There are so many beautiful places in the Swiss Alps that it’s often impossible to say which of them is nicer or worth a visit more than another. However, if you are wondering if Schynige Platte is worth visiting, I can say without any hesitation that Schynige Platte deserves a place on any list of must-see places in Switzerland. Yes, it’s that beautiful!
Last summer we spent ten days in the Jungfrau Region in central Switzerland and visited so many beautiful places. One by one worth a trip, even if you are coming from the other side of the world.
However, there was one place that stood above all the rest – Schynige Platte! We were blown away by the incredible scenery here! After so many trips and so many places visited, Switzerland – once again – surprised us beyond expectations.
Furthermore, Schynige Platte is one of the easiest accessible mountain destinations in the Jungfrau Region. It’s a place that has plenty to offer to everyone – from families with young kids to experienced hikers.
All this makes Schynige Platte popular with locals and people vacationing in the area for a longer time, but it’s not as widely known or visited by groups of international tourists as e.g. Zermatt, or the nearby Jungfraujoch or places like Interlaken, Wengen, and Grindelwald…
In this article, you can find our guide for visiting Schynige Platte. What makes it so special and what there is to see and do here. We also included hiking suggestions, as well as our top tips for the best viewpoints and more. At the end of the post, you can find some practical information for your visit. Find out!
Here are the best things to do at Schynige Platte:
1. Historic Railway
Schynige Platte proudly calls itself ‘Top of Swiss tradition’. First opened in the summer of 1893, the historic railway between Wilderswil near Interlaken and Schynige Platte has been in operation for over 125 years.
The old steam locomotives have been replaced by electric trains in 1914. The ‘newest’ trains operating on this line today are all over 100 years old. As you step into a wooden carriage, it truly feels like taking a trip back in time, the beautiful Belle Époque era. There aren’t many other places in Switzerland that still use trains from those days… It certainly has its charm!
Some trains have open carriages without windows, which look even more like something from an old movie. I’m not sure how they decide which trains to use, but we saw several different models in operation during the day when we visited.
The 52-minute, 7 kilometers journey on the historic railway is stunning! And because the train ascends quite slowly, you have plenty of time to admire the scenery. However, that’s just a taste of what’s to come…
Good to know: You can reserve your tickets for the railway here. Four times a year, you can also ride to Schynige Platte on a historic steam train, using the original locomotive that was built in 1894. You can find more information about these steam trips here.
2. Jaw-dropping Scenery
Once you reach Schynige Platte at 1967 m altitude, the most spectacular landscapes await. The panoramic terrace of the hotel restaurant has great views and also allows you to easily access the nearest summit at 2076 m, from where you can see the lakes of Interlaken and the mountains of the Jungfrau Region.
Even if you don’t hike, you should at least take a short walk at the Botanical Alpine Garden that’s located right above the railway station (more information further below). From there, you have a fantastic view of the stunning landscapes in the direction of the most famous mountain peaks of the Jungfrau Region.
As you walk around, you’ll pass giant wooden picture frames overlooking the snow-capped mountain peaks of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. The Swiss call it the ‘Nature Cinema’. And indeed, you can just sit there and watch the most beautiful scenery through these giant frames or take some fun pictures with your family or friends.
However, as nice as the scenery here is, the views are yet a hundred times better from the Panorama Trail. So if you are physically capable, don’t miss it. Read on!
3. Panorama Trail
Panorama Trail at Schynige Platte is one of the most rewarding rather easy hikes in Switzerland! The 360° panorama with phenomenal views of the Interlaken area and the mountain peaks of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau will take your breath away!
Part of the trail takes you along a mountain ridge with spectacular 360° views. On one side, you can see Interlaken with the colorful scenery of the azure-blue waters of Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. On the other side, you have the snow-capped mountain peaks of the Jungfrau region. Just under your feet, there are green Alpine pastures dotted with Swiss cows… It’s like walking inside a massive painting and you don’t know where to look first…
There are several hiking trails at Schynige Platte. However, the nicest views are from the Panorama Trail, and in particular the section between Daube viewpoint and Oberberghorn. If you are fit enough and can hike a bit, don’t miss it! It’s by far the best thing you can do at Schynige Platte!
