Berner Oberland
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Berner Oberland - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
Log in with user name:
Log in with social media:
Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Berner Oberland - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
Switzerland's last steam-driven cogwheel train runs from the waterfront of Brienz up to the summit of Brienzer-Rothorn, 7,700 feet above the town. The ride takes...
Switzerland's last steam-driven cogwheel train runs from the waterfront of Brienz up to the summit of Brienzer-Rothorn, 7,700 feet above the town. The ride takes an hour and rolls under huge craggy peaks and through verdant meadows to afford stunning views of the lake. (The town will be so far below, you'll need pictures to remember the whole excursion wasn't fake.) A restaurant up top serves decent soups and sandwiches on a terrace that makes the most of the views. Trains depart about once an hour, but to avoid long waits at peak times, purchase your timed ticket online in advance.
This state-of-the-art cable car whisks you up from Grindelwald Terminal to the Eigergletscher station (at 7,367 feet) in just 15 minutes, and from there, you...
This state-of-the-art cable car whisks you up from Grindelwald Terminal to the Eigergletscher station (at 7,367 feet) in just 15 minutes, and from there, you can catch the Jungfraubahn train up to the summit in about half an hour. The Eiger Express shaves nearly 50 minutes off the time it used to take to reach the Jungfraujoch terminus. Catch a train from Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald Terminal (one stop before the regular Grindelwald station stop) to begin your journey.
More than 100 typical houses from virtually every part of Switzerland (along with 200 native livestock species) are on display in this magnificent outdoor exhibit...
More than 100 typical houses from virtually every part of Switzerland (along with 200 native livestock species) are on display in this magnificent outdoor exhibit down a small road just east of Brienz. Dotting the meadows are 19th-century barns, pastel-shuttered houses, antique lace-making shops, traditional haberdasheries, and plenty of carefully reconstructed chalets. Even the gardens and farm animals are true to type. Spinning, forging, and lace-making are demonstrated using original tools. The settlement, between the villages of Hofstetten and Brienzwiler, ranges over many acres, and you can easily spend at least a half day here. Via public transport, take the train to Brienz or Brünig and then a short bus ride to Ballenberg.
This 4,337-foot peak and its scenic overlook can be reached via an eight-minute funicular ride, making it a good bet when you don't have time...
This 4,337-foot peak and its scenic overlook can be reached via an eight-minute funicular ride, making it a good bet when you don't have time for a longer excursion. From the top you'll enjoy views south over the city, the lakes, and the whole panorama of snowy peaks. The chalet-style restaurant offers sumptuous traditional dishes on a sunny terrace. The funicular station is north of River Aare, across Beaurivagebrücke.
The only suspension bridge in the world that connects two mountain peaks, the Peak Walk by Tissot—part of the Glacier 3000 Snow Park—is open year-round....
The only suspension bridge in the world that connects two mountain peaks, the Peak Walk by Tissot—part of the Glacier 3000 Snow Park—is open year-round. The 170-m (558-foot) bridge connects the smaller View Point peak with the Scex Rouge peak, which is 5 m (16 feet) higher, providing astounding views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks, as well as the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc. To reach Glacier 3000, take the cable car up from Col du Pillon, about a 20-minute bus ride from Gstaad.
Mürren boasts some of the longest downhill runs because it is at the foot of the Schilthorn (9,748 feet) mountain, famed for its role in...
Mürren boasts some of the longest downhill runs because it is at the foot of the Schilthorn (9,748 feet) mountain, famed for its role in the James Bond movie On Her Majesty's Secret Service. The peak of this icy megalith is accessed by a four-stage cable car ride from Stechelberg (near the spectacular Mürrenbach Falls) or a two-stage cable car ride from Mürren, past bare-rock cliffs and stunning slopes. At each level you step off the cable car, walk across the station, and wait briefly for the next cable car. At the top is the much-photographed revolving restaurant Piz Gloria, where you can see clips of the film. There's also an interactive, multimedia exhibition that is a must-see for James Bond fans called Bond World. Attractions include a flight simulator inside a helicopter and a 35-seat theater showing 007's Alpine adventures.
