251 Things to Do in Bernese Oberland 2025

9 Highlights in the Bernese Oberland

• Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch in the southern part of the Bernese Oberland.
• More than 800 lakes lie at your feet.
• Hike on 4622 km of hiking trails with a total of 12 long-distance hiking trails.
• Waterfalls like the thundering Trümmelbach Waterfalls, the Engstligen Falls or the Reichenbach Falls are part of the Bernese Oberland.
• The world's longest toboggan run, the Big Pistenfritz, is located above Grindelwald.
• The Bernese Oberland offers 34 ski resorts with 774 km of ski slopes.
• Popular excursion destinations such as the Jungfraujoch, the Schilthorn, Grindelwald-First and the two lakes Lake Brienz and Lake Thun are waiting for you.
• In the high alpine zone of the Bernese Oberland lie the highest mountains of the region (3200 to 4200 m above sea level) These include the Finsteraarhorn, the Jungfrau region with Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, the Blümlisalp and the Wildstrubel.
• The pre-Alpine zone of the Bernese Oberland includes (at 2200 to 3000 m above sea level), for example, Schilthorn, Faulhorn, Niesen and Stockhorn.

The alpine landscape makes the region one of the most popular vacation spots in Switzerland. It stretches from the highest peaks of the Bernese Alps, including the Jungfrau, Mönch, and Eiger, to the gentle foothills of the Alps just before the actual capital Bern. ## Attractions in the Bernese Oberland In the Bernese Oberland, you can visit over a hundred museums. Almost every village has a small local museum, along with dozens of old churches that are at least 1000 years old.

Selection of Museums in the Bernese Oberland

|Name/Theme|Location|

|-------------------------|----------| |Alpengarten|Schynige Platte|

|Alte Pinte Galerie|Bönigen/Interlaken| |Ballenberg Open-Air Museum|Hofstetten/Brienz|

|Village Museum of the Old Bear|Konolfingen| |Village Museum|Ringgenberg| |Village Museum Tower|Leuzigen| |Village Museum Old Mill|Wilderswil| |Fortress Museum|Beatenberg| |Aviation Museum Oberaargau|Bleienbach| |House of Museums|Kandersteg| |Art Museum|Bern| |Art Museum|Langenthal| |Art Museum|Interlaken| |Historical Military Facility|Aarberg| |Cave Museum|Sundlauenen| |Pile-Dwelling Collection|Twann| |Toy Museum|Spiez| |Toy Museum|Wattenwil| |Swiss Museum for the Blind|Zollikofen|

Ballenberg Museum

The Ballenberg Museum is a very popular open-air museum in Hofstetten near Brienz. Here, you'll find over a hundred original historical buildings collected from all parts of Switzerland. Traditional crafts are demonstrated, and every summer, you can watch a play in a historical setting. It's open daily from mid-April to the end of October.

Casts

If you want to visit all five fairy-tale castles by Lake Thun, you should get the Schloss card. It gives you discounted entry to the museums of the castles and is valid for a whole year, so you don’t have to see them all in one day.

The five castles by Lake Thun are:

• Thun Castle: Its four white towers make it the landmark of Thun. It dates back to the 12th century.
• Oberhofen Castle: The keep of this romantic castle complex originates from around 1200. It was renovated in the 19th century and now houses a restaurant right by the shores of Lake Thun.
• Schadau Castle: This castle has interesting architecture. It was adapted at the end of the 19th century to reflect the style of the French Loire castles and stands in Schadau Park in Thun. It is now a hotel and restaurant.
• Hünegg Castle: Built in 1861 following the model of the French Loire castles, it has remained unchanged inside since 1900.
• Spiez Castle: This castle, over 1000 years old, also has an equally old church. It is located in Spiez Bay amid vineyards and is now a museum with a restaurant.

More Attractions and Excursion Destinations

The llama and alpaca farm in Aeschi near Spiez at Lake Thun is a gem, not just for families with kids. Here, you can get up close to the animals, feed them, or join them on guided tours. From Interlaken, you can also participate in llama trekking tours in the Weissenau nature reserve. Goat trekking is available at Gilbach as well.

