Schilthorn is neither the tallest nor most impressive mountain in Switzerland, but it’s certainly one of the most famous. It’s best known for the James Bond movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, in which the mountain served as the lair of Blofeld, the film’s villain.
You don’t have to be a James Bond fan to enjoy your trip to Schilthorn, but it certainly helps. In addition to the Bond museum atop the summit, Schilthorn also boasts numerous hiking trails, ski pistes, cable cars, a funicular railway, Alpine villages, and stunning panoramic views in every direction.
This detailed guide has everything you need to know to plan your trip to Schlthorn, from directions on getting there to tips on what to pack!
Table of Contents
General Information
| Altitude | 2,970 meters |
| Location | Bernese Oberland |
| Parking | Stechelberg, Lauterbrunnen |
| Operating Times | Open year-round from 7 AM until 10 PM |
| Prices | Full Price – 85.60 CHF (Murren-Schilthorn); 108 CHF (Stechelberg-Schilthorn) |
| Discounts | Swiss Travel Pass, GA Travelcard, Half-Fare Card, Interrail/Eurail Pass, |
| Services | Cable car, funicular, lodging, skiing, sledding, hiking, shopping, restaurants |
| Website | https://schilthorn.ch/ |
Where Is Schilthorn?
The Schilthorn is located at the end of the Lauterbrunnen valley, and towers over the villages of Murren and Gimmelwald, both of which offer easy access to the summit via cable cars.
Tickets & Prices
There are nine different tickets you can purchase for the journey to Schilthorn, and if you’re not entirely sure what you need, it can be confusing. The best tickets to buy are either Stechelberg – Schilthorn (108 CHF) or Mürren – Schilthorn (85.60 CHF), depending on where you’re departing.
Both are return tickets to the top of Schilthorn, and they cover every leg of the journey from the departure point. In general, it is cheaper to travel from Murren, but the difference is not that big, especially with travel card discounts.
Discounts
The good news is that you can get discounts for most train and cable car tickets in this region if you have any of the travel passes that are valid in Switzerland. This includes the Swiss Travel Pass, the GA Travelcard, the Half-fare card, the Interrail Pass, and the Berner Oberland Pass.
The Eurail, Interrail, and Jungfrau Travel Pass will get you a 25% discount on the cable car tickets. All the other travel passes get you a 50% discount. Tickets for children are also 50% of the cost of adult tickets.
Timetable
The cable cars and trains in this region run like clockwork. I’m not even joking – cable cars run every 15-30 minutes during the busiest time of the day. They’re a bit less frequent in the mornings and evenings, but they still run from 6 AM until 10 PM, so you can easily visit the summit at any time of the day.
The timetable from Lauterbrunnen to Murren via Grutshcalp is:
This timetable should cover every other leg of the journey up to Piz Gloria:
Things to Do At Schilthron
Panoramic Views
The views from the top of Schilthorn are absolutely incredible. The summit is at an elevation of 2,970 meters above sea level, and it offers sprawling views of other summits in the Bernese Alps. You can see the iconic trio of Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau, as well as many other peaks around you.
The best thing about the panoramic views is that they’ll come to you. The cable car ride is panoramic as much as just walking around the top station at Piz Gloria. Even the revolving restaurant has wide panoramic windows and tables right next to them so that all the patrons can constantly admire the vista that brought them here in the first place.
Piz Gloria
Piz Gloria is the revolving restaurant atop Schilthorn. It’s the only place where you can get something to eat if you get hungry atop the mountain, and as you might assume, the food isn’t cheap. But it’s really tasty and the restaurant offers stunning panoramic views even from the inside, thanks to huge panoramic windows and window-side tables.
Many dishes at the restaurant are inspired by James Bond, and of course, you can also have 007’s staple drink.
Bond World
Bond World or Spy World is the perfect destination atop Schilthorn for all movie lovers. It’s a museum dedicated to James Bond, with a special exhibit on the movie that was filmed at Schilthorn (On Her Majesty’s Secret Service).
Admission to the museum is free of charge, and anyone who visits can enjoy simulated rides in a helicopter and a bobsled. The exhibit is very informative and includes a lot of trivia and behind-the-scenes facts about the filming, as well as other interactive exhibits that will immerse you in the world of James Bond.
