Wengen Switzerland, is perched on a wind-protected sun terrace 400 meters above Lauterbrunnen Valley. It is in the Bernese Highlands (Bernese Oberland region), around 1,274 meters above sea level. Wengen can be found at the foot of the famous 4,158-meter-high Jungfrau mountain. This article discusses all the reasons why you should visit Wengen, Switzerland.
Overview: Wengen, Switzerland
The first writers and poets wrote about Wengen in the 1800s, but it wasn’t until hotels and trains were introduced that tourism really took off. Since 2001, UNESCO has established the entire region, alongside the Aletsch Glacier, as a World Heritage Site.
Wengen is a delightful place to visit, and you might even decide to stay for a couple of days. This sunny place opens widely toward the southwest. Therefore, it enjoys above-average hours of sunshine compared to other places in Lauterbrunnen Valley.
Wengen, Switzerland, is a captivating mountain village nestled in the heart of the Bernese Oberland. With its car-free streets, breathtaking landscapes, and a myriad of outdoor activities, Wengen is a true haven for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike.
It is absolutely worth visiting Wengen, and here are 8 reasons why.
Reason #1: Wengen is a Car-Free Village
The mountain village of Wengen is car-free. It has been car-free since 1893. The only way to reach it is by train or by hiking trails. You can get to Wengen by train from Bern, Basel, Zurich, and Geneva via Interlaken Ost and Lauterbrunnen.
By car, stay on the highway to Interlaken and take the exit Wilderswil off the highway before proceeding to Lauterbrunnen. There’s a parking garage in Lauterbrunnen where you can park your car. You can reserve this parking space online for a minimum of 3 days during the summer. Park your car and take the next train out of Lauterbrunnen for Wengen.
The train ride from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen is beautiful. After arriving in Wengen, you will need to walk with your belongings to your hotel. Most hotels and apartments are within walking distance of the train station. However, if you will need help with your luggage, you can ask your hotel directly.
As soon as you are settled in your accommodation, getting around in Wengen is a pleasure. You can stroll the village at ease without having to worry about cars because there are none around. Some people also ride bikes and that is allowed. However, they are few and far between.
Wengen is a really charming place to stay, and it’s really nice to be car-free. You can also read about other car-free villages in Switzerland in the following articles:
Reason #2: Wengen Is as Picturesque as a Mountain Village Can Be
In Wengen, you’ll still find a lot of nostalgic log houses and holiday chalets. Hotels from the Belle Époque period still remain. The hotels remain in the same style. Even though they are constantly renovated, the look and feel of them are still the same. All in all, this idyllic mountain resort in the Bernese Oberland retains all the character that one would expect from a picture-postcard village.
In addition, even if new houses are built in Wengen, they adhere to the look of the region. Not all popular mountain resorts fit this description. St. Moritz and Zermatt, for example, are also extremely beautiful and worth visiting. But they don’t have the traditional appearance of Wengen. St. Moritz, for instance, has palace-like hotels. And in Zermatt, you will find a mixture of traditional wooden chalets and modern-looking hotels, especially if you venture outside the main street.
TIP: If you are staying for a couple of days in the Jungfrau Region, consider buying an unlimited transportation ticket so you can travel by train, boat, bus, gondola, and gondola on all the valid routes. You can get your ticket from GetYourGuide here – Jungfrau Travel Pass: Unlimited Transportation Ticket. The ticket covers Interlaken Ost, Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, Kleine Scheidegg, Grütschalp, Winteregg, and Mürren. Jungfraujoch tickets aren’t included, but you can get them at a special price.
Reason #3: Fantastic views of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau
Trains run up the mountain from Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg, Eiger Glacier (Eigergletscher), and Jungfraujoch. Also available from Wengen is the cable car ride to Männlichen. This will allow you to see even more of the majestic mountains Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.
Visiting Kleine Scheidegg
From Kleine Scheidegg, you may even be able to see climbers on the spectacular and challenging Eiger North Face. The north face has been associated with many fatalities in the past. Yet climbers find it extremely fascinating, and there will never be a shortage of people who want to test their skills on this mountain.
