Visiting Schilthorn in the Bernese Alps

I’m not sure a trip to Switzerland would be complete without a visit to the Alps. I grew up less than two hours away from the mountains and I have vacationed several times in the Rocky Mountains, but those mountains have nothing on the Alps! I’m not sure if there are enough adjectives to describe the beauty of the Alps. If you ever have the opportunity to take a trip to Switzerland, I’d highly recommend visiting Schilthorn.

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Visiting Schilthorn: What to Expect

Weather

I visited Schilthorn in the summer, and I was not prepared for the change in weather from the base of the mountain to the top. When we boarded the cable cars at the base of the mountain temps were in the mid 70’s F. By the time we disembarked at the summit, temperatures were in the mid 30’s F. I would highly recommend taking a jacket with you.

Photographs

Be patient, very patient. There are a lot of people at the top of the mountain, so if you want pictures sans other tourists, be prepared to have some patience. You will also need patience for the cloud/fog that rolls in fierce and fast. These clouds/fog will also roll out just as fierce and fast, so be willing to wait for the sky to clear for your photo opportunity.

Bond, James Bond

This mountain peak also served as a James Bond filming location. In this scene from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, you can see sweeping views of the summit. While visiting Schilthorn you can explore the small James Bond museum complete with a couple of interactive exhibits.

Gorgeous Views

Words do not do the views from Schilthorn justice, so enjoy the photos in this post. And plan a trip to visit.

Visiting Schilthorn: How to Get There

Visiting Schilthorn gives you the opportunity to use a number of different modes of transportation. The Schilthorn summit can only be reached by cable car, which departs from the town of Mürren.

•Regardless of where you begin your journey in Switzerland, you’ll want to first make your way to Interlaken. The rail journey will quite certainly provide beautiful views and you’ll want to take a window seat to take in the scenery.

•From there, you’ll change trains and head to Lauterbrunnen. In Lauterbrunnen you can board the bus to ‘Stechelberg Schilthornbahn.’ My recommendation on the bus, as it can be quite crowded in the summer, is to head for the rear of the bus and board there. If you’re feeling particularly ambitious you can hike all, or part, of the bus journey.

•In Stechelberg you’ll board the first of four cable cars and begin your ascent to Schilthorn. In just 30 minutes you can ascend the 2108 meters (or 6916.01 feet) and be treated to stunning views along the way. You also have the option of hiking these segments, although some require serious preparations. On my next visit I plan to hike the second segment. When you switch from one cable car to another you can also get off and explore at that particular station, just be mindful of the cable car timetable.

Literary Connections

While not specifically set on Schilthorn, Beneath a Scarlet Sky takes readers on a journey through the Alps. Visiting Schiltorn gives you an idea of how perilous the journey was during WWII.

You can also read On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and picture Schilthorn while you read.

Interested in visiting other European destinations? Here’s a look at my recommendations of what to do, see, eat, and read on your next European adventure.