Bernese Oberland Region

Adelboden

This holiday resort is in the middle of the Bernese Alps and is characterised by its village atmosphere. In winter the idyllic chalet village and hikers' paradise turns into a winter sports paradise. With its numerous mountain transport facilities, growing number of wellness havens and family-friendly attitude, the idyllic chalet village at the foot of the Wildstrubel in summer and winter is among the most versatile holiday destinations in the Bernese Oberland.The Adelboden-Frutigen-Lenk ski region is a tempting destination even for top athletes. Adelboden is the first destination in Switzerland to have been awarded the Alpine Wellness holiday resort certificate.

Aeschi

Aeschi (860 m) and the somewhat higher situated Aeschiried (1000 m) lie on a sunny terrace and offer a wonderful view of the surrounding mountain panorama and of the Lake Thun. The original Peasant village is still marked of farming, folklore and tradition. If you want to escape the everyday hectic, you are just right staying with here. Aeschi offers an intact nature to recharge your batteries.

Axalp

Axalp is situated at 1535 metres altitude above the resort of Brienz. It can be reached by post bus or car in 35 minutes from the village. Axalp is ideally located for hiking in summer and skiing in winter. There are many hiking and mountain trails to explore in summer. A highly unusual hiking path is the Woodcarving Path. It leads from Axalp to the tiny, tucked-away lake of Hinterburgseeli. The path is lined with many figures hewn from tree trunks by Brienz woodcarvers. A hike through the wild and romantic Giessbach Valley is a unique experience. Explore the valley of the famous Giessbach Falls.

Beatenberg

Located high above Lake Thun, this sun terrace offers a unique panorama of the Alpine peaks of the Bernese Oberland including the famous trio mountains, Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Away from the main tourist streams, the village is particularly popular with nature-lovers and families. The main attraction of Beatenberg is its location. The village is one of the best vantage points set against the Bernese Alps and offers a view of deeply blue Lake Thun. Just about 10 kilometres by road away from Interlaken, Beatenberg is furthermore a perfect starting point for excursions to the Lake Thun and Jungfrau region. The 4-kilometre-long play and adventure trail where the wooden castle is safe to walk on, the ship and the big dragon are an attraction for children. The highlights also include the Beatus Caves – one of the biggest limestone cave systems in Switzerland with stalagnites and stalactites. A Well lit section of these caves is open to visitors.

Bönigen

The peaceful quayside attracts visitors to this idyllic village on the left bank of Lake Brienz. Though only a 5-minute bus ride from Interlaken, it is a perfect place for those seeking peace and quiet. The popular destinations are still within easy reach. Places such as the unspoilt region of Brienz – Haslital with its open-air museum at Ballenberg, or the Lütschinen valley with the well-known mountain villages of Grindelwald, Wengen and Mürren, or even trips to the Jungfraujoch and the Schilthorn are an easy reach.

Brienz

Brienz is located in the middle of charming mountains at the eastern end of turquoise-coloured Lake Brienz. The cosy village is starting point for excursions to the Bernese Oberland, the Ballenberg Open-air Museum and also to Lucerne or Interlaken or across the nearby Alpine passes. The most romantic part of Brienz is the Brunngasse which has been awarded the title "Most Bautiful Street in Europe". Most of the houses in the street date from the 18th century and are decorated with wood carvings. Brienz, which is also known as the "village of carving" has a long tradition in wood processing and to this day has a school for carving and violin-making. A walk along the traffic-free lake promenade, past small boat ports and playgrounds, is a refreshing experience.

Gimmelwald

a scenic cable car takes one high over the rocks to Gimmelwald (1400 m). The intact, pedestrian, Alpine village with its 13 farms and many houses decorated with an array of flowers, has maintained its original character. Above all, families and young people from all corners of the world come together here. Footpaths leave directly from the house and lead over lush green meadows, carpets of flowers, cool streams always offering impressive views of the mountainous scenery. Weary walkers can treat themselves right at the farm: specialities like cheese, sausages and much more can be bought from the market ladies or farmers.

Grindelwald

The village of Grindelwald in the Bernese Oberland lies embedded in a welcoming and green meadows, surrounded by a commanding mountainscape with the Eiger north face and the Wetterhorn. This mountainscape and the numerous lookout points and activities make Grindelwald one of the most popular and cosmopolitan holiday and excursion destinations in Switzerland. It also is the largest ski resort in the Jungfrau region. The two ski regions of First and Kleine Scheidegg – Männlichen – Wengen offer 160 kilometres of pistes with around 30 lifts reaching up to an altitude of 2500 m. There are 300 km of walking trails around Grindelwald. The high-altitude walk from Grindelwald-First along the Bachalpsee to the Faulhorn mountain hotel and then on to the Schynige Platte ranks among the most beautiful hikes of the region. An easy walk with fantastic views of the three, world-famous mountains of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau leads from the Männlichen up onto the Kleine Scheidegg.

