Where to Stay in Gimmelwald, Switzerland: Mountain Hostels, Guesthouses, and B&Bs

When deciding where to stay in Gimmelwald, Switzerland, know this will be the first of many easy decisions you’ll make on your trip. Gimmelwald is a veritable Alpine retreat—the perfect place to “get away from it all.” As cliché as that sounds, it’s completely true and you’ll see exactly what I mean when you get here.

Gimmelwald is little more than a secluded village on a mountainside in the Swiss Alps. There are no cars and no worries, but plenty of cows and the most incredible views you can get from a hostel bathroom.

And the best part is that when it comes to choosing where to stay in Gimmelwald, you aren’t overwhelmed with choices. Everything here is juuuuuust right.  

What staying in Gimmelwald is like

Gimmelwald is a place so peaceful, so idyllic, you won’t believe it even exists. It’s wonderfully silent, except for the cowbells and waterfalls. At night it’s pitch dark and perfect for stargazing. The air is clean and fresh and the roads are devoid of cars and trucks. It’s nothing less than pure Alpine bliss.

That being said, Gimmelwald still may not be for everyone as it’s one of the more remote Alps destinations. The village is barely more than a collection of chalets (+ a schoolhouse) with its own stop on the cable car up to the Schilthorn.

Since there are no real roads and no cars, staying in Gimmelwald requires a lot of walking, up and downhill. It also requires a good amount of preplanning as there aren’t any real restaurants, grocery stores, or pharmacies in Gimmelwald.

Where to get things in Gimmelwald

Gimmelwald may not have those kinds of things, but you can find what you need in nearby Mürren which is more of a proper resort town. To get to Mürren you have two options:

I’ve done both of these multiple times and both are super easy. The path between the two villages is free to use (obviously) but the cable car is not. The cable car is quick, but the walking path offers the most incredible views you’ve ever seen. That said, the walk up to Mürren from Gimmelwald, though paved, can still be a bit strenuous.

In Mürren, you’ll have access to several restaurants and cafés, a proper grocery store, gift shops, equipment rental shops, and a town doctor.

Parking in Gimmelwald

Even though Gimmelwald is a car-free village, parking is still not a problem even if you plan to drive here.

Gimmelwald is up on the side of a mountain and the only way to get here from the valley is either to hike up or to take the cable car up one stop from Stechelberg. At the Stechelberg cable car station there’s a large (paid) parking lot where you can keep your car during your stay in Gimmelwald.

If you need something out of your car during your stay, you’ll have to take the cable car down to the valley and back up again. (Which is doable, but not cheap.)

Where to stay in Gimmelwald, Switzerland

The best part about deciding where to stay in Gimmelwald is that your choices are already narrowed down for you. In fact, you can count the number of places to stay on one hand, and use your free hand to pet the baby goats.

In this post I compare the short list of where to stay in Gimmelwald which includes a hostel, some guesthouses, and a bed and breakfast.

As of July 2026, I have personally stayed at three of the four available places to stay in Gimmelwald.

1. Mountain Hostel Gimmelwald

On my first visit to Gimmelwald I stayed at the now-quite-popular Mountain Hostel. This was actually my first time ever staying at a hostel and it was everything I expected it would be–backpackers, beer, a free-roaming cat, hipsters on guitars. More than a decade later, I’m happy to report it hasn’t changed.

Gimmelwald’s Mountain Hostel is the most popular place in town, known worldwide [in some small circles]. It’s also the first stop after disembarking the cable car which helps if you arrive at night in the pitch darkness of the Alps. Stick your arms out in front of you and feel your way through the darkness to the closest lamplight and you’re there. (But keep in mind, so is the edge of the mountain.)

Mountain Hostel rooms & bathrooms

The Mountain Hostel offers several room options from private rooms to female-only shared dorms to 16-bed mixed dorm rooms. The rooms are simple: bunk beds, mattresses, sheets, comforters, pillows. Not a lot of storage space but you can fit some stuff under the beds or on the benches. They also have lockers you can use.

All room types have shared bathrooms. (So don’t forget your shower shoes!) There’s one central bathroom (with showers) for women and one for men.

They provide the bedding but you’ll either need to bring your own bath towels or rent them for a small fee.

Mountain Hostel food options

There’s a bar and restaurant on site, but the food options are pretty limited. (Hope you like pizza!) The menu is simple but it’s still food in a town where you can’t buy food, so. There’s more than enough beer and alcohol to go around though.

They also have a large self-service kitchen where you can store your own food and cook your own meals if you so choose. (As long as you clean up after yourself.) Breakfast (though also fairly basic) is included for overnight guests.