LEARN MORE: Best Schynige Platte Hikes (+ Maps & Practical Info)
For many years, we considered the Oeschinen Lake hike to be the most beautiful hike in Switzerland. I have to say that Schynige Platte is at least as impressive! Furthermore, the Panorama Trail is easier, shorter, and incredibly rewarding, especially if you visit on a sunny day.
4. Alpine Flowers & Edelweiss
If you ever wanted to see an edelweiss, you may just get lucky at Schynige Platte. Their Botanical Alpine Garden contains about 650 species of alpine flowers, including the famous and protected Edelweiss.
It took us some time to find Edelweiss among so many other flowers, but it was worth it. For us, this was the very first time that we saw real Edelweiss flowers growing in their natural surroundings. It’s beautiful! In addition, there were many other flowers that were really beautiful and made it worthwhile to take some time to visit this garden.
Swiss Flower and Panorama Trail is an easy walk of about 1km. It starts at the Schynige Platte railway station, past the carved wooden cow Lily. The trail passes alpine meadows with many different species of plants and colorful flowers, with their names indicated on the informational panels. There are so many paths crisscrossing the area here, so you can make this walk as long or as short as you desire.
June to August are the best months to see the flowers. They say that August is the best time for flowers because most species are blooming at that time. That’s also when we visited – at the beginning of August, and the gardens were really nice.
5. Alphorn Players
The alphorn (also known as an alpine horn) is a typical music instrument from the Alps. It’s often played during all kinds of traditional celebrations or local events in Switzerland, but also in Austria, the Bavaria region in Germany, and several other places in the Alps.
It’s a long wooden natural horn that can be almost 4m long. It’s always fun to see and hear this instrument, but the chances of you encountering somebody playing an alphorn during your trip in Switzerland aren’t high.
Here at Schynige Platte, they employ Alphorn players and have daily performances during the summer season (June to mid October). If the weather is good, they play in front of the hotel from 11 AM to 2 PM. In case of bad weather, performances are held inside.
We were not aware of these hours and missed them because we started our visit at the Alpine Garden and then continued to the Panorama Trail. By the time we were back at the Schynige Platte hotel, it was already late afternoon and the alphorn players were already gone. It wasn’t a big deal for us, because we saw them that same evening during the Swiss National Day celebration in Wengen where we were staying.
But if you really want to hear alphorn players at Schynige Platte, it’s probably best to visit the Alpine Garden first, then go to the hotel for the alphorn performance, maybe have lunch at the restaurant, and then start the Panorama Trail from there.
Practical Information for Visiting Schynige Platte
When to Visit & Schynige Platte 2024 Opening Dates
Schynige Platte can only be visited in the summer season (in 2024, between June 15 and October 20). It’s closed in winter. The best time to visit is in summer when hiking trails are completely open. If you can choose, pick a nice sunny day for your visit so that you can enjoy all the incredible views to the fullest.
TIP: The second half of August – the beginning of September are the best times to go if you want to avoid the crowds of the busiest season (from mid June to mid August).
Our experience: We visited Schynige Platte on the 1st of August, the National Day of Switzerland. It was a beautiful sunny day and it was really busy. However, they added a few extra trains in the morning and we didn’t have any delays going up. Once on top, everyone spread out and it wasn’t crowded. Some parts of the Panorama Trail were a bit busy but not too crowded and still very enjoyable.
How to Get to Schynigge Platte
Schynige Platte is located in the Jungfrau Region in Bernese Oberland in central Switzerland. The closest bigger town is Interlaken. It can only be reached by a historic cogwheel train from Wilderswil.
If you are not staying in the region, you can either get to Wilderswil by car or by taking a train via Interlaken. If you come by car, you can leave it in a car parking area in Wilderswil. If you are coming by train, you’ll first have to get to Interlaken. From there, take a train either in the direction of Grindelwald or of Lauterbrunnen – they both stop in Wilderswil.
Trains to Schynige Platte depart Wilderswil every 40 minutes and take almost an hour to get to the top (and also to get back down). The first train from Wilderswil to Schynige Platte leaves around 7.25 AM and the last train to Wilderswil departs from Schynige Platte at around 5.30-6 PM, so keep this in mind if you are planning to do any longer hikes.
