Switzerland Mountain Villages: 5 Beautiful Villages in the Bernese Oberland
Switzerland is home to some of the most enchanting alpine villages in the world. Between snow-capped peaks, endless green valleys, and wooden chalets adorned with flowers, the Switzerland mountain villages look like something straight out of a fairytale.
During our trip, we spent three nights in the Bernese Oberland, a region of the Swiss Alps that’s home to some of the most iconic Swiss mountain villages.
In the heart of the Jungfrau region, you’ll find Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, Wengen, Mürren, and Gimmelwald. Each of these beautiful villages in Switzerland offers breathtaking scenery and authentic alpine charm.
In this blog post, I’ll guide you through each village, how to get there, the best things to do, and practical tips to make your travels through Switzerland effortless.
Practical Tips for Visiting the Bernese Oberland Villages
Best Base
Grindelwald is my top choice for its alpine charm and the quiet mornings and evenings you only get in a true mountain village. It’s the largest of the villages in this list, so you’ll find more accommodation options as well as convenient transportation links.
Interlaken is a city about 30 minutes from Grindelwald and works well as a base because of its central location and excellent train connections to the surrounding villages.
Best Hotels in Grindelwald
Hotel Fiescherblick – beautiful chalet with modern interiors & Nordic elegance
Eiger Mountain & Soul Resort – charming 4 star hotel with views of glaciers
Parkhotel Schoenegg – has a pool with panoramic views over the Eiger
Bergwelt Grindelwald – Alpine Design Resort – gorgeous aesthetics
Bergwelt Grindelwald Residence – for larger groups, 3 bedroom apartments
Best Hotels in Interlaken
Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa – luxury hotel in Interlaken
Hotel Krebs Interlaken – modern furnishing with mountain views
Boutique Hotel Bellevue – quiet location near the river
Hotel du Nord – great location with modern, spacious rooms
Transportation and Travel Passes
To get from one village to another you will need to take trains and gondolas.
I recommend the Berner Oberland Regional Pass, which includes most of the rides within this region. While the Swiss Travel Pass and Half Fare Card will also give you discounts or partial coverage, the Berner Oberland Pass offers the most comprehensive access. If you already hold a Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card, you can purchase the Berner Oberland Pass for 30% less.
Grindelwald
Grindelwald is one of the most popular Switzerland mountain villages and makes an excellent base for exploring the Bernese Oberland. After a lot of research on where to stay in the Bernese Oberland region, we decided to stay in Grindelwald.
Nestled at the foot of the iconic Eiger mountain, Grindelwald offers a blend of alpine charm and modern conveniences. This Swiss mountain village is bigger than the others nearby and there are plenty of hotels, restaurants, and shops, yet still feels like a classic mountain retreat surrounded by glaciers, meadows, and dramatic peaks in the background.
Things to Do in Grindelwald:
Grindelwald-First
Known as the “Top of Adventure,” First is a mountain that attracts many visitors. In the summer there are activities such as the Flyer, Glider, Mountain Carts and Trottibikes. In winter, its a paradise for skiers and snowboarders. You need separate tickets for the gondola to go up to First mountain (you’ll get a discount for holding Swiss Travel Pass, Half-Fare Card or Berner Oberland Pass but it won’t be fully covered by any of these – use my code MINYWANDER on Klook for extra savings!).
- Cliff Walk by Tissot: Take the gondola up to First for sweeping views of the Eiger and surrounding peaks. The Cliff Walk is a metal walkway that clings along the cliffs for a thrilling walk.
- Bachalpsee Hike: From the summit of First, walk about an hour on a relatively easy hike to reach this reflective alpine lake framed by snow-capped mountains. One of the most famous postcard views in Switzerland.
How to Get to Grindelwald
Grindelwald is a direct 35 minute train from Interlaken Ost on train R61.
Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is also another one of the most famous Switzerland mountain villages, often described as straight out of a storybook. The village sits in a narrow U-shaped valley framed by sheer cliffs, with waterfalls cascading down. It’s known as the “Valley of 72 Waterfalls.”
Things to do in Lauterbrunnen
- Staubbach Falls: This is the village’s icon, and not to be missed. Dropping almost 300 meters from a cliff, it’s the highest free-falling waterfall in Switzerland.
- Trümmelbach Falls: A series of glacier-fed waterfalls hidden inside the mountain, accessible by lift and tunnels. You can catch a short bus ride from Lauterbrunnen, or walk about 40 minutes.
- Church and Village Walk: The small white church in the center of town is one of the most photographed spots in Switzerland, especially with Staubbach Falls as a backdrop.
How to Get to Lauterbrunnen
From Interlaken Ost: It’s a quick 22-minute train ride directly into Lauterbrunnen on R62. From here, you can branch out to Wengen, Mürren, and Gimmelwald.
From Grindelwald: Take the R61 train towards Interlaken but get off at Zweilütschinen. Transfer to R62 to get from Zweilütschinen to Lauterbrunnen. Takes about 45 minutes.
Wengen
Wengen is a car-free village perched high above the Lauterbrunnen Valley. It is known for its peaceful and charming atmosphere, and panoramic views of the Jungfrau massif.
Things to Do in Wengen:
- Village Walks: Stroll through quiet streets lined with wooden chalets, many decorated with colorful flowers in summer.
- Hike to Kleine Scheidegg: This scenic hike takes you to the mountain pass between the Eiger and Lauberhorn.
- Lauberhorn Ski Races: If you visit in January, Wengen hosts the famous World Cup downhill races, one of the longest and most thrilling ski runs in the world.
- Männlichen Cable Car: Take the cable car from Wengen up to Männlichen for another angle of the Jungfrau region.
How to Get to Wengen:
Wengen is easy to reach from Lauterbrunnen. Take a 13 minute CC63 train from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen.
