Typically the weather at the Jungfraujoch is the best early in the morning, so I've read. When we went last summer that was certainly true. The first train is something like 7 AM-ish, plan to be on that. Plus, it is cheaper.

The walk from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg was beautiful, and, if you start in that direction (take the cable car from Wengen up to Mannlichen, then walk) you will be going somewhat downhill instead of somewhat uphill on the walk - easy peasy. I think a 6 year old would be just fine.

Another beautiful walk was at Schynige Platte. That is on the way down to Interlaken from Wengen. Stupendous views perched above the two lakes - and I do mean stupendous. That is a climb uphill, but, again, I don't think it would be too much for a 6 year old as long as they aren't video-game potatoes. I would go up to the view, and back, instead of the whole circuit with a 6 year old, probably. In fact, if you merely wanted to go to the train-stop and see the Alpine Garden up there, you would get some views but not the "two lakes" view.

Here is an example of the view when you get off the train:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skywalkerbeth/4943941988/in/set-72157624835682054/

Here is a view at the top of the hike:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skywalkerbeth/4799438999/in/set-72157624539574754

Here is an example of the trail:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skywalkerbeth/4799431771/in/set-72157624539574754/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skywalkerbeth/4943947710/in/set-72157624835682054

Here are a few flowers from the garden. It's a pretty big garden, with pretty views, as well. You could certainly entertain your kiddo for a while there, and decide if you wanted to hike to the top or not!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skywalkerbeth/tags/edelweiss/

When are you arriving Wengen?????

I am almost positive that the Mannlichen Cable Car and Gondolas to Grindelwald close on Oct. 23.

What are you planning on doing in Kleine Scheidegg? There isn't really much to do except eat.

I would suggest you walk from Kleine Scheidegg to Wengernalp then take the train back down to Wengen. The walk is very easy as it is downhill and you will be walking right in front of the Jungfrau.

When you get to Wengernalp, if you walk just a little bit farther (then come back up to get the train) you will see three benches up on a hill. If you go up there you will get SPECTACULAR views of Wengen and the surrounding mountains. SPECTACULARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

The sad thing is that very few do this walk.

Most people do get up early to go up to the Jungfrau, but many times the weather is clear all day. You will see people going up at 5PM in the summer months.

You have to be careful though because it can be a beautful day, yet you will see a huge clouds up at the summit of the Jungfrau and you can't see anything until those clouds pass.
(and sometimes they just sit there.)

The boat ride for Lake Brienz is right in back of Interlaken Ost train station, right next door to the Hotel au Lac. It is very easy to find. You buy your tickets right there at the dock. There is first-class and second-class seating and there is a dining room on the main deck.

I got off at Geissbach Falls and had a chocolate cake and coffee at the "House of Dark Shadows" Hotel Geissbach. You have to pay 9 CHF, however, to take the funicular up and down.

I LOVE the Schynige Platte, but you have to be in reasonable shape to walk up to the "panoramaweg" that looks down over Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. I also think that most of the wildflowers in the garden will be dead if you are going in
October.

There is a very nice hotel up at Schynige Platte, so there is a patio with cafeteria service if you want a meal or a drink. The views from the patio are also spectacular.

Thun and Spiez are cute towns, but there isn't really that much to see in either. If you like having a pokey day looking in shop windows and sitting at an outside cafe then you may find these towns enjoyable. You could walk around and have lunch down by the river in Thun. There is a hotel opposite the covered brige (is it the Beau Rivage?) with a patio where posh people have lunch.

I didn't go inside Thun castle but it is a steep climb up steps to get there.

There isn't much to see in Gimmelwald. You could take a walk around, then go back down to Murren by cable car.

The Schilthorn is great, but again, if the weather is crappy, you can't see anything once you get up there.

You could walk from Murren to a half-way point (there is a train stop and a restaurant there) then get the train back down to Grutschalp.

You could walk from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg via the falls and then take the post bus back to Lauterbrunnen, or continue by cable car from Stechelberg to Gimmelwald.

This is called the Lauterbrunnen-Stechelberg-Gimmelwald-Murren-Lauterbrunnen Loop.

Where are you staying in Wengen?????

The food at the Hotel Schonegg is very good. Pizza Sina is next door. There is also Mary's Cafe for a snack.

Buy takeaway food at the Coop near the train station. They have pre-made sandwiches and salads. They even sell wine.

Don't forget to say "Gruezi" "Merci" and "Tschuss".


Tschuss,
The Great and Powerful Pippy formerly known as Thin

We walked down from the train station at Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen and it was the most beautiful walk I've ever taken.

