Schilthorn is one of the highest peaks in the Jungfrau region and it is one of the best places to go for panoramic views of the Swiss Alps. While you are here, enjoy the view as you dine at Piz Gloria, learn a little James Bond history at Bond World, and add on the thrilling Cliff Walk in Birg.
This entire experience takes a half day, so you will still have plenty of time afterwards to explore Mürren, Gimmelwald, or another one of the area’s picturesque alpine villages.
In this article, learn how to get to Schilthorn and Birg, how much it will cost, with tips on to have the best experience. Plus, get suggestions on activities to do in and around Mürren and Gimmelwald after your visit to Schilthorn.
I do my best to keep the hours of operation and pricing up to date, however, these can change at any time. I recommend getting updated hours and pricing for your dates of travel. The link to the official website is provided when necessary.
Facts About Schilthorn
At 2,970 meters (9,744 feet), Schilthorn is one of the tallest mountains in the Bernese Alps. From the peak, you can see Jungfrau, Mönch, and Eiger, as well as Titlis, Mont Blanc, and even the Vosges Mountains in France (on a clear day).
In 1969, Schilthorn was featured in the James Bond movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. While you are here, visit Bond World and dine in the same restaurant feature in the movie (Piz Gloria).
How to Get to Schilthorn
There are two ways to get to Schilthorn: on the cable car and on your own two feet.
Yes, you can hike all of the way up to the peak of Schilthorn. It’s a beast of a hike, but you’ll have bragging rights once you get to the top, since you did just hike up one of the tallest mountains in the region. However, the majority of people take the cable car, so let’s start with that first.
Cable Car to Schilthorn
The cable car starts in Stechelberg and ends at Schilthorn. Here is the order of the towns and stations from start to finish:
Stechelberg – Gimmelwald – Mürren – Birg – Schilthorn
You can get on at any of these locations and ride the cable car the remaining way to the top.
Cable cars leave every 30 minutes, starting around 7:30 am in Stechelberg. The final departure from Stechelberg is at 3:55 pm. The last cable car down from Schilthorn is at 4:25 pm. Here is the link to the timetable for updated hours.
Here is a map of Schilthorn, Birg, Mürren, Gimmelwald, and the Lauterbrunnen Valley, with the cable cars from Stechelberg to Schilthorn.
Listed below are the routes to Schilthorn from the top destinations in the Bernese Oberland. Simply find your starting town and follow the suggestions on how to get to Schilthorn.
Mürren
Get on the cable car at Mürren. It takes 17 minutes to get to Schilthorn, with a quick transfer in Birg.
Total Time: 17 minutes
Cost: 85.60 CHF round trip
PRO TRAVEL TIP: When you arrive by cable car into a station, the next cable car will also be arriving at the same time. You will not have to wait to get onto the next cable car, unless there is a very long line.
Gimmelwald
Take the cable car to Mürren (5 minutes), transfer to the cable car to Birg, then transfer to the final cable car to Schilthorn.
Total Time: 27 minutes
Cost: CHF 85.60
Stechelberg
From Stechelberg, you will ride 4 cable cars to get to Schilthorn. Take the cable car to Gimmelwald (5 minutes), transfer to the cable car to Mürren, transfer to the cable car to Birg, and finally, take the cable car to Schilthorn.
Total Time: 32 minutes
Cost: CHF 108 round trip
Lauterbrunnen
There are two ways to get to Schilthorn from Lauterbrunnen: via Grutschalp or via Stechelberg.
Via Grutschalp
Ride the cable car to Grutschalp. In Grutschalp, take the train to Mürren. It takes 23 minutes total to get to Mürren from Lauterbrunnen. Tickets are CHF 22.40 round trip.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: Sit on the left side of the train for the best views.
Once in Mürren, it is a 10-minute walk to the cable car station. From Mürren, take the cable car to Birg and then continue on to Schilthorn.
Total Time: 50 minutes plus additional time waiting for the cable car in Mürren
Cost: CHF 108 round trip
Via Stechelberg
From Lauterbrunnen, ride bus 141 to Stechelberg. It takes 18 minutes to get to Stechelberg by bus and costs roughly CHF 3.
Once in Stechelberg, ride the series of cable cars to Schilthorn.
Total Time: 50 minutes, plus additional time waiting for the cable car in Stechelberg.
Cost: CHF 111
RECOMMENDED ROUTE: From Lauterbrunnen, make this a loop by traveling up to Schilthorn via Grutschalp and return to Lauterbrunnen via Stechelberg. Round trip tickets for this route cost CHF 108.
