Bernese Oberland
The southern end of canton Berne includes some of the tallest and most famous peaks in Switzerland including the Jungfrau and the Eiger. Well-known villages and cities in the region of Bernese Oberland.
Adelboden
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. Adelboden has been awarded the "Families Welcome" quality label. Several children's programmes during holiday periods show just how committed this resort is to entertaining children. And Adelboden is the first destination in Switzerland to have been awarded the Alpine Wellness holiday resort certificate.
Summer
In summer the mountain countryside encourages you to slow down and consciously enjoy. Adelboden boasts over 300 kilometres of well-groomed hiking and theme trails (including a wheelchair-passable circular hiking trail), as well as several cycling and mountain biking routes. Traditional mountain farming with Alpine huts and cheese dairies characterise the countryside. Several summer activities provide entertainment for the visitors.
Winter
The Adelboden-Frutigen-Lenk ski region is a tempting destination even for top athletes. 56 high-performance transport facilities provide access to a piste network of just over 170 kilometres. Winter hiking on the Adelboden sun terrace, cross-country skiing trails, a snow park, freeride arena, hiking and tobogganing trails invite visitors to explore the Alpine winter world - and several mountain guesthouses and Alpine huts provide the perfect excuse for a well-earned rest.
Beatenberg
The main attraction of Beatenberg is its location. The village is one of the best vantage points set against the Bernese Alps and affords 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.
Beatenberg has been awarded the «Families Welcome» label: a day-home for children, playgrounds, barbecue areas, pushchair-friendly walking trails, lending service for books, games, toddler articles etc. are available.
Summer
In summer the mountain countryside is perfect for walking. High moors and karst fields of national importance are a treat for nature lovers. For relaxed walks there is the Beatusweg from the Waldegg district to the village centre. The 4-kilometre-long play and adventure trail relates the legend of Holy Beatus, patron saint of Beatenberg. The wooden castle which is safe to walk on, the ship and the big dragon are simply waiting for children to play on them. A biographical theme trail is dedicated to the bestselling author Erich von Däniken.
The Niederhorn (1950 metres above sea level), Beatenberg's "house mountain" is accessible by aerial cableway from the village as well as from the nearby lakeside. From the Niederhorn several routes head in the direction of the village or over the Gemmenalphorn to the neighbouring village of Habkern. It's not unusual to spot the odd ibex or marmot along the way. Two scooter-bike routes provide the perfect opportunity for a fast ride. The Niederhorn is particularly popular with paragliders. The colourful spectacle of paragliders set against the steel blue sky is a delight for spectators as well.
Winter
The Beatenberg family ski region of Niederhorn and Hohwald, a toboggan run, cross-country skiing tracks, an extensive winter walking trail network, a natural ice rink and the ever fascinating view of the snow-covered peaks make the Bernese Oberland holiday resort an attractive destination for exciting while relaxing winter holidays.
Brienz
The probably most romantic part of Brienz is the Brunngasse which, having once been awarded the title «most beautiful street in Europe», is well known abroad. Most of the houses in the street date from the 18th century and are decorated with woodcarvings. Brienz, which is well known as the "village of carving" has a long tradition in wood processing and to this day has remained a place for carving and violin making.
Summer
A walk along the traffic-free lake promenade, past small boat ports and playgrounds, is a refreshing experience. In summer locals and visitors come to enjoy a swim. The view of the lake with ever-changing moods is a unique experience. And for an even more intense lake experience, we recommend a cruise, for example on board the historic salon paddle steamer «Lötschberg».
The two railway stations are just a short distance away from the ship embarkation point: Brienz is located on the narrow-gauge railway line which links the famous holiday destinations of Interlaken, Meiringen-Hasliberg, Brünig, Lucerne and Engelberg. The other station is the small base station of the steam rack railway up the Brienzer Rothorn panorama and hiking peak.
At the Ballenberg Open-air Museum a look into the kitchens, chambers, living rooms and workshops of the authentically reconstructed houses and farms of agricultural Switzerland dating from the 16th to the 19th century prove that this museum is not about showing off a collection of dusty rarities but instead is dedicated to treating visitors to a real experience.
Winter
Those in search of winter sports pleasures will strike lucky in nearby Axalp, where there is a small, family-friendly winter sports area - complete with the «Axiland!» learning and experience slopes for children - away from the hustle and bustle. For more experience snow sports enthusiasts there is the Meiringen-Hasliberg ski region, which is also easily and quickly accessible.