Visiting Eiger Glacier and Jungfraujoch
From Kleine Scheidegg, you can change trains to reach either Eiger Glacier and/or Jungfraujoch, the highest point in Europe.
If you would like to learn more about Jungfraujoch, check out our articles below:
Reason #4: Wengen Is an Ideal Location for Trips within Bernese Oberland
As a starting point for exploring the Bernese Oberland, Wengen is a fantastic destination. Lauterbrunnen and Interlaken are also excellent locations. Wengen is, however, a better choice than Interlaken, if you want more mountain scenery. Interlaken is a better option if you also want to explore the lakes of Thun and Brienz.
Nearby excursions and activities to Wengen include the following:
- Trümmelbach Falls
- Grindelwald First (including Grindelwald First Cliff Walk)
- Pfingstegg
- Männlichen
- Kleine Scheideg
- Schynige Platte
- Harder Kulm
- St. Beatus Caves
- Ballenberg Museum
- Aare Gorge
- Lauterbrunnen Valley Museum
Here are some estimates of how far Wengen is from certain places in Bernese Oberland:
| Destinations Near Wengen | Estimated Travel Time |
|---|---|
| Wengen to Lauterbrunnen | 13 minutes |
| Wengen to Männlichen | 16 minutes |
| Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg | 22 minutes |
| Wengen to Interlaken Ost | 44 minutes |
| Wengen to Mürren | 45 minutes |
| Wengen to Eiger Glacier | 46 minutes |
| Wengen to Gimmelwald (Schilthornbahn) | 46 minutes |
| Wengen to Grindelwald | 54 minutes |
| Wengen to Schilthorn | 1 hour 14 minutes |
| Wengen to Jungfraujoch | 1 hour 25 minutes |
Reason #5: Wengen Has Good Hotels, Restaurants, and Shops
Despite being a mountain village, Wengen has an excellent tourist infrastructure. Specifically, I mean the trains arrive and depart on time, they have sufficient lodging and dining options, and they provide a wide range of activities for their guests.
If you wish to stay in Wengen, I would recommend the following hotels:
- Beausite Park Hotel, Wengen (4-star) – Beausite Park Hotel is located at the base of the Wengen-Männlichen cable car, making it easy to reach the Grindelwald and Kleine Scheidegg ski slopes. This hotel offers superb views, fine cuisine, top-rated spa facilities, a children’s playground, a natural swimming pond, and free WiFi.
- Hotel Maya Caprice (4-star) – In the heart of the car-free village of Wengen, this top-rated hotel is near the Wengen-Männlichen cable car and Wengen train station. Featuring natural wooden decor, balconies overlooking the Jungfrau massif, spacious refurbished rooms, a comfortable spa, and a fitness center, guests are sure to enjoy their stay here.
- Alpine Hotel Wengen (4-star) – Across from the Männlichen Cable Car is the Alpine Hotel Wengen. The hotel offers a garden, trampoline, indoor pool, sauna, and lounge bar, making it one of the best places to stay in the car-free village of Wengen.
- Hotel Schönegg (3-star superior) – Featuring an award-winning restaurant and beautifully renovated rooms, it has great mountain views, a sauna, and incredibly friendly staff.
- Arenas Resort Victoria-Lauberhorn (3-star) – Built back in 1897, Arenas Resort Victoria-Lauberhorn offers up-to-date spa facilities including a swimming pool. The hotel is located near the train and cable car stations of the car-free Wengen.
You can find more hotels and apartments in Wengen via booking.com.
Reason #6: Wengen has 110 Kilometers of Pistes in Winter
Wengen is an ideal starting point for the family-friendly ski region of Kleine Scheidegg–Männlichen, which features 110 km of pistes, mostly easy to medium-difficult. The Lauberhorn piste is its ultimate highlight.
The neighboring ski areas of the Jungfrau region are also within reach, including Grindelwald-First and Mürren-Schilthorn.
Besides the clean air and the long hours of sunshine, Wengen also has 50 km of winter hiking trails and toboggan runs that may appeal to non-skiers.
