7 must-visit glaciers in Switzerland

Along with its stunning mountains and pristine lakes, Switzerland is home to a wealth of different glaciers. Here’s what you need to know about these monolithic mountains of ice, which glacier is the largest and which are the best to visit.

What is a glacier?

A glacier is a body of ice that is being pulled downhill by its own gravity. Glaciers form and grow when the amount of snow and icy rainfall they receive is more than the amount of water they lose through melting. Typically, glaciers grow during the winter months and recede during spring and summer.

Glaciers tend to form at higher elevations - called the head - before moving down to the foot or snout, where the ice turns into water. Glacial ice carves into the rock as it passes, and over thousands of years, once the glacier recedes, it leaves behind the rolling hills and valleys we call home today. 

Glaciers in Switzerland

Today, there are around 1.800 glaciers in Switzerland, the main reason why the country is one of the most water-rich on Earth. However, due to years of warm weather caused by global warming, Swiss glaciers have lost more than half of their size since 1931.

The vast majority of Swiss glaciers can be found in the Alps, in the cantons of Valais, Ticino, Uri and Graubünden. The water that melts off the glaciers every year forms the source for many major rivers, including the Rhône and Rhine, as well as providing a basin for the Po and Danube.

7 great glaciers to visit in Switzerland 

With this in mind, here are the most famous glaciers in Switzerland and how you can visit them:

1. Visit the Aletsch: The largest glacier in Switzerland

Covering approximately 80 square kilometres, the Aletsch or Great Aletsch in Canton Valais is the largest glacier in Switzerland, the Alps and western Eurasia. Situated between 1.650 and 4.160 metres above sea level, the stunning ice behemoth is 22,6 kilometres long. 

The Aletsch is actually made up of four smaller glaciers which converge together at Konkordiaplatz, where the ice is nearly a kilometre deep. It, along with the Jungfrau region, is one of the 13 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Switzerland.

The stunning glacier is a must-visit place for anyone resident in the alpine nation. The location can be accessed at lower altitudes at Bettmerhorn and Eggishorn - Hiking Route 39 on the Switzerland Mobility network takes you along the southern side of the glacier, but is only recommended for fit and adept hikers.

To see the Aletsch at its highest point, take the mountain railway to Jungfraujoch. At 3.454 metres above sea level, when the weather is good the summit affords stunning views of the Jungfraufirn section of the glacier, all the way down to Konkordiaplatz. When the weather allows, it is also possible to paraglide across the glacier.

Video: Barnyz / YouTube

2. Hike through the snow wastes at Glacier 3000

As one of the top ski resorts, featuring the steepest ski run, a stunning suspension bridge and one of the best Rodelbahns in Switzerland, there are already plenty of reasons to visit Glacier 3000. Situated between Bern, Vaud and Valais, the resort gets its name from the 3,5 kilometre long Tsanfleuron Glacier, located next to the top station at 3.000 metres above sea level.

Year-round, visitors to Glacier 3000 can take a leisurely walk on a maintained snowy path across Tsanfleuron. Starting either at the top station at Scex Rouge or from the “Glacier” chairlift station, the hour-long walk will take you across the expanse to the imposing rock of Quille du Diable or Devil’s Kneel - where Swiss superstition states that devils and evil spirits throw rocks into the towns and pastures below.

Along the way, visitors are afforded stunning views of the mountains and valleys of Valais. The end of the walk is at the Restaurant Refuge l'Espace near the Quille du Diable, where you can enjoy some revivifying Swiss food.

Video: Glacier 3000 / YouTube

3. Explore a glacial cave in Switzerland at the Rhône Glacier

While a hike around the Rhône Glacier is spectacular, the real highlight of this Valaisanne wall of ice has to be the ice grotto. Situated on the Furka Pass near the Hotel Belvédère - the Swiss hotel and road used in the James Bond film Goldfinger - the ice grotto has been carved out of the glacier every year since 1870.

The azure blue walls make for a great day out and give you a chance to see the glacier up close. A walk around the glacial lake nearby is also a must-do.

4. Enjoy the stunning vistas over the Gorner Glacier near Zermatt

Situated just a stone’s throw away from the iconic resort of Zermatt, the Gorner is (arguably) the highest glacier in Switzerland. The 12,9-kilometre-long glacier sits at the foot of the country’s highest mountain Dufourspitze, along with Nordend, Liskamm, Castor and Pollux.

The best way to see the glacier is to take the mountain railway to the top of Gornergrat from Zermatt. From there, you are given a 360-degree vista of many of the country’s most famous landmarks like the Matterhorn. Hikes near and around the Gorner are available, but it is advised to have a guide take you around.

Video: Gornergrat Bahn | Gornergrat Railway / YouTube

5. See the power of nature (and climate) at the Morteratsch Glacier

Taking a walk to Morteratsch, the main glacier in the Engadine valley, is equal parts beautiful and thought-provoking. Due to the ever-warmer seasons, the glacier has retreated by over 1,2 kilometres in the last 50 years, having lost a kilometre since 2014.

From the train station at Morteratsch, the path leads you up where the glacier used to begin - indicating just how quickly the glaciers of Switzerland have been receding in recent years. This rocky landscape will lead you to the glacier itself, which despite being smaller is still a sight to behold.

Image credit: Benny Marty / Shutterstock.com

6. Discover the Stein Glacier in the Susten Pass

Just a short bus ride from Göschenen or Meiringen, a trip to the Susten Pass and Stein Glacier is a fantastic day trip amid spectacular surroundings. After getting off the bus at Steingletscher, the two-hour hike on well-managed trails allows you to take in the surrounding landscape and discover more about the 5-kilometre block of ice.

However, the walk is only advised for surefooted people, and trekking shoes are recommended. Further information about the tour can be found at the Hotel Steingletscher.

7. Get the adrenaline pumping at the Titlis Glacier Park

Finally, after getting off the world’s first revolving cable car, visitors to Titlis are greeted with views of the Titlis Glacier to the north and the Wenden Glacier to the south. From mid-May to mid-August, the so-called Glacier Park opens, offering snow tube, bobsled and even inflatable doughnut rides down the glacier.

What’s more, visitors can also check out the 150-metre-long Glacier Cave. Situated 10 metres below the surface, workers carve through 5.000-year-old ice to maintain the cave and its sculptures.

Video: Engelberg-Titlis / YouTube

Break the ice by visiting a glacier in Switzerland

By taking a trip to a glacier in Switzerland, you get to see nature at its most dramatic and beautiful. Have a Swiss glacier experience that you’d recommend? Let us know in the comments below.