30 Things to Do in Engelberg 2025

In our travel guides Titlis and Brunni Engelberg, you can find detailed descriptions of these mountain peaks. You can easily reach both directly from Engelberg using the cable cars.

9 Highlights in Engelberg

• The Titlis (3239 m a.s.l.) is located south of Engelberg and can be reached in less than half an hour by cable car from Engelberg.
• The Titlis Glacier offers winter experiences even in summer.
• The Trübsee Glacier Lake (1764 m a.s.l.) is particularly popular among families for summer fun.
• World Cup Ski Jumping regularly takes place on the weekend before Christmas in Engelberg.
• The Brunni (1850 m a.s.l.) is a sunny mountainous area north of Engelberg. The Brunni Härzlisee and the Brunnihüttli are especially popular.
• In the Brunni, hiking takes place in summer, and in winter, it transforms into a sun-soaked winter sports area.
• The ski area at Titlis offers 82 kilometers of slopes, while there are 8.5 kilometers of slopes at Brunni.
• The longest descent in the Titlis ski area stretches over 12 kilometers and 2000 vertical meters.
• Engelberg is only a 43-minute train ride from Lucerne.

Attractions in Engelberg

Only 43 minutes by train separate the Alpine village of Engelberg from Lucerne. Today, Engelberg is a popular destination for excursions and tourism.

Titlis South of Engelberg

In the south of Engelberg, you can reach the three-thousand-meter Titlis and its glacier via the Rotair cable car. Throughout summer and winter, there are a variety of activities to enjoy at Titlis and the Trübsee glacier lake.

Getting There from Engelberg

From Engelberg, it takes just 22 minutes to get to the Titlis mountain station. The ride on the Titlis Rotair cable car is an experience in itself: it rotates during the ascent, allowing every guest to enjoy breathtaking views of the glacier. You can reach the glacier directly via the Ice Flyer chairlift.

Titlis Cliff Walk

From the Ice Flyer mountain station, you can directly access the Titlis Cliff Walk. This is a suspension bridge that offers a stroll over the glacier at an altitude of 3,041 meters.

Glacier Cave

You can reach the glacier cave from the mountain station of the Rotair cable car. It tunnels 10 meters beneath the glacier’s surface and is 150 meters long. The ice in the cave is up to 5,000 years old, and the temperature remains a constant minus 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Trübsee Glacier Lake

The Trübsee glacier lake is especially popular with families. Here, you can enjoy swimming, hiking, and fishing. The area around the lake also features the Trübsee Adventure Park, the Smuggler and Mule Path, and the Trübsee Flyer zipline for added fun.

The Brunni north of Engelberg

The Brunni in the north of Engelberg is reached via the cable car to the Rustis midway station at 1600 meters above sea level. Here there is a summer toboggan run and a children's playground. If you take the chairlift from Rustis, it will take you to the Brunni Härzlisee. Here you can also find the Brunnihüttli of the Swiss Alpine Club. The Brunni with its southern slopes is also called Engelberg's sunny side

Directions from Engelberg

From Engelberg you first take the cable car to Ristis. Here you change to the chair lift to the Brunnihütte. The Härzli lake is right next to the mountain station. It is also easily accessible as a hiking destination from Engelberg or Ristis

Brunni Härzlisee with tickle trail

The Härzlisee is idyllically situated at Brunni at 1.861 m above sea level. It got its name because its shape reminds of a heart. Families like to walk around it and enjoy the mountain panorama during the leisurely hike. Around the lake there are five fireplaces with seats. Here you can barbecue yourself. If you don't want to do that, there are two huts with catering at the Härzli lake: Brunnihüttli and Chruiter Hüttli.

Next to the small mountain lake there is a so-called tickle path. This barefoot path is 220 meters long. Pebbles, sand, wood chips and water massage the feet. It begins and ends at the herb hut (Chruiter Hüttli) and is open from June to October. In addition to the tickle trail, a barefoot hiking trail has also been created that leads to the Hüttismatt above Ristis.

The Härzli lake was artificially created and serves as a water reservoir. It provides the water that is needed in winter for snowmaking on the ski slopes.

Bannalp and Lake Bannalp

The Bannalpsee is a reservoir at 1586 m above sea level, located in the north of the mountain range. You can reach it on hiking routes like the Walenpfad, which connect Brunni and Bannalp. The mountain routes via Rot Grätli and Rugghubelhütte to Engelberg (or vice versa) also lead past Bannalpsee. The Bannalp itself is a pre-Alpine high valley. It lies at 1600 to 2800 m.a.s.l. near Oberrickenbach Wolfenschiessen.