Yes, the walk from Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen is beautiful, BUT after Wengernalp the decline is STEEP. AND I MEAN STEEP. You have to constantly "brake" or you will go flying headward down that hill. Unless you are in very good shape or you have your hiking boots and "poles" with you, I don't think you should do it as you will be sore the next day.

I did it and I had sore thighs--so bad it was hard to squat for the toilet. OUCH!!!!!!!!!

Pippy

For a nice walk from Wengen take the lift up to Mannlichen and do the famous ridge walk - a flat walk on a wide path to Kleine Scheidegg - actually you can do this on the day you do the Jungfraujoch train - coming back only buy a ticket to Kl Schiedegg and then stroll over to Mannlichen, one of the most raved about viewpoints in all the Berner Oberland because you can see both the Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald Valleys as well as Interlaken wedged between its lakes far below - then take the lift back down to Wengen.

I have a very different recollection of the walk from Kleine Scheidegg down to Wengen, which I did recently in spite of having some knee problems - I found it a wide path that mountain bikes even used and all terrain vehicles - I did not see any really steep parts but perhaps P peppy took a different train at some point - but the main trail is a wide road suitable for 4-wheel drive vehicles and mountain bikes and one of the easiest hikes I've taken in the area and I have taken many.

so I guess what is steep and rugged varies to different folk? Or perhaps we took different trails - mine went straight from Kleine Schiedegg to Wengen, following for the most part the rail line so if need by you could hop on the train at several points.

I took the main path from Kleine Scheidegg to Wengernalp train station and then continued on the path that goes DOWN HILL and past the Restaurant Allmend in Wengen.

I don't know what other paths there are that go from Wengernalp to Wengen.

And I didn't take any train. I walked from Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen on Sept. 9, 2011. They were setting up for the Jungfrau Triathalon that day.

I didn't do this 10 years ago, or didn't read about it in a travel guide.

Pippy, aka thin

I guess the path has become a lot steeper in two years? Oddly enough I was also there when the Jungfrau Marathon was running, literally thru Interlaken and up into the hills.

To see how rigorous a certain path or hike is peruse the Jungfrau Magazine that will be on every hotel and train station and tourist office rack - look at the relief map in the middle and it grades each path in three degrees - by colors I believe - and use that as your guide. That said I do not know which color the Kl. Scheidegg to Wengen path will be but if it is like P Peppy says it no doubt will be in red.

I had only regular beat up running shoes and no pole or hiking boots - to say you need those is IMO misinformation.

http://www.walkingswitzerland.com/walks/walk_descrip/8012/

this site rates the Kleine Schedegg to Wengen walk "easy to moderate" which is just as I remember it and it says it takes 2 hours, just as I remember it.

This is in NO way a rigorous hike needing any special boots, hiking poles, etc. Check out the site above for the description.

Note that Wengen to Kl Scheidegg is a rigorous hike because it is going uphill the whole way - but not steeply so at any point that I can remember - indeed vehicles run its route.

The Kleine Schedegg to Wengen walk we took was very easy, through pastures, a couple of hours. I felt like Heidi.

I didn't walk through any pastures. I stayed on the MAIN TRAIL.

Yes, there were mountain bikers on that same trail and it was wide.

PS I have a sister named Heidi

Pippy

I do not know what trail you took but your description of the main trail defies reality - did you read about it in some travel guide and got mixed up on what trail you actually read about?

Pippy must be grounded differently than we are.

I did both trails from Wengernalp down to Wengen (yes, there are two) and one is indeed wide, not too steep and also used by mountainbikers, the other takes a turn towards the cliffs of the Lauterbrunnen valley, then follows along the cliffs and has VERY steep parts, goes through the woods, is a narrow path etc. You approach Wengen from Innerwengen, passing the (sort of) ski stadium.

First of all thanks you all for your suggestions, they really do help for a first timers like us, and P_Peppington can you provide some more info on the three benches up on a hill after Wengernalp (viz. which route to take from etc..).
Any other suggestions on such views, we want to make this trip memorable as much as possible..

The three benches are up on a hill right after the Wengernalp train station/restaurant. As you walk down from Kleine Scheidegg you will see a sign post with the little yellow arrow signs with black lettering. There is a fork in the road here and I am almost postitive the path that runs through a pasture/meadow on the left of the gravel path says "Lauterbrunnen," or it might say "Wengen," but the travel time was greater (the signs tell you how far, for example 3 Stad.)so I didn't take that path. I took the path that had the lesser travelling time.

I did procede towards the large building that is the Wengernalp train station. You will see it as you approach.