A visit to an alpine cheese dairy with a tasting session is also interesting for both young and old. For culture enthusiasts and night owls, the city of Bern, with a population of 134,000, has a lot to offer. From Thun, you can reach the capital of Switzerland via the A6 motorway or by train in about 30 minutes.

Museums, galleries, monuments, zoos, theaters, and numerous restaurants and cafés line the narrow streets of Bern's old town. Due to its architectural uniqueness, it has been fully placed under the protection of UNESCO.

In Interlaken, exciting exhibitions are regularly presented at the IHP Spectrum gallery and cultural platform.

Excursion Destinations in the Bernese Oberland

The excursion destinations in the Bernese Oberland can be found in stunning natural surroundings, including mountains, lakes, gorges, and waterfalls.

Mountain Peaks in the Bernese Oberland

The 3,466 m high Jungfraujoch is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Bernese Oberland. It's referred to as the "Top of Europe" or the "Roof of Europe".

With a spectacular cogwheel train, you reach the highest railway station in the world. There, an incredible panorama of the Bernese Alps awaits you. You feel transported to another world and experience the forces of nature up close. The view stretches over the Aletsch Glacier and the mountain ranges of the three-thousanders and four-thousanders. On the other side, you can sometimes see all the way to the Vosges and the Black Forest.

These mountain peaks are also interesting excursion destinations for the whole family, and you can easily reach them with mountain railways:

• the forested Harder Kulm
• Grindelwald First
• the magnificent, snow-covered Schilthorn
• the pyramid-shaped Niesen above Lake Thun
• the Schynige Platte, a family-friendly hiking paradise
• the Brienzer Rothorn, where you have the Thunersee and Brienzersee at your feet
• the Tschentenalp, an extensive hiking and sledding area
• the Engstligenalp, known for its climbing routes and high tours
• the Männlichen, very popular with bikers and skiers

Canyons in the Bernese Oberland

Glaciers have carved rocks and created canyons in the Bernese Oberland, which are gradually becoming visible with the melting of the glaciers.

Some of the most beautiful canyons include:

• Gletscherschlucht Grindelwald
• Aareschlucht (Meiringen-Haselberg)
• Rosenlauischlucht (Meiringen-Haselberg)
• Cholerenschlucht (Adelboden)
• Alpbachschlucht (Meiringen-Haselberg)
• Chluseschlucht (Kandersteg)
• Wallbachschlucht (Lenk)

The Gletscherschlucht Grindelwald was formed by the retreat of the Grindelwald Glacier. It's now an adventure area with walkways and a spider web. Activities like climbing and organized canyon swinging are becoming increasingly popular here.

The canyons in Meiringen and Hasliberg are also accessible on foot. The Rosenlauischlucht even has several tunnels and can be explored over a length of 573 m. During summer, the meltwater rushes between the 80 m high and sometimes narrow rock walls. The Aareschlucht is also equipped with pedestrian walkways and bypass tunnels. This gorge can be explored over a length of 1.4 km, making it suitable for children as well. For the lesser-known Alpbachschlucht, you’ll need to be sure-footed, as the gorge climbs steeply in some sections.

Most attractions are great for drone shots. It's important to check beforehand if you need to get any necessary permits for flying drones.

Lakes in the Bernese Oberland

The Bernese Oberland has 800 lakes. The most well-known among them are Lake Blausee, Lake Oeschinen, Lake Thun, and Lake Brienz.

Lake Thun, which is a deep blue lake, along with Lake Brienz, is an alpine edge lake formed by a melting glacier. The Brienz Lake is fed by the Aare River and is one of the cleanest lakes in Switzerland. Both lakes are quite large (17 and 14 km long, respectively).

A relatively small lake is Lake Blausee. This mountain lake was formed after a rockfall. It is located in the Kandertal at an elevation of 887 m above sea level and is a popular excursion destination. The fish farming at the lake is also well-known.

Lake Oeschinen is also a mountain lake and is fed by melting glaciers. It is situated at an elevation of 1,578 m above sea level near Kandersteg. This lake warms up to 20 degrees Celsius in the summer.