Walk of Fame
The Walk of Fame is a continuation of the James Bond hype atop Schilthorn. This walk along a ridge features information panels with images of 15 cast members from the film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Each panel includes a handprint in steel, a photograph, and a personal message from the crew member. George Lazenby is, of course, featured on the Walk of Fame, and his panel probably gets the most visitors.
Skyline Walk
The Skyline Walk is my kind of observation deck. It’s also entirely unsuitable for anyone who is afraid of heights, but I think such people wouldn’t even want to travel to the top of Schilthorn in the first place.
Anyway, the Skyline Walk is an extension of the Birg station terrace. The observation deck juts out from the mountain cliffs, and it is quite literally suspended over an abyss. The views are fabulous, but what I like the most is that the part of the deck that’s suspended over the abyss has a glass floor. You can see the mountainside below you, and if that doesn’t give you an adrenaline rush I don’t know what will.
Thrill Walk
Thrill Walk is very different from the Walk of Fame, primarily because it’s in a different location. It’s at the Birg cable car station, which is one stop before the summit at Piz Gloria. But it’s also a fascinating walk suitable for anyone, including children, and it offers magnificent panoramic views of the Bernese Alps.
The Birg Thrill Walk is a steel walk path with a glass floor, built into the cliffs just below the Birg station. You can see Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau from here, as well as countless other summits. The Thrill Walk is free to anyone who has purchased a cable car ticket.
Allmendhubel Flower Park & Flower Trail
Allmendhubel is also far from the Schlithorn summit, but a wonderful place you should visit if you’re taking your time while you travel up the mountain. The Allmendhubel Flower Park is a vast playground for children with sculptures of various flowers, and the Flower Trail is an exciting hike that’s absolutely worth doing if you enjoy exploring the great outdoors.
One thing I will say about the Flower Trail is that it only makes sense to do the hike in the spring or summer when you can actually see some flowers along the way. Otherwise, you’ll be looking at a layer of snow.
The hike takes only about an hour, and it takes you from Allmendhubel to Murren. The trail is easy and suitable for everyone, and if you’re starting at Allmendhubel, you are just going downhill to the village.
Shop for Souvenirs
Does it even count you went to Schilthorn if you didn’t bring a single souvenir? I think it does if you take enough photos, but just to be on the safe side, why not pick up some cute little Swiss souvenirs to take back home?
If you’re traveling to the summit via Gimmelwald, I highly recommend you visit The Honesty Shop. It’s a lovely little place with unique, vintage items, and it will give you a serotonin boost to shop at a place where the entire premise is you’re honest and the owners trust you.
You can also find some more classic souvenirs, like umbrellas, postcards, and even ice scrapers higher up the mountain. The Bond World has a souvenir shop that’s a good place for anyone who is a fan of the franchise, but keep in mind that the prices are quite steep.
Winter Activities
If you decide to visit Schilthorn in the winter, you’ll have plenty of things to do in the area. The summit is part of the Jungfrau Skiregion, and a single ski pass can get you access to several hundred kilometers of pistes in the area.
There’s only one descent from Schilthorn and it’s a very steep and challenging black run, so it’s suitable only for the most experienced skiers. There are some easier blue runs at Birg, and even more runs of varying difficulties at Gimmelwald, Murren, and Allmendhubel. If you love skiing and want to take maximum advantage of the Jungfrau Skiregion pass, definitely try to visit Grindelwald and Wengen as well.
Winter hiking is also very popular in the lower regions of the mountain. There are many trails that connect the villages in the area, so you can hike from Murren to Allmendhubel, from Gimmelwald to Grutschalp, and even all the way from Wengen to Murren. One of the more challenging winter hikes is the ascent of Schiltgrat from Murren, which can be completed in about two hours and features an elevation gain of almost 500 meters.
Sledding and tobogganing are two more fun activities you can do at Schilthorn. They’re suitable for anyone who loves having fun on snow but isn’t really a massive fan of skiing or snowboarding. The Bob Run and the Apollo Run are part of Schilthorn’s Toboggan Safari, and both are very popular runs suitable for adults and children.
Both runs are accessible by funicular or chair lift, and the fee is around 8 CHF for each ascent. You can rent sleds at Salomon Station 2.0, the Intersport store near the bottom station of the Murren—Schilthorn cable car.