Interlaken
From Interlaken, you will take the train to Lauterbrunnen and then follow the route listed above.
From Interlaken, it is a 20-minute train ride to Lauterbrunnen. Round trip tickets cost CHF 15.20.
Once in Lauterbrunnen, ride the cable car to Grutschalp, ride the train to Mürren, and then take the cable cars to Schilthorn.
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes, plus additional time waiting for the cable car in Lauterbrunnen and Mürren.
Cost: CHF 130.40 round trip
Grindelwald
From Grindelwald, ride the train to Lauterbrunnen and then follow the route listed above.
From Grindelwald, it is a 39-minute train ride to Lauterbrunnen. Round trip tickets cost CHF 18.
Total Time: 1.5 hours plus additional time waiting for the cable car in Lauterbrunnen and Mürren.
Cost: CHF 126
Wengen
From Wengen, ride the train to Lauterbrunnen and then follow the route listed above for Lauterbrunnen.
From Wengen, it is a 17-minute train ride to Lauterbrunnen. Round trip tickets cost CHF 13.60.
Total Time: 1 hour 7 minutes, plus additional time waiting for the cable car in Lauterbrunnen and Mürren.
Cost: CHF 121.60
A view of the cable car, taken from the Birg Thrill Walk.
Discount with the Swiss Travel Pass
Until December 31, 2019, the entire round-trip route from Mürren and Stechelberg to Schilthorn was free with the Swiss Travel Pass. Beginning January 1, 2020, the Swiss Travel Pass will only give you a 50% discount on ticket prices.
Do You Need to Purchase Your Tickets in Advance?
No. We did this in mid-July and had no issues getting on the cable cars. They are first come, first serve, so if you get there and there is a line, you will simply have to wait your turn.
It’s important to know that midday, lines can be long, so you could have a wait of 30 to 60 minutes, or possibly even longer.
Schilthorn Boarding Pass
If your schedule is such that you will be visiting Schilthorn midday, you can purchase a Boarding Pass. This pass gives you a guaranteed departure time. It costs an additional CHF 5. Purchase the Boarding Pass online on the Schilthorn website or at the Schilthorn cableway counters.
If you Have a Car
If you are touring Switzerland by car, the best place to park is at the large parking lot in Stechelberg. From here, ride the series of cable cars to Schilthorn. Click here for parking prices.
Useful Links
- Here is the link for the official website for Schilthorn.
- Get updated ticket prices here.
- Check the timetable on the official Schilthorn website.
- If you are traveling from Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken, Grindelwald, or Wengen, you can also check train times and get updated pricing on the Jungfrau website.
The Schilthorn viewing platform first thing in the morning | How to Visit Schilthorn and Birg
Hiking to Schilthorn
It is a tough, challenging hike up to Schilthorn. From Mürren, it is 13 km one way with 1700 meters of elevation gain. But the views along the way are unbelievable. Plus, it’s free, since you don’t have to pay to ride the cable car.
If you don’t like the idea of hiking up a massive mountain, you also have the option to hike down to Mürren from Schilthorn. It’s a steep, downhill walk so it will be very hard on your knees.
A third but shorter option is to ride the cable car from Schilthorn to Birg, and then hike down from Birg.
Things to Do on Schilthorn
So, now that you are here, what do you do?
Dine at Restaurant Piz Gloria
Restaurant Piz Gloria is the revolving restaurant that was featured in the James Bond movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. It takes 45 minutes for the restaurant to do one complete revolution, and during this time, you get to enjoy the view as over 200 mountain peaks slowly drift by outside your window.
Piz Gloria | How to Visit Schilthorn and Birg
Brunch is served daily until 2 pm and the food is very good. It costs CHF 35 for adults and CHF 20 for children 6 to 15 years of age.
If you don’t want a full brunch, you can also order off of the a la carte menu.
We rode the first cable car of the day from Mürren to Schilthorn to get a head start on the crowds. During the hour we spent at the restaurant, we almost had the entire place to ourselves. Schilthorn just doesn’t seem to get the same number of tourists as Jungfraujoch, which might be one of the reasons we enjoyed Schilthorn more.
Sitting at our table, enjoying the spectacular views, and having a leisurely brunch, was so much fun. You don’t have to start quite as early as we did, but I think that a 9 am arrival would be perfect to have a quiet brunch and explore Bond World and the viewpoints before the crowds arrive.
Skyline View Platform
From the viewing platform, enjoy the jaw-dropping views of the Alps. From the viewing platform, there is a lower trail, called the 007 Walk of Fame, where you can read about the actors and actresses who starred in the film as well as enjoy more of those stunning views of the Alps.