Waterfalls in the Bernese Oberland

The Bernese Oberland is home to numerous waterfalls. Some of the most famous include:

• The Trümmelbach Falls
• The Engstligen Falls south of Adelboden
• The Staubbach Falls
• The Reichenbach Falls
• The Giessbach Falls The Trümmelbach Falls are located underground inside the mountain. They consist of ten waterfalls that drain the massive glaciers of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, releasing up to 20,000 liters of water per second. The Trümmelbach Falls are open daily from April to the end of October.

The Engstligen Falls are some of the richest in water and highest waterfalls in Switzerland. They plunge over 370 m into the Engstligental in two stages. You can reach them from Adelboden on foot or by bus. A beautiful mountain hike in summer leads from Unter dem Birg to the Engstligenalp, passing by the roaring waterfalls. In winter, you can watch ice climbers here.

The Staubbach Falls drop 297 m into the Lauterbrunnen valley. The waterfall got its name because the thermals here spray the water in all directions. It is only accessible in summer.

The Reichenbach Falls is a 330 m tall cascade that falls down in seven waterfalls. This waterfall near Meiringen became world-famous when A. Conan Doyle had his character Sherlock Holmes seemingly plunge to his death here.

You can reach the Giessbach Falls at Lake Brienz via a 20-minute round trip from the Grand Hotel or from the Giessbach boat station. The water crashes over 14 steps with a loud roar for 500 m downwards.

Places in the Bernese Oberland

The Bernese Oberland is a region popular with international visitors.

Some of the best-known places in the Bernese Oberland include:

• Adelboden
• Brienz
• Frutigen
• Grindelwald
• Gstaad
• Interlaken
• Innertkirchen
• Kandersteg
• Lauterbrunnen
• Lenk
• Meiringen
• Mürren
• Spiez
• Wengen

One of the main rivers in the region is the Aare, which originates at the highest peak of the Bernese Alps, the 4,274 m high Finsteraarhorn. The Aare is one of the longest rivers that flows entirely within Switzerland and is among the most abundant tributaries of the Rhine.

Swiss Activities Tips for the Bernese Oberland

There are many beautiful places in the Bernese Oberland. The panoramic views are great from all the mountain peaks. There are also lakes, gorges and waterfalls in high numbers. Nevertheless, we have picked out a few insider tips for you, which are particularly worth seeing from our point of view.

Cogwheel train up the Brienzer Rothorn A ride with the rack railroad up to the Brienzer Rothorn is a special experience. You enjoy the direct view of Lake Brienz and the surrounding mountains.

Climbing path at the waterfalls Right next to the lower of the two mighty Engstligen Falls there is the via ferrata Chäligang. It has an easy level of difficulty and is very popular. This way you can combine hiking, climbing and experiencing the waterfall. From Adelboden you hike about 1.5 hours to the waterfalls.

Alp lift The mule track at the Upper Engstligen Falls is the scene of a particularly spectacular alpine procession in early summer. More than 400 cows are involved.

Funky Chocolate Club The Funky Chocolate Club in Interlaken is pure sweet temptation. You can create your own chocolate here and snack as much as you like.

Brockenhaus in Brünig The Brockenhaus in Brünig at the top of the pass is suitable for rummaging to your heart's content. Here, among all the antiques and curiosities, you are sure to find one or two original souvenirs.

Exploring with the Berner Oberland Pass

With the Berner Oberland Pass, you have great flexibility throughout the Berner Oberland. The pass is valid for trains, boats, and most mountain railways. It allows you to travel using public transport in the Berner Oberland for 3 to 10 consecutive days. Plus, with around 40 bonus partners, you can enjoy attractive discounts and special offers.

Activities in the Bernese Oberland

Thanks to its diverse landscape and long-standing tradition as a tourist destination, the Bernese Oberland offers countless options for recreational activities.

Hiking in the Bernese Oberland

A 56 km panoramic trail has been established around Lake Thun, where you can cross several adventurous suspension bridges. A classic hike is the route from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg. Don’t miss the mystical moor hike on Lombachalp.

