Imagine dining at a revolving restaurant with 360 panoramic views of the jaw-dropping Swiss Alps, then following in James Bond’s footsteps on a thrilling mountain adventure.
That’s the Schilthorn experience in a nutshell! This stunning peak offers breathtaking vistas, Spy World (a nod to the movie filmed there), and an exhilarating cable car ride, and more.
It’s a slice of Swiss paradise that combines natural beauty with a dash of cinematic excitement.
Here are my 7 reasons why the Schilthorn and Lauterbrunnen should be on your Swiss Itinerary!
1. Breathtaking 360-degree Panoramic Views
I knew the Schilthorn would be amazing, but I never expected the 360-degree views from the top.
First, you can see the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks opposite you in the distance, stunning at any time of the year.
On top of that, when you turn around in any direction, there are mountain peaks everywhere. You can also see Thun and its namesake Lake Thun in the distance, and on a clear day (when the so-called Foehn is blowing), you can even see as far as Germany and Mt Blanc in France!
2. The Piz Gloria Revolving Restaurant at 2,970m
Yes, the restaurant on top of the Schilthorn—Piz Gloria—is a rotating restaurant where you can have a meal and see the whole 360 degrees twice over the course of 1.5 hours!
We had brunch up there, and it was a seriously fun experience. You take a seat, go get your food, and come back to find your table has moved in the meantime. Fun times :>
When you sit down, the view slowly unfolds in front of you, a sight you will not forget quickly.
So, if you have the time, book a trip up and brunch to get the whole Schilthorn experience.
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3. Some Jaw-Dropping Cable Car Rides
To reach the top of the Schilthorn, you currently need to take four cable cars from the Lauterbrunnen Valley floor.
The first two take you to Gimmelwald and Mürren, which are worth a visit on your way up or down. But the fun really starts from Mürren as the gondola whisks you up above 2600m in around 5 minutes. So, for the best views, get yourself to the back of the Gondola so you can see the epic peaks behind you rise to the occasion!
There is another 5-minute ride from there to the Schilthorn, which carries you across to the Schilthorn with the enchanting, crystal-clear blue Grauseeli lake below!
4. Thrilling Adventure Activities
For the thrill-seekers amongst you, a stop at Birg, just before the Schilthorn for the heart-pumping Skyline Walk viewpoint and Thrill Walk are a must. If you are seriously afraid of heights, then just try the Skyline viewpoint as this is scary enough for many.
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But the real fun begins when you head downstairs to the Thrill Walk.
It is a combination of cliff walk (similar to Grindelwald First, but way more fun) with even more fun elements thrown in:
- glass-bottomed walkway
- tightrope over an abyss (with safety net below)
- net tunnel with nothing below you
I am by no means a daredevil, but I am not really afraid of heights and it was all ok for me. A few in our group did not come down to do it, but 90% were fine!
5. The James Bond Experience
The history of the Schilthorn is actually quite impressive!
It was built for the James Bond movie and was based on the novel “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.” The restaurant was actually Blofeld’s lair and an allergy clinic, and if you watch the movie in the museum below, you can see how it was central to the movie.
These days, Bond still features heavily in the Spy World museum and theater downstairs, as well as on the Walk of Fame outside as you approach the viewpoint. It is definitely fun to travel back in time and see James Bond from the 1960s, how integral it is to Schilthorn’s past, and how crazy low-tech movies were back in those days!
6. Two Authentic Swiss Alpine Villages
Let’s not forget that on your way up or down to the Schilthorn, you will pass through two of Switzerland’s most stunning Alpine villages – Mürren and Gimmelwald.
Most people stop to see Mürren on the way down and walk through the town and perhaps stop for lunch. (That is what I recommend in my Lauterbrunnen Itinerary, which is worth following for the most epic day out in the region)
Mürren is a charming Swiss village full of historic buildings and offers you stunning views of the mountains, great hikes, tasty restaurants and fun souvenirs, all in one spot.
For those with a little more time, you can head down to the far smaller and rural Gimmelwald and check out the honesty shops, the local farmers shop and just soak up the Swissness of it all.
** Gimmelwald is only a 30-minute walk downhill from Mürren should you want a short hike while you are there.
7. The Perfect Lauterbrunnen Itinerary
For me, Schilthorn and all of the attractions along the way are part of the “perfect 1-day Latuerbrunnen Intinerary“.
I always advise my clients to go straight up the Schilthorn and then slowly make their way back and see the other sights in the area towards the end. This gives you lots of time to enjoy all that Lauterbrunnen and Schilthorn have to offer on the most stunning day out in the Berner Oberland Alps.
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Is the Big Trill Walk opened? I read it was closed.