Activities Tips Engelberg

We’ve gathered these insider tips for you during our research.

Free Bus

In Engelberg, a free bus connects the mountain rail stations and the Engelberg train station. You can hop on at various stops, making your holiday stress-free without a car. The bus operates on multiple routes with short intervals in both summer and winter.

Quiet Bannalp

Bannalp, as a pre-Alpine high valley, is quite tranquil and a secret tip for those seeking relaxation in both summer and winter.

Trübsee Adventure for Active Families

Trübsee at the Titlis middle station is a paradise for active families. The zipline, adventure park with jump tower, and trampoline provide a lot of fun. The smuggler's path around the lake (3.4 km) is especially suitable for younger children and can be navigated easily with a stroller. At the last station (Säumerlager), you’ll find several picnic spots.

• Activities in Engelberg for families

Activities in Engelberg

All year round, Engelberg offers plenty of options for staying active. Some activities can even be enjoyed throughout the entire year.

Here are a few activities you can do all year round:

• Bettlerstock Climbing Garden
• Paragliding at Brunni

Bettlerstock Climbing Garden near Engelberg

You can reach the Bettlerstock Climbing Garden (2100 m above sea level) from the mountain station of the Brunni chairlift. It takes about 30 minutes via the marked hiking trail in white and blue. The climbing garden has two routes that are open from January to December.

The south route features a 70-meter high pillar of rough limestone, which is considered very difficult. However, it warms up quickly in winter when the sun is shining. The west route is easier, standing at a height of 20 to 25 meters.

Paragliding at Brunni

For paragliding at Brunni, there are three take-off spots accessible via the cable car and chairlift. The Engelberg valley is sheltered from the wind by the Titlis massif, making the weather and flying conditions excellent on more than average days.

• Paragliding in Engelberg

Activities in the summer in Engelberg include:

• Hiking and mountain hiking
• Trübsee Adventure and Smuggler & Carriers
• Zipline Trübsee Flyer
• Summer toboggan run with Alpine playground at Brunni
• Mountain biking, Trotti bike, or Devil bike
• Via ferratas, climbing gardens, Graustock climbing pole
• Rowing and kayaking on Trübsee

Hiking and Mountain Hiking in Engelberg

In the summer, the area around Engelberg is a vast hiking region. A new barefoot hiking trail has been established at Brunni between Hüttismatt above Ristis and Härzlisee. It features eleven stops designed for barefoot walking. However, you'll still need hiking boots for the connecting routes. The walking time is about 30-45 minutes.

Around Titlis, in addition to four official hiking trails, there are also 20 official mountain hiking paths. Their lengths vary from one to nearly nine hours. One of the easier hikes is the trail from the mountain station Ristis to the Brunnihütte by Härzlisee. You can even do it with a stroller.

A particularly challenging hike is the glacier ascent from Trübsee to the Titlis peak. It’s best to undertake this tour with a mountain guide. Crampons and an ice axe are required.

Trübsee Adventure and Smuggler & Carriers

Trübsee Adventure is located at the middle station of the Titlis cable car. Activities like BagJump, Trampoline2Bag, bouncy castle, slackline, and bike pump track take place here until mid-October. Guides are available for support in the Adventure Park.

The Smuggler & Carriers experience world at Trübsee can be explored in about an hour. It includes a smuggler playground, a carriers campsite with a barbecue area, and puzzles to solve along the way around Trübsee. The easy path is also accessible with a stroller or wheelchair.

Zipline Trübsee Flyer

The 500 m long zipline takes you down from the Berghaus Trübsee to the lake in the afternoon. You’re strapped in and descend 40 meters in height.

• hiking in Engelberg

Summer toboggan run with Globi's Alpine playground at Brunni

The 660 m long summer toboggan run in Ristis is open daily on dry days from spring to autumn. The entry point is at the Berglodge Ristis. The toboggan run circles the 3000 m2 alpine playground. Children from the age of eight may ride alone, younger children need an escort of at least 12 years old.

In Globi's alpine playground there are for the children for example:

• a Murmeli tunnel slide and two other slides
• a small rope park
• a trampoline
• a climbing wall
• three seesaws
• three swings
• an alpine hut and a milking cow
• Globi's wild water world with pumps and tilts
• two carousels and a climbing carousel
• a large climbing and balancing landscape

Within the playground you will find three fireplaces with ten seats each. Wood is available. Globi is the mascot of Brunni Engelberg. Globi figures are present at Brunni as helpers for the children.