Some popular hiking trails include:

• Trail No. 60 Royal Walk Männlichen – Männlichen Summit: 600 m, 25 min, 122 m elevation gain
• The Edelweiss Trail at Brienzer Rothorn: the summit trail leads from the mountain station (2244 m above sea level) to the peak (2350 m above sea level) with a panoramic view of Lake Brienz and the mighty alpine peaks.
• Aare Gorge – Reichenbach Waterfall Loop from Aare Gorge East: 10 km, 3:30 h, 440 m elevation gain. The trail is manageable with good basic fitness and sure-footedness.
• First Cliff Walk – Bachalpsee Loop: 6 km, 1:50 h, 210 m elevation gain. An easy hike.
• Giessbach Falls – Lower Giessbach Falls Loop from Brienz: 12.3 km, 3:30 h, 280 m elevation gain. Suitable for those with good basic fitness.
• Wengen – Hunneflue: 1.6 km, 35 min, 66 m elevation gain. The trail is easy to walk and also suitable for winter hiking.
• Breitlauenen - Schynige Platte: 2.7 km, 1:30 h, 441 m elevation gain. This trail is a favorite among hikers.

Cycling, E-Bikes and Mountain Biking Trails

One of the best ways to explore a region is by bike. You can comfortably discover the lake landscapes and sights on well-developed cycling paths while touring the Bernese Oberland. You’ll pedal through quaint villages, passing castles and churches, surrounded by unspoiled nature. Ferries are available to shorten your routes if needed. For professional cyclists, there are challenging trails, like the one to the viewpoint at Oberried.

Where there are mountains, mountain bikers and freeriders are naturally present. You can start from Kandersteg and follow various suggested routes on your mountain bike.

Popular tours include:

• the Blausee Biketour
• the Allmenalp Tour
• the Lötschental Panoramic Bike Tour

The Kandersteg Bike Park is open from May to October.

Not all mountain cable cars carry mountain bikes. The cable car at Männlichen, for instance, does not allow them. However, the gondola at Tschentenalp takes mountain bikes for free.

A unique experience is riding a Trottibike or a Monster Scooter. In Beatenberg, there are two routes available: the short and steep Direttissima (6 km) and the leisurely Flanierama over 12 km. A helmet is included with the Trotti rental. You can also rent a Trottibike at Grindelwald First. From Isenfluh, you have the chance to ride through the Lauterbrunnen Valley with your whole family and a guide.

• Scooter Tour

Paragliding

If you love to take to the skies, there are several providers for paragliding and skydiving in the Bernese Oberland. Or how about an unforgettable helicopter flight over the Bernese Alps and the Jungfrau region?

• Skydiving Schynige Platte

You can do tandem paragliding flights almost anywhere in the Bernese Oberland. You’ll find a particularly high number of launch points for paragliders in Interlaken, at Schynige Platte, and Tschentenalp. Tandem jumps are also offered at Männlichen, Niesen, and Schilthorn.

• Paragliding Interlaken

Via ferrata and high altitude tours

Via ferratas are available in various degrees of difficulty.

Overview of some via ferrata routes in the Bernese Oberland

place	difficulty
Kandersteg - Allmenalp	K4
Gantrisch	K4
Mürren - Gimmelwald	K3
Eiger - Rotstock	K2
Chäligang (Engstligenalp)	K2
Wummis - Sunnighorn	K1 - K2

For beginners and inexperienced climbers it is strongly recommended not to undertake via ferrata and high altitude tours on their own. Mountain guides offer guided tours.