Anyone (not just guests) is welcome to come eat and drink at the Mountain Hostel on their beautiful and fun patio spaces. They also have a full calendar of live music on the patio.

Mountain Hostel facilities

There’s also an entertainment/common room, a fire pit, a self-service kitchen you’re welcome to use, and laundry facilities. They offer live entertainment and booking services for all kinds of alpine adventures. Mountain Hostel also has free Wi-Fi.

Mountain Hostel need to know

Nothing about Gimmelwald or the Mountain Hostel feels unsafe, but it is a communal hostel with communal rooms so privacy and security aren’t major amenities here. (The private rooms don’t lock.) If these two things are major factors for you, check out the other options for where to stay in Gimmelwald.

Book your stay at the Mountain Hostel on Booking.com or HostelWorld.

2. Pension Gimmelwald

Right next to the Mountain Hostel is Pension Gimmelwald–a 19th-century Swiss mountain hotel and my personal favorite place to stay in Gimmelwald. I stayed here on my most recent visit to Gimmelwald (July 2026) and absolutely loved it.

Pension Gimmelwald rooms & bathrooms

Pension Gimmelwald offers several different room types and sizes, all of which are private. (No bunk bed/dorm situation here.) Even so, all of the rooms still must use shared bathrooms and showers. However, the rooms do have sinks inside them which come in super handy.

The rooms are cozy but have everything you need and even some bonus stuff like bathrobes and slippers. The beds are comfortable the rooms have adequate space for your things.

Every floor has its own shared bathrooms and showers (two each). They were always clean and stocked with what you need–toilet paper, shampoo, shower gel, etc. I never had to wait for a bathroom or shower to open up; they were always available. You can see all available room types here.

Pension Gimmelwald food options

Pension Gimmelwald offers a couple of different dining options. Each night there’s a set 3-course menu you can book. (The menu for the next two weeks is posted on the outside of the building near the entrance.) There’s also a nightly “backpacker special” you can order that changes each day. On my visit in July 2026, it was pork stew (and it was delicious).

Pension Gimmelwald has a relatively large indoor dining space as well as the world’s most beautiful beer garden patio.

Pension Gimmelwald is also “world famous” for being the producers of Schwarz Mönch, often voted the best black beer in the world. (And it’s seriously good!) A simple but adequate breakfast is available as an add-on to overnight guests.

Pension Gimmelwald facilities

Pension Gimmelwald has a large indoor common area with books, games, and more. There’s a large outdoor beer garden as well as tons of other outdoor seating space. There’s a bar and restaurant on site, free Wi-Fi, and a super friendly staff.

There’s also the somewhat famous Honesty Shop here. Attached to the Pension is a small gift shop with all sorts of things from t-shirts and postcards to antiques. Pick what you want and leave your money in the box along with a note about what you took. The whole thing runs on honesty–what a concept!

Pension Gimmelwald need to know

There are two major things I think you should know before you stay here:

1. If you’re sensitive to noise, be sure to pack earplugs. This building is old and the walls are basically paper. You can hear every step anyone takes throughout the building, every door slam, and every time the people next to you can’t figure out how to open their door with the old key. Oh, and the morning rooster crows.
2. The ceilings here are seriously low. So, tall people be aware! I met a tall person here who said his brother booked the rooms without knowing and he was basically a hunchback the entire time.

Book your room at Pension Gimmelwald here.

3. Esther’s Guesthouse

Just across the street (the only street) from Pension Gimmelwald is Esther’s Guesthouse. And it’s exactly what you’d expect it to be. A lady named Esther, mandatory quiet time, lace curtains, retired teachers, dolls. Yes, dolls. I think the phrase you’re looking for here is “thug life.”

What Esther’s Guesthouse lacks in incredible mountain views (you miss a lot on this side of the street apparently), it makes up for in glimpses of Gimmelwaldian daily life. From here you can watch how this tiny town operates—and there’s nothing like waking up and watching a few cows stroll through the town center.

But the Swiss-ness doesn’t stop there. Esther’s is the kind of place where you’ll literally find Swiss chocolate on your nightstand and leave with a goodie bag of chocolates and postcards.

And Esther is the kind of host who will absolutely smoke you on the hiking trails. Honestly, I didn’t know trekking poles could move so fast. Meanwhile, I was borderline needing to be resuscitated when she flew past.

Esther’s Guesthouse rooms & bathrooms

At a certain point in life, you can no longer stand the thought of sharing a room with 15 strangers in an effort to save a few bucks. Instead, you desire a room of your very own where you don’t have to worry about someone rifling through your bag or forgetting to take toilet paper to the bathroom when you go.

