The four essential day hikes
The Bernese Oberland's cable car and railway network exists specifically to solve the elevation problem. Most hikes worth doing start above 2,000 m. Walking up from valley level (600-1,000 m) adds 3-5 hours of forest trudging before reaching the open terrain. The mountain transports eliminate that — they are time-and-energy shortcuts that put your day above treeline rather than below it.
The four hikes below represent the range of what is available. They can be combined, shortened, or extended based on weather, fitness, and budget. All are T1-T3 difficulty. None require technical gear.
1. First to Bachalpsee
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Start | First gondola summit (2,166 m) |
| End | Bachalpsee (2,265 m), return same way |
| Distance | ~3 km one-way, ~6 km return |
| Duration | ~1 hour one-way, 1.5-2 hours return |
| Elevation gain | ~100 m |
| Difficulty | T1 (easy walking path) |
| Access | Grindelwald-First gondola (25 min, CHF 66 return; free with BO Pass) |
The hike. From the First gondola summit station (2,166 m), a wide gravel path climbs gently through alpine meadows to Bachalpsee at 2,265 m. The lake reflects the Wetterhorn (3,692 m) and Schreckhorn (4,078 m) on calm mornings. The path is flat enough for families with young children and accessible enough that it draws significant crowds in July-August.
Timing. Go early. The First gondola opens at 08:30 in summer. By 10:00, the path is busy. Before 09:30, you may have the lake largely to yourself, and the morning light produces the best reflections.
Extension. From Bachalpsee, the trail continues to the Faulhorn (2,681 m) — approximately 1.5 additional hours, steeper, T2. This converts the easy Bachalpsee walk into the first section of the Faulhorn ridge walk (see below). Bachalpsee is worth visiting on its own, but it is also the logical appetiser for a much bigger day.
At First. The gondola station includes the First Cliff Walk (Tissot) — a 500 m steel walkway cantilevered 45 m over the void. Free with gondola ticket. Worth 20 minutes before or after the hike.
Source: jungfrau.ch/en-gb/grindelwaldfirst/.
2. Faulhorn to Schynige Platte ridge walk
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Start | First gondola summit (2,166 m) |
| Via | Bachalpsee (2,265 m), Faulhorn (2,681 m) |
| End | Schynige Platte (1,967 m) |
| Distance | ~16 km one-way |
| Duration | ~6 hours |
| Elevation gain | ~700 m cumulative |
| Elevation loss | ~900 m net |
| Difficulty | T2-T3 (moderate to demanding mountain hiking) |
| Access | Start: First gondola. End: Schynige Platte rack railway to Wilderswil |
The hike. This is the best panoramic day hike in the Bernese Oberland — and a strong candidate for the best in the Alps. The route follows a high ridge from First (2,166 m) through Bachalpsee to the Faulhorn summit (2,681 m), then descends along the ridgeline to Schynige Platte (1,967 m). For six hours, you walk above 2,000 m with unbroken views of the Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau, and both lakes (Thun and Brienz).
Faulhorn. The Berghotel Faulhorn at the summit (2,681 m) is one of the oldest mountain inns in the Alps — operating since 1830. It is not an SAC hut; it is a privately run Berghotel with rooms and a restaurant. The terrace provides a 360-degree panorama. Lunch here is a legitimate reason to do this hike.
Schynige Platte. The endpoint at 1,967 m has a heritage rack railway (opened 1893) descending to Wilderswil in 50 minutes. The station area includes the Schynige Platte Alpine Garden — 700+ species of Swiss alpine flora. The garden and the panoramic viewpoint justify a 30-60 minute stop before taking the train down.
Logistics. This is a point-to-point hike. Start at First (gondola from Grindelwald), end at Schynige Platte (rack railway to Wilderswil, then train to Interlaken or Grindelwald). With a Berner Oberland Pass, both transports are included. Without a pass, budget CHF 66 (First gondola return, or one-way if point-to-point pricing available) plus CHF 35-50 (Schynige Platte railway).
Last train. Check the Schynige Platte Railway's last departure time carefully — it varies by season and runs approximately every hour. Missing the last train means a 2-hour descent on foot to Wilderswil.
Weather dependency. This hike is exceptional in clear weather and miserable in cloud. The entire point is the panorama. If the morning forecast shows cloud at 2,500 m, postpone. MeteoSwiss and the Jungfrau.ch webcams are the two tools for the morning decision.
Source: jungfrau.ch/en-gb/grindelwaldfirst/.
3. Männlichen Royal Walk and Kleine Scheidegg descent
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Start | Männlichen gondola summit (2,343 m) |
| Royal Walk | ~1 km summit loop, 30 minutes |
| Extension | Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg, ~4.5 km, 1.5 hours |
| Difficulty | T1 (Royal Walk), T2 (descent to Kleine Scheidegg) |
| Access | Gondola from Grindelwald Terminal (CHF 36-44 return; free with BO Pass) |
The Royal Walk. A 1 km loop at the Männlichen summit (2,343 m) with Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau directly ahead. It takes 30 minutes. The path is wide, flat, and suitable for anyone who can walk. A viewing platform marks the highest point. On clear mornings, the 360-degree panorama extends across the entire Bernese Oberland. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Männlichen)
The extension. From Männlichen, a well-graded 4.5 km path descends to Kleine Scheidegg (2,061 m) in approximately 1.5 hours. The trail traverses alpine meadows with the Eiger Nordwand growing larger with each step. At Kleine Scheidegg, you can catch a train down to Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen, or continue to the Jungfraujoch.
