If you’re a first-time hiker with dreams of making your walking debut in Switzerland, you can’t go wrong by choosing to holiday in the Jungfrau region. The vast choice of easy walks ranges from lakeside pathways to high-altitude trails. Many bring you up close and personal to the mighty Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains. With so much choice, it can be impossible to know where to start. Here are my top easy hikes in the Jungfrau region. Not only do they give a taster of the spectacular scenery, but they can also be combined with sightseeing in the vicinity.
1. A short show-stopping mountain hike – Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg
The hardest part of this hike is the high altitude. Starting at 2,222 m, the thin air may leave you gasping for breath. But the actual trail must be one of the easiest yet most astoundingly beautiful in the world. If it has one disadvantage, it’s that everybody knows about it. In fact, you’ll find everything from pushchairs to people wearing flip-flops (not recommended!). So set off as early as you can for the best chance of tranquillity.
The 4.5 km trail takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Description of the route –
It’s an incredibly popular route, and it’s very well signposted. Just follow the yellow walking signposts that you’ll see when you step out of the mountain lift at the top of Männlichen.
The incredible views start immediately. On one side, you have the achingly beautiful panorama of the Lauterbrunnen Valley; on the other side, Grindelwald, and straight ahead, the awe-inspiring sight of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
While the trail winds through rugged rocky terrain, the path itself is wide and easy. Lush green meadows spread out below you, and cowbells tinkle in the distance (or clang close by, depending on the cow’s location). Every step you take brings you closer to the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.
Really, this is everything you could dream of for a Swiss hike, including mountain restaurants at each end so you can start with a strudel and finish with a schnitzel.
Getting there: To reach Männlichen from Interlaken Ost, you have two choices –
1. Take the train to Lauterbrunnen. Then, the train to Wengen, where a short walk along the main street will take you to the Männlichen cable car.
2. Take the train to Grindelwald Terminal. Then, the gondola to Männlichen.
From Kleine Scheidegg, you can return to Interlaken Ost by train via either Grindelwald or Wengen. Either way, I recommend stopping to explore whichever village you decide on. From Wengen, return to Interlaken by train via Lauterbrunnen. From Grindelwald, there’s a direct train back to Interlaken Ost.
2. Another showstopper – Grütschalp to Mürren via Winteregg
Another oh-so-easy walk with incredible effort-free views. Its very easy underfoot, so trainer and plimsoll-friendly.
The 4.4 km route should take about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Description of the route –
From Grütschalp, follow the yellow signposts to Winteregg and Mürren. Most of the path follows close to the railway track, so you can snap a few scenic Swiss train photographs along the way. As you progress along the trail, you’re rewarded with awe-inspiring views across the Lauterbrunnen Valley to Wengen and a spectacular unveiling of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.
After around 2 km, you reach Winteregg. To soak up the views, stop for at least a drink on the very scenic restaurant terrace. What’s more, in the highly unlikely event that you want to cut the walk short, Winteregg acts as an escape route. You can hop on the train here to Mürren. However, the second half of the walk from Winteregg to Mürren is just as enjoyable as the first so I recommend you continue onwards on foot.
The trail finishes in Mürren, a beautiful traffic-free village. Admire the exquisite flower-decked ancient chalets and linger over lunch in one of the many inviting cafés that line the atmospheric main street.
Getting there:
From Interlaken Ost, take the train to Lauterbrunnen. Then, the cable car to Grütschalp.
From Mürren, take the train back to Grütschalp. Then, retrace your journey to Interlaken Ost via Lauterbrunnen.
Or, from the other side of Mürren, you can descend to Stechelberg by cable car. Then, take the bus along the spectacular valley to Lauterbrunnen.
3. Alpine panoramas – Schynige Platte circular route via the Loucherhorn
This is one of the first mountain walks I did as a rep in Interlaken. It truly captured my imagination and was the start of my love affair with hiking.
The 7.2km trail is one of the more rugged of my easy hiking suggestions. You should lace up your hiking shoes or boots and allow 2 hours 30 minutes.
Description of the route –
Setting off from the Schynige Platte summit station, follow the yellow footpath signposts through the gently undulating landscape. Schynige Platte is known for its alpine flowers which will be particularly blooming if you’re hiking here in the earlier weeks of the summer. The flowers blend in with the rocky terrain and high alpine grassland dotted with pine trees and photogenic cows.
Views of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz emerge and disappear and emerge again as you follow the route. The lake waters sparkle in the sunlight way down below, contrasting with the snowy summits of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Everywhere you look, there are photographs waiting to be taken, which can really slow you down. Make sure you allow more than enough time for this walk so you can truly appreciate the beauty of your surroundings.
