The “Gornergrat Railway,” which boasts worldwide popularity as a mountain railway offering close-up views of the Matterhorn, the symbol of the Swiss Alps. In exchange for its overwhelming scenery, this route commands one of the world’s highest fares, which may be a troubling concern for many travelers. However, with smart usage, it’s possible to enjoy this wonderful experience at a more affordable price. Today, we’ll introduce 5 essential points for making the most cost-effective use of the Gornergrat Railway. We’ll share tips for fully savoring the charm of this world-class mountain railway while efficiently managing your travel budget.
What is the Gornergrat Railway?
The Gornergrat Railway is a mountain railway that operates from Zermatt, a popular Swiss resort destination, to the Gornergrat Observatory at an altitude of 3,089 meters. Since its opening in 1898, it has been carrying tourists and mountaineers for over 120 years and is renowned as the highest surface railway station in Europe (second highest in Europe if including underground railways). This route is not merely a means of transportation but also serves as a tourist attraction where visitors can experience the magnificent nature of the Swiss Alps.
The greatest attraction of this railway is undoubtedly the spectacular view of the Matterhorn. From the train windows, passengers can view the Matterhorn, considered one of the world’s most beautiful mountains, from various angles. Additionally, from the terminal Gornergrat Observatory, visitors can enjoy a truly heavenly panoramic view overlooking 29 peaks over 4,000 meters high. The mountain scenery, showing different expressions depending on the time of day—from the majestic Matterhorn illuminated by morning sun to the alpine glow at sunset—continues to captivate visitors.
The spectacular views from the train windows keep your eyes and camera constantly engaged on the Gornergrat Railway
World’s Most Expensive? The Reasons and Fare System
However, this wonderful experience comes with a corresponding price. Fares vary significantly by season, with high season summer rates at 132 Swiss francs per person round-trip, while low season rates are 96 Swiss francs. This is said to be among the world’s highest fare settings for regular railways that don’t require seat reservations.
The total route length is only 9.336km, and this fare for a round-trip distance of less than 18km represents an astonishingly high cost per kilometer. Even compared to Japan’s Hokuso Line, known for high fares, this is at a much higher level. The background to this pricing likely includes the special environment of mountain terrain operations and the added value as a world-class tourist destination.
5 Essential Points for Cost-Effective Travel
1. Avoid Online Booking, Purchase at Ticket Machines
Many tourists choose online booking for convenience, but this isn’t actually a smart choice. The reason relates to utilizing discounts and passes mentioned later, but purchasing at ticket machines allows for more flexible arrangements.
For reasons mentioned later, using ticket machines is recommended
https://www.gornergrat.ch/
2. Don’t Use Priority Pass
It doesn’t get that crowded, so with proper timing adjustment, you can board without waiting and secure good seats. In actual operations, even during peak tourist seasons, boarding is relatively smooth, making the necessity of purchasing a Priority Pass quite low. With regular tickets, you can fully enjoy the spectacular Matterhorn views.
3. Utilize Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card
When traveling in Switzerland, the choice of transportation passes greatly affects total costs. Using Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card can reduce fares by half. Especially when visiting during summer high season, utilizing these passes results in significant savings. However, depending on your overall travel movements, using Eurail Pass or others might result in lower total costs, so thorough simulation is recommended. Consider your length of stay and frequency of using other transportation to select the optimal pass.
4. Use Afternoon Tickets
Unless you’re a skier planning to spend the entire day on the mountain, there’s no need to go first thing in the morning. The Afternoon ticket, available from 12:15 onwards, offers a round-trip discount to just 72 Swiss francs. The afternoon hours are perfectly enjoyable. Even during summer high season, using this Afternoon ticket allows for much more affordable travel than regular rates. Additionally, afternoon use has the advantage of avoiding morning crowds.
5. Enjoy the Intermediate Stations
You can have Matterhorn views all to yourself at intermediate stations rather than the terminal
Round-trip tickets allow for getting off and re-boarding at intermediate stations (however, since it’s a round-trip ticket, you can’t go back and forth to the same station multiple times). Intermediate stations like Rotenboden are recommended over the crowded Gornergrat station as you can have Matterhorn views all to yourself. Since you’re paying for an expensive ticket, think of it as a theme park admission ticket and thoroughly enjoy the intermediate stations too. Each station offers different angles for viewing the Matterhorn and serves as attractive photography spots. Being able to enjoy multiple scenic viewpoints with a single ticket is key to maximizing value for the expensive fare.
Summary
While the Gornergrat Railway is certainly expensive, by understanding these points, you can use it more wisely and cost-effectively. The experience on this railway is not merely transportation but exists like a “theme park” for enjoying the magnificent scenery of the Swiss Alps. By understanding seasonal fare variations and utilizing various passes and discounts, you can use your budget more efficiently.
A mountain railway journey that’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The magnificent views from the train windows with the Matterhorn up close will surely become unforgettable memories. Learn smart usage methods and enjoy your railway journey affordably.
※Important Notice:
Fares and purchasing methods may change without notice. Please check the latest information when traveling.