• Höhenweg from Turren to the Kulm of the Brienzer Rothorn: 9.1 km, 3:51 h, 995 hm ascent, 256 hm descent. It is a rather difficult tour, since almost 1000 hm have to be mastered in the ascent. Cable car ride from Lungern to the mountain Turren. With the Brienz-Rothorn cable car you go down (end of season last week of October)
• Eiger via Mittellegigrat: 8.2 km, 11 h, 1132 hm up, 813 hm down. The two-day climb starts at the Eismeer station. After spending the night at the Mittellegi hut, the summit traverse is on the plan for the second day. The highest point is at 3967 m above sea level.
• Brienzer Rothorn to Schönbüel: 10.6 km, 3h, 182 hm up, 950 hm down, it is said to be one of the most beautiful high-altitude hikes in Switzerland. It is said that here you can see 693 mountain peaks with views to the Bernese Alps, Lake Brienz, Schrattenflue. Klettersteig Chäligang: 5.1 km, 3 h, 714 hm up and down. A popular via ferrata at Engstligenalp, also suitable for beginners.
• Bouldering at Engstligenalp: six courses are set up. The climbers do not climb with rope and hooks. They climb on the boulders always at jumping height. The Alpine School Adelboden offers courses on Engstligenalp.
• Tälli in Meiringen: Ascent 3 h, via ferrata 2 h, descent 1 h, height difference: 1390 hm ascent (via ferrata 500 m), 700 hm descent. It is an alpine via ferrata in Gadmertal.
• Mürren to Gimmelwald: 2.2 km, 3 h, 300 hm

Canyoning

A few minutes from Interlaken, you can find exhilarating gorges perfect for canyoning. One such spot is the Saxeten Gorge, great for those wanting to try out the canyoning adventure. Canyon enthusiasts also love the Grimsel Pass, which is near the Valais border.

• Canyoning Interlaken

Water Sports

In the entire Bernese Oberland, there are around 800 larger and smaller lakes, mostly featuring crystal-clear mountain lakes. While most mountain lakes aren’t ideal for swimming, they're popular hiking destinations and sometimes allow boat traffic.

River rafting is a sport enjoyed, for example, on the Lütschine. It's offered as a guided tour: River Rafting Interlaken

Among the most well-known bathing lakes in the Bernese Oberland that also offer water sports activities are Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. When sailing, windsurfing, wake surfing, or kayaking, you always have the snow-capped mountains in view.

From Thun to Bern, you can take a boat trip along the Aare in summer. This inflatable boat tour is also available as a guided Aare boat tour.

Skiing, snowboarding and ski tours

The Bernese Oberland has 34 ski resorts with 774 km of slopes. The ski resort Adelboden/Lenk offers mostly blue and red ski slopes. They are located at altitudes between 1200 and 2200 m above sea level.

The Kleine Scheidegg/Männlichen - Grindelwald/Wengen ski area is the largest ski area within the Bernese Oberland. It provides more than 100 km of ski slopes at altitudes between 944 and 2320 m above sea level. In the majority these are red slopes

The highest ski area is located at Glacier 3000 - Les Diablerets. 30 km of slopes are located at 1343 to 3016 m above sea level. Almost 15 km are blue slopes. However, 10 km of black slopes are also available here.

For freeriders, there are 13 varied downhill runs in the Bernese Oberland. A highlight is the newly designed White Elements Snowpark on the First.

Sledding and Summer Tobogganing

The toboggan run from Kandersteg to Oeschinensee winds through a stunning landscape, starting right at the mountain station. You can also enjoy unique views on the summer toboggan run at Pfingstegg, with a thrilling 760 m ride down into the valley. Use it in sunshine or during the atmospheric evening tobogganing (for groups of 10 or more).

For the brave-hearted, there's a so-called Fly-Line at Pfingstegg through the forest. This is a zip line where you're secured by a harness system, gliding between the treetops. It's a unique experience suitable for kids from 4 years old.

In winter, Grindelwald becomes the sledding paradise of the Bernese Oberland, with 100 km of sledding tracks available.

For sledders and tobogganers, there's a network of paths directly above Adelboden on the Tschentenalp for all skill levels. You can rent classic wooden sleds, modern airboards, and stylish ski sleds right on-site.

From Reichenbach in Kiental, you can take the chairlift to the Berghaus Ramslauenen, where you can also begin a 20-minute toboggan ride down into the valley. Don’t miss out on a night sledding ride.

