Bernese Oberland Area

Website: https://www.berneseoberland.ch/

The Bernese Oberland is a mountainous region of the Canton of Bern in Switzerland encompassing the high peaks and valleys of the Bernese Alps. It is famed for dramatic alpine scenery, glacial ridges and a network of mountain railways and cable cars.

High summits such as the Jungfrau (4,158 metres) and the adjoining glaciated ridge that contains the Jungfraujoch saddle, which is reached by the Jungfrau Railway to a station at 3,454 metres. The region also includes well-known valleys and resort towns such as Interlaken, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen which provide access to hiking, skiing and alpine transport.

The area developed as a tourism and mountaineering destination in the 19th and 20th centuries with construction of railways and mountain lifts that opened high-altitude viewpoints and glacier access. Many of the principal tourist routes and mountain railways were completed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Located in south-central Switzerland within the Canton of Bern, the Bernese Oberland occupies the southern side of the Bernese Alps and stretches from the lakes around Interlaken up into the high alpine zone bordering other cantons and the Valais.

• Elevations: Jungfrau reaches 4,158 metres and the Jungfraujoch railway station is at 3,454 metres elevation, providing one of the highest rail-accessible viewpoints in Europe.
• Transport hub: Interlaken sits between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz and is the principal transport hub for the Bernese Oberland region.

What to See#

• Jungfrau region: The high-alpine summit region around the Jungfrau and nearby peaks which forms a dramatic glaciated ridge; these peaks are among the highest in the Bernese Alps.
• Jungfraujoch (Top of Europe): The Jungfraujoch saddle, served by the Jungfrau Railway, which places visitors at a high-altitude station with views over glaciers and surrounding peaks.
• Valleys and towns: Classic mountain villages and access points such as Interlaken, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen which serve as bases for excursions into the high Alps.

Most international visitors arrive by train via Bern or Zurich and change at Interlaken Ost for connections to Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and onward mountain railways (Jungfrau Railway, Wengernalpbahn). Road access is good; major highways lead to Interlaken and valley roads reach smaller villages.

• Start from Interlaken Ost for the best train connections into the Jungfrau region (Grindelwald/Lauterbrunnen) and then take local mountain railways uphill.
• Buy a regional pass (e.g., Swiss Travel Pass or Jungfrau Travel Pass) if planning multiple mountain rail journeys-the savings add up fast.
• Catch sunrise from Harder Kulm or a late-afternoon return from Mürren for softer light and fewer day-trippers; alpine weather changes fast-carry a warm layer even on sunny days.
• Try lesser-known hikes like the Oeschinensee or Brienz Ridge to escape the most tourist-heavy viewpoints.