We are traveling by rail and staying in Kandersteg for a couple of days this summer to hike. Will we need to rent a car to get places if we stay in the town of Kandersteg? I have hunted around the web but don't seem to be able to figure this out.
Also, any thoughts about fun things to do in Kandersteg with teen boys would be welcome.
Thank you so much.
No. These Swiss places pride themselves on not needing cars. A car would be an encumbrance.
I googled "transport Kandersteg" and found the local bus, which is free to hotel residents: https://www.kandersteg.ch/en/w/local-bus
Plus cable cars.
We have been to Kandersteg 5-6 times, always without a car.
Walk through town to the gondola base station and ride up to the lake (Oeschinensee). Or hike up, but it is worth the ride to have more time to hike when you actually get to the lake. Two wonderful hikes; our favorite is the one to Fruendenhuette.
https://www.fruendenhuette.com/
You can find more information on hiking and other activities on this page:
https://www.oeschinensee.ch/en/
The Rodelbahn is popular, or you can rent rowboats and go out on the lake.
Another fun thing we have done with teens is rent bikes at the train station and ride into the next valley, the Gasterntal. The valley is undeveloped, apart from farms and a rustic inn or two, and the road in is private, so there is very little traffic. for the first part you are on a narrow road carved into the cliff, above the rushing river.
Some other hikes
Blausee. Along the Kander River to a nice little lake. Short hike an hour each way.
You can ride a chairlift up to the plateau above Oechinensee and hike down to the lake.
You can use cable car and chairlifts to shorten the Gemmipass hike.
From nearby Eggerschwand you can hike to the Kander Glacier along the Gasterntal. Be a long day but there is a bus to Eggerschwand.
Another long day's hike from Eggerschwand up past summer farms to Unterbachen to the Schwarzgrath Col and to Schwarenbach. Downhill from there you can pick up the cable car back to Eggerschwand.
A tough 6 km climb fom Eggerschwand up to Bunderspitz summit (2546m asl) depending on snow conditions.
Remember hiking in the alps is a pretty serious undertaking and weather conditions can change quickly.
That sweet little two-person sideways chairlift up to Oeschinensee has been replaced by the gondola I mentioned above.
Thank you so much to everyone for these really, really helpful responses!
I downloaded an app called “Explore” which gives you information on trails for hiking, biking, etc for all over the world. It’s very good! Check it out.
You will love this area!! I went two years ago and still think about it all the time. It is just stunning there. Have a great time!!