Some popular sledding tracks:

• Big Pintenfritz from Faulhorn (2,681 m above sea level) 15 km over Bussalp to Grindelwald
• Sulwald - Isenfluh - Lauterbrunnen 8 km
• Männlichen - Holenstein 5.9 km
• Eigergletscher - Kleine Scheidegg (Jungfrau Eiger Run) 2.3 km
• Alpiglen - Brandegg 1.9 km (also night sledding)
• Grindelwald First - Bort 4.6 km
• Mürren 5.7 km
• Eggli to Gstaad 6.4 km
• Kleine Scheidegg-Alpiglen 4.9 km
• Wengen 6.9 km
• Grosse Scheidegg - Schwarzwaldalp 5.3 km
• Sledding track Wiriehorn (Diemtigtal) 5.6 km
• Hornberg - Saanersloch 3.4 km
• Männlichen summit to the mountain station 600 m
• Sledding park Adelboden 14 km
• BodmiArena Grindelwald
• Sulwald Isenfluh 4 km

If you buy a day pass for the Wengen - Männlichen or Grindelwald Männlichen cable cars, the sled rental is already included.

You can book some sledding activities in the Bernese Oberland directly here:

• Sledding Adelboden

Winter Hiking, Snowshoeing, and Cross-Country Skiing

In winter, the Bernese Oberland boasts a total of 200 km of marked winter hiking trails and snowshoe paths, along with 350 km of prepared cross-country skiing tracks. If you grab the Top4 ski pass, you'll have access to all lifts and cable cars in the four ski regions of Adelboden-Lenk, Gstaad, the Jungfrau region, and Meiringen-Hasliberg.

Ice Skating

Some lakes in the Bernese Oberland are also great for ice skating in winter. One of the most impressive natural spectacles is the Oeschinensee, located above Kandersteg, which is covered in black ice and opens for skating in winter. The Lauenensee in Louwental and the Hinterstockensee near Erlenbach in Simmental are also popular among skaters.

Other activities and experiences

Even in the cold season, the excursion boats on Lake Thun are operating. The fondue boats are something special, where you can enjoy delicious melted Swiss cheeses during the ride.

• Canoeing and kayaking in the Bernese Oberland
• Llama and alpaca trekking, also goat trekking
• Seilpark Interlaken
• Mini-golf
• Horseback riding or carriage rides

Events in the Bernese Oberland

The annual calendar is full of events in the Bernese Oberland. Whether it's spring, summer, fall or winter - there's something happening in the Bernese Oberland all year round. The range of events in the Bernese Oberland is very broad. There are internationally acclaimed ski and snowboard events and top concerts. But also the cozy hut magic and traditional alpine dairymen evenings are very popular.

Among the most famous events are:

• January Ski World Cup races near Adelboden
• January Biathlon Swiss Cup Kandersteg
• Mid-January: Lauberhorn Race Ski World Cup Race in Wengen
• Mid-January World Snow Festival Grindelwald (meter-high snow figures)
• Mid - end of January International Inferno Race (amateurs) in Mürren
• Mid - end of January Audi Skicross European Cup & FIS in Lenk i.S.
• Middle - End of January Inferno Combined Giant Slalom in Mürren
• middle - end of January Snow Bike Festival Gstaad
• Middle - End of January Inferno Downhill (Amateurs) Mürren
• End of January Thuner Fasnacht Thun
• Beginning of February Velogemel World Championship Grindelwald
• Beginning of February International Sled Dog Race Lenk i.S.
• March FIS Telemark World Cup and Junior World Championships Mürren
• End of March Audi Snowboard Series Lenk i.S.
• End of March Whitestyle Open (Freeskiing) Mürren
• Beginning of April Lauberhorn Run Wengen
• May Telemark Only Schilthorn Mürren
• June Greenfield Festival Interlaken
• End of June International Trucker & Country Festival Interlaken
• End of June Mountainrun Grindelwald to First
• End of June SWISSMAN Xtreme Triathlon Grindelwald
• July Swatch Beach Volleyball Major Gstaad
• July Ironman Switzerland Thun
• July Swiss Open (tennis tournament) Gstaad
• middle of July Eiger Ultra Trail Grindelwald
• August Glacier 3000 Run Gstaad
• August ENDURO - Eiger Bike-Challenge Grindelwald
• August SeaSide Festival Spiez
• End of August Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad Saanen
• September Jungfrau Marathon Lauterbrunnen
• September Spiezmärit after the Läset-Sunntig in Spiez
• October Light Art Festival Grindelwald
• November Open-Air Curling Tournament in Gstaad
• December 6 Samichlous parade Adelboden
• December FIS Cup Ski Jumping Kandersteg

Every year the Tell open-air plays are organized in Interlaken, bringing well-known plays of William Tell to the stage.