Combination. Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg to the Eiger Trail (Eigergletscher to Alpiglen) makes a full day of approximately 5-6 hours hiking with three distinct sections and no repeated terrain. Transport down from Alpiglen completes the loop.
Half-day option. The Royal Walk alone — gondola up, 30-minute walk, gondola down — is the highest-quality short hike in the region. Suitable for non-hikers, families with small children, or weather-compromised days when higher routes are inadvisable.
4. Oeschinensee (Kandersteg)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Start | Kandersteg gondola station or village (1,176 m) |
| Lake | Oeschinensee (1,578 m) |
| Distance | ~3.5 km from gondola, ~5 km from village |
| Duration | ~1 hour from gondola, ~1.5-2 hours from village |
| Difficulty | T1-T2 |
| Access | Gondola covers most elevation; 15-minute walk from upper station to lake |
The lake. Oeschinensee is a UNESCO World Heritage lake at 1,578 m — turquoise glacial water beneath vertical cliffs rising to 3,000 m. The colour comes from suspended glacial sediment (rock flour). It is one of the most photographed lakes in Switzerland and, unlike many Instagram destinations, the reality matches.
Access. A gondola from Kandersteg rises to approximately 1,680 m. From the upper station, a 15-minute walk descends to the lake. The alternative — walking from Kandersteg village — is steeper (approximately 400 m gain) and takes 1.5-2 hours. Most day visitors use the gondola.
Hiking around the lake. A trail circuits the lake (approximately 1.5 hours). The south shore involves some steep and exposed sections (T2). The north shore is flatter and easier. Swimming is possible in summer — the water is cold (glacial source) but tolerable in August.
Connection to Via Alpina. Oeschinensee is the descent point for Via Alpina Stage C12 (Hohtürli pass from Griesalp). Hikers completing the multi-day Via Alpina route arrive at the lake from above — a spectacular finish.
From Interlaken. Kandersteg is 30 minutes by train from Interlaken via Spiez. The full day trip — train to Kandersteg, gondola up, lake visit, gondola down, train back — takes approximately 5-6 hours including transit.
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oeschinen_Lake.
The Lauterbrunnen Valley waterfalls
Not a hike in the traditional sense, but worth noting: the Lauterbrunnen valley floor from the village to Stechelberg (approximately 4 km, flat, T1) passes beneath multiple waterfalls cascading from the 1,000 m cliffs.
Staubbach Falls (297 m, free-falling) is visible from the village and accessed by a short walking trail with a behind-the-falls walkway. Free.
Trümmelbach Falls — inside-mountain waterfalls carved by glacial meltwater from the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau — are accessed via 600 m of tunnels and galleries. Ten cascading drops across 140 m of descent, with up to 20 m³/second flow in spring. Entry fee approximately CHF 11 adults. The falls have been open to visitors since 1877 and are listed in Switzerland's Federal Inventory of Natural Monuments. Season: April to November. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trümmelbach_Falls)
The valley floor walk is the best option for rest days, rainy mornings (the waterfalls are more dramatic in wet weather), or non-hiking travel companions.
Planning notes
Combining hikes. A week in the Bernese Oberland comfortably fits all four hikes plus the Eiger Trail, with a rest day and a weather-contingency day. A four-day trip requires choosing — Faulhorn-Schynige Platte and the Eiger Trail are the two must-do hikes if time is limited.
Transport pass. The Berner Oberland Pass (CHF 254 for 6 days with Half-Fare Card) covers the First gondola, Männlichen gondola, Schynige Platte railway, Oeschinensee gondola, and all trains between towns. For a week of day-hiking, it is indispensable. Without it, gondola tickets alone exceed CHF 200 for the four hikes above.
Start times. Morning light, smaller crowds, lower thunderstorm risk. All four hikes are better before 10:00. The First gondola and Männlichen gondola both open at 08:30 in peak season. The Schynige Platte Railway's first departure is approximately 07:25 from Wilderswil.
Altitude. All four hikes top out between 1,600 m and 2,700 m. No acclimatization is needed for healthy visitors from sea level. Drink water, wear sun protection, and carry a layer — temperatures drop 6-10°C per 1,000 m of elevation above the valley.
Sources
- Jungfrau Railways, Grindelwald-First — jungfrau.ch/en-gb/grindelwaldfirst/
- Männlichen — en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Männlichen
- Oeschinensee — en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oeschinen_Lake
- Trümmelbach Falls — en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trümmelbach_Falls
- Schynige Platte — jungfrau.ch
- Lauterbrunnen — en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauterbrunnen
- Earth Trekkers, "15 Best Hikes in the Bernese Oberland" — earthtrekkers.com
- Anywhere We Roam, "15 Best Hikes Near Interlaken" — anywhereweroam.com
- SwissFamilyFun, "Bernese Oberland Pass 2026" — swissfamilyfun.com
- Staubbach Falls — en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staubbach_Falls