View from Schilthorn | How to Visit Schilthorn and Birg
Bond World
In Bond World, get insights on the filming of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, see posters and memorabilia from other James Bond movies, and kids (and kids at heart) will love the interactive props and stunt displays.
Go to the Bathroom
Sounds like a strange recommendation, but trust me on this one. I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but these just might be the most memorable toilets in Switzerland.
Bond Cinema
This theater plays the most popular scenes from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Touch the Snow
New in 2020, visitors get access to the snowy slopes of Schilthorn. Similar to Jungfraujoch, you will now get to play in the snow year-round, even during the summer months.
How Long Does a Visit to Schilthorn last?
If you have brunch, visit Bond World and the cinema, and enjoy the views from the viewing platform, a visit here typically lasts 3 hours.
Birg Thrill Walk
Birg is the location of the cable car station between Mürren and Schilthorn. A visit here is quick and absolutely worth it. You can visit Birg before or after your visit to Piz Gloria. It is included in the ticket price to Schilthorn.
The main thing to do here is to walk the Birg Thrill Walk. A 200-meter metal and glass pathway clings to the cliffs at Birg. You can walk on a tightrope, stand on a glass floor, or climb through a metal mesh tube. The views are truly spectacular. You are now looking out over Mürren and the mighty mountains of Jungfrau, Mönch, and Eiger.
View from Birg | How to Visit Schilthorn and Birg
Birg Thrill Walk | How to Visit Schilthorn and Birg
While at Birg, you can also take in the view from the Skyline Walk or grab a bite to eat at Bistro Birg.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: Cable cars leave every 30 minutes, which gives you just enough time to enjoy the view from the Skyline Walk and walk the Thrill Walk. If you move fast, you can do both of these and get back in line for the very next cable car.
Tips to Have the Best Experience
Schilthorn and Birg are open year-round, except for brief periods in spring and autumn when the cable car closes for maintenance work. Check the timetable or the official Schilthorn website for details.
To avoid lines for the cable cars and for brunch at Piz Gloria, go early in the morning. Ideally, try to arrive to Piz Gloria by 9 am to avoid the crowds.
If you will be here after 9 am, consider purchasing the Boarding Pass and booking your table in advance for Piz Gloria.
Check weather conditions before you go. It is best to visit Schilthorn on a clear day so you can enjoy the view. You can also get a real time view from the webcam.
Schilthorn is one of two alpine destinations that you can visit in the Jungfrau region. Even more popular is Jungfraujoch, which is located on the opposite side of the valley. If you can only visit one, which one is better…Schilthorn or Jungfraujoch? Get the full details here.
What to Do Next
If you visit Schilthorn in the morning, you will have the entire afternoon for another great activity. Here are some ideas for you.
Mürren Via Ferrata
The Mürren via ferrata is a 2.2 km journey, part via ferrata and part hiking trail. You’ll cling to a cliff, climb down steep ladders, walk on a tightrope and a suspension bridge, and (with a guide) zip line across a ravine.
LEARN MORE: How to Hike the Mürren Via Ferrata
Northface Trail from Mürren
This trail has a little bit of everything…spectacular mountain views, small hamlets and chalets tucked away amidst the mountains, farms, flower-filled alpine meadows, and pastures filled with cows and their musical bells.
If you are looking for a walk to do with kids, this is a great one to consider. The views change frequently and with a chance to get up close with cows and goats, this trail is good at keeping kids entertained.
The Northface trail is 7.4 km long and it takes about two and a half hours to hike the entire loop.
LEARN MORE: Walking the Northface Trail in Mürren
Lauterbrunnen Valley and Trummelbach Falls
Ride the cable car down to Stechelberg. From Stechelberg, walk along the valley floor of Lauterbrunnen, visiting waterfalls along the way. It’s a flat, easy walk and if you ever get tired, just hop on bus 141 for the rest of the way.
Trummelbach Falls is not to be missed. Glacier melt from Mönch, Eiger, and Jungfrau drain into a cavern, forming a series of waterfalls located entirely within a mountain.
Ride the Allmendhubel Funicular
The Allmendhubel funicular starts in Mürren and ascends 500 meters up to a picturesque hamlet above Mürren. Once in Allmendhubel, you have gorgeous views over Mürren and the Swiss Alps.
There is a restaurant here as well as a playground for kids, so this makes a great spot to visit if you are traveling as a family.
The views are nice, but won’t quite compare to what you just saw at Birg and Schilthorn. However, it’s a great activity for families.
