Aletsch Glacier, Switzerland

Aletsch Glacier

The longest glacier in the Alps, seen from car-free mountain villages.

  • Jun–Oct
  • 1 night
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Nearby hidden places
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Things to do

2 days in Aletsch Glacier

Day 1

  1. MorningTake the cable car up to the Eggishorn for the view of the whole glacier.
  2. AfternoonWalk the ridge trail from Bettmeralp to the Moosfluh viewpoint.
  3. EveningStay in a car-free village like Riederalp or Bettmeralp.

Day 2

Walk through the ancient Aletsch Forest of stone pines.

What to eat

Raclette, scraped from a half-wheel of melted cheese.

Local tips

Make the most of Aletsch Glacier

Beat the crowds

Summer days are busy at the main viewpoints. The car-free villages stay peaceful.

Best photo spot

The glacier curving through the mountains from the Eggishorn or Bettmerhorn viewpoint.

Getting there

Trains run to Mörel, Betten or Fiesch, then cable cars up to the car-free villages of Riederalp and Bettmeralp.

Don't miss nearby

The Aletsch forest with ancient stone pines, and the Märjelensee lake.

Good to know

The ridge trails have views straight down onto the glacier. The glacier is shrinking fast; info panels show how far it reached in the past.

Secret spots

3 secret spots near Aletsch Glacier

Our most hidden places around Aletsch Glacier: fewer people, same wow. Unlock them with a route in Google Maps and a PDF guide of Aletsch Glacier to take with you.

28 km away
61 km away
67 km away
Unlock the secret spots · €2.99+ VAT · one payment, valid for a year

Plan your visit

Getting to Aletsch Glacier

Getting there

  • Bern Airport (BRN)70 km away
  • Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP)100 km away
  • Lucerne75 km away
  • Bern80 km away

Reachable by car or public transport; a car gives you more freedom to explore the area. Distances are in a straight line.

At a glance

Best timeJun–Oct
TypeNature spot
Good forNature
Getting thereCar or public transport
Stay1 night
CountrySwitzerland

Questions

Aletsch Glacier: good to know

Is Aletsch Glacier worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you like nature. The longest glacier in the Alps, seen from car-free mountain villages.

How many days do you need in Aletsch Glacier?

Plan 1 night. Our free 2-day plan above shows how to spend your time.

When is the best time to visit Aletsch Glacier?

The best time to visit is Jun to Oct. Summer days are busy at the main viewpoints. The car-free villages stay peaceful.

How do you get to Aletsch Glacier?

The nearest airport is Bern Airport (BRN), about 70 km away. Trains run to Mörel, Betten or Fiesch, then cable cars up to the car-free villages of Riederalp and Bettmeralp.

What is there to see near Aletsch Glacier?

Nearby hidden places include Lauterbrunnen (25 km), Grindelwald (26 km) and Lake Brienz (Iseltwald) (36 km).

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