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Kandersteg TAXI availability?

Posted by (US) on

Hi good Rick Steves' gang!

I've just booked tickets for late June to early July for myself and my partner - so excited!
It's a return trip for me-- first time for her. And I have a Kandersteg-specific transport question.
Note that we can't count on a hotel concierge for any transport-- We will be staying in a rental apartment as I have food allergies. Boo! Therefore, have to be able to fix own food.

My question is: How available are taxis in Kandersteg? (I know there is likely no "uber" there. But I saw on the forum that there is one taxi service as of summer 2023 that would take one from the town to the Oeschenensee gondola station.)

My partner cannot walk super long distances due to an injury. (But she does not require a wheelchair or walker or anything.) The walk to the lower lake Oeschenensee (having taken the gondola up) would be PERFECT for her. But I'm afraid the walk from our lodging TO the gondola station + the walk to the lower lake would be TOO much. So for those of you've who've stayed in Kandersteg, can you tell me for sure if there is a taxi? And if you've used it, was it reliable?

LIkewise, I need to search and see what other lifts/ hikes are available from Kandersteg. Something we like to do is to start a trail-- even if it will prove too long or too difficult for her--- She can do maybe a mile of it, and then we turn around and re-trace our steps.
So, that puts lots of trails on our possibility list--- Everything but the ones rated "green" as Alpenwegs (very difficult, scrambly.)

Thanks in advance for any information you can share!

Lisa in Kentucky, USA

Posted by
158 posts

Hi Lisa,

Yes, for sure no Uber in Kandersteg. I have never tried to take a taxi there, and doing a search on Google maps shows the nearest taxi company is in Adelboden….which is actually quite a distance from Kandersteg…but Google maps does not know everything! ;-) You could certainly contact the TI in Kandersteg to see what they suggest.

https://adelboden-lenk-kandersteg.ch/en/places/poi/detail/touristcenterkandersteg

There is of course a bus service. On SBB.ch enter your starting point (nearest bus stop to your holiday flat, or address of the flat) and choose Kandersteg (Talst.Oeschinen) as your destination. Generally the bus runs every half hour.

Posted by
11773 posts

I do not know about a taxi but there are 3 Swiss Mobility-planned walks in the area

https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/route-443

https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/route-441

https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/route-442

The bus service is very good so in the absence of a taxi, you might benefit from the bus that stops right outside the train station. Ask the apartment rental people what your closest bus stop is and check it out on Google Maps. You can also use the SBB app for bus trip planning, not just trains.

FYI, the walk to and from the lake might be a bit much as there is a 396 foot descent and ascent in the loop. Here is my map of the loop https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1686597. There is, however, an electric bus that can take you down or up or both ways!

Posted by
9 posts

Thank you so much, @Laurel and @SwissNomad!

Contacting the TI is a great idea. Thanks for the detailed info on how to research bus stops on SBB....and the info on the mobility walks. Very helpful information-- thank you so much!

Lisa

Posted by
612 posts

Just take the bus. In SBB (sbb.ch/en) just type in the actual physical address of your apartment as your starting point and the cable car station as your destination and it will calculate the closest bus stop to you and tell you how long of a walk it is. If you're staying in Kandersteg most likely you're within a 5 minute walk to a bus station. Or ask the person renting you your apartment, they should also be able to help.

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