From the charming medieval Rathausplatz, a covered stairway leads up to the great Schloss Thun, its broad donjon (inner tower) surrounded by four stout turrets....
From the charming medieval Rathausplatz, a covered stairway leads up to the great Schloss Thun, its broad donjon (inner tower) surrounded by four stout turrets. Built in 1186 by Berchtold V, Duke of Zähringen, it houses the fine Schlossmuseum Thun (Thun Castle Museum) and provides magnificent views from its towers. The Knights' Hall has a grand fireplace, an intimidating assortment of medieval weapons, and tapestries, one from the tent of Charles the Bold. The hall is often the imposing venue for concerts. Other floors display local Steffisburg and Heimberg ceramics, 19th-century uniforms and arms, and Swiss household objects, including charming Victorian toys.
For a most splendid overview of the region, head to this 6,454-foot plateau for a picnic, or wander down any of its numerous footpaths, or...
For a most splendid overview of the region, head to this 6,454-foot plateau for a picnic, or wander down any of its numerous footpaths, or visit its Alpine Botanical Garden, where more than 600 varieties of mountain flowers grow. A cogwheel train dating from 1893 takes you on the round-trip journey, though you may opt to walk either up or (more comfortably) down. If you are only going in one direction, make sure to specify your direction of travel when you buy your ticket. Trains run from approximately 7:25 am to 4:45 pm. To get there, take the four-minute ride on the Bernese Oberland Railway from Interlaken East to Wilderswil; from there, the cogwheel train takes about 50 minutes to reach the plateau.
A series of 10 glacier waterfalls hidden deep inside rock walls make up the spectacular Trümmelbachfälle, which you can access by a tunnel lift. Approach...
A series of 10 glacier waterfalls hidden deep inside rock walls make up the spectacular Trümmelbachfälle, which you can access by a tunnel lift. Approach the departure point via a pretty creek-side walkway and brace yourself for some steep stair climbing. Be sure to bring along a light jacket—the spray can seem less than refreshing in the cool Alpine air. Children under age four aren't allowed access to the falls. You can reach Trümmelbachfälle by a five-minute post bus from Lauterbrunnen.
You can explore the imposing Aare Gorge (Aareschlucht, as it's known in German) via a sturdy walkway. On hot summer days, the rush of river...
You can explore the imposing Aare Gorge (Aareschlucht, as it's known in German) via a sturdy walkway. On hot summer days, the rush of river water below you has a welcome cooling effect.
To reach Mürren from Lauterbrunnen take the aerial cable car across the street from the Lauterbrunnen train station. You then connect to the cogwheel rail...
To reach Mürren from Lauterbrunnen take the aerial cable car across the street from the Lauterbrunnen train station. You then connect to the cogwheel rail from Grütschalp, which runs along the cliff and affords some magnificent views. The whole trip takes about 30 minutes and drops you at the Mürren rail station, at the opposite end of town from the cable car stop and a nice walk away. There are departures every 15 to 30 minutes. As you ascend, point your binoculars at the gleaming dome on the Jungfraujoch across the valley: you can almost hear the winds howling off the Aletsch Glacier.
The Casino Interlaken has American roulette, as well as more than 100 slot machines. Las Vegas it's not, but it's congenial and pleasant....
The Casino Interlaken has American roulette, as well as more than 100 slot machines. Las Vegas it's not, but it's congenial and pleasant.
At Brienz you may want to try your hand at wood carving. From May to October, you can learn to carve the typical Brienzer cow...
At Brienz you may want to try your hand at wood carving. From May to October, you can learn to carve the typical Brienzer cow during a two-hour lesson at the atelier of Paul and Mario Fuchs. Their workshop is in Hofstetten, between Brienz and Ballenberg.
