In summer, many mountains in Switzerland offer early morning cable car rides, so you can enjoy the sunrise from the top of the mountain without hiking up in the dark. Most offer a sunrise brunch at the mountain restaurant. After the event, you can spend the day hiking in the area or go back home to sleep.
Here are the Swiss mountains offering sunrise events.
Important info about sunrise rides
Some sunrise rides require a reservation, some only need a reservation for breakfast. Pay attention to the requirements for the particular mountain you choose to avoid disappointment.
All restaurants require a reservation for the sunrise breakfast. Some brunches are included in the sunrise package price. Others are paid separately.
Sunrise happens at different times over the course of the summer. The cable car schedules are designed so you can arrive in the dark and spend about 30-60 mins watching the light emerge until the sun actually appears. The breakfast brunch usually opens shortly after the sun actually pops over the horizon.
Dress appropriately for the chilly morning temperatures even in summer, with warm jackets, gloves and hats.
Most sunrise events will be cancelled due to cloudy and rainy weather that would obscure the sunrise. They typically notify you the day before if the event will happen and will issue a refund.
You will need to arrive by car, as the departure times are before public transportation starts running. You may consider staying overnight near the mountain to reduce your travel time.
If a mountain does not offer a sunrise event, many mountains have hotels where you can stay overnight and still catch the sunset and sunrise.
Near Zurich
1. Säntis
Sundays in July and August, you can ride the cable car up to Mt Säntis starting at 5 a.m. to catch the sunrise. You can wander around the outdoor terraces, watching the golden light spread across the mountain peaks.
The breakfast buffet is served at the restaurant at the top, so you can still catch the views through the panorama windows.
Dates: Sundays in July and August. First ascent in July at 5:00, in August at 6:00.
Cost: Mountain transport and breakfast – CHF 72/adult. Discount for GA, Half Fare, Swiss Travel Pass and children. Reservation required for breakfast – call +41 71 365 65 65.
Location: Säntis cable car station in Schwägialp
More info: Säntis
2. Chäserrugg
In the Toggenburg region southeast of Zurich, you can ride a funicular and then a cable car up to Chäserrugg at 2262m to watch the sunrise over the cliffs. Before or after breakfast, you can wander along the cliffs on the easy Panorama trail. Chäserrugg also offers full moon dinners.
Dates: Sundays in July and August. Cable car leaves every 30 mins starting at 5:00 (9 July – 6 Aug 2023) or 5:30 (13 Aug – 27 Aug 2023).
Cost: Mountain transport and breakfast – CHF 89/adult or CHF 72/adult with GA or Half Fare Card. Children with a Junior Card ride free but pay for breakfast. Purchase online.
Location: Unterwasser-Iltios funicular – Früeweidstrasse 8, 9657 Unterwasser
More info: Chaeserrugg.ch
3. Kronberg
At this low elevation mountain near Appenzell, you can ride the cable car up to watch the sunrise over the Alpstein mountain range. The event is accompanied by alphorns. From 6:00 to 8:00, you can enjoy a breakfast buffet at the mountain restaurant.
Dates: Sundays in August
Cost: cable car and breakfast – CHF 63/adult. Discounts for GA, Swiss Travel Pass, Half Fare and children.
Location: Jakobsbad-Kronberg cable car station – St. Josefstrasse 2, 9108 Jakobsbad. Departure at 5:30 am.
More info: Kronberg.ch
4. Lenzerheide Parpan Rothorn
From Lenzerheide, you ride a gondola then cable car up to Parpaner Rothorn at 2,865 m. Then a short hike on a mountain trail to the summit where you can enjoy the sunrise over the mountain peaks.
After sunrise, they offer breakfast at the Rothorngipfel mountain restaurant. Then you can optionally spend the day hiking or mountain biking in the area.
Dates: In 2023 – July 14 & 21 / Aug 20 & 27 / Oct 4, 11, 18, 25 . Cable car departs 05.10 am. Sunrise sunrise 06.07 am.
Cost: Cable cars and breakfast – CHF 60/adult, CHF 35/child 6-15
Location: Rothorn cable car station – Voa Principala 80, 7078 Vaz/Obervaz.
More info: Arosa Lenzerheide
Near Lucerne
5. Titlis
On Swiss National Day (1 Aug 2023), you can ride to the Titlis glacier to watch the sunrise. Then you can enjoy breakfast at the Panorama restaurant.
On the way back down the mountain, you can stop at the Trübsee where there is an easy stroll around a lake and nice playground for the children. If you want to stay overnight close by, we suggest the hotel at the Trübsee middle station.
Cost: Cable cars and breakfast – CHF 109/adult, CHF 72/children aged 6-15. Reservation required.
Date: Tues 1 Aug 2023. Departures between 4:15 – 5:30 am. Sunrise at approx. 6:06 am.
Location: Engelberg Titlis cable car – Gerschnistrasse 12, 6390 Engelberg
More info: Titlis.ch
6. Stanserhorn
Stanserhorn near Lucerne has two sunrise rides this summer, one in August and one in September. The Friday before the event, they will decide if the sunrise will happen based on the weather forecast.
