Schilthorn is one of the most beautiful peaks in the entire Swiss Alps! One of our favorite mornings in Switzerland was when we took the gondola up to the peak of Schilthorn to Piz Gloria restaurant. We not only had surreal view, but also a delicious buffet breakfast at the revolving eatery. Here’s exactly what to know about the James Bond filming location, the most epic Switzerland views, and all about our day.
How to Get to the Top of Schilthorn
The first thing you should know is that Schilthorn is the name of the summit and Piz Gloria is the actual restaurant. Now it’s no easy task getting here! It requires hopping on the Gondola, with several switches en route to the top.
You’ll need to start by traveling to Stechelberg where the cable car leaves from. If you’re exploring Switzerland and planning to rent a car, you can drive yourself to the gondola. Another option is to take the bus from the nearby town of Lauterbrunnen.
We were staying near Interlaken, so we took the train to Lauterbrunnen and made the bus connection from there. Be sure to stop at the epic 974 foot waterfall if you’re passing through Lauterbrunnen!
Honestly, we would have loved to stay in this small town for a night or two after seeing it. Some of the most popular accommodations are Hotel Staubbach and Chalet Rosa B&B if you decide to yourself. Also, check out our 15 Switzerland travel tips to help plan your first visit.
Schilthorn Cable Car
Once you make it to Stechelberg it’s time to buy your tickets. We booked ours in advance on the official website here.
Still, it’s easy enough to grab your tickets at the booth at the entrance. There are several options depending on how high you want to go up using the cable car. Below are the 4 stops to see on your way to the summit.
- Mürren – 1638 meters
- Allmendhubel – 1907 meters
- Birg – 2677 meters
- Piz Gloria – 2970 meters
Keep in mind that there are different prices for each stop if you don’t want to go all the way to the top to Piz Gloria restaurant. Many travelers just choose to visit the beautiful town of Mürren and hike their way down in the summertime.
At each stop, you’ll also have to get off, switch gondolas, and rescan your ticket. We really could have spent all day taking in the viewpoints on the way up! However, we decided to head straight to the top first, as we had the Schilthorn brunch time to make.
Views of the Swiss Skyline
As you can imagine, the views up the Schilthorn cable car are unbelievable. At some points we would be deep in the clouds and unable to see anything.
Then all of a sudden, the cable car would streak out of the mist and to views of the mountains all around us. It was truly a magical experience!
We arrived at the top of Schilthorn just after 10am. Since our brunch reservation wasn’t until 11:30am, we had plenty of time to explore and take in the views of the Swiss Skyline.
Our first stop was to head outside to the viewing platform. Immediately, we were captivated by the views above the clouds and surrounding mountain peaks.
It was hard to believe we were standing almost 10,000 feet above Switzerland! We could even see the tallest mountain in the Alps (Mont Blanc) across the border in France.
Once we got our picture with the Swiss flag, we headed down the steps to get a different vantage point. This part has no guardrails so be extra careful if you’re wandering out.
Also, know that the clouds can move very fast. If you have good weather, take advantage of it because the weather change quickly.
James Bond Switzerland Filming Location
One of the most unique parts about Piz Gloria is that it was the filming location for one of the early James Bond movies. That’s right!
Back in 1969, “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” was filmed all the way up on this mountain peak. There is a cool museum dedicated to the movie on the lower floor of the Piz Gloria building.
It was so interesting seeing how they filmed these scenes years ago. There are also plaques outside dedicated to the actors and olympic athletes that took part in the movie.
This would surprisingly be George Lazenby’s only stint as the lead actor in the James Bond series.
Our Amazing Brunch at Piz Gloria Restaurant
While the views, gondola ride, and James Bond museum were certainly worth the trip, the highlight of our time was our brunch at Piz Gloria restaurant! It’s important to know that you should make a reservation here and arrive early.
The rotating restaurant slowly spins its way around, giving you incredible 360 views while you eat. We were literally having brunch above the clouds!
One thing we didn’t initially realize was that just the tables by the window rotate and the center of the restaurant stays still. This is the main reason you need a reservation to make sure you get a table that spins.
We did the breakfast buffet, which is open from 11am to 2pm every day. It was filled with fresh fruit, soups, traditional Swiss dishes, and so much more.
Our favorite section of the buffet was all the local meats and cheeses. We also loved the champagne on ice and delicious juices available.
**Piz Gloria restaurant will be closed from October 7, 2024 to March 14, 2025 for construction of the new Birg-Schilthorn cable car route.
Is the Schilthorn Brunch Worth it?
Absolutely! If you couldn’t tell, this was one of our favorite days on this recent trip to Switzerland.
It’s totally worth taking the cable car up for views of the Swiss Skyline alone. Yet, when you combine that with the James Bond history and the incredible buffet brunch, it makes for a completely unique experience.
If there’s one thing we could change, it would’ve been seeing the other stops on the way up or down. While we headed back down the gondola the entire valley was completely covered in fog. At each of the stops along the way it was almost impossible to see anything.
We would have gotten off at each point and explored as we traveled back into the valley if the weather had been better. This will be at the top of our bucket list next time we visit Switzerland.
Have any questions on this article or want to share your own tips for the Schilthorn Brunch at Piz Gloria restaurant? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
