Schynige Platte was one of our favorite hikes we did in Switzerland this past summer! It combines the historic Schynige Platte Railway with scenic views, and the tradition of the Swiss Alps. Here’s what to know before you go and all about our experience on the Schynige Platte Panorama Trail.
Our Visit to Interlaken Switzerland
Before we get into our Schynige Platte hike, we should tell you about our recent trip to Interlaken. We were camping on Lake Brienz for one week, which was the perfect jump off point to so many great outdoor activities.
The city is located directly in between Lake Brienz and Thun and has easy access to trains, gondolas, buses, and boats. Having the Jungfrau travel pass was perfect, as it allowed us to explore endless mountains around the area with transportation included.
If you’re planning a visit and haven’t heard about the pass, we highly recommend looking into it. Also, make sure to check out our 16 favorite things to do in Interlaken before your first visit.
The Schynige Platte hike was the first one we did from Interlaken and it ended up being our favorite! As you’ll see in this article, we took the train to the top and then hit the popular Panorama Trail.
Riding the Historic Schynige Platte Railway
Our day started by driving to the Wilderswil station to park our car. The car lot is actually cheap compared to many other things in Switzerland and we paid just a few Swiss Franc for the day.
Renting a vehicle for you trip to Interlaken? Check out Discover Cars to compare all the different rates and companies.
Wilderswil Station is also where the historic Schynige Platte Railway leaves from. If you don’t have a car, you can easily catch a connecting train from Interlaken to Wilderswil. The ride from the main terminal takes only 10 minutes.
If you can believe it, this historic Schynige Platte railway first opened back in 1893. It switched over from steam engine to electric in 1914, and his been chugging along ever since.
This was so unique in comparison with all the modern gondolas and cable cars you will see around Switzerland. We enjoyed the slow pace of the hour-long ride, which was filled with incredibly scenic views.
The train only runs in the summer and you can book the tickets here! However, as we mentioned above, the Jungfrau Pass is a great option if you plan on seeing multiple mountains during your visit.
After Schynige Platte, we went to Jungfraujoch, Grindelwald-First, and Harder Kulm. The Lake Bachalpsee hike from Grindelwald was another one of our favorites in the Jungfrau region. For a unique eating experience, also read about the Schilthorn brunch we had at Plz Gloria!
Schynige Platte Hikes & Viewpoints
Once we arrived at the top of Schynige Platte, we went straight over to the map that details the hiking routes. You should know that there are several trails to take from where the train lets you off.
They range from short strolls and viewpoints to difficult full day treks. We chose to take the Schynige Platte Panorama Trail since it was our first day up in the mountains.
Still, know that you can spend literally all day atop this stunning mountain. There is even a Schynige Platte Hotel to stay overnight at and a restaurant for food and drinks.
Be sure to check out the gardens that are located just near the exit off the Schynige Platte Railway. Also, don’t miss out on the Alphorn players who perform at scheduled times each day. There’s a reason this mountain is nicknamed “The Top of Swiss Tradition!”
Schynige Platte Panorama Trail
This 5.6 km loop was the perfect start to our hiking adventures in the Jungfrau region. It was filled with epic views the entire way, with all the fun ups and downs you’d want through the mountains.
One thing we weren’t expecting to see was so many cows and goats along the trail. We were over 2,000 meters high in the Swiss Alps after all!
In addition to the wildlife and flora, the views completely blew us away. At one point we could see Interlaken, Lake Brienz, and Lake Thun from the side of the path.
Don’t be discouraged if it’s cloudy on your Schynige Platte hike. This is very normal (even in August when we were there) and the mist seemed to move quickly.
A highlight that you won’t want to miss is hiking to the highest point of the trail. Oberberghorn viewpoint is the most challenging part, as it requires steep wooden steps towards the top. Just trust us when we tell you it’s worth it for the views!
5 Tips For the Schynige Platte Panorama Trail
Have a Map: Make sure to download an offline map before you go! We use both Maps.me and All Trails, which are apps that are free to use. There was no service at some points along the path, so it was good to make sure we were going the right way.
Food & Drinks: You should know there was only one place to fill up the water at the top of the train station, but nowhere along the Schynige Platte hike. We brought sandwiches from town and stopped halfway to enjoy them with a view.
Time of Year: Note that the Schynige Platte Railway is only open during the summer months from June to October. This is the most ideal time to go hiking in Switzerland!
More Schynige Platte Hikes: While we took the popular Panorama Trail, there are many different hiking paths to experience. You can head over to the Swiss Flower & Panorama Trail for a short 30 minute walking path.
The true outdoor lovers may also want to hit the incredible 6 hour Schynige Platte to First hike. It takes you over several different peaks through the Bernese Alps all the way to Grindelwald First.
Panorama Restaurant & Hotel: If you aren’t up for a long hike, don’t worry. The views from the Schynige Platte Railway and station are beautiful as well.
Stop into the Panorama Restaurant for a coffee, lunch, or tasty Swiss cake. You can even stay at the Berghotel Schynige Platte for the ultimate night on the mountain!
Is the Schynige Platte Hike Worth It?
Once we’d conquered the Schynige Platte Panorama Trail, we headed back down towards the train. There was one last lookout at the end with a massive picture frame.
This is a great photo stop where you can get a shot of the snow-topped mountains in the distance. The train runs every 40 minutes back to the bottom, so if you’re early you can grab a drink at the nearby restaurant.
If you couldn’t tell by now, the Schynige Platte hikes are 100% worth it! Aside from the top peak, the trail was pretty easy. We saw many families with young kids there as well.
The Panorama Ridge Trail took us about 3 hours to complete with plenty of photo stops and breaks. It’s also a great morning activity that will still allow you a full afternoon in Interlaken.
Have any questions about this article or want to share your own Schynige Platte Railway and hiking experience? 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!