Unless you travel with a big group, you can just show up at Wilderswil train station and take a train to Schynige Platte without any advance booking. You can also book your tickets online in advance (available in summer only), so you can just board the next available train without any delays).
Also, keep in mind that it can be quite busy, especially around 9-11 AM, so be prepared to wait for the next train if need be. It was really busy when we visited and they just added a few extra trains. I’m not sure, however, if they always do that.
Schynige Platte Tickets
Just as everywhere in Switzerland, a simple day ticket to Schynige Platte is quite expensive. At the moment of the last update, the train ticket from Wilderswil to Schynige Platte and back costs 64 CHF. There are discounts for kids and children under 6 travel free of charge.
However, just like anywhere else in Switzerland, there are so many possibilities for tickets – hiking tickets, teatime tickets including a cup of tea and a piece of cake, but only for afternoon departures, etc. You can also get discounts with the Swiss Pass (50%). More information about tickets here.
Good to know: All the activities on top of Schynige Platte are included in the train ticket price. So there is no extra charge for a visit to a Botanical Garden or similar.
TIP: We bought the Jungfrau Travel Card because we stayed in the area longer. Schynige Platte ticket and all the other train rides in the wide area of Interlaken, Grindelwald, Wengen, Kleine Scheidegg, Mürren, and Lauterbrunnen were included with this card (all except Jungfraujoch, for which you get a big discount if you have this card). It saved us so much money! But it only makes sense to get this regional card if you are here for at least 3-4 days and are planning to do lots of sightseeing every day.
READ ALSO: Swiss Travel Pass (& Is It Worth It?)
Restaurant, Hotel, Playground
Schynige Platte is a destination in itself. Many people just come here for the train ride, the views, and lunch or a drink on a sunny outdoor terrace with fantastic views.
Some others come here for a few days and stay in the historic Schynige Platte Mountain Hotel located on the mountain.
If you stay here, you can hike in the area as late as you want and have the most amazing scenery all to yourselves, when all the day tourists have left. We love Swiss mountain hotels! Staying on the mountain when day-trippers leave is always a magical experience.
At the hotel, you’ll find a restaurant with a big outdoor terrace. It’s a great place to have lunch or stop for a relaxing drink after a hike. There are also several shops and, of course, bathroom facilities as well.
Near the hotel, there is a nice playground for kids. While our kids played there, we enjoyed a drink with the most beautiful views around us. Vacation at its best!
Schynige Platte was an unexpected discovery for us. After visiting so many other famous landmarks of the Jungfrau Region, we never thought we’d find yet another place that would make its way into our list of the absolute-best destinations in Switzerland.
I’m so glad that we went there and I really recommend that you visit Schynige Platte if you have a day extra in the Jungfrau Region!
If you like magnificent landscapes and a typically Swiss experience without huge crowds, then Schynige Platte might just be what you’re looking for! It’s located just near Interlaken, therefore easy to reach from most big cities in Switzerland, and makes a great day trip for the whole family.
TIP: Don’t miss Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe, when visiting this area. Here you can read what to expect when visiting Jungfraujoch – one of the best day trips in Switzerland in any season.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: What to See & Do in Zermatt
More tips for your trip to central Switzerland:
- Interlaken Day Trip
- Bachalpsee – the best easy hike in Grindelwald
- Trümmelbach Falls – must-see underground waterfall in Lauterbrunnen
- Grindelwald-First – one of the best things to do in the Jungfrau Region in summer
- Oeschinen Lake – a hidden gem of Switzerland
- Jungfrau Region in Winter
- Skiing in Wengen
- Mt Titlis vs Jungfraujoch
- Best Things to Do in Lucerne
- Best Day Trips and Excursions from Lucerne
- Mt Pilatus Golden Round Trip
- Best Things to Do in Bern
- Best Things to Do in Lucerne
- Mt Titlis
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Meena Mehta
Monday 3rd of June 2024
Hi Jurga I just love reading your blogs , seeing those stunning photographs and getting all that information.
