We have 3 days in the Interlakken region, and are trying to decide what to do? It seems overwhealming.....there is so much to see, and do.
I have heard of both of these places, with Gimmelwald being the less "touristy" village, and am very interested, but is this a day trip? and how to do it?
I am finding the cost of the gondolas/trains quite expensive. Any tips?
Thanks!
Grindlewald is a very "snooty" and pricey resort town, I wouldn't stay overnight there. Better to find accommodation in Gimmelwald, Wengen, Murren, or Lauterbrunnen. The latter is on the valley floor, but more centrally located. You can save a lot of money on the gondolas and mountain trains by purchasing the Swiss Pass or one of it's "cousins". Head to the "railpasses" section or this site to compare all of your options
Sandi,
Will you have a car? Gimmelwald is high up in the mountains and you have to take a gondola up. You cannot drive there. It is small and has wonderful views. I stayed in Grindelwald a few years ago because we had a new car and wanted a hotle with a garage. Our hotel had beautiful views of the Mountains. You should look at the Swiss Flexi pass. It saves on the trains and high lifts. The days you don't use the pass you get 50% off trains and lifts. Check it out on Rick's website. I had a 4 day flexi pass for 7 days, but all I really needed was a 3 day pass. Have a great trip, it is just breathtaking.
Gimmelwald once was "less touristy", but now on any given day, expect to see more Rickniks than locals. That being said, Gimmelwald is still far more rustic than Grindelwald, which caters to people with very deep pockets.
I wouldn't call either really a "daytrip" from Interlaken, because they both sit very close by.
It takes 1 hour to get from Interlaken Ost to Gimmelwald or .5 hours to get from Interlaken Ost to Gimmelwald. All of these alpine villages are very very close to each other. I would highly encourage you to stay in one of the villages instead of Interlaken. If you came to see Alps and stunning landscapes then the mountain villages is where you want to be...not Interlaken.
Gimmelwald has all of the charm and scenery described above. However, it is very small with very little to do in the town. It does take longer to get there than most any of the other alpline villages as you need to take the bus from Lauterbrunnen to the Stechelberg gondola station for the gondola up to Gimmelwald. The only way up or down is the gondola which is just great.
Muerren is larger but still, no tourist cars. Again, gondola access. There is a gondola/cog train access as well. Wengen is even larger yet but again, no tourist cars. Cog train access.
The alpine sides of the Lauterbrunnen Valley is like being in Yosemite on steroids.
Sandi, As others have said - the two towns have a totally different feel. Have you decided where you will be staying? Will you have a car or will you be traveling by train?
If you have a car you can drive into the lauterbrunnen vally as far as stechleberg, and then you would only need to take 1 gondola up to Gimmelwald. If you're traveling by train you can take the train as far as Lauterbrunnen, then bus to Stechleberg, and gondola to Gimmelwald.
We've been to the area twice, and gotten a regional pass both times. We took the train from Lauterbrunnen through Klein Scheidegg to Grindlewald. I really didn't find Grindlewald too interesting (it's much more modern and touristy), but from Grindlewald you can take ski lifts up to First which gives you a great view of that valley, and on the way down you can rent scooters which allow you to take a slow scenic ride among the cows on the way down.
I haven't stayed in Gimmelwald (only hiked to it), but we've stayed in Lauterbrunnen and Murren. I have to say it is a very different experience staying a few thousand feet above the valley floor. There's nothing like it!
No matter where you decide to stay - one way to experience the alps, but cut down on expenses is to only go up one of the "big" mountains - either the Jungfrau (top of Europe) or the Schilthorn (above Gimmelwald). Really you can have a great time, and enjoy the amazing mountains without doing either!
If you're really up for it, you could save money by hiking up to Gimmelwald... just make sure you're in good shape.
Thank you so much for all the replies!
We will have a car, and are staying at a B&B not far from Interlakken.
I really like the idea of hiking some, but nothing too hard, as I am not a regular hiker! I think we are looking at going to Gimmelwald and hiking a little bit???
We have two full days, and a 1/2 day in the area. What would be suggestions for the other full day? I am on information overload at this point. I think I have read so many guide books, and internet blogs I don't know what to do. This is my husbands first trip to Europe, and my first to this area. We know we can't see everything.
Sandi
Most all of the hiking is easy. The "trails" are actually service roads, so you won't be roughing it:) Ricks Switzerland guidebook has details on the most popular routes. You should start each of your mornings with visits to the Jungfrau and then the Schiltorn on the next day. After you come down from the peaks do some hiking in the immediate area.
Sandi, I would suggest that you stay in Muerren above Gimmelwald, and your "little hike" could be the one down from Muerren TO Gimmelwald. It's beautiful, wide paved path, all kinds of farm animals and waterfalls along the way. It's a decent, but very friendly little hike. Then take the Gondola BACK up to Muerren to your hotel.
The other activities include Schilthorn which is just a continuation on the Gondola from Gimmelwald to Muerren to Schilthorn. There's also Trummelbach Falls in Stechelberg on the valley floor. Wengen is a nice village to visit which is just on the other side of the valley floor via cogwheel. Jungfrau is the biggest trip and is just a continuation on past Wengen.
All of these activities are easily easily doable within a day.
As a day trip, how about this.
Get up early and drive to the lift. Go to the top of the Schlithorn for breakfast. Get off partway down and walk, first to Muren, then to Gimmelwald. Take your time. Return to your car via gondola from Gimmelwald.
Personally I'd prefer to sleep "up," but you can make a great day trip of it, if the weather cooperates.
sandi,
I took the gondola up to the Shilthorn and had a pastry and coffee in the rotating restaurant. We then took the gondola down to Murren and hiked all the way down to our car. It was beautiful and a very nice day. It is almost all down hill and a easy hike. Near Interlaken is the Ballenburg outdoor museum which is nice too. With the swiss pass you can take the bus to the Ballenburg and then take the bus to Brienz or Thurn lake and go on a steamer all for free.
As far as the prices of the gondolas and trains and cogwheels being expensive...well that's Switzerland :-)
That's why I always recommend when in Switzerland travel on the trains with a Swiss Pass. You get unlimited travel included on all of those gondolas, trains, cogwheels, buses and boats, and your kids < 16 travel for free with you wherever you go.
I realize you have a car...that's too bad. My first trip to Muerren was with a car, and I parked in the big parking garage in Lauterbrunnen and left it there for the duration.
How much is it for the trip to Schilthorn, and then back down to Gimmelwald? Where we have a car, do we drive to the gondola? As I understand it, we can take the gondola all the way up, and then hike down to our vehicle from Gimmelwald?
I am good with downhill hiking :)
Is it worth it to buy a swiss pass for just a few days where we have a car?
Thank you so much for all this information, it really is helpful. I was at a loss on what to do in Switzerland, but you all have given some great ideas. Now just to decide which to do! :)
you can either park at Lauterbrunnen then to Muerren via gondola and train. From Muerren train station walk to other side of town and catch different gondola all the way up to Schilthorn. That roundtrip is 72 CHF without any discounts.
You could also park in Stechelberg and gondola from there straight up to Gimmelwald, Muerren, Schilthorn. That roundtrip is 92 CHF.
Schilthorn fares can be seen here:
