Then you pass through a canal that forms the border between canton Bern and canton Fribourg. After the bird nature center and a few small ports, the route opens up onto Lake Murten with more vineyards and one of the most charming medieval cities in Switzerland. And we forgot to mention that you can ride on the roof for fresh air and better views!
It’s not often you can cruise on multiple lakes without ever leaving the boat! And as a bonus, you can even hop on a 3-Lakes Cruise that also includes the Bielersee.
- Award: Lake Neuchâtel is the largest lake completely within Switzerland
- Length: 1 hour 47 mins
- Travel time: 1.5 hours
Train Passes | The 2-Lakes Cruise from Neuchâtel to Murten is covered by the Swiss Travel Pass.
SPECIAL MENTIONS
We’re about halfway through our list, so leave a comment and let us know if you’ve already bookmarked a few of these Bucket List rides in Switzerland! We’d love to hear which one you’re most looking forward to and why!
But now it’s on to three unique experiences that are unfortunately not covered by any of the train passes, but still can’t-miss in their own right.
10 | The Jungfrau Cogwheel Railway
And the first one needs no introduction: it’s the Jungfrau Cogwheel Railway from Eigergletscher to Jungfraujoch.
On the famous Jungfraubahn, you literally climb 7.3 km up, up, up through a mountain to the highest train station in Europe! That’s already unique enough, but halfway through the tunnel the train stops for 5 minutes at Eismeer, where we like to hop off and catch a glimpse of the glaciers through the viewing window.
But to be honest, there are 2 things that added this ride to our Swiss Bucket List. First, the 250% max gradient is so steep that you can stand up and lean over super far without falling over. Second, you get a free piece of chocolate on the way down!
Now, we know that Jungfraujoch is the most well-marketed attraction in the Jungfrau Region (and one of the most expensive…). But if you love trains or engineering history, this 35-minute ride through a tunnel — through a mountain! — is pretty incredible!
- Awards: Jungfraujoch is the highest train station in Europe
- Length: 7.3 km (in the tunnel)
- Travel time: 35 mins (Eigergletscher to Jungfraujoch)
- Max gradient: 250%
Train Passes | The Jungfrau Cogwheel Railway is not fully covered by any train pass (except for the Jungfrau Summer Season Pass), although many passes do provide a discount.
Learn More | Ultimate Guide to Jungfraujoch, 1-Week Guide to the Jungfrau Region
11 | A Tiny Farmer’s Cable Car
Engleberg has one of the highest densities of cable cars in the world, including a collection of tiny farm cable cars that are so small they only fit a few people at a time…or one cow!
We like finding lesser-known hiking spots in Switzerland, and often these are the places that are a bit hard to reach with any form of transportation — but not in Engelberg.
To board these small cable cars — Buiräbähnli as they’re called in the local dialect — you walk up to the small station, which often looks like a barn. Sometimes you buy your ticket before you board, and sometimes after you finish your journey. And sometimes you even have to press a button to request the cable car. Then hop on board and squeeze in beside other hikers to enjoy the ride.
Since these are private cable cars, some are covered by the Tell-Pass and others aren’t. But we love the fact that they were made for farmers, but are easily accessible to hikers with the press of a button. And truthfully, it’s just super fun to ride an off-the-beaten path cable car in the untouched nature of the Swiss Alps!
- Award: The Swiss canton of Nidwalden has 40 cable cars, one of the highest densities in the world!
- Location: Engelberg Valley
Train Passes | These small cable cars are often privately owned and therefore have no standardized prices or discounts. So you will need to check the specific pricing for each ride.
Learn More | Titlis (Coming soon!)
12 | The Lötschberg Car Train
If I’m honest, this might be my favorite experience on the list. And that’s because I will never forget the moment that Google Maps navigation told us to “Drive onto the train.” Yes, that’s right, the Lötschberg Car Train transports you from Kandersteg in Canton Bern to Goppenstein in Canton Valais. You literally drive your car onto the back of the train, and keep driving until traffic stops. Then you put your car in park, close the windows, turn off your vehicle, and enjoy a 15 minute ride in the dark. When you reach the other side of the mountain, you turn your car back on and drive off the train.
