During winter season, some mountain viewpoints in Switzerland are still open for visitors. So even if you don’t ski, you can still enjoy spectacular views with minimal effort, by simply riding a cable car to the viewpoint.
But you do need to plan carefully as not every mountain area is open in winter and some may close for brief maintenance periods.
So below I’ve listed the best viewpoints to consider if you are visiting Switzerland in winter. I’ve only included viewpoints that can be reached directly with a mountain railway (i.e. cable car, funicular, mountain train) without a winter hike.
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What to expect at winter mountain viewpoints
When visiting mountains in winter, remember that most of these areas are open as ski resorts. So all services will be crowded with skiers, sledders and winter hikers. This means parking lots fill up by 9:30am and there can be long lines for the cable cars to get onto the mountain.
and restaurants are packed full at lunchtime (best to make a reservation).
All tourist mountain viewpoints have restaurants where you can warm up. It’s best to make reservations for lunch (even at some self-serve cafeterias). Otherwise you may find it difficult or impossible to find a place to sit indoors. Note that picnics are not allowed and they expect you to order at least a drink or snack to occupy the table.
Note that some mountain railways close a maintenance break, usually for a week or so in early and late winter (I’ve noted that below). Also mountain railways may close temporarily due to high winds or other poor weather conditions. So always check the relevant websites to confirm operating status and opening times before you make plans.
Weather can be very cold, windy, and change quickly on mountain tops. So best to wear warm, windproof layers, waterproof boots, and bring a warm hat and gloves.
Operating hours are reduced in winter due to the short daylight hours. Many mountain railways close around 16:00. So check the schedules carefully and start your day early if possible.
Jungfrau Region & Bernese Oberland
Note that the following mountain viewpoints in this region are not open in winter: Harder Kulm, Schynige Platte, Niesen, Brienzer Rothorn.
1. Grindelwald First
The First mountain above Grindelwald is perhaps our favorite winter viewpoint in the Jungfrau Region. From Grindelwald village, you ride a gondola about 25 mins to the top, where you’ll find the popular cliff walk and restaurant with a panorama terrace.
To reach the First Cliff Walk, it’s a short 5 min walk on snow to reach the metal walkway built into the sides of the cliff. It has a suspension bridge and suspended walkway with a glass floor. The walkway ends at the restaurant where you can warm up indoors.
Location: Grindelwald First gondola – Dorfstrasse 187, 3818 Grindelwald
Open: maintenance break typically end of Oct to beginning of December. Check timetables.
Conditions: live status • webcams • forecast
2. Jungfraujoch (3454m)
Open year round
You can visit Jungfraujoch year round, either with the mountain train from Lauterbrunnen or Eiger Express cable car from Grindelwald. Note that other mountain transport in the region (e.g. Männlichen and Grindelwald First) close mid October and reopen for ski season in December.
Location: Grindelwald Terminal, Eiger Express cable car. Parking parking at Grundstrasse 54, 3818 Grindelwald • train station – Grindelwald Terminal
Open: year round. no scheduled breaks
Current conditions: Jungfrau Region operating times • webcams • weather
Learn more about visiting Jungfraujoch
3. Schilthorn (2970m) & Birg Thrill Walk
Note: In 2024, the Schilthorn cable cars are being renovated. The section from Stechelberg – Mürren – Birg is scheduled to open 13 Dec 2024. The section Birg to Schilthorn is scheduled to open 15 Mar 2024. Learn more.
The Schilthorn is a tall mountain peak above Mürren, with a spectacular viewpoint easily accessible by cable car. At the top, there is a panorama terrace where you can admire the three famous peaks – Jungfrau, Eiger, Monch – and countless other mountains as you wander the safely enclosed observation desk.
As part of your visit, make sure to stop at the Birg middle station to experience the Thrill Walk with metal walkways built into the side of the mountain.
Location: cable car at Stechelberg (see on Google Maps)
Open: currently closed for renovation until mid March 2024 / then open year round, usually maintenance break in late October
Current conditions: operating status • webcam • timetables
Learn more about visiting Schilthorn
Lake Lucerne Region
These three mountains are popular with tourists all year. But only Mt. Rigi has hiking options early and late in the season because of it’s lower elevation.
4. Mt. Rigi (1798m)
Open year round
The mountain trains to the top of Rigi from Goldau and Vitznau are open year round. At the top of Rigi Kulm, you get spectacular views of lakes and mountains in all directions.
For a more active day, they have groomed winter walking paths and sledding trails, rental on site.
Location: Rigi train at Vitznau – Bahnhofstrasse 7, 6354 Vitznau
Open: Year round. Current operating schedule.
Current conditions: Rigi operating status • webcams • weather
5. Mt. Titlis (3238m)
Open year round, except maintenance break 4 Nov – 15 Nov 2024
From the Engelberg village, you can ride cable cars to the Titlis glacier, where you can walk on snow all year long. There are a variety of amusements, including a suspension bridge, ice cave and sledding. You can visit all year long except a small maintenance break in mid November.
Location: Titlis cable car – Gerschnistrasse 12, 6390 Engelberg • Bus stop: Engelberg, Titlisbahn
Open: year round, except maintenance break 4 Nov – 15 Nov 2024
Current conditions: Titlis operating hours • live status • webcams • weather
Learn more about visiting Mt Titlis
6. Mt. Pilatus (2132m)
Open year round
Mt Pilatus is a tall mountain near Lucerne, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region. From the observation deck at the top, you get a spectacular view of Lake Lucerne and mountains in all directions.
