If there is one way you should get to the top of a mountain in Switzerland, cable cars are it. The Swiss are world renowned for their cable car engineering which enables anyone, no matter their fitness, to get to some of the most beautiful peaks in the Swiss Alps.
However, cable car journeys are not just about the destination, the journey is spectacular also. The stunning views from the modern cable cars as you climb up into the Swiss Alps are a memory you will never forget.
Join me as I run through the best cable car rides in Switzerland so that you can choose which cable car ride to hop on during your next visit.
Table of Contents
Stanserhorn CabriO
The Stanserhorn CabriO cable car is located just outside of Lucerne in the town of Stans. The ride takes you up from Stans to the peak of Stanserhorn at 1,898 meters above sea level.
The cable car has an open upper deck so you can take some incredible pictures of the alpine landscape as you ride up to the peak. You will see panoramic views across Lake Lucerne as well as 9 other lakes and countless mountain peaks.
At the peak of Stanserhorn you can access the wonderful viewing platform, have a meal at Rondorama the revolving restaurant, do some amazing hikes, and get up close to wildlife like marmots in the nature reserve.
One of the best ways to organise this ride is with a prepaid ticket from Viator where you just have to turn up and you can skip the line!
Klein Matterhorn in Zermatt
The Klein Matterhorn cable car in Zermatt is a modern cable car that takes you on the last leg of the journey from Zermatt up to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. The ride is just 9 minutes long and the views it gives you are rather unique.
From Klein Matterhorn, you can see into the Swiss, French, and Italian Alps, and get a unique view of the Matterhorn from the southern side. You will be surrounded by some of the highest peaks in Switzerland and get magical views of the glacier too.
The cable car is super modern and has “Crystal Ride” cabins which are covered with crystals from Swarovski.
Titlis in Engelberg
The Titlis Rotair cable car in Engelberg was the world’s first revolving cable car. It takes you up to the ridgeline just across from the summit of Mount Titlis.
The Titlis Rotair rises up to 3,020 meters above sea level and it does so in just 30 minutes. The ride up to the summit of Mount Titlis is quite an experience as the cable car rotates to give you an incredible view of the area.
You will be able to look back towards Interlaken and see tons of lakes or into the peaks of the Bernese Alps. Once at the top, you can see the Titlis glacier, walk the Titlis cliff walk, hike to the peak of Mount Titlis, and even visit a Glacier cave.
You can book your trip to Titlis from Lucerne ahead of time and customize it with a range of experiences too (or leave them out).
Harder Kulm
The Harder Kulm cable car ride is located just outside of the town of Interlaken and it gives you some of the most spectacular views of mountain scenery Switzerland has to offer. Technically, it is not a cable car but a funicular (or cog railway) but it definitely deserves to be on this list.
The ride takes you up 1,322 meters above the town of Interlaken where you can see views across the town, Lake Thun, Lake Brienz, and up the valley to the Bernese Alps.
The famous peaks of Jungfrau, Monch, and Eiger will all come into view and you can stop at the Panorama Restaurant to enjoy a meal or a drink with the stunning scenes. You will also get to spot a lot of alpine lakes from the top.
The cable car ride only lasts 10 minutes and be sure to have your camera ready when visiting Harder Kulm, as the views from the platform are stunning.
You can also buy your ticket ahead of time from Interlaken up to the top, and return. And if you want to stay longer and enjoy a memorable sunset and grab dinner at the restaurant – I can only recommend it!
Eiger Express Cable Car
The Eiger Express Cable Car is a brand new one that takes you from the town of Grindelwald all the way up to the Eiger Glacier station at 2,320 meters above sea level. It shortens the ride up to Jungfraujoch by an incredible 45 minutes and offers magical views of the peaks and the Aletsch Glacier along the way.
Each cable car comes with heated seats, heated windows, and WiFi, and all the power for these extras is generated by the cable car itself. It is one of the most modern and sustainable cable cars in the world.
The view of the Aletsch Glacier surrounded by 4,000-meter peaks is something that you will simply not forget after riding this cable car.
Glacier 3000
Glacier 3000 is a beautiful mountain peak sitting just east of Montreux and Lake Geneva. It is a stunning glacial paradise with a load of super fun activities and glaciers, so you can do snow sports all year round.
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Getting to the summit is super easy and, of course, involves a cable car ride up from Col Du Pillon. The views as you rise up to the peak are breathtaking and once you arrive, you are in for an experience or two plus views of the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc on clear days plus 20 more mountain peaks.
The Peak Walk by Tissot connects two mountain peaks with a suspension bridge, and walking across it is something else. You can also just go on the highest toboggan run on rails in the world, do some snow sports, and hang out at some of the many restaurants and bars in the area.
