The Matterhorn is one of the most recognisable mountains in the world. But getting great photos can be tricky. Here’s our guide to the best views of the Matterhorn and instructions for how to get to them.
By: Paul Healy | Last Updated: | Comments & Questions
The Matterhorn is one of the most iconic mountains in the world. It’s pyramidal shape of has four faces pointing almost directly towards the four faces of the compass.
Narrow ridges connect each face rising precipitously to the summit.
Getting to the summit takes a high level of fitness and climbing experience, but there are many simpler ways to get great views of the Matterhorn.
A couple of the best viewpoints are right in the centre of Zermatt. Some can be reached easily and involve little more than a cable car or a train ride. While others are trickier requiring all-day hikes.
Paul and I have visited Zermatt three times and walked many of the trails looking for the perfect photo. After much debate, here are the best views of the Matterhorn and how to get to them. We just hope you get clearer skies than we have managed so far.

WHERE ARE THE BEST MATTERHORN VIEWS
The Matterhorn (4,478m high) is in the European Alps, situated on the Swiss–Italian border.
The nearest town on the Swiss side is Zermatt. The nearest town on the Italian side is Breuil Cervinia.
A few years ago the only way to get from one to the other without skiing was to take a 4 hour circuitous drive. But in 2023 the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing opened, connecting them on a glorious 90-minute cable car ride.
The best views of the Matterhorn are from the northern and eastern sides which are most easily accessed from Zermatt.
The town has lots of great hotel options and we have included our favourites in our where to stay in Zermatt Guide.

BEST VIEWS OF THE MATTERHORN
The best views of the Matterhorn are either in Zermatt itself or dotted around the mountains that surround it. Some require hiking but most can easily be accessed by the cable cars, trains, and funiculars.
Here are our favourites and how to get to each one.
1. RIFFELSEE & RIFFELBERG
Topping the list is the view from Riffelsee Lake. On a still day the water provides the most perfect reflection shot of the pyramidal mountain.
Another great spot nearby is just before Riffelberg Train Station where a chapel sits perfectly under the flanks of the mountain.
HOW TO GET TO RIFFELSEE
The easiest way to get to Riffelsee is to take the Gornergrat Train from Zermatt to Rotenboden Train Station. From Rotenboden it is a 5-minute walk to the lake.
Follow the trail downhill and it’s a further 30-minute hike to the chapel & Riffelberg Train Station.


2. KLEIN MATTERHORN
Klein Matterhorn is a 3,883-meter peak sitting on the ridge between the Matterhorn and Breithorn mountains.
At the peak is the Mountain Glacier Paradise Viewing Platform. From here the eastern and southern faces of the Matterhorn can be seen above a field of snow and ice.
However, the views in the other direction are just as staggering. Hikers can be seen ascending 4,164m high Breithorn and the peaks of Castor and Lyskamm poke the snowfield.
In total, on a clear day, you can see thirty-eight 4,000-metre peaks and 14 glaciers. It’s not just a great view of the Matterhorn but one of the best things to do in Zermatt.
HOW TO GET TO KLEIN MATTERHORN
Take the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Cable Car from Zermatt to Klein Matterhorn. Along the way, it stops at Furi and Trockener Steg.


3. TROCKENER STEG
Trockener Steg is a cable car station between Zermatt and Klein Matterhorn.
Many visitors whizz passed without stopping, but that is a mistake. Not only does it cost nothing extra to stop, but the views of the Matterhorn are also quite different and quite spectacular.
From here the eastern flank of the Matterhorn faces directly towards you. The result is an almost perfectly triangular mountain. Rising over a series of rocky ridges, the Matterhorn towers over the remnants of a glacier.
The views from the cable car station are great, but to get an even better feel for the area, follow the Matterhorn Glacier Trail down to Schwarzsee. It’s an easy but magnificent 2-hour and 30-minute walk.
The details can be found on our best hikes in Zermatt guide.
HOW TO GET TO TROCKENER STEG
Take the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Cable Car from Zermatt to Trockener Steg. It can easily be combined with a visit to the Mountain Glacier Paradise viewing platform on top of Klein Matterhorn.