Summer Activities
Hiking is the most popular summertime activity in the region, thanks to an abundance of trails. Murren, Gimmelwald, Birg, and Lauterbrunnen offer more than two dozen different trails, and there are even more options if you’re willing to travel to Wengen or even Grindelwald.
It’s even possible to hike up to Schilthorn in the summer, but it’s important to keep in mind that this is a very challenging trail and should be attempted only by the most experienced hikers. Other summits in the area are more easily accessible, including Schiltalp, Bryndli, and Birg. Many experienced hikers also enjoy the trail to Rotstock Hutte.
The Lauterbrunnen Valley is best known for its many waterfalls, the most famous of which are Staubbach Falls and Trummelbach Falls. The Staubbach waterfall is in the village of Lauterbrunnen and you can see it when you’re first traveling to Schilthorn through the village. Trummelbach Falls are a little out of the way, but absolutely worth a visit if you want to see an amazing natural landmark.
There’s a Via Ferrata from Murren to Gimmelwald that any avid rock climber should attempt. It’s a K3 route and takes approximately 3 hours to complete, so it’s suitable only for the most experienced climbers.
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The entrance to the route is near Sportchalet Mürren, and from there you follow the side of the cliffs to Gimmelwald, crossing a waterfall at one point. The route is steep and challenging but well secured, and all the time you’re treated to fabulous views of Stechelberg below you.
Weather on Schilthorn
The weather on Schilthorn is what you would expect from a 3,000-meter summit. Winters are very cold, usually with sub-zero temperatures throughout the days and nights and a lot of snow. The weather in early spring and late autumn is very similar.
However, one thing I will say is that 2023 saw unusually high temperatures at Schilthorn in autumn. Even September had days when the daily high was above 15 degrees, and the lows stayed above zero most of the month.
Summers are much warmer; although it’s possible for temperatures to drop below zero at night even in the summer, it doesn’t happen very often. Most days are warm enough that you could walk around in a T-shirt without freezing.
Summer temperatures during the day are usually in the range of 10-15 degrees Celsius, while night temperatures are often between 0 and 5 degrees. The weather can change quickly, especially if it’s windy, so I would highly recommend being prepared for colder weather, even if the forecast says otherwise.
Best Time to Visit Schilthorn
The best time to visit Schilthorn is the summer because that’s the only period when the weather is pleasant. It’s warm enough that you can walk around the summit without having to wear a dozen layers, which ultimately makes it easier to enjoy your time atop the mountain.
However, keep in mind that summer is the busiest season to travel in Switzerland, so there will likely be many other tourists in the region as well. Murren is especially busy in the summer, so if you’d rather avoid the huge crowds, I recommend planning a trip in the shoulder months (April, May, September, October).
A trip in the winter is doable, but it won’t help you avoid the crowds of peak season because Murren and its surroundings get a lot of skiers and snowboarders in the colder months.
Alpine Villages to Visit Near Schilthorn
The area around Schilthorn is home to several charming Alpine villages, most of which you will pass through on your way to the summit.
Stechelberg
Stechelberg is a tiny village best known for the Sefinefall waterfall. But that’s it for the attractions in the village – other than a few parking lots and the Stechelberg LSMS station, there’s really nothing else in the village.
Gimmelwald
Gimmelwald is the first stop if you’re heading to Schilthorn via Stechelberg. There are walking paths through the village, and you can already start to enjoy the panoramic views because Gimmelwald is high up on the mountain. Also, Gimmelwald is home to The Honesty Shop, which is the first unattended vintage shop in Europe.
You’ll find all sorts of local crafts here, and if you want to buy something, you just need to put the correct amount of money in an envelope. It’s a great place to pick up some souvenirs, and it feels good to justify the trust of the shopowners.
Murren
Murren is a lovely little car-free village popular year-round. It gets very busy in the summer with hikers who come from all over the world to explore the hiking trails in the Bernese Oberland. And in the winter, Murren hosts all those who want to ski in the Bernese Oberland, but don’t want to stay in Grindelwald.
Allmendhubel
The Allmendhubel Hill is worth a quick visit if you’re in the area in the spring or summer, but not so much in the winter. The main reason to visit Allmendhubel are Alpine flowers, which you can explore when hiking the Flower Trail.