At the ice rink area near Gstaad, various festivals and activities take place throughout the year as part of Gstaad Alive. These include the Ländlerfest, bike workshops and food events.

The Mannried Open Air in the green Simmetal combines pop music, hard rock, country, blues and folk music. This is also a fixed point of the annual calendar of events in the Bernese Oberland.

Traditional village festivals, spring, summer and autumn festivals as well as alpine cheese and bell markets round off the events program in the Bernese Oberland. After all, there are still over 3000 farms in the region. Therefore, traditional festivals are held regularly.

Hotels in the Bernese Oberland

Most hotels, chalets, and holiday homes in the area are designed in traditional alpine style with plenty of wooden elements. You can enjoy the greatest freedom during your vacation in a holiday home right in the wild mountain landscape, with hiking trails and ski slopes literally at your doorstep.

There are also several campsites and holiday villages in the Bernese Oberland. Camping Aaregg offers 200 pitches at the Lake Brienz with excellent facilities. In addition to boat tours, you can also go biking or hiking here.

If you're looking for a unique place to stay, you'll quickly find options in the Bernese Oberland and Jungfrau region. One example is the Tubbo Sky Room, which belongs to the Parkhotel Gunten and is situated right above Lake Thun. In the transparent tube, you get breathtaking panoramic views of the lake from your box spring bed, day and night. The 3-star Parkhotel Gunten has 51 rooms and a spa.

Under the starry night sky, you can also sleep in the romantic outdoor bed on the rooftop terrace of the four-star Carlton Hotel in Interlaken. Here, breakfast is served to you in bed with the first rays of sunshine. The hotel also features a wellness village and a private natural swimming pool.

In a room designed like a beehive with a glass roof, you can sleep in the garden of the youth hostel Grindelwald. You can use a hot tub and a large outdoor bathing tub, regardless of the weather.

Restaurants in the Bernese Oberland

Numerous mountain huts await hungry hikers and skiers. Often the huts are perched on spectacular rocky outcrops and in unreal mountain and glacier landscapes. From the terrace you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the mountain world of the Bernese Alps. And this while feasting on cheese fondue, spaetzli and Zürcher Geschnetzelte.

Restaurant on the Harder Kulm

Perched on Interlaken's local mountain is a restaurant with a red-tiled roof and matching pointed turret. The huge sun terrace offers a beautiful panoramic view from the Harder Kulm. The restaurant can be reached via the Harderbahn, on foot or by car. The restaurant is open during the railroad operating hours in summer.

Lake Brienz is on the left, the view goes as far as Giessbach with the waterfalls in the west behind the lake. To the east, Iseltwald and the area up to the Schynigen Platte are visible. Lake Thun is visible on the right, the mountains Niesen (2362m) and Drunengalm (2408m) are well visible behind. In the background the mountain range of the four-thousanders is visible.

Piz Gloria revolving restaurant

The revolving restaurant on the Schilthorn rotates 360 degrees with two rings and thus offers a panoramic view of the mountains while dining. The Bernese and Valais Alps offer Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau as a special highlight. On the other side, the view goes over Lake Thun, the Jura massif and the romantic Mittelland.

Getting to the Bernese Oberland

By car, you can easily take the A6 motorway from Bern or the A8 from Lucerne. Once you're there, having a car gives you maximum flexibility. From Bern to Interlaken, it takes about 1 hour, from Lucerne 1 hour and 45 minutes, and just under 2 hours from Zurich.

You can fly into the Bernese Oberland via Zurich Airport or Geneva Airport. From Zurich, the A3 motorway connects to the A14, where you can access the A8. From Geneva, you first need to drive along the northern shore of Lake Geneva to the E27 European route towards Freiburg and Bern. From there, the A6 motorway leads into the Bernese Oberland.

For motorcyclists, the majestic mountain passes leading to the Bernese Oberland are a dream come true. The Grimsel Pass comes from Valais, the Brünig Pass from the Sarneraa Valley, and the Susten Pass from the canton of Uri. However, the mountain passes are closed in winter.

