What is Mittelallalin?
Mittelallalin is a viewpoint at 3457 m altitude above Saas-Fee in the Valais: a southern Swiss canton. It can be reached by gondola, cable car, and the "Metro Alpin" funicular. The top offers mountain views, the world's highest revolving restaurant, and a large ice cave with sculptures.
Mittelallalin means "mid-Allalin": it's a location on a ridge leading up to the actual Allalinhorn ('Mount Allalin').
Mittelallalin prices and reservations
Mittelallalin cable car/funicular prices in 2024
A standard return ticket between Saas-Fee and Mittelallalin costs CHF 75 until 31 May 2024, and CHF 79 from 1 June 2024.
Many rail passes provide discounts.
Mittelallalin discounts for overnight guests with the SaastalCard
If you spend the night in Saas-Fee you'll get the SaastalCard.
Summer discounts with the SaastalCard
- In summer and autumn, the SaastalCard allows free access to the mountain lifts around Saas-Fee, including the Mittelallalin journey as far as Felskinn.
- You can buy an additional "Metro Plus" ticket for the funicular from Felskinn to Mittelallalin. This allows use of the Felskinn-Mittelallalin "Metro Alpin" as often as you like, and includes access to the Ice Cave.
Winter discounts with the SaastalCard
In winter the SaastalCard offers discounts on ski passes and winter hiking passes. A winter hiking pass allows access to the Saas-Fee cable cars for 2, 4, or 6 days.
Find Mittelallalin tickets and tours
Offered by Viator: www.viator.com
- Easy, online, free cancellation in most cases
- Lowest Price Guarantee: Viator will refund the difference if you find a better price.
- Extra Support: if you buy here, MySwissAlps can also assist if you have questions about your order.
Offered by MySwissAlps: www.myswissalps.com
- Offer from one of our best partners.
- Extra Support: MySwissAlps can assist if you have questions about your order.
Offered by MySwissAlps: www.myswissalps.com
- Offer from one of our best partners.
- Extra Support: MySwissAlps can assist if you have questions about your order.
Promotions
There are currently no promotions available.
Discounted rides to Mittelallalin with your rail pass
Pass | Discount |
---|---|
Adventure Card |
Discount 50%:
|
Day Pass |
Discount 50%:
|
Swiss Half Fare Card |
Discount 50%:
|
Swiss Travel Pass |
Discount 50%:
|
Swiss Travel Pass Flex |
Discount 50%:
|
How to reach Mittelallalin: directions and map
Mittelallalin can be reached by gondola and funicular from the village Saas-Fee. The total journey from the bus terminal of Saas-Fee to the top takes 30-40 minutes.
How to get to Saas-Fee
You first need to travel to Saas-Fee, which can be done by bus or by car. Saas-Fee is car-free, so you need to park your car at the entrance of the village. Find more details here.
How to reach mid-station Felskinn
After arrival in Saas-Fee, you'll walk to one of the gondola stations. Depending on the season, just one of these is operational or they both are:
- The first option is the gondola called "Alpin Express". It ends at Felskinn.
- The second option is a cable car called "Felskinnbahn" that departs just outside the village of Saas-Fee (that area is called Bifig). The valley station can be reached on foot and goes to Felskinn as well.
How to get from Felskinn to Mittelallalin
Board the underground funicular called "Metro Alpin". It will take you from Felskinn to Mittelallalin.
Map with the route from Saas-Fee to Mittelallalin
Operation dates, schedules and timetable
When is Mittelallalin open?
Mittelallalin can be reached from 30 October 2023 to 21 April 2024, and from 29 June to 31 October 2024.
Planning your trip in the Swiss timetable
You can consult the cable car funicular schedules using the links here. It's also possible to plan your trip in the Swiss timetable. These are the destinations to enter:
- "Mittelallalin" is the name of the top station.
- "Saas-Fee, Busterminal" indicates the bus terminal and parking lot.