Grindelwald
Thanks to its magnificent vista and the glacier, which once reached right into the basin, Grindelwald attracted its first guests - primarily the English - from the end of the 18th century onwards. The actual breakthrough of Alpinism occurred in the mid 19th century, and local mountain guides climbed the peaks of the region with English tourists. The first ascent of the Eiger, the most difficult of Alpine mountains took place in 1858 (the north face only in 1938).
Road and railway construction made Grindelwald much more accessible towards the end of the 19th century, which in turn also heralded the onset of winter tourism. The first cableway in the Alps was built here in 1908 on the Wetterhorn. And in 1912, a railway reached the Jungfraujoch via Kleine Scheidegg; today the «Top of Europe» still remains Europe's highest railway station and a world-renowned excursion destination within permanent snow and ice.
Summer
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.
Winter
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. The Schilthorn near Mürren, also part of the Jungfrau region ski arena, even reaches 2971 metres. But the most spectacular piste of the region is without doubt the Lauberhorn piste near Wengen, popularised by the World Cup circus.
Choose from 80 kilometres of winter walking trails with views across seven four-thousand-metre peaks and majestic glaciers, as well as 60 km of toboggan runs, including, at 15 km, one of the longest toboggan runs in the Alps from the Faulhorn into the valley. Naturally Grindelwald also has many further winter sports on offer.
Gstaad
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.
In the past years the centre of Gstaad has developed into the most popular and shortest shopping street in Switzerland. With its top hotels, gourmet restaurants, luxury chalets and nearby Saanen airport, 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 nature preserve by idyllic Lake Lauenen with its waterfalls and high moors, the narrow streets in the historic village centre of Saanen, the advantageous situation of Schönried and Saanenmöser for winter sports enthusiasts and the peacefulness of the idyllic mountain village of Abländschen are examples of an extremely diverse holiday region.
The Saanenland ski and hiking arena with over 60 transport facilities has been given the name «Mountain Rides». It is accessible from several villages by link transport facilities. The Montreux-Oberland-Railways (MOB) and buses connect Gstaad with other base stations in Saanenmöser, Schönried, Zweisimmen, Gsteig, Reusch, Lauenen Rougemont and Château-d'Oex in the French-speaking neighbouring region of Pays d'Enhaut.
Summer
The wide-open countryside of the Saanenland offers a versatile and and diverse sports programme: hiking (trail network of over 300 km), mountain biking, paragliding and golf. On the River Saane there are opportunities for mountain torrent and canoo adventures. Summer cross-country skiing is possible in the «Glacier 3000» ski region. The summer toboggan run in Schönried, a via ferrata and the Lake Lauenen nature paradise are ideal excursion destinations for families.
Winter
In winter, over 250 km of pistes at altitudes of up to 3000 metres above sea level await skiers and snowboard riders. Several snowparks and numerous toboggan runs as well as 80 km of trails for classic- and skating-style cross-country skiing are at the disposal of visitors. For walkers there are about 120 km of winter walking trails. Among the rather more unusual activities on offer there is Bavarian curling in the centre of Gstaad and glacier- and heli-skiing.
Winter in the smaller resorts in the region, such as Lauenen, means peace and pleasure on long winter walks, while cross-country skiing or taking a ride in a horse-drawn sleigh.
Interlaken
Interlaken is a small city in the Bernese Highlands Region of central Switzerland. Located between two Alpine Lakes (Brienz and Thun), Interlaken is a popular base camp for outdoor sports and travel in the surrounding Bernese Oberland Alps
Kandersteg
Kandersteg owes its development into a tourist destination to its good transport links at the northern entrance to the Lötschberg Tunnel. Here the car can be loaded onto the train in order to roll back off the train at the southern entrance to the tunnel in the neighbouring Canton of Valais. The railway tunnel furthermore secures the connection within the Lötschberg holiday region which, in addition to Kandersteg, includes the Lötschen Valley on the southern side of the tunnel.
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.
Summer
With its extensive network of attractive mountain, hiking and walking trails Kandersteg is a paradise for nature and hiking fans. The most famous routes lead across the Gemmi Pass straight to Leukerbad in the Valais, to Lake Oeschinen or through the wildly romantic Gastern Valley and finally over the 2690-metre-high, historically important Lötschen Pass to the Lötschen Valley.
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. The Allmenalp via ferrata, undisputibly one of the most spectacular in the Alps, is a particular challenge.
