Sunrise at Riffelsee in Zermatt region of Switzerland

Sunrise at Riffelsee

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Highlights
checkmark grey iconIconic mountains
checkmark grey iconHiking
checkmark grey iconEpic views
checkmark grey iconStay in Gornergrat
checkmark grey iconMountain lakes
Curated byCatherineUpdated

I’d put Sunrise at Riffelsee on the list for mountain lake views.

More about this place

Experiencing the sunrise at Riffelsee is an unforgettable experience that should be on every traveler's bucket list. Riffelsee is a stunning alpine lake surrounded by towering peaks that offer incredible still reflection of the Matterhorn while the sunrise touches its iconic peak.

The real challenge is to be at Riffelsee at sunrise since the earliest train reaches the lake well past the sunrise. So you either get out the night before and camp near the lake, or you go the easy way and spend the night at Kulmhotel Gornergrat, a luxurious hotel located at an elevation of 10,170 feet, but more imortantly – a short hike from Riffelsee.

From our personal experience, spending a night at Kulmhotel Gornergrat was a majical experience itself, so we feel like it was well worth the price given the unique opportunity to see the sunrise at Riffelsee. And the best part awaits you back at the hotel – a die-for breakfast with the same breathtaking views!

It is worth mentioning that there's also a weather factor and there's a chance you won't see The Matterhorn at all, but there's a zero chance if you don't go. So the entire Fyno team wishes you good luck!

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