My husband and I are taking a Cosmos tour “, The Grand of Switzerland ‘ from September 13 to September 22. The tour starts and ends in Zurich and includes a short stopover of 2-3 hours in Interlaken. After the tour we intend to go to Interlaken for 4 nights. We shall take the train from Zurich.
Can you please give recommendations for a 4 night itinerary with tips on what to see, how to reach the destinations and specially which tickets to buy and where to buy them. There are so many options on the web to buy tickets and I do not want to buy the wrong ones. It would be very helpful to know how much the tickets / trip should cost and if any two places can be easily combined in one day. Also, need your recommendation regarding which hikes give spectacular views and are easy. Keeping in mind the places I wish to see should we buy the Swiss Travel Pass or the Jungfrau Pass ... will these passes make our train/ boat / furnicular/ cable rides free or half price ?
From what I have read on your blogs , I would like to see the following : 1. Go up the furnicular to Harder Klum 2 Boat trip on Lake Brienz : walk over to the Giessbach waterfalls ( walk behind them ) and go up to the restaurant by the furnicular ( for lunch ) , hike to Iselwald along the shore and maybe even visit Brienz . 3 Boat trip on Lake Thun and see a few castles ( please recommend which ones to see ) 4 Visit Grindelwald ( do the first cliff walk and hike to Bachalpsee Lake ) 5. Go up to Jungfraujoch top of Europe 6. Schynige Platte 7. Aare Gorge ( can this be included in the itinerary and is it worth going to ? )
Keeping the places I would like to see in mind, do you think it would be wise to stay 2 nights in Interlaken and 2 nights in Grindelwald or Wengen ? Which is the better option : Grindelwald or Wengen ? Or just stay in Interlaken ? Or do you think I should make it a 5 night stay ? Please feel free to add or delete any excursions I have mentioned, in case you feel others are better.
Also, can you please suggest hotels both in Interlaken and Grindelwald / Wengen with regard to : proximity to railway station and ferry terminals ( we have no car ), view of the lake/ mountains. Price range : $300 - $ 400 per day. Thanks in advance
Meena Mehta
Meena Mehta
Thursday 4th of July 2024
@Jurga,
Hi Jurga After getting your reply I have spent a lot of time going through your blogs to gain more information and knowledge and have clubbed together an itinerary. We ( a party of two ) are fit 70 years old, coming to Switzerland for 6 days in the third week of September. We love walking and would love to go on easy to moderate hikes of upto 5 -6 miles a day. We will be flying in from USA to Zurich and taking a train from Zurich to Interlaken.
Itinerary includes : ( as per your suggestion not fixing any days for doing anything but will decide according to the weather on that day )
Interlaken: Harder Kulm, cruise on Lake Brienz ( stop at the Giessbach waterfall , trek to iselwald, visit Brienz) and then maybe take train/ bus back to Interlaken
Schynige Platte
Grindelwald : Jungfraujoch ( top of Europe ) + Eiger trail First cliff walk , trek to Bachalpsee lake
Lauterbrunnen : visit the Staubbach Falls and Trümmelbach Falls , Lauterbrunnen Valley Hike
Wengen : Trek/ cable car/ gondolas/ funicular/ mountain train to : Mannlichen ( the Royal walk ) , Kleinne Scheidigg.( Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg Panorama Trail ) Gimmelward, Murren: ( murren gimmelwald downhill panoramic walk), gondola to Schilthorn .
Keeping in mind the above itinerary here are the questions: 1. Which city should be our base … Grindelwald/ Lauterbrunnen or Wengen ?
2. Thinking of buying the Jungfrau pass along with a train ticket Zurich / Interlaken/ Zurich . Is this the right decision ?
3. Suggestions for hotels in Grinderwald, Lauterbrunnen and Wengen, which do not involve steep climbs and are close to the railway stations as we will be travelling with a suitcase each.
4. Is it a good idea to go for the half board option being offered at many hotels ?
5. Open to suggestions of any other hikes that will be suitable for us ?
Thanks for all your help.
