Location: Bernese Oberland

The Thunersee between Thun and Interlaken is lined with several castles, including Oberhofen Castle right on the shore. Above the lake rises the Niesen, the striking pyramid with the longest staircase in the world. On the north shore the St. Beatus Caves lead into the mountain. Highlights Oberhofen Castle on…

The Brienzersee east of Interlaken captivates with its intense turquoise blue. On its shore the Giessbach Falls plunge into the lake over several tiers, and the historic Brienz Rothorn Railway, Switzerland's last steam cog railway, runs up. By the village of Brienz lies the Ballenberg open-air museum. Highlights Intense turquoise-blue…

First, at 2,168 m above Grindelwald, is an adventure mountain before the backdrop of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The First Cliff Walk, a walkway suspended from the rock face, and attractions such as the First Flyer and Trottibike complement classic high trails. A popular destination is the mountain lake…

The Reichenbach Falls near Meiringen drop around 250 m in several tiers. They became world-famous as the scene of the fictional fatal struggle between Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty in Conan Doyle's story. A historic funicular leads to the viewing platform. Highlights Roughly 250 m high multi-tier waterfall Sherlock Holmes…

The Schilthorn (2,970 m) carries on its summit the revolving restaurant Piz Gloria, which became world-famous through the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969). From the viewing terrace the panorama spans around 200 peaks as far as Mont Blanc and into the Black Forest. The cable car…

The Lauterbrunnen valley is a deeply cut trough valley with almost vertical rock walls, over which around 72 waterfalls plunge. The best known is the Staubbach Falls, which drops nearly 300 m freely into the depths. The valley is considered one of the most beautiful in the Alps and inspired…