Seeing as how you’re searching for what to do in Gimmelwald, Switzerland, I trust you know you’ve made the best decision possible. Gimmelwald is an absolute gem of a Swiss mountain village you likely won’t soon forget. And even though the list of things to do in Gimmelwald is somewhat limited, that’s also what makes this place so magical.
In this guide I’ll give you some info on all the delightful ways to spend your days in Gimmelwald. Plus, all the helpful travel info you need to visit this surreal destination. Enjoy!
Need to know: Gimmelwald is not the same as Grindelwald. These are both beautiful mountain villages that are relatively close to each other, but they are not the same. This post is about GIMMELWALD.
Why visit Gimmelwald?
Gimmelwald is a tiny car-free village up in the mountains of the Swiss Alps in the Bernese Oberland. Sure, there are bigger, more equipped towns to visit nearby like Lauterbrunnen or Interlaken. But Gimmelwald’s charm lies in the fact that it has about 80 residents, no cars, and more cows and goats than you can count.
I first visited Gimmelwald in 2012. While living in Italy for the summer, my then-boyfriend and I wanted to take a trip somewhere we’d never been. One of his local friends suggested Gimmelwald and we saw an episode of Rick Steves about it shortly after that. (Fast forward a couple weeks and Gimmelwald would then become the place where my now-husband and I got engaged.)
My first trip to Gimmelwald was the first time I’d ever seen a mountain with snow on it. Gimmelwald was the first place I ever hiked a mountain. Needless to say, my visit to Gimmelwald changed my life and it remains one of my favorite places on earth. Thing is, it has the same kind of appeal for just about everyone who visits. I’ve now visited Gimmelwald three times and have no plans to ever stop.
Is Gimmelwald worth visiting?
Obviously, my answer to this is a resounding YES. But, I understand that Gimmelwald isn’t for everyone. It’s very quiet here and there’s not a whole lot “to do” if you’re not an outdoor enthusiast. Not all travelers would enjoy the kind of peace and quiet that Gimmelwald offers, and that’s OK.
But if you’re into the most jaw-dropping landscapes you’ve ever seen, the most beautiful and rewarding hiking opportunities, the most adrenaline-pumping adventure activities, then Gimmelwald is most definitely worth visiting.
Map of what to do in Gimmelwald
This map contains all the things to do in Gimmelwald I mention in this post. To save this map: Click on the star ⭑ next to the map’s title to save in your Google Maps. To use this map: When you get here, open Google Maps on your phone, click “Saved” at the bottom, then click “Maps.”
How to get to Gimmelwald
Gimmelwald isn’t the most convenient destination to reach (but that’s actually part of its charm). Still, it’s not super difficult either, just a few added steps.
Gimmelwald is located, more or less, right in the center of Switzerland, part way up a mountain in the Jungfrau region. You can get here easily by car and mostly easily via a train/bus combo. Gimmelwald is a:
- 1.5-hour drive from Lucerne
- 1-hour 15-minute drive from Bern
- 2-hour drive from Zurich
- 2-hour 45-minute drive from Geneva
…with trains taking only slightly longer than that for each.
Cable car to Gimmelwald
The main thing to know here is that Gimmelwald is up on top of a mountain and thus you can’t drive here. Instead, you’ll park your car down in the valley and take a cable car up the mountain to Gimmelwald.
The cable car you’re looking for is the Schilthornbahn. This is the cable car that goes up to the top of the Schilthorn mountain but stops at Gimmelwald on the way. This station is located in the village of Stechelberg.
When you arrive to the cable car station, you can purchase your cable car ticket right there at the machines outside the station entrance. Choose “Gimmelwald” as your destination. It couldn’t be easier. You can purchase either the single, one-way trip to Gimmelwald or a return ticket back down. (Just don’t lose your ticket in the meantime.)
There will be two different cable cars you can get on; make sure to get on the one going to “Gimmelwald – Mürren.” Gimmelwald will be the first stop.
Driving to Gimmelwald
If you’ll be driving to Gimmelwald, put either “Schilthornbahn” or “Parkplatz Stechelberg” into your GPS. Both will get you to the same place—the large parking lot at the cable car station. You can park in this lot for as long as you need to.
Take a ticket when you enter, and use that ticket to pay for your total at the end of your trip. After you return to the cable car station at the end of your trip, you pay for parking at the same machines that you used to buy your cable car ticket.
Rent a car here if you need one. (This is where I always book my rental cars.)
