Greetings! My husband and I have been planning our own itinerary for a second visit to Switzerland. We hope to take trains and use the Swiss Pass for most of our trip. We are starting in Appenzell (2 nights), then Lucerne (3 nights,2nd visit), take the Gotthard Panorama Express to Lugano to stay two nights, take the Bernina Express through Italy and up to Pontresina to stay 2 nights. We don't have reservations yet, but hope to take the Glacier Express as far as Andermatt and stay there 2 nights. From Andermatt we thought about taking regular trains to Kandersteg and stay there three nights before moving to Lauterbrunnen 4 nights (a revisit). We decided to skip Zermatt since we've seen the mountain before, and it seemed like we were pushing ourselves too much. Now we are second guessing ourselves and wondering if three nights is too much in Kandersteg. We are average+ mid 70s and we love scenic beauty and trails that are 5 miles or less and not too strenuous. Would we better to cancel one night in Kandersteg and add that night somewhere else, in your opinions? Or modify our trip from Pontresina on? Any suggestions for staying in Kandersteg? Thanks so much. I apppreciate your sharing your time and wisdom with me.
Posted by
Schaumburg, IL
322 posts
Kanderstag for you should be an easy day trip from Lauterbrunnen-cable car up and short hike to the beautiful lake…add days to Lauterbrunnen Valley and some boat trips- get BO pass and half fare card-Kanderstag is also covered.
Posted by
Switzerland
425 posts
What time of year is your trip?
Kandersteg is one of my go to places for a peaceful, fill-me-up again kind of a day. As a local in the area I have never had the need to stay the night, but would certainly do so given the chance.
Most tourists will only go there to visit Oeschinensee, and nothing else, so many people don’t even know what Kandersteg has to offer. A bonus of staying in the village is that you can easily make an early morning jaunt to Oeschinen and experience the beauty before everyone else has arrived.
Another location you can enjoy early in the day, before the crowds, is Blausee. Sometimes given poor reviews, but honestly if you go there during off season, or first thing in the morning, it is indeed a magical location! 13 minute bus ride from Kandersteg.
Rainy day - go to nearby Thun. Direct train takes about 40 minutes. Very scenic journey. Lots to do in Thun.
Adelboden can be reached in about 50 minutes - another beautiful mountain village.
In Kandersteg itself:
This stunningly beautiful circular walk - benches along the way to enjoy the river and the mountain views. https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/route-441
Along this walk you can watch the paragliders as they leave Allmenalp. You can also go up there. Ask at the Tourist Info for hiking suggestions beforehand.
https://www.allmenalp.ch/en/index.html
I have extended the above circular walk on days when I had more time. When you hit route #56 you can follow it for a little while. Very beautiful, through the fields with cows, past farm huts, surrounded by mountains. The entire route #56 will be more than you are looking for in a hike, but just walk as far as you want to and then turn around and enjoy it all over again. https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/route-56/stage-2
I have done this easy hike before, nice views of Kandersteg and mountains https://adelboden-lenk-kandersteg.ch/en/activities/tour/detail/hoeh-ye34r1ad
You will be able to learn a lot more at the Tourist Info, and they will also inform you regarding best hikes in the current conditions (depending on the timing of your visit).
Posted by
OP
Caledonia, Michigan, USA
27 posts
Thank you for all of your suggestions! We will be staying in Kandersteg September 7-9.
Posted by
Switzerland
425 posts
September is a very good time to come. You might even be able to catch an Alpabfahrt (cows coming down from the mountains) while you are in Appenzell. It all runs according to the weather and for the past several years they have started coming down starting at the end of August and going on into September in that region.
They post the dates here (I can’t find it on their English website), or you can sign up to be notified, which I what I do. They always tell you the route and also even the farmer who is bringing their cows down that day.
Currently (early May) they are posting dates for the upward journey - Alpauffahrt.
https://appenzellerland.ch/de/informieren/typisch/braeuche-tradition/alpfahrt.html
Posted by
Northern California (formerly Brescia and Lago di Garda Italy)
195 posts
We stayed at hotel Bernerhof in Kandersteg for two nights (balcony view room facing front towards mountain - and half board) . I could have stayed another night or two - swissnomad has great suggestions - we hiked the fairly strenuous hikes up above and around oeschinensee. Get out early to avoid daytrippers and crowds going to the lake - especially on weekends.
Posted by
OP
Caledonia, Michigan, USA
27 posts
Thank you mggtravel. We have reservations to stay at the same hotel you did! If you were to do it again, would you eat at the hotel (half board), or visit other restaurants there instead?
Posted by
Northern California (formerly Brescia and Lago di Garda Italy)
195 posts
We would probably do half board again mainly because we are tired after a long day out hiking and don’t want to bother looking for a place to eat or waiting for a table, etc. That being said, we have had better half board food experiences (for example at our place in Wengen which was incredible) - but the meal choices at Bernerhof were certainly good/ acceptable and nice to always have a table ready after a long day. If you are thinking you wouldn’t mind exploring the town for other options , then you may want to consider that.