All year long, you can reach the top with cable cars from Kriens, except for a short maintenance break typically at the end of October.
From mid May through mid November, you can also ride to the top on a steep cogwheel train from Alpnachstad, providing service when the cable car is closed.
Location: Kriens cable car – Schlossweg 1, 6010 Kriens • Alpnachstad cogwheel train – Brünigstrasse 2, 6053 Alpnach
Open: Kriens cable car closed for maintenance from 21 Oct – 8 Nov 2024. During this break, you can instead ride to the top via the Alpnachstad cogwheel train, which is open 17 Nov 2024 (after that, the train is closed until mid May).
Current conditions: Pilatus live status & webcams • weather
Learn more about visiting Mt Pilatus
Zermatt viewpoints
Zermatt is at a high elevation so most mountain railways close here the first week of October or earlier if they get snow. But the Gornergrat railway and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise cable cars run all year for tourists, even after the ski slopes open.
7. Gornergrat (3135m)
Open year round, maintenance break 2 Nov – 7 Nov 2024
Hiking season in Zermatt ends in early October and most mountain transport closes for a few weeks until ski season starts in December.
But the Gornergrat mountain railway runs year round, with spectacular views of the Matterhorn on a clear day.
If you visit in winter, they have a winter hiking trail on prepared snow.
The train takes a short maintenance break in early November (2 Nov – 7 Nov 2024). Check current operating times.
Location: Gornergrat mountain railway – Bahnhofpl. 1, 3920 Zermatt
Current conditions: timetable • Gornergrat webcam • weather
8. Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (3883m)
Open year round
The cable cars from Zermatt to the Matterhorn Glacier paradise are open year round, the closest you can get to the Matterhorn without hiking. You can ski here year round.
Children under 3 are not allowed on the cable car from Trockener Steg to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise due to risk of altitude sickness.
Note: During October and November, some cable cars on the connection from Zermatt to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise are closed for maintenance. But you can still get to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise via alternate routes as described on the Zermatt website.
Location: cable car – Schluhmattstrasse 121, 3920 Zermatt
Current conditions: live status • webcams • weather
Note: During October and November, some cable cars on the connection from Zermatt to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise are closed for maintenance. But you can still get to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise via alternate routes as described on the Zermatt website.
Learn more about visiting Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.
Eastern Switzerland
These two viewpoints are not ski areas but remain open in winter so tourists can catch the views.
9. Mt. Säntis (2502m)
Open year round, maintenance break 20 Jan 2025 – 7 Feb 2025
Mt. Säntis is a mountain peak in eastern Switzerland at 2502 m. You can ride a cable car up to a large complex built on the rocky peak, where you can safely enjoy the views from multiple observation decks. On a clear day, you can see six countries and countless mountains peaks in all directions.
They have a restaurant at the top with big windows, so you can enjoy the view while eating. You’ll also find two traditional Swiss restaurants in the valley near the cable car. In any case, best to reserve to avoid a long wait.
From the middle of November to early March, this area has a “Lantern path” that starts at the Säntis parking lot. It’s a groomed winter trail lit with dozens of oil lamps. It leads to the Gasthaus Passhöhe restaurant where you can eat fondue before heading back. The path is lit Thurs-Sat from 17:00 – 20:00. Reservations required.
If you want to do the Lantern Path, you could visit Säntis in the late afternoon to catch the fading sun and take the last cable car down at 17:00. Then the Lantern path is ready for you.
Location: Säntis cable car – Schwägalp 791, 9107 Schwägalp
Open: Open year round, except a maintenance break usually end of January to middle of February. See current operating times.
Website: saentisbahn.ch
Learn more about visiting Mt Säntis
10. Hoher Kasten (1791m)
Open year round, maintenance break in spring
Hoher Kasten is a tall mountain at 1794 m near Appenzell, which has beautiful views towards Liechtenstein, Austria and Eastern Switzerland. A cable car brings you to the top, where you can enjoy the views from their panorama terrace.
They offer the unique experience of dining in a rotating restaurant, so you can enjoy the changing view while you eat. It’s particularly popular for their breakfast buffet and full moon dinner. Best to make a reservation.
Since this area is not a ski resort, it’s a relaxing place to enjoy alpine views in winter. But if you also want to do winter hiking or sports, best to choose a ski resort instead.
Location: Hoher Kasten cable car station – Dorf 22, 9058 Brülisau • Bus stop – Brülisau, Kastenbahn
Open: The cable car is open year round, except for a maintenance break, usually from end of February to end of March. See current schedule.
Current conditions: webcams • weather
Learn more about Hoher Kasten
Western Switzerland
11. Rochers-de-Naye (2,040 m)
Rochers-de-Naye is a tall mountain peak high above Montreux. You ride a cogwheel mountain train from the center of Montreux, about an hour to reach the top. From the viewpoint, you get fantastic views across Lake Geneva and the French alps.
From November to May, there’s not much to do at the top during winter, except take pictures and eat at the restaurant. From June to October, you can hike along the ridge, getting different perspectives of the peak.
Location: mountain train leaves from Montreux train station
Current conditions: webcams • forecast
Learn more about Rochers de Naye
