Gornergrat

Name: Gornergrat
Address: Zermatt, 3920, Zermatt, 3920, CH
Telephone: +41 848 642 442

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About

Gornergrat is a mountain excursion destination above Zermatt in the Monte Rosa region, known for views of Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn. The railway summit station stands at 3,089 metres.

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Why go

Ride the 9,339-metre rack railway from Zermatt, climbing 1,469 metres to the summit.
Set out from the summit on hikes among 29 peaks over 4,000 metres and several glaciers.
Descending rack trains have returned electricity to the grid since the railway opened in 1898.

Don't miss

Matterhorn viewLook for the Matterhorn from the railway terminus on clear days.Gornergrat railway terminus
Riffelalp stationStart hikes to Findeln, Gant, Grüensee, Riffelberg or Gornergrat here.Riffelalp
Monte-Rosa-Hütte trailFind the trail starting point at the last stop before Gornergrat.Rotenboden station

Interesting facts3

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2,500 people
The railway can carry about 2,500 people per hour from Zermatt to the summit.
Gornergrat Railway - Wikipedia
It is one of four rail lines worldwide using three-phase electric power.
Gornergrat Railway - Wikipedia
The metre-gauge railway uses the Abt rack system throughout, with gradients reaching 20%.
Gornergrat Railway - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

1898The electrically powered railway, built by Société Haag et Greulich, opened on 20 August.
1899–2001The 500-metre Riffelalptram linked Hotel Riffelalp to the railway from 1899. It closed in 1961 after a hotel fire and reopened in 2001 after rebuilding.
1909A 310-metre extension brought the terminus closer to the summit.
1928Winter trains began running on the lower line, reaching Riffelalp or Riffelboden depending on snow conditions.
1942A 770-metre avalanche gallery built in 1938–1940 enabled winter trains to reach the summit in good weather.

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1947A faster generation of railcars halved the journey time.
2006Four Stadler Rail Bhe 4/6 motor cars entered service.

Tips for your visit

Riffelalp is the railway’s second intermediate station.
Rotenboden is the final stop before Gornergrat.
Clear conditions are needed to see the Matterhorn from the railway terminus.
A chairlift to Gifthittli passes Rotenboden and runs almost to the summit.

How to get there

30 minTrainTake the Gornergrat railway from Zermatt to Gornergrat. The departure station is beside the Matterhorn-Gotthard Bahn station at 1,604 metres elevation.

Sources: Gornergrat Railway - Wikipedia · Gornergratbahn - Wikipedia · Chemin de fer du Gornergrat - Wikipedia · Ferrovia del Gornergrat - Wikipedia · checked 24 Sep 2026

Where

Zermatt, 3920

Website: gornergrat.ch/en/
Phone: +41 848 642 442

Similar places nearby

Schlittelbahn Rotenboden 4.8 ★ 110 · 1.5 km Grunsee 4.3 ★ 33 · 2.5 km

Nearby places

Grindjisee 4.2 ★ · 3.2 km Riffelalp Tram 5.0 ★ · 3.3 km Furi Mountain Station 4.4 ★ · 4.5 km Connect Summer Camps Zermatt 4.7 km

Questions and answers

Is there a chairlift near the summit?

A chairlift to Gifthittli passes Rotenboden and runs almost to the summit.

Does the railway have double track?

Of its 9.3-kilometre route, 3,790 metres are double track.

What hauled the earliest trains?

Initially, three two-axle locomotives, each rated at 130 kW, hauled a carriage up the route.

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