Winter
Kandersteg is a snow-sure cross-country skiing paradise. Over 50 kilometres of tracked trails (classic and skating) are available in the valley floor and on the sun terraces. Downhill skiers are catered for at Lake Oeschinen and at Sunnbüel. The ski areas appeal to beginners, laid-back skiers and families.
The Kandersteg artificial ice rink is ideal for skating and curling. Around the village and between Blausee and Gemmi Pass winter walkers find their trail network. For ice climbers there is the Kander Valley and for fishing enthusiasts there is ice fishing in winter.
Lauterbrunnen
The very name 'Lauter Brunnen' ('many fountains') suggests the magnificence of this landscape. There are 72 waterfalls in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, the most famous being the Staubbach Falls. Plunging almost 300 metres from an overhanging rock face, they are one of the highest free-falling waterfalls in Europe. In 1779, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe visited the valley, and was inspired by the roaring waters to write his well-known poem 'Spirit song over the waters'
Another deafening natural phenomenon are the Trümmelbach Falls in the 'Black Monk' mountain, hidden behind mighty rock faces. Up to 20,000 litres of water per second cascade over the ten glacier falls from a total height of about 200 metres. This spectacle can only be reached in summer by tunnel lift.
Summer
The valley town of Lauterbrunnen (795 m) is the starting point for some of the best known excursion destinations in the Jungfrau region. A rack railway links Lauterbrunnen with the sunny terrace of Wengen on the eastern flank of the Lauterbrunnen Valley and the Kleinen Scheidegg, the station where you change trains for the onward journey to the Jungfraujoch.
On the opposite side of the valley is the holiday resort of Mürren, accessible from Lauterbrunnen and Stechelberg. The cableway from Stechelberg continues to the peak of the Schilthorn at 2971 m, famous for being the setting where the 007 classic, 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' was filmed.
A few kilometres further up the valley from Lauterbrunnen, accessible along a narrow mountain road, is the peaceful little mountain village of Isenfluh, perched on a steep rock terrace at 1024 m, and starting point for walks in the romantic Saustal and further to Mürren and the Lobhorn mountains.
Winter
The expansive ski regions of Wengen-Kleine Scheidegg and Mürren-Schilthorn are quickly reached by mountain railway. There are 45 transport facilities altogether in the Jungfrau region as well as 213 km of piste, fun parks, 100 km of winter hiking trails and 50 km of toboggan run. The Lauterbrunnen Valley also boasts plenty of cross-country ski trails.
Lenk
Lenk, at an altitude of 1068 metres, is one the Swiss holiday resorts that has been awarded the «Families Welcome» quality mark and offers a wide and varied programme of children's activities. In summer the «Strubeli» steam railway operates for the younger guests. Lenk has also established a reputation for itself with festivals and courses in the fields of culture and music.
The tourism beginnings of Lenk go back to its sulphurous springs, which are believed to provide relief to sufferers of rheumatism and respiratory diseases. Even today, guests in the thermal baths of the Lenkerhof Alpine Resort continue to enjoy the beneficial effects of the spa waters.
Summer
The Simme originates from several white-foaming rock clefts - the so-called 'seven sources' beneath the Plaine Morte Glacier on the Rezlialp. United with water from the Wildhorn massif, which plummets down 100 m over the impressive Iggig falls, the young Simme is born. A circular walk leads past the Iffig falls to the «seven sources» and to the Simmen falls.
The Simmen valley offers a mammoth 600 km of walking trails, including several themed trails such as the Lynx and Marmot Trail on the Betelberg, a Zen Trail and the Alpine Flower Trail with 95 plant species. 290 km of mountain bike trails, tennis and beach volleyball courts, an indoor and outdoor pool provide for fun, sport and variety.
Winter
The ski areas around Lenk in the Simmental aren't dauntingly large, yet, with 50 lifts and a network of pistes extending to 185 kilometres, are still extremely varied. The Metschbahn cableway provides access to the entire Adelboden - Lenk ski region with numerous simple to medium-difficulty pistes, wide carving pistes, interesting snowboard parks as well as a permanent race piste.
The ski area on the Betelberg is smaller and more suited to families. A 3-km-long toboggan run leads from the Leiterli mountain station to the Stoss half-way station. Children will find lots to do here in the children's paradise.