4. HÖHBALMEN MEADOWS
The best views of the north face of the Matterhorn are from Höhbalmen Meadows. This alpine meadow sits high above the Zmuttbach Valley. It looks across at the Zmutt and Matterhorn glaciers as they tumble down the Matterhorn’s imposing rocky face.
HOW TO GET TO HÖHBALMEN MEADOWS
Unfortunately, there is no easy way to get here. No cable cars or trains run up this side of the valley. To reach the meadows, you must hike the challenging Edelweiss Trail.
Fortunately, the Edelweiss trail is one of the best hikes in Switzerland.
The circular walk is over 20 kilometers long, ascends 1,200m, and takes just over 7 hours. The highlight is the 4-kilometre section from Höhbalmen Meadows to the Arbenbach Falls, where the Matterhorn towers in front of you all the way.
You’ll need a good level of fitness, but it is an incredibly rewarding experience. As an added bonus, when you get to the viewpoint, you’ll likely have it all to yourself.
Find all the details on our best hikes in Zermatt guide.



5. STELLISEE
Five Lakes sit on a grassy rocky ridge to the east of Zermatt. Three of them have reflections of the Matterhorn, but the most picture-perfect of them is Stellisee.
Less protected than Riffelsee, the wind often wrinkles the surface of the lake. But, on a clear day, peer at the lake, and you’ll find the Matterhorn staring back.
The views are across to the northern and eastern faces of the Matterhorn and the Hörnli Ridge that runs between them.
HOW TO GET TO STELLISEE
From the town of Zermatt, a funicular ascends to Sunnegga (2,288m). From here, a cable car rises to Blauherd (2,571m), and then another cable car climbs to Rothorn (3,104m).
Stellisee is most easily reached from the Blauherd cable car station from where it is a 20-minute walk. You can return the way you came or continue on the popular 10-kilometre Five Lakes walk back down to Sunnegga.
In our opinion, a better option is to start at Rothorn and follow the 5.5-kilometre Crystal Trail via charming Fluhalp Hut and Stellisee Lake down to Blauherd. There are fewer crowds, and the views are better.



6. ZERMATT
There are two great views from the town of Zermatt itself.
The first is from Kirchbrücke, a small bridge crossing the river that runs through the town. It’s a great spot for sunrise and (assuming you are staying in town) not far to bring your tripod. You can either focus on the summit or take a wider shot and include the river.
The second is the Zermatt Matterhorn Viewpoint. The viewpoint sits atop Murini Hill (on the northeastern edge of town) and is an easy 15 minute walk from the main Zermatt Train Station.
From here the wooden chalets of Zermatt are in the foreground with the distinctive Matterhorn in the background. It is an excellent spot for sunset because as the sun drops the lights of Zermatt come alive all around you.



MAP | BEST MATTERHORN VIEWPOINTS
You can find all the best Matterhorn Viewpoints marked by a camera symbol on the map below.
USING OUR MAPS. Click on the top right corner to open in the Google Maps app. Click on the star to save to your Google account.
WHERE TO STAY FOR MATTERHORN VIEWS
The best views of the Matterhorn are most easily accessed from Zermatt. Zermatt is a car-free village reached via a 15-minute train ride from Täsch.
There are four main areas you’ll want to consider when deciding where to stay.
- Zermatt Village
- Zermatt Matterhorn Express
- Zermatt Mountain Hotels
- Zermatt Mountain Huts
Unfortunately most of the cable cars open after sunrise and shut before sunset. If you want to get a particular view of the Matterhorn at these times, you will need to stay in a hotel near the viewpoint.
All the details, along with hotel recommendations, are in our guide to the best places to stay in Zermatt.

MORE SWITZERLAND GUIDES
- See the best of Zermatt on our 1-day itinerary.
- Here’s how to get the best views of the Matterhorn.
- These are the best things to do in Zermatt.
- Our top hikes around Zermatt are ranked from easy to challenging.
- Find your perfect stay with our Zermatt accommodation guide.
- Looking for something different? We highly recommend Appenzell.
- Take a scenic road trip on the Furka Pass.

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- Paul & Mark.
Paul Healy
Paul is an experienced travel writer with a collection of prestigious industry awards, including the title of Blogger of the Year at both the British Guild of Travel Writers and the TravMedia Awards.
His expertise lies in crafting engaging content, focusing on city breaks, comprehensive country-wide guides, and useful travel tips.