Swimming, rowing and kayaking near Engelberg

Lake Trübsee and Lake Brunni Härzli invite you to swim, row and kayak. At the boathouse Trübsee you can get helmets and life jackets. Here you can also book a guide. So you can go kayaking on the lake and enjoy the mountain scenery. Don't forget your swimsuit and a change of underwear.

Mountain biking, Trotti Bike or Devil Bike

Mountain bike tours are very popular both on the Titlis and in the Brunni area. Mountain bikes are rented in Engelberg in the village and at the Titlis mountain station.

At Titlis, the mountain bike may be transported on the mountain railroad. Here there are at least fifteen tours of varying difficulty. The tours are rideable from June to October.

At Brunni you can do some tours by mountain bike, but also by bike or e-bike. The approach from Engelberg to Rigidalalp via Ristis is easy. This route is available as an asphalt road. From Rigidalalp a partly difficult gravel road continues. The last part before the Brunni hut becomes very steep. The Brunni gondola lift takes folded bikes. With the chairlift, however, no transport of bikes is possible.

Four popular tours:

• 4-Lakes Tour Engelberg: Engelberg-Trübsee-Jochpass-Engstlenalp-Tannalp-Melchsee-Frutt, 32 km in length, difficult, 920 meters in altitude
• Arnialp-Engelberg: 6 km length, easy, 343 vertical meters
• Brunni Hut Trail: Brunni Hütte SAC-Engelberg, 13.3 km, moderate, 862 vertical meters
• Stäfeli Trail: Brunni Hütte SAC-Engelberg, 9 km, moderate, 394 vertical meters

On the Titlis you can also ride downhill with the Trotti-Bike (mixture between bike and Trottinette). Helmets are compulsory, the helmets will be lent with the bike. You can rent scooters at the intermediate station Gerschnialp or at the restaurant Untertrübsee. After the ride you return them at the valley station of the TITLIS mountain railroads. The ride is 3.5 km long and covers 260 meters in altitude. Trottibikes are rented daily (only in dry weather) between May and October.

A Devil Bike or Monster Bike has extra wide tires and goes down faster. You can rent them for the stretch from Jochpass to Trübsee. The ride takes 15 min and overcomes 410 meters in altitude.

Via Ferratas, Climbing Areas, Bouldering Spots

Around Engelberg, you can find 8 climbing areas, 6 via ferratas, various bouldering spots, and countless alpine climbing routes.

A partially challenging via ferrata is the Graustock Via Ferrata on Titlis. It starts at the Berghaus Jochpass at an altitude of 2,222 m and takes you to the 2,661-meter-high summit of Graustock. From here, you have a great view of Titlis. The via ferrata is only accessible in summer until around October, after which the cables are taken down.

The Äbnet Climbing Area is very well suited for families and beginners.

For bouldering, there are 15 rock blocks with 170 routes available in the Surenental. Climbing is also possible in the Sporting Park and the Engelberg Ropes Park. The Ropes Park is located at the valley station of Fürenalp.

Difficulty Levels for Climbing Areas, Via Ferratas, and Bouldering Routes around Engelberg|Trail|Difficulty Level| |-------------|:--------:| |Leitistein|3c to 5b| |Graustock|4c to 7a| |Wissberg|4c to 7a| |Brunnihütte|4a to 5c| |Schlänggen|6a to 8b| |Äbnet|4a to 5c| |Laucherenstock|4c to 7a| |Ruchstock|6a to 7a| |Titlis South Face|6a to 7a| |Bettlerstock|4a to 7a| |Sättelistock|5c to 7a| |Schlossberg|5c to 7a| |Bouldering Routes in Surenental|4a to 8b|

The via ferratas Fürenwand and Brunnistöckli are rated with a different scale in Engelberg.

The Brunnistöckli Via Ferrata is rated as K2 (easy) on the scale from K1 to K5. It is suitable for beginners and families and features a suspension bridge as a highlight: 1.4 km length, 171 meters elevation gain, 1:10 hours. Above this via ferrata begins the Rigidalstock Via Ferrata, rated K3 (medium difficulty).

The Fürenwand Via Ferrata is rated K4 to K5 (hard) on this scale. Beginners should only climb here with a mountain guide: 6.2 km length, 775 meters elevation gain, 4:40 hours.

The climbing gear can be rented in Engelberg at the village center or at the valley station of the Titlis Xpress.

Skiregions near Engelberg

The ski area on Titlis is situated at altitudes between 1003 and 3020 m above sea level, and at Brunni between 1050 and 2040 m above sea level.

