Bernese Oberland: All destinations, advice & information for your holidays!
The Bernese Oberland is a region in the Swiss canton of Bern, nestled in the Bernese Alps. With its majestic peaks such as the trio Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, pristine lakes, and charming mountain villages, it offers breathtaking views, world-class skiing, numerous hiking opportunities, and a gateway to the famous Jungfrau region.
Table of contents
Bernese Oberland - The most beautiful cities
Interlaken
Paragliding, quad biking, or a visit to the rope park: In Interlaken, adrenaline fans get their money's worth against the spectacular mountain backdrop of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. The Brienz and Thun lakes, which surround the community, also offer great views and invite numerous water sports. Families will find many family-friendly activities in Interlaken. A popular excursion destination is the sun-drenched viewpoint mountain Harder Kulm, accessible by a mountain railway. On hikes, you might get lucky and encounter chamois, ibex, or marmots. In winter, you can enjoy the atmospheric mountain nature while sledding or skiing.
Grindelwald
With Wetterhorn, Mönch, and Jungfrau, Grindelwald, located at the foot of the Eiger, is surrounded by the most famous mountains of the Bernese Oberland. From the village, the famous Eiger North Face was climbed for the first time. Today, mountain enthusiasts can enjoy breathtaking panoramas of the glacier mountain on the Eiger Trail. The Jungfrau Railway opens up several family-friendly ski areas from Grindelwald. From Faulhorn, a 15 km long sledding trail into the valley promises winter fun for young and old. Passionate skiers can enjoy the challenging Lauberhorn descent or take in the view of mighty four-thousanders while winter hiking.
Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is located in the Bernese Oberland in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, which is known for its 72 waterfalls. The landmark of the municipality is the Staubbach Falls, which plunges over 300 meters into the depths. But the sun terrace of Wengen or the spectacular Trümmelbach Falls, fed by glacial water, are also popular destinations for hikers. Lauterbrunnen is also a good starting point for the Jungfraujoch, which impresses with its 3,466-meter-high peak surrounded by glaciers and ice. In winter, family-friendly ski areas such as Wengen-Kleine Scheidegg or Mürren-Schilthorn are easily accessible from Lauterbrunnen by mountain railway. Cross-country skiing enthusiasts will find what they are looking for in the Lauterbrunnen Valley.
Mürren
Mürren stretches 1,650 meters above the Lauterbrunnen Valley on a sunny terrace. With its rustic chalets and car-free lanes, the mountain village exudes tranquility and serenity. The mountain restaurant Winteregg invites you to hike, offering enjoyable hours for families with its detective trail and children's playground on the alp. During your stay in Mürren, you should not miss the Mountain View Trail, which opens up magnificent mountain panoramas of the trio of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. In winter, ski fans have access to the family-friendly ski areas of the Jungfrau region, such as Mürren-Schilthorn, the highest ski area in the Bernese Oberland.
Wengen
Rustic wooden chalets and Art Nouveau houses characterize Wengen. The mountain village is located on a sunny terrace not far from the trio of peaks Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. Discover the Wengenalp or the Kleine Scheidegg while hiking or on mountain bike tours. Challenging is the tour on the Eiger Trail at the foot of the famous Eiger North Face. In winter, you can quickly reach the family-friendly ski area Kleine Scheidegg-Männlichen from Wengen with the Wengernalpbahn cogwheel train. Small and large beginner skiers will surely find their favorite route among the 110 mainly easy to moderately difficult slopes. Experienced skiers will enjoy the famous World Cup downhill at the Lauberhorn.
Thun
The landmark of the city is the medieval Thun Castle, which rises with its towers high above the old town and offers magnificent views of the Alps. During a boat trip on Lake Thun, you can discover more historical castles or cross over to Interlaken on the opposite shore. In summer, Lake Thun is popular for all kinds of water sports. While sailing on the fjord-like waters, you have the distinctive peaks of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau in view. The Diemtigtal Nature Park invites you to visit one of the alpine farms, which have a long tradition in the Bernese Oberland.
