Schynige Platte Railway, Switzerland
The Schynige Platte Railway is a scenic mountain railway that travels from Wilderswil up to the vantage point of Schynige Platte, located in the Bernese Highlands area of Switzerland. Covering just 7.3km, the route climbs to a height of 1,420 metres, offering passengers spectacular views of alpine pastures, forests and the glittering lakes Thun and Brienz.
On its way to the summit the train offers interrupted views of triple peaks Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau and the stunning wildflower gardens of the Schynige Platte. Once at the summit station it’s just a short walk to the Schynige Platte alpine botanical garden (home to 40,000 species of flora), a hotel, adventure playground and local Swiss bistro.
Prices from: CHf64
Departing from: Wilderswil, Switzerland
Journey length: 1 hour
Schynige Platte Railway route
A ride on this historical railway takes around an hour, travelling 7.3 metres from Wilderswil station to Schynige Platte station at an altitude of 1,987m. Excitement starts from the get-go as the train connects with the 1,000mm metre gauge line of the Berner Oberland-Bahn (BOB) for just over 0.5 km, before crossing the Lütschine river and starting its ascent.
The train then passes through forests and alpine pastures offering views of the Bernese Oberland and town of Interlaken on the shores of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. As the train nears the summit passengers get a panoramic view of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau to the south, before the train pulls into Schynige Platte. The train departs every 40 minutes from Wilderswil station and the last descent from Schynige Platte is at 17.53.
Schynige Platte Railway trains
With its distinctive red and yellow livery, the train pops against the snowy peaks and green meadows of the Bernese Highlands. The train itself is old school, tiny in size and evokes nostalgia, still operating with one of its original steam locomotives.
Why we love it
Everything about this rail journey is like stepping into a movie, from the panoramic scenery of snowy mountain peaks and flower-packed meadows to the tiny train with its steam locomotive and old-world carriages. Tickets on the railway can also be combined with experiences like visiting the botanical garden and enjoying afternoon tea at the Mountain Hotel.