Meena Mehta
Jurga
Tuesday 4th of June 2024
Dear Meena, it would take me several hours to answer all your questions and help you with a proper itinerary so it's really not something I can do. Nevertheless, here are some answers to your questions: Jungfrau Travel Pass is likely the best option for those 4/5 days you will be in the region. If you get this pass, you won't need any additional tickets for any of the trains or gondolas in the Jungfrau Region and between the region and Interlaken (+boats on both lakes). The last part of the train journey between Kleine Scheidegg and Jungfraujoch requires an additional ticket but you will get a discount with a regional card. Where to stay, doesn't matter that much so it's really your preference. Interlaken is quite central to everything. Grindelwald is also a very good option without too much additional hassle no matter where you decide to visit each day. Interlaken is a more 'regular' town whereas Grindelwald is an upscale tourist resort in the mountains. Wengen is very nice too but since it's located on a mountain, it adds about half an hour to your journey time twice per day on most day trips so I'm not sure if it's worth a hassle for just a few nights. Especially since many places you want to visit are more convenient from Grindelwald or Interlaken. Take a look at Sunstar Hotel in Grindelwald or Hotel Du Nord in Interlaken. They are both located not too far from the main train stations and quite convenient. There are also many other options, of course. I personally would pick Grindelwald for this trip and only go to Interlaken/lakes for one day unless the weather is really not ideal for the mountains. The big advantage of staying in just one base location and getting a regional card is that you can decide each morning what you want to do that day. The train ride between Interlaken and Grindelwald is just a bit over half an hour. If you have a few days in the region, it's better not to plan every minute of your trip in advance so that you can take advantage of better weather when possible. Nice weather - visit places that are located higher in the mountains, cloudy - go to Interlaken and explore the lakes or visit Lauterbrunnen Valley and Trümmelbach Falls. So make an approximate plan with a few ideas of which places to visit on the same day but decide where exactly to go once you see the weather forecast for the next day. Hope this helps. For the rest, please see the detailed guides we have for all these destinations. Have a great trip!
Katie
Saturday 4th of May 2024
Hello! My family is coming to stay in Lauterbrunnen June 9-14. I just started planning hikes and came across your very helpful site. In reading your blog it says that the season starts June 15th! Ah! Does this mean that the trains won't run to access the hikes won't run before then?? We are hoping to do several hikes that require transport around the mountains - Schynige Platte - Daube - Oberberghorn, Mannlichen Panorama Trail and the Allmendhubel Flower Park/Grutschalp to Murren Panorama trail. I didn't realize the transport might not be open yet! Any information on how the start of the year and when trains/gondolas/funiculars start running would be greatly appreciated! We do have a car so can get to Grindwald but also really hoping to get to Murren and Wengen. Thank you!
Katie
Monday 6th of May 2024
@Jurga, Thank you!! A huge stress relieved! We have been looking at the Jungfrau travel pass. Thank you for responding so quickly to my message!
Jurga
Monday 6th of May 2024
Hi Katie, the majority of places around Lauterbrunnen are accessible the whole year round so there is really nothing to worry about - you will find plenty of things to do and most hikes will be accessible at that time of the year. Schynige Platte is one of the few places that remains closed in the winter and where the train starts running so late in the summer. With 5-6 days in the region, you can visit most of the top mountain destinations including Grindelwald-First, Jungfraujoch, Wengen, Männlichen, Mürren, Schilthorn, etc. In Lauterbrunnen Valley, you can also visit Trümmelbach Falls. Also pay a visit to Interlaken and spend a day exploring one of the lakes (or both). You can find information about many of these places on our website - just use the search button. TIP: Consider the Jungfrau Travel Pass if you are staying in the region for 5 days or a Berner Oberland Regional Pass if you are planning to explore more places in this part of Switzerland, beyond the Jungfrau Region. It's MUCH cheaper than day tickets and gives you a lot of flexibility to change your travel plans on the go (for example, take a different gondola or train than you initially planned, etc). Have a great trip!