Kandersteg
For hiking enthusiasts, there are numerous themed hiking trails, routes for families, paths along the lakes, or particularly beautiful panoramic trails high on the over 2,000 m high Bäderhorn to choose from. The Fortuna-Trail Tschenten is a special highlight for trail runners of all levels and offers a unique view of the surrounding mountain world. In winter, Kandersteg is a snow-sure paradise for cross-country skiers with more than 50 kilometers of groomed trails. Skiers will get their money's worth at Oeschinensee and Sunnbüel. With the Kandersteg artificial ice rink and the possibility of ice climbing and ice fishing, further activities are offered for the winter months.
Gstaad
From Gstaad, the 300 km network of hiking trails in the Saanenland is quickly reached. Lush green Alps, challenging mountain bike trails, and demanding climbing routes allow you to actively experience the nature of the Bernese Oberland. While paragliding, admire your holiday destination from a bird's eye view or tee off at one of several golf courses. In the cold season, the kilometers-long ski slopes and family-friendly lifts in the only glacier ski area of the Bernese Oberland, Glacier 3000, attract numerous winter sports enthusiasts to Gstaad. In the snow park, snowboarders showcase their skills. After an eventful day on the slopes, one of the rustic mountain inns invites you to a cozy retreat.
Bernese Oberland - 5 most beautiful natural sights
Aare Gorge
The adventurous path through the Aare Gorge leads along wooden walkways by the rock face and through stone rock tunnels. The towering cliffs sharply line your path, while the Aare carves its way at your feet with rapid flow speed, repeatedly creating a refreshing mist with its roar. At its narrowest points, the gorge measures barely more than 1 meter in width, making the rock walls on both sides of the gorge within arm's reach. Plan around 45 minutes of hiking time to experience this natural spectacle. Especially on warm summer days, the gorge is a wonderfully cool destination.
Eiger
The Eiger is part of the Jungfrau ski region, which includes 211 kilometers of slopes. The Eiger Express takes you directly to the Eiger Glacier. Experience an adrenaline rush on the Eiger Run toboggan track, which you can reach with the Wengeralpbahn. With a gradient of 36 percent, it is one of the steepest sledding tracks in Switzerland. The approximately 1,800-meter-high Eiger North Face is well-known to many. In the 1930s, there was only one topic among passionate mountaineers: Who would be the first to conquer the difficult ascent? Four men from Germany and Austria succeeded in 1938. The Eiger Trail leads directly past the steep wall.
Jungfraujoch
The Jungfraujoch is the lowest point of the ridge that connects the Eiger and the Jungfrau in the Alps. You can reach the highest railway station in Europe with the Jungfrau Railway. Here, among other things, a restaurant and a viewing platform await you, from which you can enjoy a magnificent view of the mountain world. 20 meters below the viewing platform, you can explore the winding corridors of the Ice Palace, which has been carved into the glacier ice over the decades. In summer, a hiking trail leads from the Jungfraujoch to the Mönchsjoch Hut with views of the four-thousanders. Sporty visitors can ski, snowboard, or sled from May to October.
Lake Thun
The city of Thun, sharing the same name, is the well-developed starting point on the northern shore of Lake Thun. On the southeastern shore, Interlaken is a popular starting point for walks and bike tours by the lake or a summer visit to one of the beach baths. One of the best ways to explore the lake is by water with an excursion ferry. During your family vacation, the St. Beatus Caves on the northeastern shore, with their dazzling stalactites, are enticing. Art enthusiasts are drawn to the Thun Art Museum with its changing exhibitions of contemporary art. Active individuals can discover the surroundings on crossroad tours with a mountain bike or on hiking tours for every level of athletic ambition high above the lake.
Schilthorn
The Schilthorn measures a height of 2,970 m above sea level. Various hiking trails for every level of athletic ambition lead up. A trail with an easy difficulty level for the whole family is the Blumental Panorama Trail, which leads from Mürren in about 1 hour and 15 minutes past alpine meadows with grazing cows to the Schilthorn. An alternative to the hiking tour is the cable car ride up, which impresses with its fantastic panoramic view over the Bernese Alps. The cable car starts in Stechelberg, from where it goes directly to the summit over four stages. Along the way, the magnificent Alpine view will already captivate you.
Bernese Oberland - Climate
The following graph shows the average weather conditions for the country. Historical weather conditions may vary by region.