You will walk right in front of the train station and see tables with umbrellas out front. Walk right past and continue on. You will then see a STONE TUNNEL UNDERPASS. DO NOT GO THROUGH THE TUNNEL. You will see an arrow paited on top of the tunnel pointing toward the dirt and gravel path. Keep on that path. You will then see the benches up on the hill right after a few minutes of walking.

If you are in doubt, just ask someone in the train station.

If you continue on the path, you will descend into Wengen through the "woods." Eventually you will see a ski lift, then go past the Allmend Restaurant.

If you walk from Murren to Grutschalp, you will also encounter benches where you can sit and look down on Wengen.

When you are on the train up to Wengen from Lauterbrunnen, make sure you sit on the right hand side of the train facing forward. You will encounter a very stunning view of Lauterbrunnen after coming out of the tunnel.

The views on the train up to the Schynige Platte are also spectacular.

Pippy aka Thin

Hi P_Peppington, Thank you very much for the details, need some suggestions on the below

1) Can i hire a bike(bicycle) somewhere in the area, so that i can drive along with my son.

2) Any suggestion for bad weather(viz. if it's raining or foggy in Jungfrou, then can i try Shcilthorn or FIRST or Schynige Platte..) definetly the Boat trip to Lake Brienz is in my mind, but we wish to cover the mountains as much as possible..

3) Any other suggestions on such walking trails with lots of photo options..

Thank you all again for your inputs

Schilthorn is probably not a reliable backup option for Jungfrau. If one is socked in cloud, so is the other peak.

I would try hard to have days 1, 3, and 4 also available to do Jungfrau/Schilthorn. If day 1 is the only day forecast to be fair, is leaving Luzern as early as possible an option?

I am presuming if the weather for day 1 and 2 and not favorable, you would do something like Trümmelbach Fälle or the lake cruise and do Jungfrau/Schilthorn on day 3 or 4.

Yes greg, if we start Luzern by 8am, will be reaching by 10:45, luggage drop @hotel and back to station by 12:00, now my doubt is if we start by 12 to Jungfrau or Schilthorn from wengen, will it be OK or if it;s late afternoon any suggestions for the rest of the day trip..

I'm with Thin on this one. We walked the path he refers to from Kleine Scheidegg down to Wengen, and we could barely move for DAYS afterwards. Just because it's downhill doesn't mean it's easy.

We more recently walked from Wengen down to Lauterbrunnen - that was a leg killer too.

PS - and we're avid hikers.

Hi Melnq8,
Definitely we will not be hiking all the way down till wengen we will be taking the train from Wengernalp after checking out the benches mentioned by thin.

There are some nice trails that lead off from Wengernalp sids, if you're looking for more of a challenge. We once walked from there to Wixi, Bigernalp, Mittlenap, Upper Preech, Lower Preech and over the upper Trummelbach Falls, then back to Lauterbrunnen.

It was a five hour trek and not something I'd suggest for the inexperienced or fainthearted (the bit over the falls was scary), but the sections through the meadows that Thin refers to are easy and have incredible views.

Have a wonderful trip, Wengen is a special place.

Thanks Melnq8, Since we will be traveling along with our 6yr junior, prefer for easy hikes..

When we left K-S to go back to Wengen, my walk started at either the station just before you stopped at Wengen, or, the one before that. Probably the last one. It wasn't too steep and took maybe 45 minutes total to get back to Wengen - and I stopped for photos frequently.

Another really interesting thing to do is to check out the Trummelbach falls while in Lauterbrunnen. This is a short bus ride from the middle of town. They are inside the mountain! When I was inside, I stood there and closed my eyes. You don't just see the water falling, you feel it (even standing back at a safe distance!). You hear it - that is an understatement. In fact I'd say "seeing it" is secondary to just standing there to feel the thundering. I'm probably not describing this very well. You will be completely in awe of how much power this waterfall has. Make sure you have cash on you as they do not take credit cards and I don't think there is an ATM anywhere nearby.

http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/destinations/waterland-switzerland/waterfalls/truemmelbach-falls-water-in-a-corset-of-stone.html

I'm with Thin on this one. We walked the path he refers to from Kleine Scheidegg down to Wengen, and we could barely move for DAYS afterwards. Just because it's downhill doesn't mean it's easy.>

but again that is not the main trail which I and others have taken and say is easy - very easy so it depends on which trail you take - it can be a sweet easy stroll from Kl. Scheidegg to Wengen - one of the easiest and most scintillating walks I've taken in the Berner Oberland.