I mean, let’s be real, driving your car onto a train — that’s just plain awesome! And if you find yourself on a road trip between Switzerland and Italy, this is a super unique way to plan your route. I already want to plan another vacation to Italy just to do this again!
- Departures: every 30 minutes during the day
- Travel time: 15 mins
- Tip: Buy your ticket online in advance to save a few Francs.
Train Passes | Unfortunately, train passes do not give you a discount on the Lötschberg Car Train.
RIDES IN THE JUNGFRAU REGION: BERNER OBERLAND PASS & JUNGFRAU TRAVEL PASS VALID
Now it’s time to talk about some more rides in the Jungfrau Region. The first two are covered by the Jungfrau Travel Pass, and the other two are included with the Berner Oberland Pass.
13 | The Cogwheel Train on the Schynige Platte Railway
When you arrive at the Wilderswil train station, you won’t be able to miss the vintage Belle Époque open-air carriages of the Schynige Platte Cogwheel Train.
We recommend plopping down in a window seat so you can maximize your experience for the next hour. You journey up through forests, cow pastures, and mountain meadows with unique views of Lake Brienz, Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, and the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. Once you reach the top of this leisurely 52-minute ride, a panoramic restaurant, alphorn music, an alpine flower garden, and hiking trails await!
Schynige Platte is only open during the summer months, but this is one destination that we visit at least once every single summer, and that’s why it’s included in our 1-Week Guide to the Jungfrau Region. In fact, in you’re looking for a scenic train ride during your trip to the Jungfrau Region, this is the #1 cogwheel train that we recommend!
- Length: 7km
- Travel time: 52 mins
- Note: Schynige Platte is only open during the Summer season
Train Passes | The Schynige Platte Cogwheel Train is covered by the Jungfrau Travel Pass
Learn More | Ultimate Guide to Schynige Platte, 1-Week Guide to the Jungfrau Region
14 | The Eiger Express
Until a few years ago, it took an hour and a half to reach Jungfraujoch from Grindelwald. But this next cable car shortens the ride by 30 minutes!
The Eiger Express might be the biggest gondola we’ve ever seen! It departs from Grindelwald Terminal and soars over the picturesque valley of Grindelwald below and beside the imposing black Northface of the Eiger. Although these large tricable gondola cabins can hold up to 26 people, we like to sit by the window to absorb all of the views. The ride ends at Eigergletscher, where you can easily hop on board the train to Jungfraujoch that we mentioned earlier.
The Eiger Express is the quickest transportation option to Jungfraujoch, but it’s also a great way to reach hiking trails in the Summer and ski and sledding slopes in the Winter.
- Opened in 2020
- Length: 6483 meters
- Travel time: 15 mins (Grindelwald Terminal to Eigergletscher)
Train Passes | The Eiger Express is covered by the Jungfrau Travel Pass.
Learn More | Ultimate Guide to Jungfraujoch, 16 Things to do in Grindelwald, 1-Week Guide to the Jungfrau Region
15 | The Bus over the Grosse Scheidegg
Our Swiss Transportation Bucket List couldn’t be complete without a bus ride, which is why we’ve included an incredible bus journey over the Grosse Scheidegg.
You depart Grindelwald village to zigzag up the mountain next to the face of the Wetterhorn. This road is only open for buses, bicycles, and hikers, so the ride is really special and scenic. But here’s your warning if you get car sick: there are a lot of hairpin turns! After 35 mins, you reach the top of the pass at Grosse Scheidegg, which has a Hotel and Restaurant.
We both really enjoy hiking to and from here because the trails are so panoramic and often have a lot less people than you’ll find nearby at Grindelwald First! But there’s no reason to stop at the top! You can also ride the bus down the other side past the Reichenbach Valley and all the way to Meiringen.