Activities in the ski areas:

• Skiing and snowboarding (on Titlis until the end of May), Globis Winterland Klostermatte, and Yetipark at Brunni
• Trottin and tobogganing, Trübsee Sliding Park, TitlisSnowXPark
• Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and winter hiking
• Avalanche Training Center and SnowEpic at Titlis

Skiing and snowboarding, Klostermatte and Yetipark

In winter, you can enjoy over 82 kilometers of slopes at Titlis. It’s even possible to ski until the end of May. The longest run stretches over twelve kilometers with a drop of 2,000 meters down to Engelberg. For kids and beginners, there are about 23.5 kilometers of easy slopes at the lower slopes around Untertrübsee, Gerschnialp, and Trübsee.

Difficulty of the 82 kilometers of slopes at Titlis|Difficulty|km Slopes|% Proportion| |-------------|:--------:|:--------:| |easy|23.5 km|29%| |medium|45.5 km|55%| |hard|13.0 km|16%|

At Brunni, the 2 kilometers from Klostermatte are easy to navigate. Furthermore, Klostermatte is the leading ski training area in Central Switzerland. The Yetipark is located behind the Ristis restaurant. It is a practice area for skiing and tobogganing for children.

Difficulty of the 8.5 kilometers of slopes at Brunni|Difficulty|km Slopes|% Proportion| |-------------|:--------:|:--------:| |easy|2 km|24%| |medium|4.6 km|54%| |hard|1.9 km|22%|

• Ski pass from Engelberg to Titlis
• Ski school in Engelberg

Sledging, Rutschpark Trübsee, TitlisSnowXPark

At Titlis, there's a 3.5 km long sledging run that descends 250 meters. Starting at Gerschnialp, it winds through the snowy Gerschni forest and ends in Engelberg.

At Brunni, it's best to kick off your sledging adventure right at the Brunnihütte. Two sledding paths lead down 2.5 km to Ristis. The route over Rinderbüel is easier to ride.

In the Yeti children's park, you can rent classic sleds, skibobs, and airboards, including protective gear and helmets. You can also rent sleds at the top station of the chairlift by the Brunnihütte.

The Rutschpark Trübsee can be enjoyed with balance boards, snow tubes, or zip sleds, and in the nearby SnowXPark, you can try out one of the six e-snowmobiles.

• SnowXpark snowmobile ride Engelberg Titlis

Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, and Winter Hiking

You can enjoy cross-country skiing on several trails in the valley starting from Engelberg. The Gerschnialp trail at Titlis is a popular option, spanning eight kilometers and rated as an easy to moderate tour. At Furggelenstock, there are two popular cross-country trails from Brunni, each taking about 3.5 hours to complete, measuring six and nine kilometers respectively.

You can rent snowshoes and cross-country skis at the Titlis valley station and in the village of Engelberg.

Snowshoeing

There are two official and avalanche-safe snowshoe trails at Brunni: Schönenboden-Trail Brunni: from the Berglodge Ristis to Ristis, 3.5 km, 2 hours, 170 meters elevation Riedalp-Trail: from Ristis via Ruchweg and Riedalp back to Ristis, 2.9 km, 1.5 hours, 130 meters elevation There are also two official snowshoe trails at Titlis:

• Gerschnialp-Untertrübsee-Trail: this route runs parallel to the cross-country ski trail and is well marked, 4.2 km, 1:20 hours, 138 meters elevation
• Obertrübsee-Trail: starting from Berghotel Trübsee towards Engelberg, taking the Älplerseil and returning; both arrival and departure happen via the TITLIS-Xpress cable car between Engelberg and Trübsee, 5.5 km, 2 to 2.5 hours, 252 meters ascent

Winter Hiking

The summer hiking trails can often be walked in winter too. This includes the paths between Ristis and Brunnihütte as well as Ristis and Engelberg. There are about 50 kilometers of winter hiking trails around Titlis and Engelberg.

Special winter hiking trails at Brunni and Titlis:

• Panoramaweg Rigidalalp with views of Titlis and Hahnen: 3 km, 1 hour, 265 meters elevation
• Schneetandliweg Brunni: starting from Berglodge Ristis along the pink trail signs to Ried and back to the Ristis mountain station, 2.4 km, 0.75 hour, 130 meters elevation.
• Gerschnialp–Untertrübsee: from Hotel Bänklialp to Gerschnialp and then down to Untertrübsee, 4.2 km, 1:45 hours, 304 meters ascent, 57 meters descent.
• Rundweg Trübsee: starting from the middle station of the TITLIS Xpress cable car along the pink signs, 3.2 km, 1 hour, 28 meters elevation

Avalanche Training Center at Titlis

In winter, a free avalanche training camp is offered at Trübsee. Participants can practice searching with an avalanche transceiver under realistic conditions at Schlächtismatt (Trübsee).