lisa
Thursday 14th of March 2024
Hi We will be staying in brienz for 4 nights, then Lucern for 3 nights. We then go to slovenia to visit family anfd go back to Wengen for another 4 nights. I love all you hiking ideas Im just not sure which ones to do from Brienz and which to save for Wengen. We are visiting in June
Thanks Lisa
lisa
Sunday 17th of March 2024
Thank you so much for your reply. I am finding all your posts very clear and informative. Im taking lots of notes and hoping to do lots of hiking while also allowing time to just be in the moment. Thanks Lisa
Jurga
Friday 15th of March 2024
Hi Lisa, first, what to see and do on which day might also depend on the weather. But otherwise, it would make sense to group destinations so that you can take advantage of regional cards (which can save you a lot of money). From Brienz, you could explore both lakes around Interlaken, visit Aareschlucht and Meiringen (if you like Sherlock Holmes), take a ride on Gelmerbahn funicular railway, etc. Around Interlaken, you also have lots of nice hikes and activities like paragliding or kayaking, etc. Schynige Platte is also doable, but it falls under the same region as the rest of the places around Wengen, so depending on what else you plan to see there, it can be done either way. And once you are in Wengen, concentrate on that area and visit Grindelwald, Jungfraujoch, Kleine Scheidegg, Lauterbrunnen Valley, and maybe also Mürren if you have time. 4 nights might look like a lot but there is so much to do in that area that you will still have to be selective. Hope this helps a bit. Have a great trip!
Angela
Tuesday 12th of September 2023
First off thank you for all of your wonderful suggestions, itineraries, and photos. I will be staying in Interlaken for 2 nights the End of September. I will have pretty much will have 3 full days as I will arrive mid morning the first day.
I want to plan the best way to see everything hahaha. Definitely want to Schynige Platte, Lauterbrunen, Harder klum and do a boat on one of the lakes. Is this possible you think? Also Thinking Grindelwald Junfraujuch. My wife and I are active so we want to include some beautiful hikes. Any suggestions or help planning on time frames would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You, Angela
Angela
Thursday 14th of September 2023
@Jurga, Thank you very much for your reply!! What are your thoughts on these ideas for my itinerary? I land in Geneva at 7:30 am on September 29th so I’m thinking I will arrive to Interlaken around 11:00am-12pm. Getting settled then going to Harder Klum and then boat trip (or vice Versa) any suggestions here?
This where I am having a problem on Day 2!! Do I start early and head to Schyinge Platte and enjoy the day there with some hiking (how long do I need there?) or do I go to Schithorn early (I did read the thrill bridge is closed at this time?) Not sure how long I would need there either. I do want to see Lauterbrunnen as I have read it is very magnificent. Am I being overzealous with all of this?
Day 3 I head to Lucerne so I can spend the morning and early afternoon if needed before heading to Lucerne.
Thank you and sorry if I’m all over place, so overwhelmed and want to make sure I plan accordingly!
Thank You, Angela
Jurga
Wednesday 13th of September 2023
Hi Angela, you could plan your time like this: Arrival day: Interlaken, Harder Kulm, boat trip, maybe visit one or two towns next to one of the lakes. See our guide to Interlaken. Day 2: Lauterbrunnen + Jungfraujoch + Grindelwald town (not Grindelwald-First as that will be too much for a day). See our guide to Jungfraujoch. Day 3: Schynige Platte. ONLY if you are feeling exceptionally fit and the weather is exceptionally good, you could hike to Grindelwald-First from there (but in that case, you need to start very early and take the first train to Schynige Platte). You can find more information in our guide to Schynige Platte hikes. Good luck!
Siddhant Jain
Wednesday 5th of July 2023
Hi Jurga,
Thanks a lot for your detailed posts. They are extremely helpful and a wealth of information. Me my wife and our 3.5 year old son are planning to visit Switzerland mid Sept. We plan to do the Shynige Platte Oberberghorn panoramal trail basis what I have read here. Are there are any narrow paths or very steep climbs that you believe may not be manageable for a 3.5 year old?
Thanks & Regards, Siddhant Jain
Jurga
Wednesday 5th of July 2023
Hi Siddhant, it's really hard for me to say. Everything depends on your kid and what he is used to. Some parts of this hike can be indeed a bit too steep for such a young boy. Also, you should definitely hold on to your kid at all times when walking close to the ridge. The best advice I can give you is simply decide on the spot what you think you can do. The area is so beautiful that it is worth a visit either way, even if you can't do the entire hike. Have a great trip!