Before You Book the Gornergrat: Every Cost, and What's Worth It
By the BeatTheCrowd team · Prices last checked 2 November · 4 min read
The Gornergrat railway climbs from Zermatt to 3,089 m for one of the classic views of the Matterhorn, and almost nobody needs to pay full fare. There are summer and winter prices, half-price fares with Swiss rail passes, free travel for young children, the Peak2Peak combo with Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and the choice of where to get off on the way down. Most of them sound worth paying for. You don't need the most expensive one to have a great visit. In this guide we walk through what each option costs, what you really get, and how to choose the right one, whether that's the first train on a clear morning or a busy midday in August.
At a glance
Return, summer (adult)
About CHF 132
Return, winter (adult)
About CHF 96
Half Fare Card, Swiss Travel Pass, GA
50% off
Children up to 15
50% off, or free with a Junior Card
Young children
Free up to 5 in summer, up to 8 in winter
Peak2Peak (summer)
CHF 212, with Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
Maintenance break
Closed for about two weeks in early November
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The real total: full fare vs what most visitors pay
A return ticket from Zermatt costs about CHF 132 in summer (May to October) and about CHF 96 in winter. But most international visitors carry a Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card, which cuts that in half. Children up to 15 also pay half, and young children travel free. The return includes the Zooom the Matterhorn exhibition at the top, and you can get on and off at any station on the way.
Visitor
What they hold
Return, summer
Return, winter
No discount card
Full fare
About CHF 132
About CHF 96
Swiss Travel Pass, Half Fare Card or GA
50% off
About CHF 66
About CHF 48
Child up to 15
50% off
About CHF 66
About CHF 48
Child with a Junior Card
Free with a parent
CHF 0
CHF 0
Ticket options: what each one gets you
Cost
Price (CHF)
Type
How to cut it
Return, summer
About CHF 132
≈ US$164
Unavoidable
Half price with a Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card.
Return, winter
About CHF 96
≈ US$119
Unavoidable
Half price with a Swiss pass.
Peak2Peak, summer
CHF 212
≈ US$263
Optional
Only if you'll also go up to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise the same day.
Group of 10+
20% off
Optional
The crowd tax: why midday costs more
We don't yet have hourly crowd data for the Gornergrat. The fare is the same all day, so the crowd tax is about time and views: midday in summer is typically the busiest, with tour groups, while the first trains of the morning usually have quieter carriages and, more often, clearer skies around the Matterhorn.
When
Typical crowds
What to do
First trains
Quieter
The best time: clearer views, fewer people
Midday, summer
Busiest
Expect full trains: sit on the right going up
Late afternoon
Easier
Good light, but check the last train
Which ticket is worth it?
With a Swiss pass: a return at half price.
Families: a Junior Card makes children free.
Both summits in one day: Peak2Peak, in summer.
Budget: go in winter, when the return is about CHF 36 cheaper.
Short on time? What you'd regret missing
The Matterhorn from the summit, at 3,089 m.
The Gorner Glacier and the ring of 4,000 m peaks.
The Riffelsee, a short walk down from Rotenboden, for the Matterhorn's reflection.
Zooom the Matterhorn, included at the top.
Getting there
The Gornergrat Railway leaves from its own station opposite Zermatt's main station. Zermatt is car-free: arrive by train from Visp or Täsch. The ride up takes about 33 minutes.
Weather and visibility
The Matterhorn is often hidden by cloud. Check the webcams before you buy, and go on the clearest morning of your stay. At over 3,000 m, it's cold even in summer: bring a warm layer and sunglasses.
The railway closes for a maintenance break for about two weeks in early November. Check the official site if you're visiting then.
What can go wrong
You pay full fare with a Swiss pass in your bag: show it when you buy.
The Matterhorn is in cloud: check the webcams first.
You visit in early November: the line may be closed for maintenance.
You forget ID: online tickets need a passport or ID.
What one person really spends
Level
What's included
One adult
Swiss pass, winter
Return, 50% off
About CHF 48
Swiss pass, summer
Return, 50% off
About CHF 66
No card, summer
Return, full fare
About CHF 132
Both summits, no card
Peak2Peak
CHF 212
Before food at the top. A child up to 15 pays half, or nothing with a Junior Card.
FAQs
How much is the Gornergrat train?
+
About CHF 132 return in summer and CHF 96 in winter. Swiss Travel Pass, Half Fare Card and GA holders pay half.
Is the Gornergrat free with the Swiss Travel Pass?
+
No, but it's 50% off.
Do children pay on the Gornergrat?
+
Children up to 15 pay half, or travel free with a Junior Card. Children up to 5 in summer and up to 8 in winter travel free.
What is the Peak2Peak ticket?
+
A one-day summer ticket for both the Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, for CHF 212 (CHF 106 reduced).
How we research: every guide is written by the BeatTheCrowd team from official sources and recent traveller reports, cross-checked against each other. Crowd figures come from our own crowd data. Prices last checked 2 November. Prices and rules change, so always confirm on the official site before you book.
Sold at the Gornergrat Railway counter.
Fares are from the Gornergrat Railway and Zermatt Tourism. Children up to 5 travel free in summer, and up to 8 in winter. The Junior Card, Swiss Family Card and Wolli Card are valid. GA day tickets get no discount. Online tickets need a passport or ID.
Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card?
Both give 50% off the Gornergrat, so neither is worth buying for this trip alone. Our verdict: if you already have one, you pay about CHF 66 in summer. If you're only taking one or two mountain trips, compare the Half Fare Card with full fares for your whole stay.
Is Peak2Peak worth it?
In summer, Peak2Peak costs CHF 212 (CHF 106 reduced) and covers both the Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise at 3,883 m, plus the cable car between Riffelberg and the glacier side. It's valid for one day only. Our verdict: worth it if you want both summits and the weather is clear all day. It's a long day, so start early.
What visitors say
Visitors describe the view of the Matterhorn from the top as one of the best in the Alps, and like getting off on the way down to walk past the Riffelsee. The most common complaints are the full-fare price and arriving in cloud, so the advice is to use a Swiss pass discount and take an early train on a clear day.
Prices last checked: 2 November. Prices vary with the season, peak and off-peak dates and promotions, and we recheck them every month. Visitor-reported costs are marked as estimates, and US$ figures are rough conversions.
