Aletsch Arena: One of the Most Unique Places to Visit in Switzerland

Though the name might make it sound like some sort of music or sporting venue, Aletsch Arena is actually one of Switzerland’s stunning natural wonders. 

Named after the Great Aletsch Glacier, this area offers access to one of the best UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Switzerland, mountain views, and charming Swiss mountain villages – some of which are car-free – as well as the glacier itself. 

Aletsch Arena offers activities during all four seasons, from the sort of winter sports Switzerland is famous for to hiking, mountain biking, golf, and much more. 

If you’re looking for hidden gems in Switzerland, then Aletsch Arena is where it’s at. This is a relaxed part of Switzerland, with relatively few tourists, a peaceful atmosphere, and a family-friendly vibe. 

This guide to Aletsch Arena tells you all you need to know, from the location and how to get there to the highlights and what to do during spring, summer, autumn, and winter. 

Read on to discover one of the most unique places to visit in Switzerland!

Where is Aletsch Arena?

Aletsch Arena is in the centre of southern Switzerland, in the canton of Valais in the heart of the Swiss Alps.

The Aletsch Arena surrounds the glacier of the same name. This mighty glacial river comprises over 10 billion tons of slow-moving ice. 

The glacier begins at Jungfraujoch – aka the top of Europe – and is fed by the flanks of the Eiger, Jungfrau, and Mönch. The ice then flows down into the Valais valleys. This melted ice continues into the Rhone, via the Massa Gorge. 

The Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch Region is a UNESCO-listed World Natural Heritage Site.

Aletsch Arena offers an array of snow sports in winter, and is a hiker’s paradise in summer. It offers stunning views all year round, and is home to a trio of sun-kissed, car-free villages: Bettmeralp, Fiescheralp, and Riederalp.

Tip: Aletsch Arena is located roughly halfway between Interlaken and Zermatt. If you don’t have time to spend overnight in the area, why not enjoy an excursion to Aletsch Arena on the day you travel between the two?  Lockers for luggage storage are available at Brig station.

Highlights of Aletsch Arena

Great Aletsch Glacier

The Great Aletsch Glacier is so-called because it is the biggest glacier in the entire Alps. It’s 20 kilometres, or 12.5 miles, long.

The ice weighs 10 billion tons, and has a surface area of 79 square kilometres (30.5 miles). It is 800 metres thick at its densest point.

Konkordiaplatz is where several glaciers meet, including the Great Aletsch Glacier. Tours, winter sports adventures, and treks led by experienced guides commence from the remote Konkordiahütte here. 

You can access the glacier by taking a cable car up to any of the three mountain villages, which are car-free. This glorious, south-facing area has a sunny climate, with around 300 days of sunshine per year.

While you can see the Great Aletsch Glacier from Jungfraujoch, you can get much better views from here. 

If you like, you can continue on to the  2,927-meter summit of the Eggishorn, from which you can see both the Aletsch and Fiescher glaciers.

UNESCO World Nature Heritage Site

You can enjoy this UNESCO World Nature Heritage Site all year round. The four main viewpoints at Bettmerhorn, Eggishorn, Hohfluh, and Moosfluh offer panoramic views of the glacial landscape. 

There’s also Aletsch Forest, which is densely packed with fragrant pine trees. The flora of the area can also be of great interest, as it includes both alpine and sub-alpine species and habitats. 

Matterhorn views

One of the perks of spending time in Aletsch Arena is the panoramic Matterhorn views. Arguably the most famous mountain peak on the planet, its iconic triangular shape is visible from all over the area. 

What’s unique about seeing the Matterhorn from this area is the relative peace. Here you’re not viewing the famous mountain alongside hordes of foreign tourists, but from a more natural, more uncrowded perspective. 

For breakfast, lunch, or dinner with one of the world’s most jaw-dropping views, take a table at Panorama Restaurant Bettmerhorn. Positioned at 2,700 metres above sea level, the eatery offers views of the Matterhorn to one side, with the glacier on the other. 

Authentic Swiss villages

Unusually, as compared to many popular Swiss destinations, almost everyone you’ll come across in the Aletsch Arena area speaks Swiss-German, rather than English or other international languages. 

In fact not that many international tourists come here. Around 70% of visitors are Swiss, and 95% come from either Switzerland, Germany, or Benelux, the countries of Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Only the remaining 5% come from other parts of Europe, or other continents. 

