Gornergrat Railway, Zermatt: Cog Train to 3,089 m

28/10/2026

The Gornergrat Railway (Gornergrat Bahn) is a mountain cog railway in Zermatt, in the canton of Valais, Switzerland. It runs from the village at 1,604 metres to the Gornergrat ridge at 3,089 metres. The line opened on 20 August 1898 and was the first electric cog railway in Switzerland. Until the Jungfrau Railway opened in 1912, it was the highest railway in Europe. Today it is the second highest railway in Europe and the highest one that runs fully in the open air. The trip is one of the most famous train rides in the Alps.

What to See

The line is 9.3 km long and climbs almost 1,500 metres. The trains use a toothed rack between the rails to climb the steep slopes. The railway is also special because it uses three-phase electric power, so the trains have two pantographs on the roof. There are only four railways like this in the world. On the way up, the train stops at Findelbach, Riffelalp, Riffelberg and Rotenboden. The track goes over bridges, through forests of larch and pine and then over open alpine meadows. For the best views of the Matterhorn, sit on the right side of the train when you go up. At the top station there are restaurants, shops, a viewing platform and the Kulmhotel Gornergrat. An old locomotive from 1898, painted gold, is on display at the summit station.

How to Get There and Practical Information

The Gornergrat Railway station is right opposite the main train station in Zermatt. Zermatt is car-free, so you arrive by train from Visp or Brig, or leave your car in Täsch and take the shuttle train. The railway runs every day of the year, and the trip to the top takes about 33 minutes. A return ticket from Zermatt costs about CHF 132 in summer and CHF 96 in winter. With a Half Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass you pay half. Many people go up by train and walk down part of the way, for example from Rotenboden past the Riffelsee lake to Riffelberg, and then take the train again. In winter skiers use the railway to reach the slopes.