Klein Matterhorn

#22 among destinations in Switzerland

Nature, Natural attraction, Mountain, Top attraction

Gallery (12)

Map

Gallery

Photo details 1. Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 / KleinMatterhorn.jpg / URL • 2. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Hiku2 / URL • 3. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Whgler / URL • 4. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Ximonic / URL • 5. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / The hiker / URL • 6. Wikimedia Commons / Public domain / Cable1 / URL • 7. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Artix Kreiger 2 / URL

Facts and practical information

The Klein Matterhorn, often referred to as the "Little Matterhorn," stands as a majestic peak in the Swiss Alps, reaching an altitude of 3,883 meters. This mountain is renowned for housing the highest cable car station in Europe, making it a must-visit destination for tourists and alpine enthusiasts alike. The peak serves as a gateway to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, offering an array of year-round snow sports and breathtaking panoramic views.

Constructed to enhance the alpine experience, the cable car ride to the Klein Matterhorn is an attraction in itself, providing an awe-inspiring ascent over the vast glacial landscapes. The summit's viewing platform presents a vista that spans the Swiss, Italian, and French Alps, featuring some of the highest peaks in Europe.

Aside from the stunning views, the Klein Matterhorn is also home to a unique attraction - an ice palace carved deep within the glacier. Visitors can wander through this subterranean wonder, surrounded by ice sculptures and illuminated passageways. For skiers and snowboarders, the area around Klein Matterhorn offers extensive pistes, including the Theodul Glacier, which allows for summer skiing – a rarity that attracts enthusiasts from around the world.

The Klein Matterhorn is not just a hub for winter sports but also a starting point for mountaineers aiming to ascend the Breithorn and other nearby summits. This makes it an essential fixture in the Zermatt ski area, linking Switzerland to Italy and providing endless opportunities for cross-border adventures.

Alternative names: First ascent: 1789Elevation: 12740 ftProminence: 289 ftCoordinates: 45°56'18"N, 7°43'48"E

Location

ValaisSwitzerland

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Day trips

Klein Matterhorn – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Sunnegga Paradise ski area, Gornergrat, Hörnli Hut, Schwarzsee.

3.2 miN
Winter sport, Ski area
Sunnegga Paradise ski area, Zermatt
83 min walk • Nestled in the heart of the Swiss Alps, Sunnegga Paradise is a premier ski area located in the renowned resort town of Zermatt, Switzerland. Known for its breathtaking views of the iconic Matterhorn, Sunnegga Paradise offers a sublime winter sports experience for...
4.1 miNE
Ridge with a cog railway and scenic views
Gornergrat, Zermatt
104 min walk • Gornergrat stands as a majestic mountain ridge in the Swiss Alps, offering one of the most stunning panoramic views in the city of Zermatt, Switzerland. At an elevation of 3,089 meters, Gornergrat has been a magnet for mountaineers, skiers, and tourists seeking to bask...
3.9 miNW
Hiking, Alpine hut, Vernacular architecture
Hörnli Hut, Zermatt
101 min walk • Perched at the edge of the Swiss Alps, the Hörnli Hut serves as a beacon for mountaineers seeking to conquer the iconic Matterhorn. Located near the city of Zermatt, Switzerland, this alpine hut is not just a shelter but a pivotal part of climbing history.
3.8 miN
Nature, Natural attraction, Lake
Schwarzsee, Zermatt
97 min walk • Nestled in the shadow of the iconic Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland, lies the serene and picturesque Schwarzsee, a small mountain lake that offers a tranquil escape amidst the peaks of the Alps. Known for its crystal-clear waters and the stunning alpine scenery that...
4.3 miE
Alpine hut, Hiking
Monte Rosa Hut
109 min walk • Nestled in the heart of the Swiss Alps, the Monte Rosa Hut stands as a beacon of innovation and sustainability amidst the rugged mountain terrain. This cutting-edge alpine hut, located at an altitude of 2,883 meters, is a favorite destination for mountaineers...
3.5 miNE
Alpine lake with Matterhorn views
Riffelsee, Zermatt
89 min walk • Nestled in the shadow of the iconic Matterhorn, Riffelsee is a serene alpine lake that offers one of the most breathtaking reflections of the famed mountain in Zermatt, Switzerland. This picturesque body of water is situated at an elevation of 2,757 meters above sea...
4.3 miNW
Iconic mountain with a steep ascent
Matterhorn, Zermatt
111 min walk • The Matterhorn is a mountain of the Alps, straddling the main watershed and border between Switzerland and Italy. It is a large, near-symmetric pyramidal peak in the extended Monte Rosa area of the Pennine Alps, whose summit is 4,478 metres high, making it one of the highest summits in the Alps and Europe.
0.9 miE
Snow-capped alpine mountain peak
Breithorn
23 min walk • Breithorn, Switzerland, stands as a sentinel of the Pennine Alps, a beacon for mountaineers and adventurers from across the globe. Dominating the landscape with its icy facade, this majestic peak reaches an elevation of 4,164 meters, making it one of the most...
1.8 miN
Hiking, Alpine hut
Gandegghütte, Zermatt
46 min walk • The Gandegg Hut is an alpine hut, located above Zermatt in the canton of Valais. It is located at a height of 3,029 metres above sea level, near Trockener Steg, approximately halfway between the Matterhorn and the Breithorn. The hut was built in 1885.
2.3 miN
Natural attraction, Mountain, Ski area
Trockener Steg, Zermatt
60 min walk • Trockener Steg is a minor prominence in the area between the Matterhorn and the Breithorn, south of Zermatt in the canton of Valais. It lies at a height of 2,939 meters above sea level, near the front of the Upper Theodul Glacier. A cable car station lies on the summit and gives access to the Klein Matterhorn.
1.1 miW
Nature, Natural attraction, Mountain
Testa Grigia
28 min walk • Testa Grigia is a rocky prominence above the Theodul Pass, located on the border between Italy and Switzerland. It overlooks the Plateau Rosa section of the Theodul Glacier on its east side.