Reason #7: Wengen has Access to 500 KM of Hiking Trails in the Summer
The Jungfrau region offers over 500 km of marked walking paths and 15 mountain cable cars that provide perfect vantage points. For instance, take a trip between Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg for an amazing view of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.
The moderately challenging Eiger Trail path at the foot of the north face offers breathtaking views. Further trails are located at the top, including the family-friendly Kleine Scheidegg Panorama Trail, which offers sweeping views of the surrounding mountains while winding along flat trails.
Head to Wengenalp for a view of the valley, or hike up to Männlichen for a peaceful walk. Hiking up to Männlichen is peaceful because many choose to go by cable car.
Families with younger children may opt to do the Lieselotteweg Trail from Männlichen to Holenstein.
Reason #8: Wengen is Beautiful All-Year Round
Wengen is an all-year-round resort. The place can be visited in the summer or the winter, depending on your preferences.
Your host should be able to give you a guest card that gets you discounts on various places in Wengen if you are staying overnight or longer. The Wengen Guest Card offers the following discounts in summer and winter:
- Discounts in summer: Wengen tennis courts, 18-hole mini-golf park, Wengen-Männlichen aerial cableways, Schwinge Platte, Trümmelbach Falls, Lauterbrunnen Valley Museum (free), Pocket Wifi Router
- Discounts in winter: Figeler ski facilities (free), Wengen Ice Rink, Wengen-Männlichen cableway regular ticket, Pocket Wifi Router
Visiting Wengen in the Summer
You should visit between June and October if you wish to visit in the summer. In most parts of Switzerland, July and August are summer holidays. There will be more people then. It’s best to come before July or after August so that you won’t have to compete with all the people doing their summer holidays then.
Visiting Wengen in Winter
January is a great time for those who want to come in Winter. In mid-January, the annual ski racing event (downhill, slalom, combination) takes place. Otherwise, you’ll have good skiing conditions between January and February. It’s the peak month for skiers in Switzerland in February, so just keep that in mind. To experience the best snow conditions with the fewest crowds, I would recommend visiting from mid-January after the ski races to the end of January.
Final Thoughts: Wengen Switzerland
Wengen, Switzerland, stands out as a remarkable destination that encapsulates the true essence of an alpine paradise.
Its car-free village setting creates a peaceful atmosphere, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in the natural beauty that surrounds them. The village’s picturesque charm, with its quaint chalets and traditional Swiss architecture, transports you to a fairytale-like setting. Moreover, the breathtaking views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau mountains serve as a constant reminder of the majestic wonders that await exploration.
Beyond its intrinsic beauty, Wengen offers a strategic location for venturing into the Bernese Oberland region. Whether you’re embarking on a journey to the renowned Jungfraujoch or exploring the enchanting Lauterbrunnen Valley, Wengen serves as an ideal base for discovering the region’s captivating destinations.
Travelers will find comfort in Wengen’s excellent accommodations, charming restaurants, and delightful shops. From the blooming flowers of spring to the vibrant landscapes of summer, the enchanting colors of autumn, and the snowy wonderland of winter, Wengen promises a mesmerizing experience in every season. I have been to Wengen several times and can highly recommend that you go there!
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Related Posts: Wengen
- Zurich to Wengen Train: All You Need To Know
- Geneva to Wengen Train: All You Need To Know
- How to Get From Interlaken to Wengen
- Wengen or Mürren: Which is the Better Base?
- Breathtaking Views in Männlichen, Switzerland
- 10 Best Day Trips from Wengen
- How to Get From Wengen to Grindelwald
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- Top 10 Car-Free Ski Resorts in the Swiss Alps
- Where Is Eiger Express? Here Is an Overview
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Darla Uhl is the owner of TouringSwitzerland.com. Her home is in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. Having lived almost 20 years in Switzerland, she's traveled extensively all over the country.
Darla's favorite regions to visit in Switzerland include Engadin, Lake Geneva, Bernese Oberland, Ticino, and Valais. She loves spending time with her family, hiking, visiting museums, and reading books.