For more recommendations on where to stay, read our guide to Where to Stay in the Jungfrau Region. Learn where to stay for great views of the Swiss Alps and get recommendations whether you are looking for a budget hotel, luxury hotel, or if you are traveling as a family.
If you have any questions about visiting Schilthorn and Birg, let us know in the comment section below.
More Places to Go in Switzerland:
JUNGFRAU REGION: If you are planning a trip to the Jungfrau region, check out our Guide to the Jungfrau Region, which includes maps and important travel planning information. We also have a separate article about the best things to do in the Jungfrau region. Get more information on where to stay in the Jungfrau region and how to add on the thrilling Mürren Via Ferrata to your visit.
JUNGFRAUJOCH: Jungfraujoch is one of the top experiences in Switzerland. Learn more in our article about How to Visit Jungfraujoch. For an epic day in the Jungfrau region, learn how to combine Jungfraujoch with the Eiger Trail.
ZERMATT: In Zermatt, don’t miss the hike from Gornergrat to Riffelberg. For more ideas on what to do, read our article Best Things to Do in Zermatt. For more alpine views, learn how to visit Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (and find out if it is worth it).
LUCERNE: Learn how to spend one perfect day in Lucerne with a trip to Mt. Pilatus.
LUGANO: Lugano is located in southern Switzerland. This city is another great place to stay for day trips in Switzerland and you can easily day trip to Lake Como and Bellagio.
SWITZERLAND ITINERARY: If your visit to the Jungfrau region is part of a bigger trip to Switzerland, check out our Switzerland Itinerary, which has suggestions on what to do if you have 7 days, 14 days, or even longer.
ZÜRICH: For things to do on a quick visit, check out our article One Day in Zürich.
Read all of our articles about Switzerland in our Switzerland Travel Guide.
All rights reserved © Earth Trekkers. Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, etc.), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited.
Comments 17
We will be traveling mid april to this region. I know that cable cars in the Grindewald region will be closed for repairs from April 15-30tth. Will the cable cars going to Schilthorn be open at this time? Do they close at all in April?
Are there better places to visit when traveling thru switzerland during the shoulder season? Thanks
Author
The Schilthorn cable car might be closed while you are there. I just looked on the official website and they don’t have a 2023 timetable yet. However, in 2022, the Schilthorn cable car was closed April 25 to 29. I assume that there will be a closure this year around the same time. I got my info from this timetable. Jungfraujoch may be open during your visit so you could still see that area. Lucerne and Zurich are very nice and you could look into riding the cable cars to Mt. Pilatus and/or Titlis. Another option would be Lugano with a day trip to Lake Como. One more option would be to ride the Bernina Express, which is one of the most beautiful train rides in the world and in April the landscapes could still be snow covered. So, lots of options. Cheers, Julie
Hi,
Just a quick question. Is there another way to enjoy the views at the Birg without going through the Birg Thrill Walk? I’m just so scared to do this.
Thank you so much.
Maria
Author
Yes, there are viewpoints right from the cable car station so you do not have to do the Birg Thrill Walk. The views will be a little different but they are still great. Cheers, Julie
Hi Julie,
Thank you so much for the prompt reply.
Best,
Maria
Hi we are going in August and have to catch a plane leaving Zurich in the afternoon. We have friends staying the night in Murren and coming down the next day. We have the option of staying the night with them and leaving the next morning (the morning our flight leaves). I’m wondering what’s the earliest I can get on a cable car heading down from Murren to Lauterbrunnen so that I can get on a train and head to Zurich? Also how long would it take to get from Murren to Lauterbrunnen? I’m looking to grab our train tickets from Lauterbrunnen to Zurich ahead of time and am trying to gauge how early I can get out in the morning or if I need to leave the night before.
I saw the link to the timetable but it was confusing to me and I couldn’t quite understand the timeline.
This article has great information, thanks for sharing.
Author
Yes, the timelines are confusing, especially with all the interconnecting trains and cable cars. Looking at the timetable that this article links to (the section Lauterbrunnen – Murren) the first train leaves Murren at 6:06 am. It will run to Grutschalp and then you will take the cable car to Lauterbrunnen, getting in at 6:25 am. From here, you can ride the train to Interlaken, getting to Interlaken at 6:53 am. And from here, travel to Zurich. There are later trains, if these are too early. We did this exact sequence at the same time on our visit and it was great. Not so great getting up super early, but the trains and cable cars were empty, so it made traveling with our luggage a bit easier. Cheers, Julie
Thanks so much! You’ve been very helpful
Hi Julie,
Thank you so much for all the helpful tips you shared. I really enjoyed reading about your journey and I am so excited to be visiting Switzerland, Murren, Lauterbrunnen region in the Beginning of September this year. I wanted to ask you if you think it will be a wise decision for us to rent a car, despite having a stay at a hotel in Murren. We will be taking a train down from Paris to Lauterbrunnen via connecting trains from Zurich. It will be my first visit to Switzerland and I am not sure if it’s a good idea to rent a car or rely on public transportation. I have no problem of paying the parking fees. My concern is if it’s a good idea to purchase the Swiss pass or just do individual cable car tickets since they are at a %50 discount rate.