This event has a discounted price for the early morning cable car ride and optional brunch at their restaurant shown here.
Dates: 15 Aug 2023 at 5:15 • 17 Sept 2023 at 5:45
Cost: Cable car CHF 37/adult. Breakfast – CHF 22.50/person
Location: Stans funicular – Stansstaderstrasse 19, 6370 Stans
More info: Stanserhorn.
7. Stoos
Every Friday in August and September, you can ride the Stoos funicular and chair lifts in the early morning up to the Fronalpstock viewpoint. From there, you can watch the sunrise light up dozens of mountain peaks in all directions. Then you can enjoy a breakfast buffet at the restaurant with big panorama windows.
After breakfast, you can ride the lifts back down or hike down to enjoy the scenery longer.
Dates: Fridays in August (5:00 am) and September (5:40 am)
Cost: Mountain transport and breakfast – CHF 78/adult. Discount for GA, Half Fare, Swiss Travel Pass and children. (2022 prices)
Location: Stoos funicular station – Grundstrasse 232, 6430 Schwyz
More info: Stoos
8. Rigi
Rigi offers sunrise rides on the mountain train from Arth Goldau on a few Sundays in July, August and September. The train takes you to Rigi Kulm to watch the sunrise over many mountains in all directions.
You can optionally book breakfast is at Chäserenholzhütte, a 15 min walk from the Rigi Kulm station across alpine meadows.
Dates: 23 July / 13 & 27 Aug / 3 & 17 Sept 2023. Departure times vary by date.
Cost: Mountain transport and breakfast – CHF 99/adult. Without breakfast – CHF 75/adult. Discounts for GA, Swiss Travel Pass, Half Fare and children.
Location: Arth Goldau train station or A4 parking lot, minimum 10 minutes before the departure time
More info: Rigi.ch
9. Brienzer Rothorn
Not running in 2023 due to renovation
Riding to the top of the Brienzer Rothorn is nice any day. But on Sundays in July and August, you can ride up starting at 5:15 so you can see the sunrise from the mountain peak at 2350m. I couldn’t recommend this special experience more!!!
You don’t need to pre-book the cable car tickets, but it is popular so I recommend arriving by at least 5:00 to stand in line to catch the first cable car up so you don’t miss a minute of the magic. This is a view from the top at 5:20 in mid-July, about 20 mins before the sun appears.
It’s chilly up there even in summer (about 4C the day we were there), so bring warm layers and gloves. It was so nice to experience this together!
There’s a fenced in viewpoint where many people stand. But you can wander around the top to spread out a bit, but stay safe! There are some steep drop-offs all around.
You can email gipfelrestaurant@soerenberg.ch or call +41 (0)33 951 26 27 to reserve. The breakfast buffet costs CHF 25.50/adult, CHF 15.50/child aged 6-12, under 6 free.
Dates: usually Sundays in July and August, but no trips in 2023 due to renovation
Cost: Cable car – CHF 40/adult, CHF 20/adult with GA or Half Fare Card. Breakfast – CHF 25.50. Reservation required.
Location: Sörenberg-Brienzer Rothorn cable car
More info: Sörenberg.ch
Valais Region
10. Zermatt Gornergrat
From the Zermatt village, a cogwheel train takes you up the mountain to the Rotenboden stop. Then a short walk down to the Riffelsee lake, where you can take the classic photo of the Matterhorn peak reflected in the calm water.
If the weather is clear, the sunrise will light up the Matterhorn peak and you’ll get that also in the reflection.
After about one hour at the lake, you ride the train further up the mountain to the Gornergrat hotel, where you can enjoy the breakfast buffet. Then you can explore the viewpoint, start a hike, or ride the train back down to Zermatt.
Dates: Sundays in July, August and September. Departure time varies from 4:50 – 6:15 depending on date.
Cost: Mountain train and breakfast – CHF 135/adult. Discounts for GA, Swiss Travel Pass, Half Fare and children.
Location: Gornergrat train station in Zermatt
More info: Gornergrat
If this journey doesn’t fit your budget, you can enjoy the sunrise for free from a fabulous vantage point in the Zermatt village – see on map. On one of our ski trips, I work up early and walked to this viewpoint to take the picture below. Absolutely worth it!
11. Zermatt Stellisee
On summer Saturdays, you can ride up the Zermatt Rothorn mountain and do a short hike to an alpine lake and small hut for sunrise and breakfast.
First, you ride a funicular train from Zermatt up to Sunnegga. Then a gondola up to the Blauherd station. Then about a 20 mins hike to the Stellisee lake to watch the sunrise and capture reflections of the Matterhorn in the lake.
Then another 20 mins to the Fluhalp mountain restaurant for a hearty breakfast. From here, you can enjoy the sun lighting up the alpine pastures and mountains all around. The hike is not guided, but the path is well marked and easy to follow.
You can return the way you came. Or complete the 5-Lake-Trail, ending at the Sunnegga station, where you can ride the funicular down to Zermatt.
