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Season: early January to mid October and mid November to late December
Recommended season: early January to late February, early April to mid October and mid December to late December
Max. altitude: 2971 m (9747 ft)What is Glacier 3000? 
Glacier 3000 is a viewpoint, ski, and summer sports area located in the mountains of the south-western Swiss canton of Vaud. It's only 30 minutes from the famous resort Gstaad. A cable car takes you up from the valley station Col-du-Pillon to the top station Scex Rouge.
Wide panoramic views of the Swiss mountains await you here. If weather is clear, you can see the Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, and 24 other mountains over 4000 meters.
In addition, you can enjoy lots of activities. Examples are the Peak Walk suspension bridge, a snow fun park, a mountain coaster, and several alpine hikes.
➤ Prices, tickets and reservations
Glacier 3000 - prices
| View more prices and discounts | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| View ticket prices and discounts (swissrailways.com) | CHF 45 | Return trip with a Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Travel Pass Flex or Swiss Half Fare Card |
| View ticket prices and discounts (swissrailways.com) | CHF 89 | Return trip with a normal ticket, full fare |
What's included in the cable car tickets
For a regular sightseeing visit you need a so-called 'pedestrian ticket'. This includes the cable car rides and several activities, such as the Peak Walk, the Ice Express chairlift, sledding in the fun park, and the Glacier Walk. Other activities aren't included. Examples:
- If you want to ski, you'll need separate ski tickets.
- The alpine coaster in summer has to be paid for separately.
- Dog sled rides have to be reserved in advance at additional costs.
Tours to Glacier 3000
If you book a tour to Glacier 3000, travel and cable car tickets are usually included. Always check the exact terms and conditions.
Where to buy your Glacier 3000 tickets
Tickets to Glacier 3000 are available online and at the gondola valley station at Col-du-Pillon.
➤ Glacier 3000 discounts with your rail pass
The destination is referred to as “Glacier-des-Diablerets” on most rail pass validity maps.
| Pass | Discount |
|---|---|
| Day Pass | Discount 50%:
|
| Regional Pass Lake Geneva-Alps | Discount 50%:
|
| Swiss Half Fare Card | Discount 50%:
|
| Swiss Travel Pass | Discount 50%:
|
| Swiss Travel Pass Flex | Discount 50%:
|
How to reach Glacier 3000: directions and map
Where is Glacier 3000 located?
Glacier 3000 is in the mountains of Vaud, a canton in south-western Switzerland. It's bordered by the Lake Geneva area with Montreux in the west, the western part of the Bernese Oberland with Gstaad in the north, and Valais in the south.
The valley station Col-du-Pillon is only accessible by bus or car. The best villages to depart from are Gstaad and Les Diablerets. From Col-du-Pillon, two cable cars get you up to Glacier 3000.
Getting to the valley station Col-du-Pillon
The Col-du-Pillon cable car station is accessible by car or bus from Gstaad (30 minutes) or from Les Diablerets (15 minutes).
Gstaad is on the GoldenPass train route, so you can combine part of this scenic ride with a visit to Glacier 3000. Examples of travel times by train/bus to Col-du-Pillon from several towns on the GoldenPass line:
- Gstaad: 0h30
- Montreux: 1h25 to 1h55
- Interlaken: 2h20 to 3h00
If you come by car, you can park at the Col-du-Pillon valley station for free.
Getting to Glacier 3000
You'll board a large cable car from Col-du-Pillon to the top station Glacier 3000. There's a change at the mid-station Cabane-des-Diablerets.
How long an excursion to Glacier 3000 takes
You need about 2,5 hours for a round trip from Col-du-Pillon. In this timeframe, you can enjoy the views and spend time in the restaurants or on one of the activities. You can easily make a full-day trip out of this if you plan to hike or do several activities.
Don't forget to add the travel time to and from the top, especially if you start your day trip in a town further away than Gstaad.
Operation dates, schedules and timetable
2026 operating dates for Glacier 3000
The cableways from Col-du-Pillon to the top operate:
- from 8 November 2025 to 30 April 2026 (winter and ski season: in favorable snow conditions, ski lifts are open)
- from 1 May to 19 October 2026
- from 7 November 2026 to well into 2026 (winter and ski season)
There's a revision break from 20 October to 6 November 2026.
