I began my trip in Interlaken, one of Switzerland’s most popular mountain destinations. Located between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, Interlaken is essentially an outdoor playground surrounded by some of the country’s most dramatic scenery.

The town itself is lively but very touristy (too touristy for me), with plenty of hotels, restaurants, shops and cafés. It’s hard to ignore the mountains, here, unless your nose is glued to the ground. The famous peaks of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau dominate the landscape, and even walking around town can feel like sightseeing.

From Interlaken, it’s easy to reach the Jungfrau region and mountain villages such as Grindelwald, Wengen and Mürren. Swiss trains are famously efficient, and from here you can connect to mountain railways, cable cars and regional trains that make exploring the area remarkably easy.

In other words: you can hike all day and then let Swiss public transportation do the heavy lifting.

Schynige Platte to First

Distance: approximately 10 miles
Time: roughly 6–7 hours
Difficulty: Challenging
Elevation: significant climbing and descending

This was my first big hike of the trip, and Switzerland apparently decided there was no reason to ease me into things. The trail from Schynige Platte to First is one of the classic hikes in the Jungfrau region. The route crosses high alpine terrain with extraordinary views of the surrounding peaks and lakes.

The hike begins by taking the historic cogwheel railway from Wilderswil near Interlaken up to Schynige Platte. The train ride itself is part of the experience, climbing steadily through forests and meadows until the landscape opens up to an incredible panorama. From Schynige Platte, the trail heads through alpine meadows and rugged mountain terrain. Along the way, there are views toward the Bernese Alps, Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, with the peaks of the Jungfrau region providing a spectacular backdrop.

One of the highlights is the view toward Faulhorn, one of the most recognizable peaks in the area. Depending on the route and conditions, hikers may also pass near the Bachalpsee, a beautiful alpine lake that has become one of the most photographed spots in the region.

Eventually, the trail descends toward First, where you can take the gondola down to Grindelwald.

After Interlaken, I moved to Grindelwald, a beautiful mountain village tucked beneath some of Switzerland’s most famous peaks.

Grindelwald is larger and busier than Mürren, but its setting is hard to beat. The village sits beneath the massive north face of the Eiger, and mountains seem to rise directly from the town. Like Interlaken, Grindelwald was super touristy. Luckily, my major hiking trails kept me out of the touristy traps (like Jungfraujoch).

The village has plenty of restaurants, shops and hotels, but walk just a short distance from the center and you’re surrounded by meadows, cows and mountain scenery. And yes, the cows really do have bells..

The Baregg Hut Hike

Hike: Grindelwald → Pfingstegg → Bäregg Hut
Time: Approximately 2½ hours each way
Distance: Approximately 10–12 km round trip, depending on the exact starting point
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
Highlight: Spectacular views of the Lower Grindelwald Glacier and the surrounding Bernese Alps

One of my favorite hikes around Grindelwald was the walk to Bäregg Hut, and I decided to do it the hard way—starting right in Grindelwald and hiking the entire way up rather than taking the gondola to Pfingstegg. It made for a longer day, but also a much more rewarding one.

From the village, the trail climbs steadily through alpine meadows and forest toward Pfingstegg. As I gained elevation, the views became increasingly spectacular, with the enormous peaks surrounding Grindelwald beginning to dominate the landscape. Once past Pfingstegg, the trail continues toward Bäregg, with the mountains seemingly getting closer with every step.

The final stretch is particularly beautiful. The trail winds along the mountainside above the valley, with dramatic views toward the Lower Grindelwald Glacier and the towering peaks of the Bernese Alps. It is one of those hikes where it is difficult to keep your eyes on the trail because there is something spectacular to look at in every direction.

After roughly 2½ hours of climbing from Grindelwald, I reached Bäregg Hut, perched at about 1,800 meters above sea level. The hut’s terrace is the perfect place to stop, catch your breath and take in the scenery. After all that uphill hiking, a cold drink and something to eat tasted especially good!

The hike back to Grindelwald follows the same route, making the entire outing roughly a half-day adventure. It is definitely a workout—especially without the gondola—but the combination of alpine scenery, glaciers, wildflower-covered meadows and those enormous mountain views made it one of the most memorable hikes of the trip.

The Eiger Trail: Eiger Glacier to Alpiglen

Distance: approximately 7 miles
Time: about 5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: mostly downhill

If there is one hike that feels like a direct introduction to the Eiger, this is it. The Eiger Trail runs beneath the famous north face of the Eiger, one of the most iconic mountain walls in the Alps. The hike begins at Eigergletscher, reached by the spectacular Eiger Express cable car or mountain railway connections, and follows the mountainside toward Alpiglen. (Note that the trail head begins beneath the cable cars. It took me about an hour to find with many wrong routes.)

The trail offers extraordinary views of the Eiger’s massive rock face, along with glaciers, alpine meadows and the surrounding Bernese Alps.

The Eiger’s north face has a legendary reputation among climbers, and standing beneath it gives you a very different appreciation for just how enormous and intimidating it really is.

Fortunately, hiking the trail requires considerably less courage than climbing the Eiger. The route ends at Alpiglen, where you can catch the mountain railway back toward Grindelwald, but I chose to hike back all the way to Grindelwalk, of course! 

This hike is relatively short, making it a great option if you want spectacular scenery without committing to an all-day adventure.

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From Grindelwald, I headed to Mürren, one of the most beautiful villages in the Jungfrau region.

Mürren sits on a terrace high above the Lauterbrunnen Valley and is famously car-free. Getting there involves a combination of train and cable car, depending on your route, but that’s part of the fun.