- "Saas-Fee, Alpin Express" and "Saas-Fee Bifig (Felskinn)" are the gondola valley stations.
- "Felskinn" is the mid-station.
Best months to visit Mittelallalin
All months in which the top of Mittelallalin can be visited are fine: early January to mid April and early July to late December. Each season has its own distinctive charm.
- December to March is the winter season. There's normally more than enough snow at Mittelallalin and the surrounding peaks, which results in fantastic views.
- June to September is the summer season. The contrast between snowy mountain peaks and the green Saas Valley is best in June in our opinion.
- October and November are fall. Chances of fresh snow increase, and you'll see autumn colors in the valley.
Weather tips and forecasts for Mittelallalin
Which temperatures to expect at Mittelallalin
The top station is at high altitude, so temperatures are much lower than in Saas-Fee. Even in summer it can be around freezing point. In winter temperatures, are mostly far below that: -10°C or -15°C for example.
The weather you need for a Mittelallalin excursion
A visit to Mittelallalin is best if it's (nearly) cloudless. The panorama from the top is what makes this journey so special and you don't want clouds to block the view. Indoor options such as the restaurant and the Ice Cave can be visited in all sorts of weather.
Low clouds and fog in the Saas Valley don't mean you shouldn't go up. Check forecasts and webcams for the top station first: sometimes the sky at high altitude is much clearer than at low altitude.
Current forecasts and temperatures for Mittelallalin
What to see and do at Mittelallalin
- You’ll have an impressive view of glaciers and many peaks of the Italian and Swiss Alps.
- The “Ice Cave Allalin” is the largest ice grotto in the world, with all sorts of beautiful ice sculptures. It’s accessible via a tunnel from the top station.
- You can have coffee or lunch in the world’s highest revolving restaurant, providing a 360°-view over the mountains.
- Skiing and snowboarding slopes are mostly accessible all year round. Many top snowboarders train here.
- Mittelallalin is where many mountaineers start their tours to the summits.
Mittelallalin FAQ
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How long does an excursion to Allalin take?
Allow at least 2 hours to visit Mittelallalin. Including the trip from Saas-Fee, you should allocate 3 hours to half a day.
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Which clothes should I wear to Mittelallalin?
Dress in multiple thinner layers so that you can adapt to the temperature differences between Saas-Fee and Mittelallalin. Take along gloves, a scarf, sun glasses and a hat. Solid shoes help too, especially in the Ice Cave. On winter days, you’ll have to dress extra warmly.
Check weather forecasts shortly before you leave. Find more tips for suitable clothes here.
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Is access to the Ice Cave included in the ticket to Mittelallalin?
No, access to the Ice Cave is not included in regular return tickets to Mittelallalin. You’ll have to buy an extra entrance ticket at CHF 20 per adult.
If you’re an overnight guest in Saas-Fee and get a “Metro Plus” ticket, the Ice Cave is included and you don’t need anything extra.
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Is altitude sickness a problem?
Mittelallalin is located at an altitude of nearly 3500 m. Anyone can suffer from (light) altitude sickness from about 2000 m. Usually it helps to take things slow and sit down for a while.
Special precautions apply to children under 2 years old, as well as people who are pregnant or in poor health: before visiting areas over 2500 m, you’d better consult your doctor. In most cases staying at such altitudes for just a few hours is no problem.
Other websites of interest
- www.saas-fee.ch: the Ice Cave at Mittelallalin
- www.saas-fee.ch: the revolving restaurant Allalin
Schedules
- www.saas-fee.ch: Saas-Fee cable cars timetable
Prices
- www.saas-fee.ch: Saas-Fee cable cars ticket prices
- www.saas-fee.ch: the SaastalCard
Similar mountain visits from Zermatt
Zermatt is in the valley west of Saas-Fee. It takes some time to get there, but a day trip is doable. From Zermatt, you can visit several mountains similar to Mittelallalin.