Gornergrat is part of the Pennine Alps, near the prestigious city of Zermatt in Switzerland. It can be reached from Zermatt by the Gornergrat rack railway which is the highest cogwheel railway in Europe. The ride itself from Zermatt to Gornergrat is an experience that should not be missed when visiting the city.
As we ascended the mountain from Zermatt, I found myself yawning constantly – not from lack of sleep but from altitude. As you creep into the clouds, the trees become more sparse and the lush landscape of the mountain gives way to something almost barren. It’s fascinating to witness the changes of nature as you climb the mountain in the comfort of the train. Just five stops along the line and we had reached our destination, Gornergrat, the final stop of the railway.
Listen closely to the creaks of the train as it catches the tracks, clink – clanking all the way to the top during the 30 minute ride.
Marvel at the heights you will attain (or view) on your journey:
- Zermatt 1630 m (5348 ft)
- Gornergrat 3089 m (10135 ft)
- Matterhorn 4478 m (14692 ft) – view
The temperature changed from slightly chilly in Zermatt to distinctly cold as we climbed the mountain toward Gornergrat. That feeling of cold gave way to a feeling of disappointment when I realized that the snow clouds hid the view of the Matterhorn and the promised panoramic view of 29 mountain peaks. I wanted those iconic pictures of the imposing mountains captured in my camera!
But when you are experiencing the wonder of nature, it’s hard to be disappointed for long. The wintery mix allowed for a different type of picture and a different story. Luckily, we had raincoats to put over our sweatshirts and that kept us warm enough.
There aren’t too many places we have visited where, in the month of JUNE, you can go from the comfort of a tank top in the city of Visp to layers of sweatshirts and coats as protection against the cold and snow after spending only a few hours on trains.
As we made our descent, the weather cleared again and the temperature started to warm slightly. Once back in Zermatt, it’s was a gorgeous sight to see the sun striking the snow covered mountain peaks.
We watched in amazement as a mountain biker left the Gornergrat station just as our train started it’s downward journey. He was going down the mountain so fast that he had time to rest at each train stop – he was keeping up with the train! It was a fast, muddy and, I can only imagine, exhilarating descent. I bet it’s exciting but that’s one experience I’ll leave to others!
Had the kids been older, the weather dryer and our experience level higher, we would have enjoyed hiking down the well marked trails.
The kids made a video while we were exploring Gornergrat:
Can’t see the video? Click HERE
Matterhorn History:
We timed our visit in 2015 perfectly. The Matterhorn is celebrating 150 years since it’s first ascent. It’s incredible to think that on July 14, 1865, the first team reached the summit.
The story, however, does not have a happy ending. Four of the seven Alpinists fell to their deaths during the descent. How tragic to make it to the top, only to die on the way down. This feat spurred tourism in Zermatt and has enticed climbers to try their luck on the mountain ever since.
Visiting Zermatt:
The town of Zermatt deserved further exploration. A day is not nearly long enough. There is so much to do and see. The town is charming with quintessential Swiss buildings, horse drawn carriages meandering through the streets and shops calling out your name. My name is Chocolate! We did pop in to one shop to purchase the Swiss delight. How could you visit such a city and not eat chocolate?
The kids wanted to play at Furi Adventure World, climb & zip line at the Forest Fun Park, hike the Vita Parcours trail, and possibly try summer skiing. I would have been more than happy for them to go skiing. I would have gotten a chance to shop alone and curl up with a book for the afternoon. (Well OK, with a E-book!)
Our Train Ride from Visp to Zermatt:
There are many ways to reach Zermatt, however, the town itself is car-free. A train is the most convenient and scenic way to get there. If driving, park in Täsch and either take the train from there or hire a taxi for an approximately 5km ride to Zermatt.
We chose to park our rental car in Visp and take the train all the way. It’s a picturesque ride winding through mountains and over bridges. Sit back and relax before starting your adventures in Zermatt.
We may not have seen the Matterhorn, but we did get a chance to experience 10,135 feet! We were huffing and puffing with every step.
We hope to visit Zermatt again, for at least a long weekend. We want to see more of the city, make another journey up to Gornergrat and take the kids to the Ice Palace. Only maybe next time, we will try for August….
Disclosure: I was provided with a railway pass courtesy of the Zermatt tourism office to help facilitate this article. As always, all opinion are 100% my own and may differ from others.
My wife and I are planning to visit Zermatt first week of August, do you have any idea about the weather on that time? Thanks!
You should get lucky with weather in August. The daytime will likely be in the 60’s, but it can get chilly at night/early morning. You might want to bring a light jacket. The summer can also be rainy, so pack an umbrella as well.
Overall, it would be perfect hiking weather.
This is so awesome!!!!! Especially with the kids. They seem to be so involved in the destination. Great job!
I really want to climb to the top of Matterhorn. I love Swiss towns. They have a old world fee that permeates the area. Love the mountain views.
You’re braver than I am. I’m happy to admire from afar 🙂 Hopefully you get to climb the Matterhorn soon!
I LOVE your kids’ video!! They are naturals in front of the camera 🙂 I think the great thing about European towns such as Zermatt is that they are still beautiful, even if the weather doesn’t cooperate!
Thanks! They are so excited you liked it. Yes, it was beautiful even with the rain and snow.
I love the look of Swiss towns, they are very similar to the look of German towns. And I like the fact that Zermatt is car-free, it gives it a more authentic feel.
They do look similar to some German towns. We were in Germany a few weeks later and commented on how some of the towns had the same feel and look of Zermatt. It’s fun to see the influences as you travel from country to country.
What a gorgeous town. I love the mountains!
Amazing how quickly scenery can change with just a few train stops. Beautiful shots of the mountains!
I visited Zermatt about 10 years ago. It was one of the first places I traveled to and I loved it so so much. It’s the cutest little town, and to have the Matterhorn looming over like that, the grey water of glaciers and the fresh air all around you is really unique and satisfying. I’d go again in a heartbeat!
Ohh I love Zermatt! My husband and I skied and celebrated Christmas there a couple of years ago! Your photos were a great trip down memory lane. It was also fun to see grassy hills where I once skied. The town of Zermatt in winter is so fun. The roads are covered in snow and people ski from the hills into town and pull kids on sleds. Ohh I need to go back! Thanks for bringing back such happy memories!
What an amazing way to spend Christmas! You’re making me want to go back in the winter!
I’ve always wanted to visit Switzerland and your post is making me want to go even more now! I like the idea of a car free town as well 🙂
Yes, Zermatt being car free is a huge bonus. It’s nice to be able to stroll the streets without having to watch for cars or hear horns blaring.
My biggest memory of Zermatt is going out at night from my hostel and getting a plate of nachos with some new friends – and the nachos were made with Doritos instead of tortilla chips. Aw, authentic Swiss cuisine! You may feel like you’re in a remote village but it’s a lot more cosmopolitan than meets the eye – tons of great restaurants and bars.
That’s funny! Doritos nachos. Zermatt does have great restaurants and bars. It’s a great mix of new and traditional.
The pictures you got were amazing! My kids would be beside themselves to ride that train!
Absolutely beautiful!
Fantastic – I have been lucky to see the Matterhorn as I was taken many times as a child whilst my father reached the top and my mum, brother and I sat at the bottom. We were also lucky last week to go from Zurich to Saint Moritz by train and I love the Swiss trains – so easy with kids especially as I was solo at the time. Loved reading this and hope to return and show the kids where their Pops climbed.
That is so cool that your dad climbed! What an amazing experience for your family to watch from the bottom!
Swiss trains are great. I really want to visit Zurich soon, but now I need to look up Saint Moritz 🙂