Bernese Oberland Travel Guide

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Bernese Oberland

Grindelwald © swiss-image.ch
The magnificent Bernese Oberland region, recognised for the impressive triple-peaks of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau (the Ogre, Monk and Maiden), is a major tourist area with resorts boasting world-class winter and summer activities. It also features one of the most popular tourist excursions in Switzerland, the breathtaking cog railway to the Jungfrau Plateau. From here, the highest station in the world, staggering views and ice caverns within the glacier can be enjoyed.

Bernese Oberland is the most magnificent of the Alpine regions, a concentration of the very best of Swiss scenery, with towering snow-capped mountains, glaciers, pristine lakes and waterfalls, meadows of edelweiss, pastures echoing with the tinkle of cowbells, and typical wooden chalets with geranium-filled window boxes.

The gateway to the Bernese Oberland is the popular resort of Interlaken, which is also the main transport hub of the region. An extensive network of roads, mountain railways, funiculars, cable cars and hiking trails link it to the other popular resorts in the area, including the scenic ski village of Wengen, and Grindelwald, the most established skiing and hiking centre in the region. The Oberland's most glamorous resort and the place for glittering socialites to be seen is the chic town of Gstaad, popular more for its high society than for its skiing.

Although intensely popular during the skiing and hiking seasons, the region is well equipped with a wide range of outdoor activities, from the slopes to scenic lake cruises, and accommodation ranging from fancy hotels to rustic lodges caters for all visitors. The transport network is efficient and extensive, integrating easy travel with many panoramic views of the stunning scenery that makes the Bernese Oberland such a celebrated sightseeing area. Travellers can take advantage of the Bernese Oberland Pass, which provides unlimited transport by by bus, boat, gondola, funicular and mountain train for a period of 7 to 15 days.



Resorts

See our separate guides to the following Bernese Oberland holiday resorts: Gstaad, Interlaken and Grindelwald


Attractions

Bern © Bern Tourismus

Bern

According to legend, Bern was named when its founder, Berchtold, was advised to go on a hunt and to name the town after the first beast that he caught. The bear has remained the symbol of the capital city ever since. One of...  see full details



Jungfrau Cog Railway

One of Switzerland's most popular tourist attractions, the Jungfrau Cog Railway (Jungfraubahn) offers visitors the scenic railway adventure of a lifetime. Departing from Kleine Scheidegg Station (near the world-famous resort of Interlaken), the Jungfraubahn climbs to an altitude of 11,332 feet (3,454 metres), before pulling...  see full details


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