While this trail is rugged underfoot in many places, the limited elevation gain makes it doable for most. However, if you get to the start and have second thoughts, there are shorter alternatives, including a 30-minute Swiss Flower & Panorama Trail.
As always, there is a restaurant at the Schynige Platte summit for pre and post hike refreshments.
Getting there: Take the train from Interlaken Ost or bus from Interlaken West to Wilderswil. Then, board the historic Schynige Platte train to the summit.
If you want a more challenging hike, visit my post on the classic route from Schynige Platte to First here.
4. Glacial lake beauty spot – First to Lake Bachalpsee
Bachalpsee is a highly popular beauty spot that is featured on most holidaymakers’ must-see lists. As such, it’s another hike that draws the crowds. So make every effort to take an early gondola from Grindelwald if you can.
Allow 2 hours for this out-and-back 5.9 km walk.
Description of the route –
From the top of the First gondola, you can easily pick up the trail courtesy of the yellow footpath signposts marked Bachalpsee. The route is mostly a wide track, gravelly in places but generally very easy underfoot.
It gradually climbs from an altitude of 2,164 m to 2,280 m. There’s no escaping the uphill sections. Due to the thinner air at this higher altitude, it may take longer than you imagine, so ensure you allow plenty of time.
Lake Bachalpsee is a spot to linger with a picnic. A picnic is a good idea as there is no restaurant here, just pure nature. If you’re lucky, you’ll see the knife-edge snowy ridges of the Schreckhorn reflected in the glacial water.
The walk starts and finishes at the First gondola station. In addition to the obligatory restaurants, you’ll also find zip-wire-style fun nearby, and a vertigo-inducing cliff walk that’s free to access and guarantees fabulous photo opportunities.
Getting there: From Interlaken Ost, take the train to Grindelwald. Walk to the other end of the main street. Then, take the First gondola to the summit.
5. Planet walk – from Lake Brienz to Lake Thun
I love this gently undulating walk for the lake and riverside views. Also the chance to detour over the huge iron-girder bridge as you reach the River Aare. It’s more a walk than a hike, and you can even get away with wearing trainers or sandals. Mostly paved, it’s accessible for pushchairs and has lots of benches along the way. It’s a really easy walk to get your legs moving. What’s more, it can be nicely combined with a coffee, lunch or a shopping stop in Interlaken. Or even a ride on the Harder Kulm funicular or a boat cruise.
The themed Planet Walk starts from the village of Ringgenberg on the shores of Lake Brienz. The 12 km trail features models of the planets, with the size of (and distance between) each planet replicated on a scale of 1:1 billion. Walking the full trail will take around 2 hours and 30 minutes.
There are lots of options for shortening the route. For example, I often only do the first 4 km or so, finishing in or around Interlaken Ost after about one hour.
Description of the route –
From Riggenberg Castle Church, the trail follows the contours of the forested shoreline via Goldswil to the River Aare. Here, you join the picturesque riverside pathway through Interlaken, crossing to the opposite side of the river using the bridge at the foot of the Harder Kulm funicular. Don’t worry if you miss the bridge; there are plenty of other places to cross.
As you continue along the riverside, look out for the forested rock face that towers above the buildings on the other side. This is the Harder Kulm Ridge. If you look very carefully, you can spot the eyes, nose and moustache of a man’s face, seemingly carved into the exposed rock. This is said to be the face of the evil mountain spirit, the local legend of the Hardermannli, which you can read more about here.
The pathway continues with pretty views towards the church tower of Unterseen, the old town of Interlaken. On a clear day, you’ll see the triangular mountain in the background. This is the Niesen, a distinctive mountain that rises just beyond the shores of Lake Thun.
Soon, the route takes you over a beautiful old wooden bridge, where you can enjoy the refreshing roar of the water gushing through the floodgates. A little later, you cross again, reaching Interlaken West train station. Continue following the signposts as the still-riverside route now heads towards Lake Thun.
The final part of the walk meanders through the tranquil Weissenau nature reserve to reach Neuhaus on the shores of Lake Thun.
Getting there:
From Interlaken Ost, the quickest way is to jump on the train for the 3-minute journey to Ringgenberg.
If you continue to Neuhaus, you can return to Interlaken West by lake steamer (if lucky enough to time it correctly) or by bus.
Read more and find a map of the route here
It’s a great part of the world, I’ve walked those many a time. A nice selection for those new to the area
Swiss Cheese, they are some of my favourite but there are so many that its very difficult to pick!