How to plan the journey to Glacier 3000
You can plan most of your journey with the Swiss timetable. Details:
- The bus stop near the valley station is called "Col-du-Pillon, Glacier 3000".
- The cable car valley station is called "Col-du-Pillon (téléphérique)".
- The mid-station of the cable car is "Cabane-des-Diabl. (Glacier)".
- The ride to the top station (officially called "(Glacier du) Sex Rouge"/"Scex Rouge" or "Glacier-des-Diablerets") is not included in the general timetable. Consult the specific Glacier 3000 timetable here instead.
Best months to visit the top
The best months for a trip to Glacier 3000 are early January to late February, early April to mid October and mid December to late December. Details:
- Most snow falls in January and February. So chances to enjoy the winter activities at Glacier 3000 are optimal.
- April-June and October allow you to see striking contrasts between the green valleys and the snowy mountain tops during your ride to the top.
- July, August and September are the perfect months for high-altitude hikes at Glacier 3000.
Mid-November to early December and March are fine too. But season-wise they're 'in-between' months, so it's hard to tell what weather and snow conditions at the top will be like.
Weather tips and forecast for Glacier 3000
Clear and sunny weather is ideal for your visit to Glacier 3000: it allows you to enjoy the wide panoramic views from the top. If you mainly go up for activities such as the mountain coaster and sledding, this is less important.
If you plan high-altitude hiking, good weather is a must. Check forecasts shortly before setting off, and change your plans in case of doubt. Learn more about safe hiking in the Swiss Alps here.
The cable cars to Glacier 3000 operate in all kinds of weather, but they may shut down in case of heavy wind or other extreme circumstances.
What to do at Glacier 3000: the options per season
All-season activities at Glacier 3000
- You can have culinary breaks in bars and restaurants. The “Botta” establishment was designed by the famous Swiss architect Mario Botta, after a fire destroyed his previous restaurant at the top. The new complex features high windows and a large panoramic roof terrace with views of the Peak Walk suspension bridge and many mountain tops. On the 4th floor, it houses the chic “Botta restaurant”. The self-service restaurant “Le 3”, where you can order directly from your table via a QR code, can be found at the 3rd floor. Or you can have quick bite in the smaller chalet-style restaurant “Le Carnotzet” on the 2nd floor. In addition, there’s a restaurant at the valley station Col-du-Pillon.
- From the top, you can make a short walk to the viewpoint where a wonderful mountain panorama awaits you.
- This viewpoint provides access to the spectacular Peak Walk: a short hiking route over a breathtaking suspension bridge connecting two mountain tops. If you suffer from fear of heights, it’s not suitable for you.
- The Ice Express chairlift takes you down to the glacier, where you can enjoy sledding in the fun park.
- You can book a dog sled ride. Sled rides are only possible in favorable weather conditions.
More summer activities at Glacier 3000
These are your extra options when you visit in summer:
- Roll down the alpine coaster.
- Take a hike. There are wonderful panoramic routes, including one leading to the Dôme mountain and back to Scex Rouge. The Glacier Walk is another impressive route. This path takes you across the glacier to the restaurant Refuge l’Espace on the glacier’s edge. From there, you’ll have wonderful views down into the Derborance Valley and into the Valais. You can skip the first steep section of the hike by taking the Ice Express chairlift down to the glacier.
- Challenge yourself on one of the via ferrata routes.
More winter activities at Glacier 3000
This is how you enjoy the snow at Glacier 3000 in winter:
- There’s a snowpark for freestyle skiing and snowboarding, usually open from November to April (the exact dates depend on weather and snow conditions).
- Cross-country skiing is possible too.
- In the fun park, you can enjoy sledding.
- You’ll find several groomed winter hiking trails, including the Glacier Walk.
➤ Get your Glacier 3000 tickets and tours here
Promotions
- www.refugelespace.ch: mountain hut Refuge l'Espace
Schedules
- www.glacier3000.ch: Glacier 3000 operation dates and timetables
Prices
- www.swissrailways.com: Glacier 3000 tickets at the official SBB tourist webshop
- www.glacier3000.ch: Glacier 3000 ticket prices
Depending on the time you spend at Glacier 3000, you can add a few more activities to your day trip. A visit to Gstaad is possible. If you have more time, you can travel to Montreux. A ride in the GoldenPass is another option.
GoldenPass
Gstaad
Bernese Oberland