Hello all,

Due to some reason we are postponing our vacation to December, Can anyone tell me how would be the weather in December 2nd week (guessing too much crowded around this time)

We were on the main trail Pal, same as Thin. It was a steep downhill descent. Can't we just agree to disagree?

sids -

We've often visited Switzerland in early December and have found places like Wengen, Murren and Zermatt practically deserted, which is why we like to go then. The closer you get to Christmas the more crowded it gets and prices go UP.. Accomodation in some areas, like Zermatt, require two week bookings over the holiday period and cancellation policies can be brutal, so the sooner you start your accomodation hunt the better.

FYI - Many walk trails are groomed in the winter months, so there's still plenty of good hiking to be had.

Hi Melnq8, Thanks for that tip on the December visit

Early December is a totally different story. It's winter season. There might be snow or not in the villages but there will definitely be snow higher up, like Kleine Scheidegg etc. Like Melnq8 said, places like Wengen and Mürren will be practically deserted. Hiking trails may be groomed or not - it's still early in the season. Even if some are groomed, the number/choice of trails is very limited compared to summer.

Definitely a poor time for hiking.

I guess that depends on ones perspective, Ingo. We love hiking in Switzerland in the winter, but it does have its challenges and may not be the best experience for a first time visitor.

I do love hiking in Switzerland in winter, too. But options are much more limited than in summer. And second week of December even fewer of these trails (higher up) will be groomed as it is very early in the season. Besides, daylight hours are shortest of the year and weather will most likely be unstable.

Of course I had in mind that we're advising a first time visitor, not veterans of Switzerland travel like us

Fair enough.

Ouch, sorry. I'd consider going somewhere slightly warmer if you have to postpone. How about Portugal?

Summer hiking in Switzerland is divine. I haven't been, in the winter, but I'd think the much shorter days would be a challenge, too. Think of how much colder it will be on the Jungfraujoch, too.

not that much colder on Jungfraujoch I'd venture as the daily high in summer is about 32 F - so how cold can it be - cold is cold IMO.

32 versus 0 would be pretty big, to me. Especially with a 6 year old.

I have a photo taken in July of the temperatures - they post them. The overnight low was -99.9 celsius. I would think winter versus summer could be a dramatic difference. Not as dramatic as that, but definitely colder.

The easiest stroll from Kleine Scheidegg goes a flat few miles at most to the Mannlichen, one of the most celebrated viewpoints in the whole Berner Oberland - can see both Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald valleys and down over Interlaken, wedged between the two lakes it lies between - and then take the cable car effortlessly down to Wengen (or if hiking then that Mannlichen to Wengen hike is steep downhill).

Hi thanks Palenq, just wondering if this is possible in December

Depends on the weather sids. The bigger problem is getting from Mannlichen to Wengen or Grindelwald as the cableway is also seasonal. If it's closed, you'd have to backtrack to Kleine Scheidegg on foot. Here's a link to operating times.

http://www.jungfrau.ch/en/winter/tourism/travel-information/operating-information/operating-times-winter/

You'll notice that Mannlichen-Wengen and Mannlichen to Grindelwald are blank, which makes me think its opening times are snow dependant. Problem is, if there's enough snow to operate the cableway for skiers & snowboarders, there's too much snow up there to walk. This is not a groomed walking trail as far as I know, but if it is, it's a good one.

http://www.jungfrau.ch/en/winter/tourism/travel-information/operating-information/operating-times-winter/

"I have a photo taken in July of the temperatures - they post them. The overnight low was -99.9 celsius. . . ."

Not possible - the gauge must have been malfunctioning, or they just simply posted the wrong temp. The coldest temperature ever recorded on earth is about 10 Celsius degrees warmer than that. I've been outdoors at the Jungfraujoch in February, and it was damn cold, but no big deal with the proper clothing.

But for the OP: rent the James Bond movie "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" and the Clint Eastwood movie "The Eiger Sanction" before you go. Both were shot on location in Murren/Schilthorn and Kleine Scheidegg, respectively, and you'll recognize some of the movie locations when you get there.

Piz Gloria, the revolving restaurant I believe was even built for the Bond movie shot at Schilthorn - anyway shot whilst it was being built.

PalenQ - My understanding is that the restaurant part had just been built and the movie company added the helipad and observation deck area as their "payment" for shooting the film there.

I've been there several times - the first was some 13 years ago and it was totally overcast in Muerren. We decided to go up anyway, and maybe 3/4 of the way up the tram broke out of the clouds like an airliner into bright sunshine. The view from Piz Gloria was like looking down on a field of cotton batting with the peaks of the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau poking up through it. It remains to this day one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen anywhere.

The hike Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg is very different in winter. It goes quite much down first and then up to K.S. Much longer and more exhausting and it will most likely not be groomed that early in December. Forget it.