Taking the train/bus to Gimmelwald
Getting to Gimmelwald (aka the Stechelberg cable car station) by train and bus is also possible. Here are the steps you’ll need to follow:
- First, get to the Interlaken Ost train station from wherever you’re starting out.
- From here, take one of the regional trains to the town of Lauterbrunnen.
- In Lauterbrunnen, take the local PostBus 141 from the Lauterbrunnen train station to the stop at the Schilthornbahn/Stechelberg cable car station. (This will be a yellow bus with what looks like a horn on the side.)
You can see schedules and buy your train tickets here on Omio.
Where to stay in Gimmelwald
Despite its small size, you still have a handful of choices when it comes to where to stay in Gimmelwald. I have personally stayed at three of the four options and recommend them all. I have a full post on this topic that goes into more detail about each of the four. If you’d like more info on these, check out my post here: Where to Stay in Gimmelwald.
Otherwise, the short list of options includes:
- Mountain Hostel – Fun, budget-friendly communal hostel with shared dorms and private rooms
- Pension Gimmelwald – Delightful hotel in a historic mountain lodge
- Esther’s Guesthouse – Quiet guesthouse with several private room types
- Olle & Maria’s Bed & Breakfast – Rentable rooms in a friendly local couple’s home
Where to eat and drink in Gimmelwald
One thing about Gimmelwald to keep in mind is that there are no proper restaurants or grocery stores here. However, there are still several places to get food and drinks. They are:
For anything more than that, you’ll need to head up the mountain to Mürren where you’ll find a lot more options in terms of proper restaurants (my favorite is the StägerStübli), cafés, and even a grocery store.
What to do in Gimmelwald
This list of what to do in Gimmelwald contains all the best things to see and do here, the best experiences, and more.
Note that some of the activities do take place in the nearby town of Mürren. (Look, I hate when I’m looking for things to do in a city and people tell me things in other cities, but in this case it’s a must. Gimmelwald is small and mostly a place to lay your head, and Mürren is only a short walk away and has some worthwhile activities that you’d be stupid to miss for the sake of staying in Gimmelwald.)
1. Walk around and admire the town
Gimmelwald is a special place in that it’s probably quite different from anywhere else you’ve been, and certainly from where you live. It’s incredibly small but has some of the biggest views you’ve ever seen. And it’s a true Swiss mountain village like you’ve always imagined.
My favorite thing to do when I arrive is simply to walk the main road through town and check it all out. Check out the adorable Swiss mountain chalets and all their traditional décor. Meet the friendly cows and goats in the fields that line the road (and the cats who follow you around). Head to some of the scenic viewpoints, check out the fresh offerings at the self-service farm stands, and pop into the honesty shops.
Watch the local residents tending to their gardens or filling up their milk jugs at their friend’s house. Listen to the distant waterfalls. But most of all, take a deep relaxing breath of fresh mountain air. (I know I sound super cheesy, but you’ll understand when you get here. Your whole demeanor will change.)
2. Check out live music at the Mountain Hostel
The Mountain Hostel is more than just a place to sleep; it’s also the most popular hangout in town. Besides the fact that it’s one of only two bars in town, they also host a summer of live music performances on their cliffside patio.
The performers come from all over the world and perform all types of music. You can take a look at their scheduled performers here.
3. Hiking galore
Gimmelwald is the starting point of what seems like an endless number of awesome hiking opportunities. If you love hiking (which I hope you do since you’re in Switzerland), this is the place to be.
When you disembark the cable car at Gimmelwald, you’ll run into a large informational sign which will show you some of the local hiking trails. On my first visit, we simply asked the staff at the Mountain Hostel for some hiking suggestions to which they gave us the most awesome, most memorable hike around.
My personal favorite hike in the area is from Gimmelwald to the Sprutz Waterfall. Pass under the waterfall and continue on, following the signs to Bryndli. Fair warning: the hike to the Bryndli peak is not for beginners. It’s a pretty strenuous hike, and the last little bit at the top can be fairly dangerous if you don’t have all your hiking wits about you. But damn is it rewarding!
For more on the hike to Bryndli, see this page. Or you can find more great hikes in the Gimmelwald area here.
4. Check out the town’s honesty shops
There are a couple of places in Gimmelwald that sell small souvenir items like postcards, t-shirts, etc. that are completely unattended. You choose what you want and put your money in the box and that’s that.
