46.44° N · 8.08° E
The largest glacier in the Alps, more than 20 km long, within the Jungfrau-Aletsch World Heritage Site. It can be admired from the car-free villages of Riederalp, Bettmeralp and Fiescheralp.
Part of Alps
What to do
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
A six-hour guided excursion from Fiesch with about two hours roped up on the Aletsch Glacier, from age 10 and for CHF 99.
A 12.5 km crossing from Belalp to Riederalp that spans the Massa gorge on a 124 m suspension bridge 80 m up.
A viewpoint at 2,869 m from which almost the whole Aletsch Glacier can be seen; because of building work, in summer 2027 it opens from 5 June to 15 August.
Itineraries
Days and weekends already planned out, with how to get between each stop and who to book with.
Plan the trip
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
June to September, with the summer cable cars open and the paths free of snow. Glacier treks run from June to October. In winter it is a ski area.
How you travel
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
The Aletsch glacier is one of the easiest Alpine destinations without a car, because the three villages on the terrace do not allow cars. The Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn train climbs from Brig up the Rhône valley and stops at Mörel, Betten Talstation and Fiesch; at each station a gondola leaves for its village. Up top everything is done on foot, by chairlift or by gondola.
The Aletsch Glacier has no airport nearby, but the three that serve this part of Switzerland all have flights from Spain and a railway station. From Geneva station there are trains to Brig, and from Brig the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn runs to Mörel, Betten Talstation and Fiesch: Geneva to Mörel takes between two and a half and three hours, depending on the train. From Zurich you come via Bern or via Lucerne; from Milan, over the Simplon. You don't need a car: the villages up above don't allow them.
Who you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
Riederalp, Bettmeralp and Fiescheralp are pedestrian villages at about 2,000 m. Children can run free in the street and the viewpoints are reached by gondola.
For teenagers keen to be on the move, the Aletsch has two plans that are not forgotten: walking on the ice in crampons and crossing the Massa gorge on a suspension bridge.
Where to stay
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Why we like it: Hotel on Riederalp's Aletschpromenade, next to the nine-hole golf course, with a wellness area, a restaurant with a terrace and pick-up at the gondola.
Why we like it: Small hotel run by the Berchtold family 100 m from the Bettmeralp gondola, at the edge of the woods, with a sauna, a fireplace and four-course half board.
Why we like it: Hostel at the Sport Resort Fiesch, with its own railway station and two minutes from the Eggishorn gondola; breakfast and indoor pool included, from CHF 52.
Where to eat
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
What to order: the Walliser Plättli of cured beef, sausage, bacon and cheese with its rye bread, CHF 32.50 on the winter menu, or the Binntal cheese risotto
What to order: the Valais Chasselas white wine soup, CHF 16, and the Raron perch fillets with lemon and herb butter, CHF 49.50
What to order: the chouera, the Goms pie of potato, leek, apple and cheese, CHF 27, with a flight of three beers and beer and garlic popcorn, CHF 10
Nearby
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
46.60° N · 7.91° E
Car-freeOn footCampingLuxuryBackpackingBy car
46.02° N · 7.75° E
Car-freeLuxuryOn footBy plane
47.05° N · 8.30° E
Car-freeBy plane
46.49° N · 6.75° E
Car-freeLuxuryOn footBy bikeBy car
Tips
Riederalp for the forest and Villa Cassel; Bettmeralp for the Bettmerhorn; Fiescheralp for the Eggishorn and Märjela.
All three see the same glacier from different angles. One is enough if you are short of time.
Aletsch Arena publishes a daily report on what is open.
The glacier has crevasses hidden under the snow. It is only to be walked on with a guide.
Fly to Geneva, Zurich or Milan and continue by train to Brig. There you take the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn train towards Fiesch and get off at Mörel (for Riederalp), Betten (for Bettmeralp) or Fiesch (for Fiescheralp). From each station a cable car goes up to its village. Riederalp, Bettmeralp and Fiescheralp have no cars: if you arrive in your own, you leave it below, in the cable car car park.
They sit on the same terrace, at around 2,000 m, linked by paths and by chairlifts and gondolas that go up to the viewpoints: Moosfluh from Riederalp, Bettmerhorn from Bettmeralp and Eggishorn from Fiescheralp. With one base and two days you see the glacier from above and have time left for a long walk or a guided trek on the ice.
What needs booking in good time is the guided glacier trek, because the groups are small. Cable cars are bought on the day. Bear in mind that a new cable car to the Eggishorn is being built until 2028: the summit circular trail is closed and in summer 2027 it only opens from 5 June to 15 August.
Questions
Yes, with a guide. The Bergsteigerzentrum Aletsch runs a day crossing from Fiescheralp for CHF 99.
The Eggishorn, at 2,869 m, is the highest and sees almost the whole glacier as far as the Konkordiaplatz. The Bettmerhorn has the better view of its great bend.
No. You arrive by train at Mörel, Betten or Fiesch, and from there by cable car.
Yes, with car-free villages, viewpoints reached by gondola and walks in the Aletsch forest.
Geocaliahttps://www.geocalia.com/en/switzerland/valais/aletsch-glacier