From the edge of Iseltwald, an idyllic forest walk of about 1½ hours brings you to the falls of the Giessbach, which tumble in several...
From the edge of Iseltwald, an idyllic forest walk of about 1½ hours brings you to the falls of the Giessbach, which tumble in several stages down rocky cliffs to the lake. They are easy to find, being right next to the 19th-century extravaganza that is the Grandhotel Giessbach. You can also get to the falls via the Brienzersee steamer, which departs from Brienz or Interlaken Ost.
Travel down into the valley below Grindelwald, and visit the Gletscherschlucht. You can either drive or take the bus to the hotel of the same...
Travel down into the valley below Grindelwald, and visit the Gletscherschlucht. You can either drive or take the bus to the hotel of the same name. From there you can walk a trail along the river and over bridges about 1 km (½ mile) into the gorge. Although you can't see the glacier itself while walking along the edges of the spectacular gorge it sculpted, you'll get a powerful sense of its slow-motion, inexorable force.
After a lovely 25-minute gondola ride on one of Europe's longest lifts, the peak called First (7,112 feet above sea level) is the launchpad for...
After a lovely 25-minute gondola ride on one of Europe's longest lifts, the peak called First (7,112 feet above sea level) is the launchpad for various adventures. For example, you can stroll along a rock walkway and peer over the mountain's edge on the First Cliff Walk, soar along the First Flyer zipline in summer, and sled down the world's longest toboggan run in winter. First is also the starting point for an easy 3-km (2-mile) walk to Lake Bachalp (Bachalpsee).
An old-fashioned funicular railway chugs to the top of this 2,194-foot mountain, where you get views of both lakes as well as a peek at...
An old-fashioned funicular railway chugs to the top of this 2,194-foot mountain, where you get views of both lakes as well as a peek at the Jungfrau, the Eiger, and the Mönch. There's the usual terrace restaurant at the top, along with a children's playground and a model-train show with music and lights. On the way down you can opt for a ride on the 985-foot-long bobsled run. The funicular station is a five-minute walk from the Interlaken West station down Rugenparkstrasse, with departures every 15 minutes between 10 and 5.
The tree- and flower-lined walkways on the city's main promenade cut through the edge of the broad green parklands, which are called the Höhematte. This...
The tree- and flower-lined walkways on the city's main promenade cut through the edge of the broad green parklands, which are called the Höhematte. This 35-acre park once provided pasture ground for herds of the Augustinian monastery that dominated medieval Interlaken. Cows still graze in fenced-off areas.
On Saanen's main street, upstairs from the Heimatwerk handicrafts shop, the Museum der Landschaft Saanen traces the history of the area through tools, costumes, furniture,...
On Saanen's main street, upstairs from the Heimatwerk handicrafts shop, the Museum der Landschaft Saanen traces the history of the area through tools, costumes, furniture, and decorative pieces.
The trip up the 6,397-foot Niederhorn lets you sit back and soak in the glory of the entire region. From the summit, you can appreciate...
The trip up the 6,397-foot Niederhorn lets you sit back and soak in the glory of the entire region. From the summit, you can appreciate not only the Jungfrau's splendor but also the rugged terrain surrounding the Gemmi Pass to the west and Grosse Scheidegg to the east. The journey can begin with a funicular from the lakeside stop called Beatenbucht (get here via boat or PostBus from Thun). If you'd rather, you can catch a gondola in the hamlet of Beatenberg (accessible by PostBus from Interlaken). You'll change to a cable car at Vorsass, where you'll find a lovely restaurant, on your way to the Niederhorn. Keep your eyes peeled for chamois and Alpine ibex along the ridge. In winter, you can go skiing, snowboarding, walking, or sledding.
{{ item.review_snippet }}...
{{ item.review }}
Please try a broader search, or expore these popular suggestions:
There are no results for {{ strDestName }} Sights in the searched map area with the above filters. Please try a different area on the map, or broaden your search with these popular suggestions: