Schynige Platte is one of the least known trains in the Jungfrau-Aletsch region. But if you want incredible views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau and the Lauterbrunnen Valley, don’t miss the historic train.
Schynige Platte © Schweiz Tourismus
Once at the top, apart from fantastic views of the three great mountains, you will discover a wonderful world of flowers in the best possible alpine scenery. A true spectacle of nature.
The romantic train to Schynige Platte
To catch the train you can park your car in Wilderswil. You can also reach Wilderswil by train from Interlaken-Ost in a very short journey.
The train is the classic nostalgic and small but charming railway, with wooden benches from the end of the 19th century and antique lamps that will transport you to another era, as this charming cog railway has been in operation for 120 years.
The ride is very pleasant, not only for the breathtaking views of the Alps, but also for the beautiful panoramic views of the blue waters of Lake Brienz.
After 7 km and 50 minutes of walking with a gradient of up to 25%, you will reach the upper station at an altitude of almost 2,000 metres.
After getting off the train, you can immediately see the breathtaking views. Climb some stairs and in a couple of minutes you will be on the terrace of the Schynige Platte at an altitude of 2,076 metres with the three tenors in front of you.
Right next to the restaurant and its terrace there is a children’s playground, so it’s the ideal time to take a break and let the kids play and let off steam for a while. You can take the opportunity to have a drink on the panoramic terrace and take photos.
The alpine botanical garden of Schynige Platte
To complete your visit, you should head for the alpine botanical garden, the entrance to which is right next to the railway station. On a circular route along the mountainside, you can discover some of the 600 species of flowers in the garden, including the Edelweiss, the snow flower or the famous Alpine flower.
The sight of this colourful world against the backdrop of the snow-capped mountains under a blue sky will thrill and captivate you.
Depending on how much you like flowers, you can stay longer or shorter, but you will certainly not stay less than an hour, as the scenery is beautiful.
If you are more interested in the alpine botanical garden, you can also enter the small interpretation centre at the entrance, where you can see videos and explanations of the fauna and flora of Schynige Platte.
Don’t miss the small museum in the station where you can see old objects related to the history of the train.
You can complete your nostalgic alpine journey by sleeping in the charming hotel, which, like the train, is decorated as it was at the end of the 19th century to make the experience complete.
Sleeping here you can enjoy the glorious alpine sunrise and magical sunsets at Schynige Platte.