That time came a lot earlier for me than I expected. So, on my second visit to Gimmelwald I stayed at Esther’s Guesthouse, where I shared a room with just my husband and three friends I already know and love.

Esther’s offers several different room types, all of which are private. Most have private bathrooms en suite while others have shared bathrooms. See all available room options here.

Esther’s Guesthouse food

Even though Esther’s is technically a bed and breakfast, breakfast is not automatically included with your overnight booking, but is an available add-on. It’s your typical (but delicious) European style continental breakfast with fresh cheese and meats, breads and jams, etc. And since there are pretty much no other options in Gimmelwald, it’s not a bad deal.

All guests share a common area and kitchen where you can keep your food. There are no options here as far as dinner goes, but the Mountain Hostel and the Pension Gimmelwald are just across the street so you can have dinner there.

For lunch, Esther can pack you a packed lunch for the hiking trails (for an additional fee). Just let her know as soon as possible.

Esther’s Guesthouse facilities

Esther’s Guesthouse offers free Wi-Fi and all the usual amenities you’re used to. There’s also a sun deck and outdoor picnic area and a small playground.

If you prefer to bring your own food, you have access to a full kitchen and refrigerator where you can store and cook your own meals.

Esther’s Guesthouse need to know

Unlike the Mountain Hostel or Pension Gimmelwald, Esther’s Guesthouse has a 2-night minimum. But really, they should set a maximum here because you won’t want to leave.

Also, you’re going to have to be okay sharing space with the dolls. Dun-dun-dunnn

(Forget about the dolls and) book your room at Esther’s Guesthouse here.

4. Olle & Maria’s Bed and Breakfast

A little further “into town,” if you will, is Olle & Maria’s Bed and Breakfast—more along the lines of what you think of when you hear “bed and breakfast.” This building is actually their private home where they rent out a few of the rooms. Olle and Maria are Gimmelwald’s two schoolteachers.

Olle & Maria’s rooms & bathrooms

Olle & Maria’s offers just three rooms, though they are some of the nicer ones in town. There’s an apartment with double bed, its own private entrance, kitchen and bathroom. Then there’s a double room and a triple room, both of which have a terrace and share a bathroom and kitchen with the other guests.

Olle & Maria’s food options

Like Esther’s the “breakfast” part of this bed and breakfast is also not automatically included but still available as an add-on. But again, there’s also a shared refrigerator and kitchen here that you can use to store food and cook meals.

I haven’t personally stayed here (yet) and can’t speak to how delicious breakfast is, but the reviews say it’s amazing. (And I have no doubt.) For all other meals, head up the street to Pension Gimmelwald or the Mountain Hostel.

Olle & Maria’s facilities

Besides the shared kitchen, there’s also a lovely terrace (with a telescope!) and some relaxing chairs. They also offer free Wi-Fi and a shared fire pit space. Keep in mind this is actually someone’s private home so typical facilities and amenities are at a minimum here.

Olle & Maria’s need to know

Olle & Maria’s Bed and Breakfast has a 3-night minimum for booking.

Book your room at Olle & Maria’s here.

Where to stay in Gimmelwald for the best views

Given the nature of Gimmelwald–a tiny mountain village on a cliffside–there’s never a bad view. However, if you want to take in these views while you sleep, eat, drink, and pee, you’ll want to stay at either the Mountain Hostel or Pension Gimmelwald.

Both of these are located on the cliffside with panoramic views of the Lauterbrunnen Valley and the three major mountain peaks: the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.

Where to stay in Gimmelwald for peace and quiet

Gimmelwald is all about that peace and quiet, but when you’re deciding where to stay in Gimmelwald for just that, stick with either Esther’s Guesthouse or Olle & Maria’s B&B.

Unlike the Mountain Hostel with its live music and recreation rooms, and Pension Gimmelwald with its creaky floors and doors, these two maintain a nighttime quiet policy (and a typically older clientele).

Where to stay in Gimmelwald for meeting fellow travelers

If its fellow travelers you’re looking to meet in Gimmelwald, you can’t go wrong with either the Mountain Hostel or Pension Gimmelwald. Both have great common areas and a friendly staff and friendly clientele. (If you’re under 30, Mountain Hostel is your place.)

If it’s Gimmelwald locals you’re looking to chat with, book your stay at Olle & Maria’s (friends of Rick Steves himself).

More info for your trip to Gimmelwald

Like this post? Have questions about where to stay in Gimmelwald? Let me know in the comments below. Have fun in Switzerland!

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