The Honesty Shop at Pension Gimmelwald even has a collection of household antiques and such. At this shop, you can even pay with a credit card.
5. Have a Schwarz Mönch at Pension Gimmelwald
Since 2017, the folks at Pension Gimmelwald have been brewing a Schwarzbier called Schwarz Mönch, named after a nearby mountain. From 2018-2020 this was the highest rated black beer in the world and it has won several beer competitions as well.
As a prolific beer drinker myself, I have to say it is indeed a good beer! It’s sort of the pride of Pension Gimmelwald so do yourself (and them) a favor and have one (or two) on their gorgeous beer garden patio. You can read more about Schwarz Mönch beer here.
6. Take the cable car up to the Piz Gloria
High above Gimmelwald is the peak of the Schilthorn. And atop that peak is the Piz Gloria—a mountaintop viewing area and 360° rotating restaurant. Alpine views and rotating restaurant aside, the Piz Gloria is famous for one thing: it was used as a filming location in a James Bond movie.
The Piz Gloria gained international fame after being featured in the 1967 James Bond movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Specifically, it served as the evil lair of supervillain Ernst Stavro Blofeld. (It’s true that was a long time ago, but it’s still a big deal here.)
Way up here at the top you’ll be able to see more than 200 stunning mountain peaks and turquoise mountain lakes from the Skyline View platform, have lunch at the restaurant, do some gift shopping, and check out the James Bond “Walk of Fame.”
Fun Fact: The Piz Gloria sits at an elevation of 9,744 feet (2,970 meters) above sea level. The cable car to the top takes 32 minutes.
7. Do some stargazing
Living near a major city (Boston), I hardly ever get the chance to see stars and constellations and such. But here in Gimmelwald you will be drowning in celestial bodies. My first time going outside at night in Gimmelwald blew me away with all the stars I could see.
Download the SkyMap app and head outside after everyone in town has gone to bed and you’ll be treated to some unforgettable stargazing. (Just pray for a cloudless night!) Pro tip: If you stay at Olle & Maria’s, you can use the telescope on their terrace.
8. Hang out in Mürren
The village of Mürren is one cable car stop above Gimmelwald and is more of a proper resort town. There are several “real” hotels here as well as restaurants, shops, etc. I prefer to stay in the quaint quietness of Gimmelwald, but Mürren is still a great place to hang out.
You can take the cable car up one more stop to get here, or you can walk the paved road between the towns. The cable car is the fastest and easiest route, but the trail between the two villages is stupid gorgeous. (Maybe take the cable car up and then walk down for best results.)
In Mürren you can do some souvenir shopping, have a beer and do some people watching, pick up whatever supplies you need, take some great pictures, and more.
9. Do the via ferrata
The most famous of all the great things to do in Gimmelwald is the via ferrata, which technically starts in Mürren but ends in Gimmelwald.
The Mürren via ferrata is a unique sort of hiking trail where you’re clipped into a metal bar on the side of the mountain which you use to hike along the outside of the cliff face, over waterfalls on tightropes, down some mountainside ladders, and across the skinniest, bounciest, scariest suspension bridge you’ve ever seen. And IT IS AWESOME.
If you do anything else today, make sure it’s checking out my post on doing the via ferrata from Mürren to Gimmelwald. If you seek any kind of adventure up here, you must consider this. It’s wild but still remains one of the most badass things I’ve ever done.
10. Go for a swim
If you’re visiting Gimmelwald during a hot summer heatwave (like I just did), know that some of the Gimmelwald accommodations also include a free pass to the swimming pool in Mürren. Specifically, if you stay at either the Mountain Hostel or Olle & Maria’s.
11. Go paragliding
You’ll see paragliders everywhere in this part of the Alps. You can even walk over to their hub in Mürren and watch them take off right over you. If this is something you’ve always wanted to do, this is definitely the place to try it.
Airtime Paragliding is the leader in these parts so check out this paragliding experience if you want to check this off your bucket list. If you’d rather wait and see how you feel in the moment, you can always head over to the Mountain Hostel where they can help you book fun activities like this and more.
What to pack for Gimmelwald
Since you’ll already be in Switzerland, you should already have all this with you. But just in case, here are a few necessary things to pack for your time in Gimmelwald:
A few tips for visiting Gimmelwald
Here are a few helpful things to know for your time in Gimmelwald.
More info for your trip to Gimmelwald
Like this post? Have questions about what to do in Gimmelwald? Let me know in the comments below. Have fun in the Alps!
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