• ski tours from Engelberg

Events Engelberg

There is always something going on in Engelberg.

Night skiing on the Klostermatte, night sledding and a night cross-country skiing: the evening atmosphere is unforgettable. Mountain railroads and huts are of course open for this. You can also go snowshoeing, snow tubing or winter hiking.

On Trübsee the regular Trübsee Saturday Night Event is already legendary. Between Christmas and Easter it takes place every Saturday evening. The cable cars between Engelberg and Trübsee then travel in convoy, always 12 gondolas in a row. The Trübsee slide park opens, as does the Lago Torbido restaurant, the Fonduestübli and the Trübsee Bar.

Whether Mafia Dinner at the Hotel Terrace, Early-Bird, game watching, StrongMan Run by Fisherman's friend or the annual concert of the music society: there is always something to experience in Engelberg.

Hotels Engelberg

For overnight stays in Engelberg you can find several hotels and guesthouses, but also vacation apartments. Even a religious hotel can be found in Engelberg. The Hotel St. Josefshaus is located in the village center of Engelberg and is owned by the Benedictine monastery.

Yurt Mountain

How about an overnight stay in a yurt including a hot outdoor bath? Yurt Mountain offers overnight accommodation for one to two people in a yurt. This includes a breakfast basket and, if desired, a dinner. In winter, fondue or raclette is also served.

Berglodge Ristis

The Berglodge Ristis is only accessible by cable car from Engelberg to Ristis. The big advantage: it is located in the middle of the hiking and skiing area Brunni at 1600 m.a.s.l. You can admire the beautiful view of the Titlis and the rest of the surrounding mountains in the morning or at sunset. The ski and toboggan slopes as well as the Yeti park for children are in the immediate vicinity of the lodge. In summer you have to walk only a few steps to the summer toboggan run and the children's playground. The via ferratas also start in the immediate vicinity. The lodge is primarily suitable as group accommodation. There are 2 four-bed rooms, 3 five-bed rooms and two dormitories with shared bathrooms. In the evening the restaurant is opened exclusively for overnight guests or registered groups.

Restaurants Engelberg

Besides the restaurants in the village of Engelberg, almost every hotel has its own restaurant. In addition, you will find some mountain huts on the Titlis and on the Brunni, which mostly offer smaller meals as catering on the mountain.

Brunnihüttli at the Härzli lake of Brunni

The Brunnihüttli is reached directly by chairlift. It has a large outdoor terrace. You can also spend the night here. It is closed during the maintenance times of the Brunni lifts, but the shelter is always open. It belongs to the Swiss Alpine Club and offers 32 sleeping places. In winter, this is the center of winter sports, especially since winter sports equipment is also available for rent. A sledding trail starts right at the hut. In the other months you can hike here, go around the Härzli lake or walk the tickle trail. Not far from the hut there is also a starting point for paragliders in winter. In summer, several high-altitude trails and climbing tours start here.

Chruiter Hüttli (herb hut) at Lake Härzli

The Kräuter Hütte is also located at Lake Härzli. It is open daily in summer from 08:30 to 17:00. At the snack stand you can get snacks and drinks (cold and hot). Sausage and bread for grilling are also sold here. Climbing sets can be rented here.

Alpstübli at Trübsee Titlis

The Alpstübli is located directly at the Trübsee and has a large sun terrace. Here you will primarily find Swiss specialties, but also homemade cakes. This is particularly popular. The Alpstübli opens in summer until 17:15. During the rest of the year it is generally closed. In winter, however, you can get a homemade cheese fondue in the Chässtübli.

Getting to Engelberg

Engelberg is centrally located in Switzerland. You can easily reach the town from anywhere, whether by public transport or by car.

Getting there by public transport

The trip to Engelberg from Lucerne takes about 43 minutes by the Zentralbahn. From Zurich, it takes about an hour longer by train. A lovely option is the combination of boat and bus or train. You first take a boat from Lucerne to Beckenried. From there, you can take bus 311 to Stans. Then, you ride the train/bus to Engelberg.

Within Engelberg, there's a free bus service that takes you to all the valley stations of the lifts or to the train station. It's called the Dorf Express, but six other bus lines also provide free rides in winter and summer. Here’s the current timetable.

Getting there by car

If you’re driving, it takes about an hour and ten minutes from Zurich via Lucerne using the A4, A14, and A2. Take the exit for Stans to leave the highway and continue on the cantonal road. Paid parking is available in Engelberg.

• Train tickets for Titlis or Trübsee