Dates: Saturdays July, August and September. Departure time varies from 4:45 – 6:15 depending on date.
Cost: Mountain train and breakfast – CHF 70.50/adult. Discounts for GA, Half Fare, Peak Pass, Swiss Travel Pass, and children (under 9 free).
Registration: up to 3 pm the day before
Location: Sunnegg-Rothorn valley station. Arrive at least 20 mins before departure.
More info: Matterhorn Paradise
12. Aletsch Arena Eggishorn
On summer Fridays, you can watch the sunrise from the Eggishorn peak at 2,926m, with a spectacular view over the Aletsch Glacer. To reach the peak, you ride two cable cars, which open around 4:45 so you can get to the top before sunrise. Alphorn players are usually present to accompany the special event.
You’ll spend about 90 mins at the top, then ride the cable car down to the middle station at the Fiescheralp alpine village. You’ll find the breakfast buffet at the Alpenlodge Kühboden restaurant (see on map). You could also spend the night here, so you don’t have to travel far in the early morning to reach the cable car.
Dates: Fridays 30 June – 18 Aug 2023 / Tues 1 Aug 2023
Cost: Cable cars and breakfast – CHF 65/adult, CHF 45.50/child 6-15. No reductions with travel cards.
Registration: reserve online until 14:00 the day before. It only happens in good weather with at least 20 people registered.
Location: Fiesch cable car station – Fieschertalstrasse 28, 3984 Fiesch. Meet 15 minutes before departure.
More info: Learn more.
13. Saas Fee Mittelallain
On a few days in July and August, you can watch the sunrise over a glacier at the Saas Fee Mittelallain station at 3,500m. Afterwards, you can eat breakfast at the Allalin revolving restaurant with panorama windows.
The pricing is a little confusing. The special sunrise experience costs CHF 55/adults with breakfast, CHF 20/adult no breakfast, CHF 25/child age 6-15, under age 6 CHF 1 per year of age. You must to book this ticket in advance.
In addition, you must to pay for the cable car from Saas Fee to Mittelallain. You do not book this advance, just purchase on site when you arrive. This price varies depending which discount cards you might have.
- Saastal Card – CHF 45/adult. If you are staying overnight in the Saastal area, you receive the Saastal guest card, which includes all mountain railways in the area, except Mittelallain which always costs a bit extra even without the sunset.
- GA, Half Fare, Swiss Travel Pass – CHF 37.50/adult
- MagicPass – CHF 45/adult
- no discounts – CHF 75/adult, CHF 37.50/child
- children with SBB Junior Card or Family Card – free
Dates: Departure times vary over the summer, check for your specific date.
- Tu 11 July 2023, depart 4.30 a.m.
- Tu 18 July 2023, depart 4.45 a.m.
- Tu 25 July 2023, depart 5.00 a.m. – with music by Alphornfreunde Saas-Fee
- Th 3 Aug 2023, depart 5.00 a.m.
- Tu 8 Aug 2023, depart 5.00 a.m.
- Sun 13 Aug 2023, depart 5.00 a.m.
Cost: Cable cars and breakfast – starting at CHF 92.50/adult, see above for details.
How to book: must reserve online until 14:00 the day before. It only happens in good weather and minimum 30 participants.
Location: Alpin Express valley station in Saas Fee (see on map). Arrive minimum 15 mins before departure.
More info: Learn more.
14. Mont Fort
From Verbier in southwest Switzerland, you can watch the sunrise from Mont Fort at 3,330 m. On Saturdays and Thursdays from mid-July to mid-August, you can book a sunrise package that includes your cable car ride from the Verbier village. You will receive a warm drink at the at the top. You can optionally book a sunrise yoga class.
See Verbier’s video of the Mont Fort sunrise event.
After sunrise, you ride down one station to the Black Tap Restaurant (see on map) for a continental breakfast (bread, butter, jam, juice, coffee, etc). Then you can hike in the Verbier region as your lift ticket is valid for unlimited use all day. See a Verbier hike we suggest.
Dates: Saturdays and Thursdays from mid-July to mid-August
Cost: Cable cars + continental breakfast – CHF 80/adult, discounts for youth, children, and seniors.
How to book: Must reserve online in advance.
Location: Verbier Médran lift – see on map. Departure at 4:15 or 4:25 depending on the date.
More info: 4 Vallées website
Near St Moritz
15. Piz Nair
Piz Nair offers early morning rides to the peak at 3057m three times in summer. The price includes the early morning ride, breakfast and a day pass for the mountain transport in the Piz Nair area. So you can mountain bike or hike as much as you like after sunrise, utilizing the lifts.
We like the hike from Piz Nair down to the beautiful Lej Alv lake and then to the middle station.
Dates: the dates haven’t been published for 2023
Cost: Cable cars + breakfast – starting at CHF 75/adult
How to book: Reserve online in advance.
Location: St Moritz – Corviglia funicular – Via Stredas 14, 7500 St. Moritz
More info: engadin.ch
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