You can also book this cable car ticket ahead of time, and it includes the breathtaking Peak Walk, which is a must if you are visiting.
Grindelwald-Männlichen Gondola Cableway
The Grindelwald-Männlichen Gondola Cableway is the longest cable car ride in Switzerland at 6 km long and one of the longest in the world.
It takes you from the alpine adventure town of Grindelwald all the way to the summit of Männlichen. It only takes 30 minutes to cover the 6 km and rises up 1000 meters in altitude as it does so.
This is quite an old cable car too and it was built in 1978 but is still going strong today taking up to 900 per hour up and down the mountain. You will get some wonderful views of the Bernese Alps including Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau along the way.
And once you get there, you can walk up to the peak via the Männlichen Royal Walk.
Pilatus in Lucerne
Mount Pilatus is one of the local mountains of the iconic Swiss city of Lucerne. Known as the jagged mountain, the peak of Mount Pilatus looks over Lake Lucerne and is quite a place to visit.
The cable car ride on the Panorama Gondolas takes you up to 2,100 meters above sea level and views across Lake Lucerne, Lucerne, and Mt Rigi only get better the higher up it goes.
You can also make a complete day of it with a boat ride from Lucerne, then the historic steep cogwheel railway up the back of Pilatus. After reaching the top and enjoying your day, you take the faster way down via the cable car and the bus back from Kriens. This is one of my favorite trips I have taken both my sister and my in-laws on.
The summit of Pilatus is great as you can hike around, have lunch at the restaurant, hike back down, paraglide back down, visit the climbing park halfway down and lots more.
I recommend the full Golden Round Trip which is the next way to experience it all.
Schilthorn in the Bernese Alps
The Schilthorn cable car is located in the Bernese Alps just above Lauterbrunnen and is famed for having starred in the James Bond movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
It takes you via Gimmelwald to Mürren and then up to the stunning peak of Schilthorn with views of Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau along the way.
At the summit, you can eat at a James Bond-inspired restaurant, visit a James Bond museum which is also a hike, hike around the ridges, and lots more.
It’s easy to book your ticket ahead of time, which also includes all the James Bond stuff at the top. It is certainly one of the best views in the Interlaken/Grindelwald area, and if you are only going to do one other thing aside from the Jungfraujoch, personally, I would do this.
Farmer Cable Cars in Engelberg
In Engelberg, you can also find farmer cable cars which are privately owned and often operated by farmers. These are the cable cars used by farmers for hundreds of years to get materials from one side of the mountain to the other.
Riding in one of these old cable cars is like stepping into the past and is well worth the experience.
Map of Cable Car Rides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest cable car in Switzerland?
The cheapest cable car in Switzerland is the ride from Stechelberg to Mürren which costs just over CHF 22 for a return ticket.
Which cable car is free with a Swiss Travel Pass?
The cable cars that are free with the Swiss Travel Pass are Rigi, Stanserhorn, Stoos, Brunni and Klewenalp.
Not all Swiss cable cars are free with a Swiss travel pass but you will at least get a discount of around 50% on most of them with the pass.
What is the highest cable car in Switzerland?
The Klein Matterhorn is the highest cable car in Switzerland. It has a cable car station at 3,883 meters above sea level and is the highest cable car station in Europe.
What is the longest cable car ride in Switzerland?
The longest cable car ride in Switzerland is on the Grindelwald-Männlichen Gondola Cableway. It is 6 km long as it takes you from Grindelwald-Grund to the Männlichen summit, climbing 1,000 meters and completing the journey in just 30 minutes.
How safe are cable cars in Switzerland?
The cable cars in Switzerland are very safe as they are maintained twice a year and go under rigorous inspections with x-rays. In fact, it is said that riding a cable car in Switzerland is safer than driving a car, which makes sense when you consider how many car accidents there are.
Plan Your Trip to Switzerland
Accommodation: I always book my hotels via Booking.com. They have some of the best rates, longterm deals, easy cancellation and more 
Transport: Train travel is one of the best ways to explore Switzerland. Buying a Swiss Travel Pass is a great way to save money on travel and museums. 
Car Rental: Having a car gives you flexibility on your travels. I use RentalCars.com and Discover Cars to get the best deals on car rentals in Switzerland. 
Luggage Storage: Find out where you can store your store your luggage while you are visiting various places in Switzerland. 
Trips & Tours:Viator and Get Your Guide are the best places to find local tours and trips for your adventures in Switzerland. 
Packing: Here are my recommendations for what to pack for a trip to Switzerland. As someone who has lived half their life in Switzerland, I have a good idea of what you need to bring! 
