Mountains of Switzerland: Best Peaks and Discounts

Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe

Jungfrau, one of the most popular mountain excursions in Switzerland, offers breathtaking views of the Aletsch Glacier—the longest glacier in the Swiss Alps —inspiring awe and wonder.

Getting there:

There are two ways to get to Jungfraujoch in Europe

Option 1: Take the train from Interlaken Ost (East) station, with changes at Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald. The time taken on this route is 2 hours.

Option 2: Take the train from Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald, then use the cable car to reach the Eigergletscher station. Finally, take another train to the highest railway station in Europe. The total travel time on this route is 1.15 hours.

At the peak

Visit the Sphinx Terrace at 3571 metres for the best views of the surrounding Alps

Walk through the Alpine Sensation - a 250-metre-long tunnel showcasing the history of the Jungfrau railways.

Tread carefully inside the Ice Palace, a frosty tunnel with sub-zero temperatures and fantastic ice sculptures of creatures that seem literally ‘frozen’ in time.

Try your hand at snow tubing, ziplining, and snowboarding at the Snow Fun Park. Keep in mind, this is a summer park and typically open from May through October.

Discount with the Swiss Travel Pass

A full fare adult ticket costs SFr 224. However, with the Swiss Travel Pass, you can get the same at a discounted rate of SFr 149.

Mount Titlis

Nestled in the village of Engelberg, not too far from Lucerne, is the beautiful Mount Titlis. Standing at 3020 metres, Mount Titlis offers not just gorgeous views but also great fun activities and the super-popular Titlis Rotair —the world’s first rotating cable car.

Getting there:

Engelberg is a 45-minute train ride from Lucerne. From here, a short walk or public bus ride gets you to the Titlis Valley station, from where you hop on to two cable cars (including the Titlis Rotair - the world's first revolving cable car) to the peak.

At the peak

After the exhilarating ride in the Titlis Rotair, head for the Titlis Cliff Walk, Europe’s highest suspension bridge at 3041 metres. Brave the 100 metre walk and enjoy views from 500 metres above the ground.

For great views, head to the viewing platform before walking into the Glacier Cave, a 150-metre-long tunnel carved 10 metres below the glacier and adorned with surreal ice sculptures.

Ride the Ice Flyer Chairlift across the glacier with gorgeous views over deep crevasses. The chairlift takes you to Glacier Park in the summer (mid-May through August) and the ski slopes in winter.

For the adventurous, the SnowXpark at Trubsee (a midway station before the Rotair) offers activities such as ziplining, moonbiking, and sledging.

Swiss Transport Museum

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A day to Mt Titlis can also be combined with other great attractions in Lucerne, like the Saphir Panorama Yacht Cruise on Lake Lucerne or the Swiss Museum of Transport, the most visited museum in Switzerland.

Discount with the Swiss Travel Pass

A full-fare adult ticket to Mt. Titlis costs SFr 114 (including an ice flyer chairlift ride). However, if you hold a Swiss Travel Pass, you can get the same at a discounted rate of SFr 63.

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

Towering above the mountain village of Zermatt is the mighty Matterhorn, the most photographed mountain in the world! The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (also known as the Kleine Matterhorn) is one of the best places to get perfect pictures of the unique triangular massif of the Matterhorn.

Ride up in a series of gondolas to Europe’s highest cable car station at 3883 metres for glorious views and an amazing Alpine experience.

Getting there:

Walk around 20 minutes or take a bus (number 571/2) from Zermatt station to the Matterhorn Express valley station. From here, you reach the peak via a series of 3 cable cars with changes at the midway stations Furi and Trockner Steg.

If you are arriving in Zermatt from St Moritz or Chur, you can take a ride on the Glacier Express , the world’s slowest express train, and globally, one of the most sought-after panoramic train journeys.

At the peak

First things first —head to the viewing platform for a 360-degree panoramic view that stretches as far as Italy and France.

Walk through the Glacier Palace located 15 metres under the glacier. Enjoy significant lighting effects, a slide-through ice tunnel, and fantastic ice sculptures.

Step into Europe’s highest cinema and watch some interesting films on the fascinating Alpine world around Zermatt. Ski on the Theodul glacier, the only area where skiing is possible in the summer.

Discount with the Swiss Travel Pass

A full-fare adult ticket costs SFr 95. However, if you hold a Swiss Travel Pass, you can get the same at a discounted rate of SFr 48.

Grindelwald First - Top of Adventure

Nothing like a mountain full of fun, and that's just what the First is. Offering fantastic views, a lake, a picnic area, and a range of super activities, this is the perfect mountain for family adventure. The short cableway up and numerous fun ways to descend make the First experience truly unique.

If you want to add even more adventure, visit the Grindelwald Glacier Canyon and enjoy a unique sensory walk through its exposed rock galleries and tunnels.

