Just found out the Jungfrau Marathon in the Interlaken/Lauterbrunnen area will occur the weekend while we're staying in Wengen. Has anyone been there during the marathan? Is it even more fun to be in the area or a total zoo?
We'll be hiking away from their main route. Any issues with trying to take the Kleine Scheidegg-to-Wengen train back down since the race ends at Kleine Scheidegg?
Any issues with trying to take the Kleine Scheidegg-to-Wengen train back down since the race ends at Kleine Scheidegg?
I don't imagine there will be any problem with the trains. The Swiss are very efficient and I'm sure they'll schedule enough capacity to handle the expected crowds.
And on the day of the race there is usually a party at night in Lauterbrunnen which is quite fun to be at. You do not have to be a runner to attend. We will be there this year for it. Enjoy!
Sounds like the bonuses will outweigh the detriments.
I happened to be there by chance last September. I stayed in Murren for 3 nights and did not even know until the day of the race. The hotel owner told me to hurry to beat the crowd when I told him I wanted to go up to Jungfraujoch. I noticed that the trains were busier than the day I arrived but not too horrible. I hiked from Wengen to Kleine Schidegg and took the train to Jungfraujoch. The trains from KS-Wengen- Interlaken were packed. I personally thought it was a great experience seeing all the runners along the way and there was traditional music playing near the base of KS. If you want to avoid the crowd, hike up to KS early and leave before everyone else. I did not get up to KS until after noon and took the 13:00 train to Jungfrau and by the time I came back to KS the race was over and everyone was leaving around 17:00 and the train was packed like sardines. I had to force my way on as I had to bail my luggage out of the tourist office by 19:00 and a night train to catch to Zermatt. I am going back in two weeks to hike around Interlaken. It looks like they have been getting a lot of rain! I hope we have good weather while we are there. Bon voyage!
Thanks, Jennifer, for sharing your experience.
We're thinking of hiking on the Murren side the day of the marathon to be going in the opposite direction of the crowd - but hoping to see it from that side, too.
Yes, we need perfect weather! : )
For anyone interested in our experience for future trips: we loved having the marathon going through Wengen. The first runners arrived around 10:30am, and everyone was lining the main street with swiss flags, etc. and a crazy local musical band. Later we took the train up to Kleine Scheidegg for the finale and hiked around the area afterwards.
It was really cold our first two days at Wengen, but I packed a pair of tights last-minute and a very thin thermal shirt so no problems. We forgot how amazingly beautiful this area is and loved our hotel room with a balcony view of the valley.
Thanks for the follow-up Jean! What hotel did you stay in? I'm making a list for our future trip to Switzerland!
Hi, We stayed at Alpenruhe Kulm, Galliweidli, Wengen, BE 3823 Switzerland. I think we were on the 2nd floor with a balcony out the front of the hotel.
The hotel is past the downtown street of Wengen, so it was quiet at night to sleep. The hotel will come pick you up from the Wengen train station with their little cart if you call them. I didn't mind walking, but they gave us a ride back to catch the train when we left.
We enjoyed some hiking trails that were listed in the room info book besides the normal hiking areas at Kleine S., etc.
