Swiss Vacations
Berner Oberland

The Bernese Oberland is one of the most spectacularly beautiful regions of Switzerland. It is well worth a visit during the winter as well as during the summer months. If you like hiking you will find your "eldorado" in the Bernese Oberland - you will be rewarded with 100% pure nature. The combination of snow-capped mountain peaks, fresh air, summer heat, jagged rocks and lush rolling green hills will quickly fascinate you. From the romantic shores of Lake Thun to the endless forests to the freezing cold in glaciers, one highlight follows the other.

Interlaken - Bernese Oberland - Switzerand; with view of the Eiger, Moench and Jungfrau mountains

Interlaken is a good place from which to explore the central and eastern region of the Bernese Oberland. This small town lays between two lakes, Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, and is at no distance from the triple peaks of the Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger mountains. Take a train or cable car to one of the many vantage points from which to view the incredible surroundings, or get on a cruise on one of the two crystal-clear, blue water lakes; e.g. on Lake Brienz to visit the woodcarving village of Brienz or the unique Ballenberg Open-Air Museum presenting "Switzerland as it used to be".



Grindelwald - Bernese Oberland - Switzerland; take the train up to the Kleine Scheidegg and the Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest railway station

A 40-minute train trip east of Interlaken you will find the skiing and hiking center of Grindelwald. This typical Swiss village is situated at the northern face of the Eiger. Unlike Wengen or Muerren over the ridge, Grindelwald is accessible by car and bus. From Grindelwald you can take the Jungfrau Railway up to the Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe at 3,454 m (11,330 ft) above sea level and often referred to as "Top of Europe". Grindelwald offers a network of cable-cars leading up to numerous short- and long-distance trails throughout the region and beyond. Skiing is excellent and there are also plenty of hiking trails which stay as such all winter, making this a top choice for non-skiers on a winter holiday.




Lauterbrunnen - Bernese Oberland - Switzerland; the spectacular Lauterbrunnen Valley It’s difficult to overstate how stunning the Lauterbrunnen Valley is – even seasoned Alpinists shrug their shoulders and call it the most beautiful valley in Europe! An immense U-shaped valley (the world’s deepest) with bluffs on either side rising 1,000 meters (3,280 ft) sheer, doused by some 72 waterfalls, it is utterly spectacular. The Lauterbrunnen village itself lies on the valley floor, while the slopes above host two of Switzerland’s most appealing resorts: Muerren to the west is the transfer point for a dramatic ride up the longest cable railway in the Alps to the Piz Gloria on the Schilthorn peak, while Wengen to the east is a stop on the train line up to the Kleine Scheidegg and the Jungfraujoch. Both villages are car-free, perched on narrow shelves of pasture way above the world below, and both offer some of the best hiking and skiing to be enjoyed in the Swiss Alps.


Gstaad - Bernese Oberland - Switzerland; restored weathered-wood chalets in Gstaad, a typical Swiss village

The western part of the Bernese Oberland includes the Frutigland with the resorts of Adelboden and Kandersteg, the Simmental and the Saanenland which is best known for the glittering resort of Gstaad. Gstaad is a one-street village, a rather charming, attractively located place full of restored weathered-wood chalets. Its high-roller status makes it a village like no other. If you fancy being snubbed by the world’s richest people, come here for Christmas week, scene of a heady round of sparkling soirées and lavish banquet-style dinner parties. Of course, Gstaad and the other resorts of the Saanenland also offer many outdoor activities such as hiking and biking during summer or skiing and snow-shoe trekking during winter.



Thun, the gate to the Bernese Oberland; with its impressive Medieval castleThun and the area around it enjoy a unique combination of lake and mountains. Blessed with a mild climate that lasts well into autumn, the region is often referred to as the "Riviera of the Bernese Oberland" and perfect for a relaxing time in a beautiful environment. Indeed, where else do guests have such a multitude of opportunities to travel through and explore such a well-defined region and enjoy all kinds of activities, with something to suit each and everyone? In and on the water, on land, along the lakeshores, in the villages and in town, on panoramic mountain tops and even in the air. Lake Thun offers excellent wind conditions for sailing and windsurfing. Divers appreciate the unique feeling that floating in crystal-clear water offers. And of course, there are many possibilities for mountain bikers, rock climbers, mountaineers and tennis players. For those who prefer a more tranquil pace, there are opportunities for swimming, golf, horseback riding and strolling or hiking along the lakeshore and in the nearby hills.

For more detailed descriptions of the resorts in the Bernese Oberland, including a section with attractions and activities,and a list of recommended hotels, click on the respective destination:
InterlakenGrindelwald / Muerren / Wengen / Gstaad / Thun