- Length: 9km
- Travel time: 35 mins (Grindelwald to Grosse Scheidegg)
Train Passes | The bus over Grosse Scheidegg is not covered by any Swiss train pass other than the Berner Oberland Pass.
16 | The Steam Cogwheel Train on the Brienz-Rothorn Railway
While there are a few cogwheel trains on this Bucket List, let’s head to Brienz for the only steam train we’ve included!
We love the historic Brienz-Rothorn Steam Cogwheel Train because they still use the original steam locomotives from 1892! And riding in the open-air carriages for 1 hour gives you unobstructed views of Lake Brienz below and alpine farms along the way. Not to mention that the steam engines refuel halfway up the mountain at Planalp, where you can hop off the train and watch. And once you approach the top, you can see up to 693 different mountain peaks!
The Brienz-Rothorn Train is the only steam locomotive that runs daily in Switzerland, but only during the summer months. And if you happen to be here on your birthday, you can actually ride for free!
- Built: in 1892
- Steam locomotives: Each return journey uses up to 350 kilos of coal and 2000 liters of water
- Travel time: 1 hour
Train Passes | The Brienz-Rothorn Steam Cogwheel Train is covered by the Berner Oberland Pass and the Tell-Pass.
Learn More | 16 Things to do in Brienz, Ultimate Guide to the Brienzer Rothorn (coming soon!)
RIDES IN CENTRAL SWITZERLAND (LUCERNE): TELL-PASS VALID
It’s time to transition to Central Switzerland, specifically the region surrounding Lucerne where the Tell-Pass fully covers the next three rides on our list.
17 | The Mt. Pilatus Cogwheel Railway
Climb meter by meter on the world’s steepest cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad to Mt. Pilatus.
The views are a bit limited in the beginning of the journey, but trust us, they get better and better as you ascend at a 48% gradient through forests and fields to the craggy cliffs of Pilatus. Even though this first opened in 1889, it still holds the world record for the steepest cogwheel train in the world, and the ingenious original double cogwheel system is still going strong with hardly any signs of wear and tear.
And here’s a bonus tip: you can make your journey to Pilatus a round trip by riding up on this cogwheel train and descending down the other side by cable car and gondola. But as much as this place plays up on the dragon theme, I’m wondering — why can’t I just fly up there on a dragon?
- Awards: the world’s steepest cogwheel railway
- Built: in 1889
- Length: 4618 meters
- Travel time: 27 mins (ascent), 33 mins (descent)
- Max gradient: 48%
- Speed: 15 km/hr (ascent), 9-12 km/hr (descent)
Train Passes | The Mt. Pilatus Cogwheel Railway is covered by the Tell-Pass.
Learn More | Ultimate Guide to Mt. Pilatus (Coming soon!)
18 | The Titlis Rotair
Next you’ll want to head to Engelberg to hop on board the world’s first revolving aerial cableway, the Titlis Rotair!
At first, you might hear the term “revolving cable car” and think of motion sickness. But don’t worry, it slowly completes one full rotation during the 5 minute ride. Obviously, we recommend standing by the window so you can look below at the white glaciers and bright blue Trübsee Lake. And once you reach the top, you’re greeted by year round snow, a glacier cave, and the highest suspension bridge in Europe!
As a bonus, your Tell Pass also covers the Titlis Ice Flyer, which allows you to enjoy a little sledding and snow tubing fun on the glacier at no additional cost!
- Award: The world’s first revolving aerial cableway
- Built: in 1992
- Travel time: 5 mins
- Rotation: 1 full rotation per journey
Train Passes | The Titlis Rotair is covered by the Tell-Pass.
Learn More | Ultimate Guide to Mt. Titlis (Coming soon!)