Gstaad-Saanenland

The Gstaad-Saanenland holiday region in the Bernese Oberland is popular with a charming mix of visitors: while the chalet village of Gstaad attracts countless stars and starlets the smaller neighbouring villages offer attractive options for families with children. With its top hotels, gourmet restaurants, luxury chalets, the car-free resort of Gstaad is a popular destination for international celebrities. With the neighbouring resorts of Saanen, Rougemont, Schönried, Saanenmöser, Zweisimmen, Gsteig and Lauenen, the Saanenland as a whole however offers a considerably broader spectrum. The very famous International Balloon Festival in January which is the most important Alpine balloon event with about 90 hot-air balloons in a variety of shapes and colours in held in Châteux-d'Oex.

Interlaken

Interlaken lies in the Bernese Oberland on an alluvial plain, between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. The vacation destination, which is presided over by the mighty mountain trio, Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, is the starting point for numerous activities. Interlaken is an ideal starting point for countless excursions like Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn, Harder etc. Over 45 mountain railways, cable cars, chair lifts and ski lifts lead to 200 kilometers of pistes and a dense network of hiking trails. Excursion ships, including historic paddle steamers, ply the waters of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz.

Kandersteg

Kandersteg is located in the Bernese Oberland at an altitude of 1200 metres above sea level at the foot of the Lötschen Pass. The peaceful holiday resort with about 1000 inhabitants with all its wooden chalets has maintained its village character. In summers it is an absolute hiker’s paradise. In winter the emphasis is on Nordic ski sports. Lake Oeschinen – accessible from Kandersteg by chairlift or along a wide, family-friendly hiking trail – not only offers the idyll of a deep blue mountain lake, but also excites with a fast toboggan run. Kandersteg is characterised by a broad spectrum of accommodation: from 5-star luxury hotel to holiday apartments, camping sites through to international scout centre with dormitories there is everything. Several mountain guesthouses and huts belonging to the Swiss Alpine Club in the Lötschberg holiday region provide the basis for several-day mountain tours.

Lauterbrunnen

Lauterbrunnen is situated in one of the most impressive trough valleys in the Alps, between gigantic rock faces and mountain peaks. With its 72 thundering waterfalls, secluded valleys, colourful alpine meadows and lonely mountain inns, the Lauterbrunnen Valley is one of the biggest nature conservation areas in Switzerland. Some of the most famous water falls include the Staubbach Falls,plunging almost 300 metres from an overhanging rock face, and Trümmelbach Falls where Up to 20,000 litres of water per second cascade over the ten glacier falls from a total height of about 200 metres.

Merligen

Directly on the Lake of Thun, between Thun and Interlaken, nestled like a painting in a cove at the neck of the Justi Valley, lies Merligen. The erstwhile fishing village offers a plethora of lodgings to suit every vacationer's budget, ranging from majestically situated holiday apartments to first class hotels. The atmosphere here is more personal, with emphasis on the individual rather than mass tourism.

Mürren

My name is Bond, James Bond. The agent who presented himself in such an unmistakeable way made a decisive contribution to the fame of the Schilthorn for which Mürren serves as the base station. The mountain with its breathtaking panoramic views is today one of the top attractions of the Jungfrau region. Lying at the foot of the Schilthorn, Mürren has nevertheless remained a cosy mountain village. It remains recognisable even today from the design of the houses and the pronunciation of the Mürren dialect. It is the highest continually inhabited village settlement in the canton of Bern and lies on a terrace at 1650 metres which is high above the Lauterbrunnen valley. A double-cable ropeway leads up onto the plateau from Lauterbrunnen, while a cableway runs from Stechelberg, past turbulent waterfalls and craggy rock faces, into the centre of the car-free village of Mürren, and further to the Schilthorn at 2970 metres. Impressive views of the opposing mountain summits can also be enjoyed from Mürren. The holiday resort is the starting point for walks, excursions and experiences. A funicular leads to the Allmendhubel, immediately above the village at an altitude of 1907 metres.

Thun

The city of Thun, which is located at the lower end of Lake Thun, is the gate to the Bernese Oberland. The historic Old Town is situated about one kilometer from the shore of the lake, on the river Aare. There is a castle in the center of the Old Town that dates back to the 12th century and boasts a museum.

Wengen

The holiday resort lies on a sun terrace at the foot of the Jungfrau, 400 metres above the Lauterbrunnen valley at an altitude of 1274 m. The tradition filled, car-free holiday resort offers a family-friendly ski and rambling area around the Männlichen and the Kleine Scheidegg. With its nostalgic timber houses, the many dispersed holiday chalets and hotels dating from the Belle Epoque period, this Bernese Oberland holiday resort has retained all the character of a picture-postcard mountain village.