Grindelwald Glacier Canyon

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Getting there:

The Grindelwald First (Firstbahn) station is just a short walk away from Grindelwald railway station. From here, a ride on the cable car via the midway stations Bort and Schrekfeld takes you to the First.

Grindelwald First

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At the peak

Walk along the winding Cliff Walk by Tissot for glorious views from 2168 metres.

Go on a short hike to the picnic spot at Lake Bachalpsee, where you can even swim in the summer months.

For your descent, choose one or all of the activities (select all, you will not regret it). Fly down an 800-metre cable in an individual seat on the First Flyer, then get horizontally strapped to a massive eagle and fly face down on the First Glider. Following this, ride a mountain cart down a 3-km route, then hop on a trotti bike for the final leg of the descent.

Discount with the Swiss Travel Pass

You can either purchase a cable car ticket alone or a ticket that includes one or more activities. Let us presume that you will want to do at least one activity, so let's go with that - A full-fare adult ticket with one activity costs SFr 82. However, if you hold a Swiss Travel Pass , you can get the same at a discounted rate of SFr 54.

Note: It is wise to pre-purchase a ticket that includes the number of activities you want to do. The mountain cart and trottibike operate in the summer only (typically May through the end of October).

Keep in mind that all of these activities have age/weight/height restrictions as well.

Gornergrat

Conveniently starting from the heart of Zermatt, the journey via Switzerland’s first fully electric and Europe’s highest open-air railway gets you to the Gornergrat. After travelling over bridges, through tunnels, and past forests, you'll be rewarded with the most glorious views at the peak. Other than the Matterhorn (which, some say, is best viewed from here), the view of twenty-nine 4000-metre peaks, including Mont Blanc in France, is just stunning.

Getting there:

Just across the road from Zermatt central station is the Zermatt GGB station, from where you board the train for a roughly 40-minute ride to the peak at 3100 metres.

At the peak

Take a short hike down to the Riffelsee to view the reflection of the Matterhorn in the lake and click some memorable photographs. Wander through the Alpine garden with over 500 native species of plants.

Go for a nature-spotting walk to find native alpine creatures like the elusive marmots and black nosed sheep.

Visit the ZOOOM the Matterhorn experience for an interactive experience. See the Matterhorn up close with the Periscope feature, enjoy a 3D cinematic experience of the Matterhorn across various seasons, and virtually paraglide over Alpine panoramas in 3D glasses.

Discount with the Swiss Travel Pass

A full-fare adult ticket costs SFr 132. However, if you hold a Swiss Travel Pass, you can get the same at a discounted rate of SFr 66.

Harder Kulm

Interlaken’s home mountain, Harder Kulm , is a small mountain that is big on views. Just a few minutes away from Interlaken Ost station, the journey via the historic funicular (operating since 1908) offers views over Lakes Thun and Brienz, and the surrounding Bernese Oberland region.

Getting there:

The Harder Kulm is accessed via a 10-minute funicular ride from the Harderbahn station, just a short walk away from Interlaken Ost station.

At the peak

Walk to the Two-Lakes lookout point for the most breathtaking view of Lake Brienz to the left and Lake Thun to the right. Nestled between these two is the picturesque town of Interlaken (Interlaken literally means ‘between 2 lakes’).

Have a meal with a view of the very popular castle-like Panorama restaurant (reservation recommended). It's a perfect place to unwind at sunset after a day of sightseeing, when the region is bathed in twilight's glow.

Walk along the circular Harder Kulm route through the shady mountain forest for a different view over the surrounding region and lakes.

Since the trip to Harder Kulm is a half-day activity, you can combine it with other activities in Interlaken . Interlaken is the home of Swiss adventure activities and other fun experiences like the truly Swiss Raclette Rafting or the adrenaline-pumping scenic jetboat ride on Lake Brienz.

Discount with the Swiss Travel Pass

A full-fare adult ticket costs SFr 44. However, if you hold a Swiss Travel Pass, you can get the same at a discounted rate of SFr 22.

Mount Pilatus

Known for its Golden Round Trip, Pilatus, also referred to as the Dragon Mountain, is replete with legends. Not too far from Lucerne, it is a convenient day trip and a family-friendly mountain offering activities for all ages.

Getting there:

Take a bus ride from Lucerne to Kriens, followed by a short walk to the Mt. Pilatus cablecar station. From here, hop on to the Panorama gondolas to the midway point of Frakmunteg, followed by the Dragon Ride aerial cableway to the peak.

For the descent, take the world’s steepest cogwheel railway (gradient of 48 degrees) to Alpnachstad and then sail back to Lucerne by boat. This complete journey is possible in the summer months (typically mid-May through mid-October)

At the peak

Take in the unparalleled views of over 70 peaks and serene lakes around Lucerne and the surrounding region. Take an adventurous walk along the Drachenweg (dragon trail), a path carved into the mountainside offering stunning views over Lake Lucerne.