Birg
Birg is that middle station between Murren and Schilthorn, and it’s worth it to get out of the cable car here and explore the area for a little while. The station features observation decks with stunning views of the Alps, and it’s popular for skiing in the winter.
Where to Eat
Piz Gloria
The revolving restaurant at Piz Gloria is the only restaurant atop Piz Gloria. It boasts panoramic windows throughout the entire place, so you can enjoy a spectacular view of the Swiss Alps along with every meal.
The menu at the restaurant is tourist-oriented with sandwiches, salads, and various Bond-inspired dishes. The 007 Burger is probably the most popular dish at Piz Gloria, closely followed by the 007 Spaghetti.
The restaurant is pricey but the food is good and the portions are generous. Also, you don’t have any other options if you get hungry after you’ve gotten out of the cable car at Piz Gloria.
Bistro Birg
Bistro Birg is at the Birg gondola lift station, halfway between Murren and Piz Gloria. It’s a classic Swiss bistro with mostly local dishes including Rosti, sausage, and grilled cheese sandwiches, but also other bistro staples like pasta, fried chicken, and french fries.
The restaurant is most popular for its vast outdoor terrace that offers sprawling views of the surrounding peaks. The views are so wonderful that you’ll want to sit down for a cup of coffee at the very least.
Panorama Restaurant Allmendhubel
If you wind up visiting Flower Park at Restaurant Allmendhubel, the Restaurant Allmendhubel will be the only place where you can get something to eat or drink. It’s a Swiss restaurant with classics like sausage and Rosti on the menu, but also other popular dishes like pasta, wraps, and salads.
One thing I really like about this restaurant is that they provide several vegan and vegetarian options that aren’t just french fries. You can have a proper meal without dairy or meat, and it’s great if you’re looking for vegan-friendly places to eat near Schilthorn.
Where to Stay Near Schilthorn
If you want to spend a few days in the area near Schilthorn, look for accommodation at either Murren or Gimmelwald. These two towns make the most sense because they offer direct access to the summit, plus they actually have a few other things to keep you busy, unlike Stechelberg or Birg. Let’s start with hotels in Murren, since is the bigger of the two villages.
The best hotel in Murren for Schilthorn visits is the three-star Hotel Alpenruh. It’s the closest one to the cable car station, and nightly rates are 170-250 CHF. Hotels Blumental and Jungfrau are in the central village area, with average nightly rates of 200 CHF for a double room. Hotels Eiger and Edelweiss Superior are a little pricier, but with larger rooms that go for 350-450 per night.
Gimmelwald has fewer accommodation options, but they’re cheaper than in Murren. There’s Mountain Hostel Gimmelwald where you can get a bed in a dormitory for approximately 45 CHF, or a private room for 135 CHF. The other options are mostly bed & breakfast places – Esther’s Guesthouse, Chalet Anneli, and Olle & Maria’s Bed and Breakfast.
What to Pack
It’s cold at Schilthorn throughout the year and you will need hiking boots and a warm jacket even if you’re visiting the mountain in the summer. I would recommend wearing layers so that you can make yourself more comfortable inside the restaurant and Spy World, which are much warmer than the outdoor terraces.
The weather can change quickly atop the mountain, and at one moment it can be a pleasant summer day, and the next you’re running inside the restaurant to seek shelter from the wind.
Also, it won’t be that cold during your entire journey. A jacket that might just succeed at keeping you warm at the top of Schilthorn will be way too warm for Lauterbrunnen and Murren, which is precisely why layers are your best friend.
Finally, don’t forget to bring sunscreen. The sun is much more intense in the mountains and the UV index can be decevingly high when you’re 2,500+ meters above sea level. This is especially important if you plan to do a lot of hiking or skiing since most trails are on exposed terrain.
Time Needed to Spend
A trip to Schilthorn is usually just a one-day excursion. You don’t need more than a day to travel to the famous summit and see all of the famous landmarks and attractions it has.
However, if you’re interested in exploring more of the Bernese Oberland and you’re considering also spending some time in Murren, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, or even Interlaken, feel free to extend your trip.