19 | The Chairlift over the Jochpass and down to Engstlensee
This is the only summer chairlift on our Bucket List, and just wait until you see these views! Start the ride from Trübsee and head up to the Jochpass, where we spotted some marmots and mountain bikers as our feet dangled in the air. Then switch to another chairlift and be blown away as you descend toward one of the most beautiful lakes in Switzerland: the Engstlensee. This 37-minute journey flew by and we could have stared at that beautiful lake for a few more hours. So it’s a good thing we hiked around for a while after we hopped off the chairlift!
Speaking of hiking, this ride allows you to enjoy the beautiful lakes along the 4-Lakes Hike to Melchsee-Frutt while cutting out a few kilometers and lots of the elevation change.
- Type: summer chairlift
- Travel time: 37 mins
Train Passes | The Jochpass Chairlift is covered by the Tell-Pass and Engelberg Hiking Pass.
RIDES IN ZERMATT: PEAK PASS VALID
Next we’re heading toward the mighty Matterhorn in Zermatt, to chat about Swiss Transportation Bucket List rides included in the Peak Pass.
20 | The Gornergrat Railway
If we only had one day to spend in Zermatt, we’d head straight to Gornergrat on Switzerland’s first electric cogwheel train.
Pro tip: sit on the right side of the train for all of the best views — and we do mean all, as in practically the whole 33 minutes up. From overlooking the village of Zermatt to spying the Matterhorn, from dark tunnels to soaring bridges, from sparkly lakes to blinding glaciers. You’ll want to keep your nose pressed to the glass…although the windows do open, so you can actually take photos without any reflections! And once you reach the top, you’re greeted with a backdrop of endless glaciers and rocky peaks, including the Matterhorn of course.
In our opinion, Gornergrat is a can’t-miss experience for your trip to Zermatt because it has a little bit of everything, like alpine lakes and miles of hiking trails, adorable sheep and fantastic food — I could go on and on! Which is why a visit to Gornergrat is included on Day 1 of our 3-Day Guide to Zermatt.
- Award: Switzerland’s first electric cogwheel train
- Length: 9.4 km
- Travel time: 33 mins
- Ascent: 1469 meters
Train Passes | The Gornergrat Railway is covered by the Peak Pass and Peak2Peak Ticket.
Learn More | 1 Day at Gornergrat, Ultimate Guide to Zermatt, 3-Day Guide to Zermatt
21 | The Matterhorn Glacier Ride
Speaking of the Matterhorn, get even closer to this world-famous peak by riding the Matterhorn Glacier Ride to the highest station in Europe at 3821 meters.
There’s plenty we could say about this ride, but for the purpose of this Bucket List, we particularly love the views as we’re gliding over endless glaciers below. For real, the first time we rode this cable car, we were amazed at how we had a direct glimpse into their icy grooves and crevasses. And for even better views, we upgraded to the Crystal Ride with glass floors and didn’t regret it one bit. Plus, this is actually the highest tricable car in the world.
Like Jungfraujoch in the Jungfrau Region, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is the most marketed tourist attraction in Zermatt. But if you’ve never been on top of a glacier or inside a crevasse, it is a pretty unique experience — and probably the only reason why I’d ever wanna find myself inside of a crevasse!
And as an added bonus, you can visit both Gornergrat and Glacier Paradise in one day during the peak summer months using the Peak2Peak Ticket.
- Awards: highest cable car station in Europe, highest 3S cable car in the world
- Travel time: 9 mins (Trockener Steg to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise)
Train Passes | The Matterhorn Glacier Ride is covered by the Peak Pass and Peak2Peak Ticket.
Learn More | Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, 3-Day Guide to Zermatt
More Switzerland Bucket List Experiences
You know what else is a Bucket List experience? An epic and stress-free Swiss vacation!
So start planning yours today with this Trip Planning Guide and don’t forget to check out our Ultimate Swiss Train Pass Guide to help you pick your pass with confidence. And we’ll see you in Switzerland!
(Oh, and comment below which of these rides you’re adding to your Swiss Bucket List!)