Mürren
Mürren is another car-free village in the Jungfrau region, perched on a cliff above Lauterbrunnen Valley. The views from here are simply some of the best in Switzerland, with the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks dominating the skyline.
Mürren is also famous for being the gateway to the Schilthorn, a mountain featured in a James Bond film.
Things to Do in Mürren
- Schilthorn Excursion: Take the cable car up to Piz Gloria, the revolving restaurant that was featured in the James Bond Movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
- Village Strolls: As soon as we stepped out of the train station, Mürren had some of the most breathtaking views. The streets are cute, and really is a joy to wander the quiet lanes with wooden chalets and flower boxes.
- Via Ferrata: I’ve seen this one all over social media, but I just don’t think that I would ever have the courage to do it! The Via Ferrata in Mürren involves climbing along the vertical rocks with spectacular views of the Lauterbrunnen Valley. It’s definitely not for the faintest hearts, but for those who are brave enough, it looks exhilarating.
- Winter Sports: Mürren is a top destination for skiing and snowboarding, with a more intimate atmosphere than bigger resorts.
How to Get to Mürren
From Lauterbrunnen, take the cable car to Grütschalp, then connect to the mountain train that winds along the cliffs to Mürren. This was my favorite scenic train throughout our whole trip.
The Mountain train from Grütschalp to Mürren has one stop in between called Winteregg. This stop has a restaurant called Winteregg mountain restaurant, built in 1989. I highly recommend getting off the train to enjoy some beer or a snack at this restaurant with incredible views before getting back on the train and continuing on to Mürren.
Alternatively, you can catch Bus 141 from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg, and ride the cable car from Stechelberg to Mürren.
Gimmelwald
Gimmelwald is tiny, rustic, and absolutely charming. Unlike the other villages, it hasn’t really been developed for tourism, so you’ll find barns, haylofts, and traditional alpine homes rather than hotels and shops. It’s rustic, and authentic, as well as very quiet.
Things to Do in Gimmelwald:
- Village Walk: Wander the few lanes of Gimmelwald to soak up the peaceful atmosphere.
- Honesty Shop: This small store doesn’t have any employees working in it. You select your goods (souvenirs, crafts, snacks and drinks), and place money in the till.
- Trail walking: Trails lead out into meadows and pastures with sweeping views of the valley below. In summer, you’ll see cows grazing with bells ringing, and we also saw some goats.
- Pension Gimmelwald: Home to the Schwarz Mönch black lager beer. The views from their terrace is absolutely breathtaking. The burgers were quite delicious!
How to Get to Gimmelwald
From Lauterbrunnen, take the bus 141 to Stechelberg and then a short cable car ride up to Gimmelwald.
If you are in Mürren after Lauterbrunnen, you can take a 5 minute gondola ride to Gimmelwald. You can also walk from Mürren to Gimmelwald, in about 45 minutes.
A Sample Itinerary for the Berner Oberland Villages
Here’s a suggested itinerary that balances scenic views, charming walks, and easy transportation connections between the beautiful Switzerland mountain villages. This is JUST for the villages – if you want to reference my entire one week Switzerland Itinerary, ***
Day 1: Grindelwald & First Mountain
Take the gondola up to Grindelwald First for panoramic views, the Cliff Walk, and the hike to Lake Bachalpsee. Add in some exciting activities like the Flyer, Glider, Mountain Cart or Trottibike on First.
Return to the village and enjoy dinner with views of the Eiger.
Day 2: Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Männlichen
Start your morning in Lauterbrunnen. Walk through the village, marvel at the Staubbach Falls, and take the bus ride to see Trümmelbach Falls.
After returning to Lauterbrunne, take the cogwheel train up to Wengen and enjoy sweeping views.
From Wengen, ride the cable car up to Männlichen. At the top, you’ll find panoramic views of the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Grindelwald, and the iconic trio of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.
Return to Wengen or Lauterbrunnen in the evening for dinner, or if you are staying in Grindelwald, you can just hop on the Grindelwald-Männlichen Gondola Cableway from Männlichen.
Day 3: Mürren & Gimmelwald
From Lauterbrunnen, take the gondola and mountain train up to Mürren. Remember to get off at Winteregg to spend some time at the beautiful restaurant. In Mürren, wander its scenic streets and enjoy views of the Jungfrau, Mönch, and Eiger peaks.
Visit Schilthorn from Mürren.
After returning to Mürren from Schilthorn, take the cable car to the tiny, quiet village of Gimmelwald. Enjoy some scenery and stop by the Pension Gimmelwald for Schwarz Mönch black lager beer.
Final thoughts
The Bernese Oberland is truly one of the most breathtaking regions in Switzerland, and visiting these Swiss mountain villages feels like stepping into a storybook. This was my favorite portion of our one week trip to Switzerland***. Whether you’re chasing adventure in Grindelwald, walking past waterfalls in Lauterbrunnen, enjoying the quiet charm of Wengen, soaking up the alpine views in Mürren, or experiencing the rustic magic of Gimmelwald, each village offers its own unique slice of alpine life.
I was amazed at how well connected these villages were with trains and gondolas. The fact that you can visit all these places without a car (and in fact, you CAN’T visit some of these with a car because they’re car free) was incredible – especially coming from the US where we need a car to go anywhere and everywhere.
If you’re planning a trip to Switzerland, make sure to include at least a few nights in the Jungfrau region in the Berner Oberland to see some of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland. I highly recommend staying in a village (Grindelwald is my top choice for its convenience). Just look at the views we had from our Airbnb deck!
I hope you’re feeling inspired to visit these charming Switzerland mountain villages. If you have any other questions or you want to share your experience, leave a comment!
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