Schynige Platte
Mountain Alpine ridge famous for panoramic views and botanical garden
Accessed by a historic cog railway, Schynige Platte above Interlaken hosts an alpine botanical garden, marked hiking trails and classic views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
Schynige Platte is a mountain ridge and tourist destination in the Bernese Oberland of Switzerland, rising to about 1,967 metres above sea level. It is particularly noted for panoramic views over the Bernese Alps, including the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
The site is served by a historic cog railway from Wilderswil, which brings visitors close to the summit area; the arrival station sits beside an alpine garden and a visitor restaurant. From the summit plateau a network of hiking trails leads to viewpoints and nearby summits such as the Faulhorn.
An alpine botanical garden at Schynige Platte cultivates roughly 600 alpine plant species and interprets high-alpine flora for visitors. The plateau is a fixed-base for summer hiking and for short excursions offering wide mountain vistas.
Schynige Platte lies above the village of Wilderswil and overlooks Interlaken and the twin lakes of Thun and Brienz in the Bernese Oberland. The site is reached by the cog railway or by multi-stage walking routes from lower valley points.
- Altitude and views: Summit ridge altitude is about 1,967 metres above sea level and the site is famed for its panoramic views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau massif.
- Railway access: Accessible by a historic cog railway from Wilderswil, which is the primary public access route for visitors.
- Alpine garden: Houses an alpine botanical garden with roughly 600 alpine plant species, used for conservation and education.
What to See #
- Railway station: A historic cog railway station that serves as the arrival point for most visitors; the line approaches from Wilderswil and terminates at Schynige Platte.
- Alpine garden: An alpine botanical garden displaying a wide selection of high-altitude Swiss flora, maintained as a conservation and interpretation site.
- Viewpoints and trailheads: A panoramic terrace and network of marked hiking trails providing direct views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau and routes to neighbouring summits such as Faulhorn.
How to Get to Schynige Platte #
Board the Schynige Platte Bahn at Wilderswil (near Interlaken). Trains run seasonally from Wilderswil and the ride is the classic access. Wilderswil is reachable by regular trains from Interlaken Ost; from there the cog railway departs for Schynige Platte.
Tips for Visiting Schynige Platte #
- Ride the historic Schynige Platte railway from Wilderswil for the classic arrival - the seven-kilometer ascent is part of the experience.
- Visit the alpine botanical gardens above the station; the curated collections include more than 600 species and are at their best mid-summer.
- Late afternoon light on the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau is unbeatable - time the return train for golden-hour views.
Best Time to Visit Schynige Platte #
Best visited in summer for the railway, alpine garden, and classic mountain panoramas.
Weather & Climate near Schynige Platte #
Schynige Platte's climate is classified as Subarctic - Subarctic climate with cool summers (peaking in August) and freezing winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from -6°C to 15°C. Abundant rainfall (1256 mm/year), wettest in November, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
January
January is freezing with highs of 0°C and lows of -6°C. Regular rainfall (99 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is the coldest month with highs of 0°C and lows of -6°C. Regular rainfall (98 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is freezing with highs of 1°C and lows of -5°C. Regular rainfall (99 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is freezing with highs of 3°C and lows of -3°C. Significant rainfall (105 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 2°C. Significant rainfall (107 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Significant rainfall (111 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 7°C. Significant rainfall (104 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 8°C. Significant rainfall (107 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 5°C. Regular rainfall (93 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C. Significant rainfall (112 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is freezing with highs of 3°C and lows of -3°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (113 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is freezing with highs of 1°C and lows of -5°C. Significant rainfall (108 mm) and mostly overcast skies.