There are three charming villages up in the mountain, and all their names end in Alp. This is because cows in this part of Switzerland spend their summers up in the mountains, known as Alp. Hence the names Bettmeralp, Fiescheralp, and Riederalp. 

As you can only reach the villages by cable car, they are car free. Everything that’s ever been brought here arrives in this way – including building materials!

There are around 15 hotels in the villages, plus enough shops and restaurants to service the needs of both locals and tourists. 

Don’t expect five star luxury and designer stores up here, though. There is a great 4* boutique hotel in Bettmeralp, where I stayed during my visit (find out more below under Bettmeralp), but the majority of hotels have a 3* rating. 

Car-free villages in Aletsch Arena

All three car-free villages in Aletsch Arena have viewpoints offering spectacular panoramas over the mountains and the glacier.

There’s also around 300 kilometers of marked hiking trails to follow in summer. In winter, the snow-clad landscape provides the perfect playground for fans of skiing and other winter sports.

Visit Bettmeralp, Fiescheralp, and Riederalp for that traditional Swiss mountain village feel, and far fewer tourists than many other destinations.

The villages also offer cable car services, shops, places to eat, and hotels. Each has around 250 to 350 permanent residents. 

Riederalp

Riederalp is nestled into the mountains at 1,925 metres above sea level. It’s a peaceful village with a family-friendly ambience, and like Bettmeralp and Fiescheralp, is car free. 

There’s a network of slopes for winter sports, plus a laid-back apres-ski scene. You can also visit Hohfluh and Moosfluh, the village’s two viewpoints for glacier and alpine panoramas. 

Riederalp is also home to the Pro Natura Centre Aletsch. This dates back to 1976, and was the country’s first nature conservation centre. Events and exhibitions here focus on the unique flora and fauna of the area. 

Riederalp Golf Club also appeals to those who want to try a game at 2,000 metres above sea level: this is the highest course in Switzerland. 

How to get to Riederalp

You can get to car-free Riederalp by cable car from Mörel. 

Bettmeralp

Perched in a sunny spot high above the Rhone Valley, Bettmeralp is 1,970 metres above sea level. It’s the ideal place for active sorts, offering hiking, trail running, and biking in summer and sledging and skiing in winter. 

Bettmeralp is home to the Chapel of Mary of the Snows (Maria zum Schnee). This dates back to 1697, and is at its most photogenic when covered in snow. The views from the church are also stunning. 

From Bettmeralp you can take a gondola ride to the Bettmerhorn viewpoint, at over 8,000 feet. This is where you’ll also find a mountain restaurant, where you can enjoy a memorable meal with both glacier and Matterhorn views.

Where to stay in Bettmeralp

The only four star hotel in the Aletsch Arena area can also be found in Bettmeralp. I’ve stayed at Hotel La Cabane myself, and the boutique-style property was truly lovely. It has a steam room, a sauna, and ski-to-door access. Accommodation here offers a modern twist on traditional Swiss chalet style, and the cable car station is just 100 metres away. 

How to get to Bettmeralp

You can reach car-free Bettmeralp via cable car from Betten valley station. There’s a direct route or you can travel via Betten Dorf. 

Fiescheralp

Sunny, car-free Fiescheralp is locally known as “Kühboden”, which translates as “cow pasture”. This is because Fiesch farmers’ cows are lucky enough to spend summer here, at 2,212 metres above sea level.

It’s an incredibly picturesque spot with fresh mountain air, an abundance of nature, and well-groomed ski slopes. During summer, paragliding is available here, as well as hiking and biking.

You can take a ride from Fiescheralp to reach the Eggishorn viewpoint, at over 9,000 feet. From this vantage point it’s possible to see the entire length of the glacier. There’s also 360 degree views of the Mönch, Jungfrau, and Eiger, Mont-Blanc, and the Matterhorn. 

Work is scheduled to start on a new cable car travelling between Fiescheralp and Eggishorn during summer 2026. By December 2026, a new panoramic restaurant should also open on the summit. 

Once the new cable car system is complete, it can operate all year round, as one will run while the other is checked. 

How to get to Fiescheralp

Car-free Fiescheralp can only be accessed by gondola from Fiesch.

Are the villages and viewpoints accessible all year round?

As the villages are home to permanent residents, they can be reached all year round.