77 km of cross-country ski trails and 74 km of winter walking trails round off the attractions of the Lenk winter paradise. At St. Stephan, there are connections to the expansive ski area of Gstaad-Saanenland. The family ski area by the Jaun pass near Boltigen and the family-friendly Rossberg ski lift can best be characterised as small and idyllic.
Haslital - Meiringen
Many attractions are associated with the icy glacier waters from the nearby mountains; the Aare gorge for example has been hewn into rock by the flow of glacier water over millions of years. A walking platform leads through the gorge between the horizontal, scarped rock faces, just above the turbulent waters. Another wild glacier gorge with a boldly constructed footpath in the romantic Rosenlaui valley is certainly also worth a visit.
A nostalgic funicular leads up to the mighty, tumbling Reichenbach Falls; the smaller, lower waterfalls can already be admired during the ascent. The viewing terrace of the mountain station affords an excellent view of the flooding waters of the 120-metre-high «Upper Reichenbach Falls».
In the murder mystery «The final problem», the master detective Sherlock Holmes is supposed to have plunged into the depths here to meet his end. The English author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was fond of spending his holidays in Meiringen; a museum and memorial here are dedicated to the author and his famous fictional sleuth. Because Holmes' readers didn't want to accept this death, Doyle was forced to allow him to «bob up» again three years later.
The drawn out Hasliberg panoramic sun terrace - also a part of the Haslital - can be reached from Meiringen via a cableway, or by the Brünigbahn and post bus. The Haslital has been awarded the «Families Welcome» quality mark and offers children's entertainment, child care facilities, toy libraries etc.
Summer
The Haslital has around 300 kilometres of marked walking trails and just as many bike routes. Two cableways lead high up into the walking and biking region. The «Muggestutz» adventure trail will entice young and old into the mystical world of the Hasli dwarfs.
Winter
An attractive winter sports region extends above the high plateau of Hasliberg. 15 lifts serve to transport winter sports fans right up to the Planplatten (2245 m) where the Alpen Tower panorama restaurant is situated. Youngsters can become accustomed to snow in "Skihäsliland" in the Bidmi. A freestyle park, several cross-country ski trails, snow-shoe trails, three long toboggan pistes and a wide network of winter walking trails complete the range of winter attractions.
Mürren
At the end of the 1960s, the makers of the Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" were immediately taken by the futuristic revolving restaurant on the Schilthorn: the scenes involving the imaginary 'Piz Gloria' had to be shot here. The film became a great success, the Schilthorn cableway and the revolving restaurant equally so. The magnificent 360° panorama from the summit takes in the world-renowned Alpine triumvirate of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, reaching right to Mont Blanc and into the Black Forest.
Mürren - a former settlement of people from the Lötschen valley in the Valais, which still remains recognisable today from the design of the houses and the pronunciation of the Mürren dialect - is the highest, continually inhabited village settlement in the canton of Bern and lies on a terrace at 1650 metres, 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.
Summer
Impressive views of the opposing mountain summits can also be enjoyed from Mürren. The holiday resort is the starting point for walks (200 km of walking trails), excursions and experiences. A funicular leads to the Allmendhubel, immediately above the village at an altitude of 1907 metres. Themed walks such as the North Face Trail, providing historical mountaineering information on the north faces, and the Flower Panorama Trail invite visitors to discover the region. Playgrounds and picnic areas are provided for families with children.
More demanding tours lead into the nature reserve at the rear of the Lauterbrunnen valley, as well as through the Sefinen valley and over the Sefinenfurgge pass into the neighbouring Kiental.
Winter
The winter sports region of Mürren-Schilthorn has 53 km of prepared ski and snowboard pistes, toboggan runs and a network of winter walking trails. Beyond the Lauterbrunnen valley, a further 30 or so cableways and lifts, and 160 km of pistes in the other ski areas of the Jungfrau region can also be used. There is an 11 km cross-country ski trail in the valley between Stechelberg and Lauterbrunnen.
Thun
The small town of Thun is beautifully situated at the western end of the lake of the same name and offers views of the snow-covered Alps. The impressive castle towers above the late-medieval town: the Romanesque residential tower with its four angle towers is a popular photo subject. The high pavements in the main street of Thun where businesses and restaurants are arranged on two levels are also well worth seeing. The pedestrian-friendly "Bälliz" street is great for shopping.
A walk along the shores of the River Aare to the Schadau Park with a view of the lake is a refreshing experience. Schloss Schadau, Thun's second castle which is built in the style of the French Loire Castles, houses a restaurant as well as a gastronomy museum.
