Andermatt

A crossroads mountain village in central Switzerland on the Glacier Express route, ringed by the Furka, Gotthard and Oberalp passes, with the Devil's Bridge spanning the Schöllenen Gorge.

Andermatt sits in the Urseren Valley in the canton of Uri in central Switzerland, at around 1,440 m, where the Gotthard, Furka and Oberalp pass roads meet. Since the Middle Ages it has been a staging post on the north–south trade route. The Glacier Express and the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn pass through, and a large resort development in recent years has transformed it from a military town into a year-round destination. Jun–Sep, when the pass roads are open, is the best season for road trips and hiking: drive the Furka–Grimsel–Susten three-pass loop, or hike to Lake Göscheneralp and Lake Toma, the source of the Rhine. Dec–Apr is ski season, with the Gemsstock known for steep slopes and off-piste terrain, and Nätschen and Oberalp suited to beginners and intermediates. Around the area: north of town are the Schöllenen Gorge and the Devil's Bridge; to the west are Hospental, Realp (home of the Furka steam railway) and the Furka Pass; to the south are the Gotthard Pass and its mountain fortress; and to the east the Oberalp Pass leads to Disentis. The Rhône Glacier ice grotto on the western side of the Furka Pass is covered under Aletsch & Brig. Getting there: take the train from Zurich or Lucerne to Göschenen and change, about 2–2.5 hours; the Glacier Express stops here directly. Plan on 2–3 days. The passes close in winter, when cars must use the Furka car-train or tunnels; mountain weather is changeable, so bring a warm jacket even in summer.

Top sights

• Devil's Bridge & Schöllenen Gorge – The most treacherous gorge on the St Gotthard route, where three generations of Devil's Bridge are stacked one above another across the Reu…
• Furka Pass – A classic mountain pass road at 2,429 metres, the filming location of the James Bond film Goldfinger (1964), with views of the Rhône Glacie…
• Glacier Express – A panoramic train from Zermatt to St. Moritz. Andermatt is a midway stop, where you can ride the highest section over Oberalp Pass.
• Oberalp Pass & Lighthouse – A mountain pass at 2,046 m in the Rhine source region, with a red lighthouse modeled on the one at Rotterdam's port.
• Lake Toma (Source of the Rhine) – A small cirque lake at 2,345 m, regarded as the source of the Rhine. It is about 1.5 hours' hike from Oberalp Pass.
• Gotthard Pass & National Gotthard Museum – A thousand-year-old throat for north-south traffic in Switzerland. The pass has an old hospice and the Gotthard museum, and the south slope…
• Sasso San Gottardo – A WWII military fortress hidden inside the Gotthard mountain. Long tunnels display giant crystals and show what life in the fortress was li…
• Gemsstock – A cable car climbs to 2,961 m, where a 360° panorama takes in more than 600 peaks. In winter the mountain offers one of Switzerland's most…
• Göscheneralpsee – An emerald reservoir lake surrounded by glaciers, backed by the Dammastock glacier. The lakeside loop and mountain hut hikes are a classic…
• Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway – A vintage steam rack railway climbs from Realp over the Furka Pass toward Gletsch, at the foot of the Rhône Glacier.
• Andermatt Village & St. Peter and Paul Church – An old stone-and-timber village in the Ursern Valley. Its main street has a Baroque church, old inns and a newly built resort.
• Nätschen – A sunny terrace on the north slope above Andermatt, reachable by train or cable car. It is good for beginner skiing in winter and offers vi…
• Hospental Castle Tower – A 13th-century stone tower at the junction of the Gotthard and Furka old roads, overlooking a small village and the Ursern Valley.
• Grimsel Pass – A mountain pass at 2,164 m, where Totensee and a chain of reservoirs are spread across granite moorland. It is one stretch of the Three Pas…
• Susten Pass & Stein Glacier – One of Switzerland's most beautiful mountain roads. On the west side, the Steingletscher and its glacier lake lie close to the road. It is…
• Disentis Abbey – A Benedictine monastery founded around 720. Its Baroque twin-towered church sits high above the Rhine valley, and the Glacier Express passe…

Where to eat

• The Japanese Restaurant – A 3-star Michelin Japanese restaurant inside The Chedi, where twin chefs blend Japanese and Western flavors in an omaka…
• IGNIV Andermatt – Andreas Caminada's 2-star Michelin sharing-concept restaurant, famous for its 4-course sharing menu and signature Candy…
• Gasthaus Ochsen – A famous fondue spot in an old wooden chalet, run by the same owner for decades, offering a rustic atmosphere.
• Gasthaus zum Sternen – A traditional family-run inn and restaurant in the village center, famous for its variety of Rösti, hot stone steaks, a…

Itineraries

• Grand Train Tour of Switzerland – Follow the official scenic rail loop, riding the GoldenPass, Glacier Express, Bernina Express, and Gotthard Panorama Ex…
• Grand Tour of Switzerland Self-Drive – A clockwise self-drive journey through four language regions, crossing high mountain passes to connect snow-capped peak…
• Milan, Lake Como & Scenic Trains Loop – An Italy-Switzerland rail loop connecting Lake Como, the Bernina Express, the Glacier Express, and Lake Maggiore