I am still trying to see what my options are, I will be there for 4 days and I will be wanting to drive around the Lauterbrunnen or even Interlaken region in that time period. I just think I should consider how those cable car tickets might add up.
I know it’s a tough decision and only mine to make , but just wanted your opinion if you would.
Thank you again as you have been a tremendous help in planning my journey.
Author
Hello Matty. For that area of Switzerland (Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, etc) the trains and cable cars are definitely the way to go. There are very few roads in that region and 90% of the time, your car will be in a parking garage. Plus, riding the trains and cable cars is all part of the experience and the views from them are incredible. Since you will be using public transportation on a daily basis for those 4 days, I think the Swiss Pass is worth it. You could add up the trains and cable cars for the activities that you plan to do and confirm that the Swiss Travel Pass offers savings (it probably does). We used the Swiss Travel Pass for our time in this part of Switzerland. I hope you have a wonderful trip to Switzerland! Cheers, Julie
WOW this article was so helpful. We depart in four days and we really only have one full day to spend on Jungfrau or Schilthorn. My daughter (14) is SET on Jungfrau so we may have no choice but the dark tunnel ride sounds very unappealing. I will definitely present these articles to her so we can decide together. I would love to hear any other suggestions about things to do while staying in Interlaken when one only has a few hours to kill. I wanted to find a walking tour of a diary or a food tour but didn’t have much luck
Thanks for such a thorough account of the area!
Jessica, Cleveland Ohio USA
Author
Hello Jessica. If you haven’t seen it yet, here is the link to our things to do in the Jungfrau region. A great thing to do in Interlaken is visit Harder Kulm, but I just checked and unfortunately it is not open in the winter. I think visiting Lauterbrunnen and Murren would be very nice. It’s easy to add on Lauterbrunnen after you visit Jungfraujoch (and Schilthorn, if you decide to do that), since you can travel through this town to get back to Interlaken. Murren is easy to visit if you choose Schilthorn, since the cable car stops in this town. If they are snow covered these small towns would be beautiful to visit. I looked too and couldn’t find much in the way of food tours in Interlaken. Have a great time in Switzerland! Cheers, Julie
Taking train to lauterbrunnen in early am should get there by 8am coming from Zurich. Reading up on some posts have me thinking I should do this If I go straight to birg and schilthorn via cable car, don’t plan on eating lunch at top(piz gloria) just want to get as much sightseeing as possible. Would want to walk around lauterbrunnen and see trummelbach falls? After birg/schilthorn, Do you think we could do this in one day? Just us 2 no small kids we will have Swiss travel pass. Your thoughts and in which order would be best.
Thank you so much
Author
Yes, you can do all of this in one day. I think that it is a good idea to go right to Schilthorn first. You will miss the big late morning/midday crowds on the cable car. There are two ways to get from Lauterbrunnen to Schilthorn which I cover in this post. I highly recommend taking a little bit of time to walk around Murren (maybe best to do this on the ride back down the mountain). It’s a cute little town with more great views of the Alps. Ride the cable car down to Stechelberg, take the bus or walk to Trummelbach Falls, and then ride the bus to Lauterbrunnen. Spend the rest of your time in Lauterbrunnen and then return to Zurich. Cheers, Julie
Super informative article, big thank you.
I have one question: you have made a point about doing the climb early to avoid crowds, but what about the return trip? When do waiting lines start to build if I climbed early but took my (long) time at Schilthorn and Brig? Do they give out numbers that allows you to ramble around while waiting, or do you need to literally stand in line all the while?
Author
If you get there early, before the crowds arrive, you should also have enough time to do everything before the cable car lines get long for the return trip to Murren/Gimmelwald. No, they don’t give out numbers. You simply stand in line and wait for the next cable car. These lines shouldn’t be too bad in the morning. It’s from 11 or 12:00 that the lines will start to get long to leave Shilthorn. Cheers, Julie
reading this blog reminds me of my country Nepal. really loved this blog the images of beautiful places and scenery.