The cable cars from the villages to the glacier viewpoints are open most of the year, except during the annual maintenance periods. Closures generally take place from mid-April until early June.  Check upcoming cable car closures here.

Things to do in each season

Winter

Winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding are very popular in Aletsch Arena during the colder months. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also do some winter hiking. Guided snowshoe treks are also a great way to enjoy and explore the area. 

There are over 100 kilometers of slopes in the Aletsch Arena area. As the slopes are south facing, they are bathed in sunlight from dawn to dusk. The snow-clad landscapes are also arguably at their best during winter. 

Spring

Spring is something of an in-between season in Aletsch Arena. There’s no longer enough snow for winter sports, but there is still too much lying on the trails for summer hiking. 

This is a peaceful time in the area, with very few tourists. If you simply want to kick back and relax, dine out with a view, and savour the scenery, this could be the ideal time of year to visit. 

Summer

Summer is hiking season in Switzerland, when the snow has melted enough to traverse the trails with ease. You’ll find about 300 kilometres (or 185 miles) of marked trails in the Aletsch Arena area, all offering close encounters with nature and beautiful views at every turn. 

Mountain biking is also very popular in the valleys during the summer months. The fact that 2025 World Championships are being held in the region is testament to the popularity of cycling here, including eBikes and cross-country events. Battery assistance can be very useful when you want to tackle those steep ascents! 

You can also find barbecue facilities by Bettmer Lake (Bettmersee) which are ideal for al fresco cooking and eating. You can also paddle or swim in the lake during the warmer months. The area also has plenty of play parks to keep the kids busy. 

Autumn

If you want to visit Aletsch Arena during autumn, or fall, pick September or October. Cable car services wind down around November when the snow starts to fall, for maintenance and safety checks. 

During September and at least early October, you can still enjoy some summer activities when the weather is kind. In general, it’s too early for snow at this point. 

Though Switzerland may not be particularly well known for it, the autumn foliage is one reason to head to Aletsch Arena in fall. The colours can be spectacular if you visit during October, before the winter snowfall begins. 

How to get to Aletsch Arena

Getting to the glacier area involves taking regional trains from Brig to the local stations of Mörel, Betten, or Fiesch. There are frequent services to Brig from other Swiss destinations such as Geneva, Zurich and Spiez. 

Train trips between Zurich and Brig can take a couple of hours or so, while from Geneva the journey time is closer to three hours. You can even travel directly from Zurich airport to Brig, which is one of the last stations before crossing the border into Italy. 

Brig is also a very worthy and lovely destination in its own right, so spare some time to discover it if you can. From Brig it takes around 10 minutes to get to Mörel, 15 to reach Bettmeralp Talstation, or 25 to get to Fiesch. 

Regular trains also run between Zermatt and the local stations, where you can alight before catching a cable car up into the mountains. For guidance on how to reach the individual villages, check out the sections above on each. 

If you have tickets for the famous panoramic train, the good news is that Brig is one of the Glacier Express stops, so you may be able to connect with the Aletsch Arena area that way*. In summer, there are three Glacier Express trains per day stopping at Brig, in each direction.

Note: if you break your Glacier Express journey you will need to purchase seat reservations for each trip on the panoramic train.

If you don’t have Glacier Express tickets, don’t despair. The views from the regional trains are just as spectacular, as you’re travelling along the same route. 

Consider a Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Half Fare Card to save money on both train and cable car tickets. Holders of both get 50% off their gondola trips, as well as savings on train fares. 

Aletsch Arena Podcast

Listen to my Aletsch Arena podcast episode by clicking on the green arrow below.

Aletsch Arena | Final thoughts

I loved visiting the very lovely and relatively undiscovered Aletsch Arena.  If you want to sample the real Switzerland away from the busy tourist resorts, this area offers the ideal opportunity. 

Whether you want to ski, hike, discover nature, play golf, go paragliding, or wander around pretty Alpine villages only reached by cable car, Aletsch Arena could be the destination for you. 

Adding to the appeal of the area is the fact that you can reach it in under three hours from Zurich airport, as well as other destinations such as Geneva.

And with picturesque Brig to visit en route – an Alpine town famous for its thermal baths – why wouldn’t you visit?

Get more helpful advice about visiting this beautiful part of Switzerland in our Discovering Valais article or listen to episode 83 of the Holidays to Switzerland podcast.