It goes without saying that water sports are very popular in Thun. Thun is home to the oldest sailing school in Switzerland. A beautiful bathing beach attracts a great many bathers in summer. And there is an extensive route network for cyclists and bike riders catering for all abilities.
There are interesting castles and ancient Romanesque churches to visit all around Lake Thun. The railway station, bus station and boat embarkation point are located right next to each other in Thun, making it easy to combine the various modes of transport to explore the region. The town is an ideal starting point for excursions by train and boat, whether to Spiez, Interlaken or the many famous holiday resorts, such as Gstaad, Adelboden, Lenk etc, in the Bernese Oberland. And day trips, for example to the world-famous Jungfraujoch, are possible too. The surrounding hiking and ski regions are just a short distance away with the nearest ones being the Stockhorn in the lower Simmen Valley and the Niederhorn near Beatenberg.
Wengen
With its nostalgic timber houses, the many dispersed holiday chalets and hotels dating from the belle époque period, this Bernese Oberland holiday resort has retained all the character of a picture-postcard mountain village. Opening widely to the south west, the terrace guarantees above-average hours of sunshine. Since 1893, car-free Wengen has been able to be reached from Lauterbrunnen via the Wengernalp railway; cars remain parked in Lauterbrunnen.
The key excursion destinations within the Jungfrau region can all be reached easily from Wengen. Climbers on the Eiger north face - one of the world's most spectacular and difficult climbing faces - can be observed by telescope from the Kleine Scheidegg. Provided you change trains on the Kleine Scheidegg, the Jungfraujoch can even be reached by railway. And you can reach the Schilthorn summit from the valley floor resort of Lauterbrunnen via Mürren or Stechelberg.
Summer
Over 500 km of marked walking trails and 15 mountain cableways in the nearby surroundings lead to the most beautiful vantage points of the Jungfrau region; take for example the classic panorama route between Wengen and the Kleine Scheidegg, which offers up a particularly impressive view of the rock massif of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Those who like things a bit more spirited might like to try their skill at paragliding, river rafting or canyoning. But for eye-popping amazement, you should walk the Eiger Trail at the foot of the Eiger north face, a medium-difficulty mountain walking tour.
Winter
In winter, Wengen is the ideal starting point for the family-friendly ski region of Kleine Scheidegg-Männlichen with 110 km of predominantly easy to medium-difficulty pistes, and the renowned World Cup piste on the Lauberhorn as its crowning glory. The neighbouring ski areas of the Jungfrau region, Grindelwald-First and Mürren-Schilthorn are also readily accessible. The clean air, the long hours of sunshine - especially in winter - the toboggan runs and around 50 km of winter hiking trails also serve to attract non-skiers to the sunny resort.
Zweisimmen
Zweisimmen lies in a wide valley floor and is one of the ten villages which constitutes the Gstaad-Saanenland region. The Rinderberg cableway leads up directly from the village centre to the largest section of the "Gstaad Mountain Rides" ski region which makes it the ideal starting point for extended skiing experiences in winter and for walks in summer. In the nearby holiday destination of Gstaad, guests will be able to gain an insight into the world of stars and rising stars who prefer to spend their vacations here.
Summer
The rambling paradise around Zweisimmen offers several themed walking trails: there is, for example, the Obersimmental 'home trail' which invites its walkers to marvel at the magnificent Simmental farmhouses. The classic trails here also include a ramble or a mountain bike excursion to the idyllic Seebergsee and onward, towards the Stierenberg. Here, a warm bath in a wooden tub awaits visitors who stay at a mountain lodge. Four vista-rich, high-altitude trails as well as a walking tail leading to Lenk at the head of the Upper Simmental finally round off the available walks around Zweisimmen. As an alternative, visitors can opt for scooter-based fun: riders can choose between two routes on which to coast down from the mountain into the valley on scooters with specially-equipped brakes. Several bicycle and mountain bike routes, including the downhill route on the Rinderberg round off the summer route options.
Winter
The «Snowparadise» ski area, which extends from Zweisimmen through to Schönried, offers 120 km of piste fun (with snow park). The Montreux - Bernese Oberland - rail line links Zweisimmen with the valley stations of the feeder cableways for the "Gstaad Mountain Rides" ski arena. The snow-assured high-plateau of Sparenmoos has 38 km of cross-country ski trails and is also the starting point of the 7-km-long toboggan run, which leads down to Zweisimmen. Numerous winter walking trails provide for further diversity and interest.
