Zermatt base – Glacier Express day trip
A traveler is planning to spend 3 nights in Zermatt and is considering taking the Glacier Express for a day trip. They are seeking details on train schedules, whether they can hop on and off, traveling distances, and the scenery between Zermatt and Brig.
- For a day trip, consider local MGB trains instead of the Glacier Express, as they offer more flexibility and shorter travel times.
- Reserve your Glacier Express seat in advance if you choose to ride it.
- The scenery between Zermatt and Brig is not as spectacular as other sections, so local option might be better.
- Use the Swiss Travel Pass for easy travel without needing to reserve seats on most trains.
AI-generated summary-
We will be in Zermatt for 3 nites and are considering taking the Glacier Express for a day trip and will have the Swiss Travel Pass. Where can I find specific details including: 1) Train times and schedule between each stop starting in Zermatt 2) can we debark & embark at train stops along the route, 3) If we want to travel only a certain distance, i.e. 3 hours one way, can we catch the train back to Zermatt on the same ticket or do we need to predetermine that turnaround stop and book two one ways? 4) Thoughts on the leg between Zermatt & Brig-does the scenery match the other segments?
In addition to everyones valuable comments, hopefully there is a resource to describe answer these and other questions in detail.
Many thanks!
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The Glacier Express is designed to be used as a long distance journey with its restaurant and bar service etc. It is not suited to a day trip from Zermatt. Zermatt – Brig – Oberwald is the least ‘spectacular’ with the most spectacular sections being further East. If you want to take a day trip to Andermatt, this can be done by regional MGB trains.
You describe Zermatt as a ‘hub’ but it is quite ‘remote’ – for any day trip to ‘the rest of Switzerland’ over 2 hours per day are used up just to get as far as Visp
Thanks for your insight on this.
Yes, my description of Zermatt as a “hub” was not accurate.
Much appreciated……
Hi Delraysun1,
I agree with 1960man. Taking the local or regular train is perhaps is the best option for planning day trips from Zermatt. You can still travel on the Glacier Express from Zermatt to Andermatt if you wish, then take a local train back. Be sure to book your Glacier Express seat in advance: http://www.myswissalps.com/glacierexpress/tickets
You can find other day trip suggestions here: http://www.myswissalps.com/zermatt/activities
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Anna
Hi Steve,
There is so much hiking to be done in both the BO region and Zermatt. The BO does have more to offer since its a bigger, more broad area than the village of Zermatt. That being said, I would stay with your original plans in Zermatt. In Zermatt, the entire area above has hiking. From Sunnegga, (essentially right above the village) to the Gornergrat, Riffelberg-Rottenboden, all the way over to the Schwarzee Lake area. There’s the Hornli Hutte hike which will put you at the foot of the Matterhorn, as close to it without actually climbing it. Its where those who do climb it usually spend the night before the climb, to get an early start. There is the Matterhorn Glacier Trail that looks beautiful as well. Looks to be a few kilometers long. All of these trails will afford great/different views of the mountain. I spent just two nights and wish I spent a third one.
A day trip you might consider (from Zermatt) could take you to the Bettmeralp area. The Bettmerhorn or the Eggishorn affords plenty of hiking, as well as the view of the Aletsch Glacier. Its essentially the other end of what you’ll be seeing from the Jungfraujoch. Same glacier, other end. From Zermatt it can be reached in a little less than two hours. That may be better than riding the Glacier Express. As 1960man mentioned, on the GE, you’re somewhat ‘trapped’ on a six hour ride to Chur. If you want to stop at places along the way, that’s the beauty of the STP. You won’t need seat reserves (at an extra cost) if you ride along the main rail lines. In Sept its not as busy so the main lines are fine. As I mentioned earlier, you have a lot of time to research. Enjoy doing that.
Regards,
Danielsan
No problem!
Danielsan has now added the bit I was going to add but it was rather late in the night when I wrote my earlier post.
For day trip from Zermatt, take the regional MGB trains, and you can get off anywhere in the upper Rhone valley (aka the Goms region). Morel is a nice little village in the valley and from there you can take a cable car to beautiful Riederalp. The next place along is – as Danielsan says Betten/Bettmeralp and / or Fiesch – Eggishorn. The view of the Aletsch glacier from Eggishorn is great and its cheaper and more ‘genuine’ than Jungfraujoch nowadays.
Further up the MGB railway calls at Niederwald, which is the birthplace of Cesar Ritz (founder of Ritz hotels and therefore, arguably, tourism!)
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