You could easily spend a week exploring this region of Switzerland, and you still wouldn’t even see half of it. So, if you’re wondering how much time you need for Schilthorn, the answer is one day. But if you’re wondering how much time you need for the Bernese Oberland, the answer is anywhere from a couple of days, to a couple of weeks.
How to Get to Schilthorn
Schilthorn is not the easiest mountain to reach – if it were, do you think that Blofeld would have set up his lair at the summit? You don’t have to be James Bond to get to the summit, so here’s how you can travel to the Swiss mountain!
Via Grütschalp
The first stop on your way to Schilthorn is Interlaken. The city has the most train connections to other destinations in Switzerland, so if you’re planning to travel from Zurich, Geneva, Lucerne, St. Gallen, Bern, Basel, or any other bigger city in Switzerland, you can probably get a direct train to Interlaken.
From there, you head on to Lauterbrunnen, the village named after the valley. Check out the Staubbach waterfall since you’re already there, and head to the train station in Lauterbrunnen, where you can catch a cable car to Grütschalp for just 9.40 CHF (one-way ticket).
At Grütschalp you can board a train to Murren. It’s one of the shortest railways in Switzerland; the ticket is just 3.8 CHF and the ride is only 14 minutes long. Finally, at Murren, you can board the cable car to the final destination atop Schilthorn.
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Via Stechelberg
If you don’t want to ride the mountain trains and gondolas at Lauterbrunnen and Grutschalp, consider traveling to Stechelberg. It’s just 12 minutes by bus from Lauterbrunnen, and the full ticket price is just 4.4 CHF, you can get all sorts of discounts with various travel passes for Switzerland.
At Stechelberg, you can ride a cable car to Gimmelwald and then Murren. The ride is just 10 minutes long, and the ticket price is 11.2 CHF, without any discounts (which are applicable).
It’s also possible to purchase tickets from Stechelberg all the way to Schilthorn – it’s the best option if you’re already heading to Piz Gloria since you won’t have to worry about individual tickets at every different station, which there are a lot of. Instead, you pay once, and your journey from Stechelberg – Gimmelwald – Murred – Birg – Schlthorn is covered.
A full-price ticket for the Stechelberg – Schilthorn return journey is 108 CHF (for adults), and multiple discounts can be applied to the price.
Cable Car from Murren to Schilthorn
There’s only one way to travel to the summit at the top of Schilthorn, and that’s via a cable car. The bottom station of the cable car is at Murren, and there’s another station at Birg in between the village and the mountain summit. The gondola operates year-round and is closed only for maintenance or in severe weather.
The cable cars run from 5:55 AM until 22:55 PM. There’s a cable car every 30 minutes from 05:55 AM to 19:55 PM, and after that, there’s one per hour until 22:55 PM. A return trip from Murren to Schilthorn costs 85.60 CHF, and it’s possible to get various discounts on the ticket price.
One very important thing to note is that it won’t be possible to visit Schilthorn from 14.10.2024 until 15.03.2025. A reconstruction of the Birg – Schilthorn cableway is planned for this period, and it’s possible that ticket prices will change after the opening of the new Funifor cableway, which is supposed to operate 365 days a year.
Map of Schilthorn Attractions and More
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Schilthorn famous for?
Schilthorn is most famous for Piz Gloria, the iconic summit that can only be reached by a cable car. Piz Gloria was prominently featured in the 1969 James Bond movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, and it was because of the movie production that the construction of the cable car was finally completed.
Is Schilthorn worth visiting?
Schilthorn is worth visiting if you enjoy spending time outdoors and exploring. The mountain – and the region that surrounds it – features stunning landscapes and impressive natural landmarks, with countless hiking trails to discover the region.
What city is Schilthorn in?
Schilthorn is not part of any city and the closest administrative unit to the mountain is the village of Mürren. Interlaken is the closest town to the summit, while the closest city (by definition) is Lucerne.
How long does it take to get up to Schilthorn?
It takes approximately 17 minutes to get up to Schilthorn from Murren. The cable car ride from Birg (middle station) is just four minutes long.
Which is better: Schilthorn or Jungfraujoch?
Schilthorn is better for the views, but Jungfraujoch offers more things to do in the area. Jungfraujoch is also a bit easier to reach thanks to more public transport options, whereas Schilthorn only has one cable car.