The village itself is wonderfully charming, with traditional wooden chalets, flower-filled balconies and spectacular views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. AND, it was so much quieter than both Interlaken and Grindelald. Touristy, yes… over-touristy and annoying, no! 

And then there’s the Schilthorn looming above the village.

The mountain is famous not only for its panoramic views but also for the revolving Piz Gloria restaurant, which became famous after appearing in the James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

Naturally, I had to go up….. by hiking there.

Mürren to Schilthorn

Distance: approximately 6–7 miles
Time: roughly 4–5 hours
Difficulty: Challenging
Elevation gain: substantial

This hike is not for anyone looking for a leisurely stroll through a Swiss meadow. Starting in Mürren, the route climbs steadily toward the Schilthorn, passing through alpine landscapes with increasingly impressive views. As you gain elevation, the panorama expands dramatically. The Lauterbrunnen Valley stretches below, while the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau rise across the horizon.

The higher you climb, the more rugged the landscape becomes. And then comes the final push toward Schilthorn.

The reward is the panoramic view from Piz Gloria, where on a clear day you can see dozens of peaks across the Swiss Alps.

The revolving restaurant is a fun place to celebrate finishing the hike — especially because it means you can sit down while the building does the walking for you. If your legs are still functioning, you can explore the Bond-related exhibits and enjoy the panoramic views before hiking back down.

Tanzbödeli & Obersteinberg: The Big One

Distance: approximately 10–12 miles
Time: 6–8 hours
Difficulty: Challenging
Elevation: significant

This was probably the hike that most clearly demonstrated that Switzerland does not believe in flat.

The Tanzbödeli and Obersteinberg hike takes you deep into the Lauterbrunnen Valley, one of the most spectacular valleys in the Alps.

The valley is famous for its dramatic cliffs and waterfalls, including Staubbach Falls, which plunges nearly 300 meters from the cliff above the valley.

The route climbs away from the valley floor toward Tanzbödeli, a spectacular viewpoint with sweeping views across the surrounding mountains.

From higher elevations, the perspective changes completely. You can look down into the Lauterbrunnen Valley while glaciers and towering peaks surround you.

The route also leads toward Obersteinberg, a remote alpine area that feels wonderfully removed from the busy tourist centers.

This is where Switzerland really shows off.

Wildflower-covered meadows, traditional alpine huts, waterfalls and enormous mountain walls make the scenery feel almost unreal.

It’s also the kind of hike where you periodically stop, stare at the scenery and think, Okay, this is why I came to Switzerland.

Then you look at how much farther you have to walk.

And keep going.

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After days of mountain villages and hiking trails, I finished the trip in Zürich.

Zürich is Switzerland’s largest city and feels worlds away from the Alps — although mountains are still surprisingly accessible by train.

The city sits along Lake Zürich and the Limmat River, with a beautifully preserved Old Town filled with narrow streets, historic buildings, churches, shops and cafés.

Highlights include the Grossmünster, the Fraumünster, the picturesque Niederdorf neighborhood and the waterfront along the Limmat.

After a week of hiking, Zürich provided a welcome change of pace.

There were no trail markers to follow.

No elevation charts.

No wondering whether that distant peak was actually the destination.

Just restaurants, museums, shopping and comfortable city streets.

Most importantly, there were opportunities to eat without having to carry the food uphill.

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A Few Things I Learned About Hiking in Switzerland

Get comfortable with public transportation

Switzerland’s trains, cable cars, gondolas and mountain railways make it incredibly easy to build your own hiking itinerary.

You don’t necessarily have to hike a trail from the bottom of a mountain to the top. You can ride up and spend your time hiking across the high country instead.

This is both efficient and wonderful for your knees.

Check the weather

Mountain weather can change quickly. A beautiful sunny morning in the valley doesn’t necessarily mean blue skies at 8,000 feet.

Check the forecast before setting out and be prepared to change your plans.

Start early

Popular trails can get busy, particularly around First, the Eiger and Schilthorn.

Starting early gives you cooler temperatures, quieter trails and better chances of having those spectacular viewpoints largely to yourself.

Bring layers

The temperature can vary dramatically depending on elevation. I quickly learned that “it’s warm down here” tells you absolutely nothing about what it will feel like several thousand feet higher.

Wear good hiking shoes

This probably sounds obvious, but Swiss trails aren’t all gentle paths through meadows. Rocks, steep sections, mud and uneven terrain are part of the experience.

Your feet will have opinions.

Listen to them.

Save room for Swiss food

You cannot spend a week hiking in Switzerland without eating your way through some of the country’s greatest hits.

Cheese fondue.

Rösti.

Chocolate.

Fresh bread.

More cheese.

After hiking 10 miles uphill, you can convince yourself that melted cheese is technically a vegetable.

The Verdict

A week isn’t nearly enough time to explore Switzerland, but it was long enough to discover why the country is such a dream destination for hikers.

Interlaken was the perfect gateway to the Jungfrau region. Grindelwald offered easy access to spectacular mountain trails beneath the Eiger. Mürren provided a quieter alpine setting with some of the best views of the trip. And Zürich was the perfect place to finish, offering a little culture, history and — most importantly — a chance to give my legs a break.

The hikes themselves ranged from relatively short excursions to full-day adventures, but they all had one thing in common: spectacular scenery.

Switzerland doesn’t really make you work for the views.

It makes you work while giving you the views.

And somehow, even when you’re exhausted, sweaty, slightly sunburned and wondering why you voluntarily walked uphill for six hours, you look around and think:

I’d do that again.

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