Taking the train is a quick and convenient option to get to the Bernese Oberland. The best ways to get around locally are the numerous mountain, cable, and cogwheel trains. More than fifty cable cars open up the entire alpine area of the Bernese Oberland. The post bus regularly connects the villages with the valley stations of the cable cars.

Below are some of the most famous mountain railroads.

Cogwheel railroads in the Bernese Oberland

name	from - to
Jungfraubahn (JB)	Kleine Scheidegg–Jungfraujoch
Schynige-Platte-Bahn (SPB)	Wilderswil–Schynige Platte
Brienz-Rothorn-Bahn (BRB)	Brienz–Rothorn Kulm
Wengernalpbahn (WAB)	Grindelwald–Kleine Scheidegg
Wengernalpbahn (WAB)	Lauterbrunnen–Wengen–Kleine Scheidegg

Funicular railroads in the Bernese Oberland

name	from - to
Grütschalpbahn (BLM)	Lauterbrunnen – Grütschalp (Mürren)
Niesenbahn (NB)	Mülenen – Schwandegg – Niesen Kulm
Reichenbachfall-Bahn (RfB)	Meiringen – Reichenbachfall
Almendhubelbahn	Mürren – Almendhubel
Thunersee-Beatenberg-Bahn (BBB)	Beatenbucht – Beatenberg
Trümmelbachfällebahn (TBF)	Lauterbrunnen, Trümmelbachfälle
Erlenbahn (KWO)	Handegg – Erlen
Harderbahn (HB)	Interlaken – Harder Kulm
Harderbahn (HB)	Interlaken – Harder Kulm
Drahtseilbahn Interlaken–Heimwehfluh (DIH)	Interlaken – Heimwehfluh
Giessbachbahn (GbB)	Giessbach See – Giessbach
Niederhornbahn (NHB)	Beatenberg
Biel-Leubringen-Bahn (FUNIC-BE)	Biel/Bienne – Evilard/Leubringen
Biel-Magglingenn-Bahn (FUNIC-BM)	Biel/Bienne – Magglingen/Macolin

Gondola lifts (up to 8 seats) in the Bernese Oberland

name	from - to
ASB	Adelboden – Oey – Sillerenbühl
BGF	Grindelwald – Bort – Schreckfeld – First
BLB	Lenk – Stoss – Betelberg
BSS	Zweisimmen – Eggweid – Rinderberg
GGM	Grindelwald – Holenstein – Männlichen
GKO	Kandersteg – Oeschinen
LGE	Gstaad – Eggli
LGHa	Geils – Hahnenmoos
LGW	Gstaad – Bodme – Höhi Wispile
LTK	Hasliberg-Twing – Käserstatt
MHB	Hasliberg-Reuti – Bidmi – Mägisalp
MHB	Mägisalp – Planplatten (Alpen tower)
RLS	Schönried – Rellerligrat
SBN	(Beatenbucht-) Beatenberg – Niederhorn

Aerial tramways (from 6 seats) in the Bernese Oberland

name	from - to
Allmenalpbahn	Kandersteg – Allmenalp
BLM	Lauterbrunnen – Mürren
Glacier	Reusch – Oldenegg
LIS	Isenfluh – Sulwald
KW	Gsteig – Sanetsch
LEE	Elsigbach (Frutigen) – Elsigenalp
LESt	Erlenbach im Simmental – Chrindi – Stockhorn
LGP	Grindelwald – Pfingstegg
LKS	Kandersteg – Sunnbüel (Gemmi)
LSMS	Stechelberg – Gimmelwald – Mürren – Birg – Schilthorn
LUBE (Globibahn)	Unter dem Birg (Adelboden) – Engstligenalp
LWM	Wengen – Männlichen
MBL	Lenk (Rotenbach) – Metsch
MHB	Meiringen – Hasliberg Reuti

The Regionalpass Berner Oberland is really interesting. It gives you free travel on all buses, trains, excursion boats, and with 20 mountain railways. You also get discounts at all participating partner businesses. Since the attractions in the Berner Oberland are close to each other, they are also easily accessible by bike.