Make a halt at the midway point of Frakmuntegg to enjoy the activities on offer. Take an exhilarating ride on the longest summer toboggan run stretching 1350 metres. Enjoy the rope park, which offers 10 courses and exciting ziplines. Kids aged 4 to 8 have a dedicated rope park tailored to their skill levels.

Discount with the Swiss Travel Pass

A full-fare adult ticket costs SFr 80. However, if you hold a Swiss Travel Pass, you can get the same at a discounted rate of SFr 40.

Mount Rigi

Lovingly called the Queen of the Mountains, Mt. Rigi is one of the lower peaks just east of Lucerne and a perfect place for a picturesque day trip. This mountain, just under 1800 metres, has nine trains and cable cars that take you to it through stunning views of lakes and green, wildflower-covered pastures. The Vitznau-Rigi railway was Europe’s first mountain railway, opening in 1871.

Getting there:

With multiple trains and cableways, there are various travel options. Let's have a look at the three main ways to get to Mt Rigi from Lucerne.

Option 1: By train to Arth Goldau, followed by the cogwheel to Rigi.

Option 2: By train to Vitznau, followed by the cogwheel to Rigi (one can also take a train/bus combination to Vitznau).

Option 3: By boat to Weggis and then the cable car to Rigi. However, this requires an uphill climb to the cable car station.

At the peak

Walk along the paved path to the mountain's highest point for great views. The fenced-in viewing areas also make it safe for kids. You can also climb the weather tower for a higher vantage point (though not much higher).

Peek into the lovely stone chapel, aptly named Regina Montium (Queen of the Mountains).

Rigi offers over 100 km of well-paved hiking trails of varying difficulty levels to suit all types of travelers. These trails are the perfect way to take in views of the shimmering lakes, the surrounding region, and the peaks.

Have a snack or meal at one of the restaurants, either at the peak or at Rigi Kaltbad, one of the lower stations.

Visit the spa at Rigi Kaltbad (literally meaning 'cold bath') and pamper yourself with a dip in one of the indoor or outdoor pools while gazing at the fantastic scenery. You can have a snack or a meal at one of the restaurants. If you're traveling with kids, consider visiting the mini golf course and playground at Kaltbad.

Visit the Chaserenholz cheese dairy and take a tour. The dairy is accessed via a 20-minute downhill walk from the peak. They even offer popular local cheese dishes, such as raclette and fondue.

Discount with the Swiss Travel Pass

A full-fare adult ticket costs SFr 78. However, if you hold a Swiss Travel Pass, you can travel absolutely Free.

Using the Swiss Travel Pass for mountain excursions:

As you can see from the list above of the most popular mountains, the discounts offered with the Swiss Travel Pass range from 25% to 100%. Using the Swiss Travel Pass on trains and other modes of transport is super easy.

Just keep either a paper or a downloaded pass on your smartphone, and present it to the bus or train ticket checker. For the mountains, simply show your pass at the ticket counter of the mountain railways or cable cars to receive the relevant discount. You can also view detailed rate cards and pre-purchase your tickets here .

Making the most of Switzerland’s mountain excursions:

It is almost certain that you will want to visit at least a couple of mountains on even the shortest trip to Switzerland. Based on your preferences, the region you'll be staying in, and your budget, it's advisable to make an informed choice. Try to get diverse experiences at each one.

Snow: Try to visit at least one mountain that guarantees snow year-round. Jungfrau, Titlis, and Matterhorn guarantee snow 365 days a year.

Adventure: Choose a mountain with toboggan runs, ziplines, trotti bikes, and kid-friendly activities, and more. Grindelwald First or Mt Pilatus would be a good choice for this.

Photography: Switzerland offers great photo ops at every turn, but nothing compares to the iconic shot of the Matterhorn. Head for the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise or the Gornergrat. Try the 5-Lakes walk at Gornergrat to capture the reflection of the Matterhorn in the lakes.

Promotions: Look out for the best deals on the Swiss Travel Pass and mountains. There are often ‘extra-day’ or ‘class-upgrade’ promotions on the Swiss Travel Pass during the off-season.

Do your homework: Make sure to check if the intended mountains are fully or partially included in the Swiss Travel Pass, the weather on each around the time of travel, the best time of day to beat the crowds, the best time for photography, etc.

Get the most out of your Switzerland holiday with the Swiss Travel Pass- it is your ticket to comfort, convenience, flexibility, and savings. Make sure you take advantage of discounts on mountains, museums, and other attractions. Wait no further, lace up your hiking boots, pack the woolies, grab the camera, and set off for the Alps!