The Schilthorn is one of the most famous mountain excursions in the Jungfrau Region.
But when you only have so much time and money in Switzerland, the real question isn’t “Is the Schilthorn cool?” It’s whether or not it deserves a spot on your itinerary.
So today we’re helping you decide.
And the first thing you need to know is: what is the Schithorn?
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What is the Schilthorn?
The Schilthorn towers over the Lauterbrunnen Valley, delivering jaw-dropping views of more than 200 snow-covered peaks in every direction.
Step inside Piz Gloria, the world’s first revolving mountaintop restaurant, to indulge in local Swiss dishes while gazing at the mountains outside the windows.
But the Schilthorn isn’t just about the views. James Bond On Her Majesty’s Secret Service was filmed here in 1969, and today you can feel like a spy in the interactive Bond Museum, on the Walk of Fame, and even in the bathrooms.
For more adventures, head down one station and test your fear of heights on the cliffside Birg Thrill Walk. Or spend the rest of your day wandering through the car-free alpine villages of Mürren and Gimmelwald with classic chalets, epic hiking trails, and neverending views.
And thanks to the brand new Schilthornbahn, you can reach all of these destinations on state-of-the-art cable cars — including the steepest cableway in the world.
You’ll love the Schilthorn if…
Now you’re probably thinking, “Okay, that looks amazing!” And we agree. We love coming to the Schilthorn and have been here at least half a dozen times.
But we live here. And can visit anytime we want. If the weather is bad, we can come back another day. If we don’t have time this week, we can visit next month. But you don’t have that luxury.
So now the question becomes: Is the Schilthorn worth adding to your itinerary?
You will love the Schilthorn if…
1 | Spectacular views are a top priority.
First, you will love the Schilthorn if your dream Swiss vacation includes standing in the middle of the Alps surrounded by snowy peaks in every direction.
The 24-minute ride to the top is panoramic in itself. And once you’ve arrived, there are also viewing terraces on every side of the building. So you can make a full circuit to absorb the landscapes in every direction. In particular, you have a front row seat to the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau — the 3 famous peaks in the region. And on a clear day you can supposedly see Mont Blanc in France too.
Naturally the revolving restaurant is a great place for this. It completes one full rotation every 45 minutes, so you can enjoy the famous Schilthorn Brunch or Piz Gloria Afternoon Platter while soaking in the vistas.
Not only can you have 360° panoramas while you eat, but then there are the View Lounges, which we sat in for like 30 minutes when we visited here on Brett’s birthday a few years ago. They’re just wooden benches in a big box to help protect against the wind. But each one faces a different direction so you can study different landscapes.
And if you get cold and need to warm up inside, the views don’t have to end. The Piz Gloria Frames are giant windows that perfectly frame the mountains beyond. This was a super smart architectural design when they recently rebuilt this station.
So if your goal is to be on a mountain in the midst of the Swiss Alps, the Schilthorn delivers.
2 | You want a high-alpine experience without hiking.
Second, you’ll love the Schilthorn if you want a high-alpine experience without hiking. This could be for anyone with limited mobility such as traveling with elderly parents or small children — including wheelchairs and strollers.
This place really makes you feel like you’re on top of the Alps — although you put in minimal effort to get here, thanks to the advanced cableways. From the terraces to the restaurant, you could easily spend a few hours up here. In fact, our 1-Week Guide to the Jungfrau Region builds about 3 hours into our itinerary for the Schilthorn and Birg Thrill Walk.
3 | You only have time for one big mountain excursion.
If you’re looking for one iconic Swiss mountain experience, the Schilthorn becomes a very compelling option.
- There’s cool transportation like the world’s steepest cableway with a 58° incline.
- And awesome viewpoints from 2970m / 9744ft high.
- There’s tasty food, like classic Swiss alpine macaroni.
- Plus it pairs perfectly with the villages of Mürren and Gimmelwald.
So you don’t have to make a special trip to the Schilthorn that compromises other sightseeing priorities.
All in all, this combo is our #1 recommendation for a can’t miss day in the Alps.
4 | You’re a James Bond fan.
Fourth, the Schilthorn is great for Bond fans.
Maybe we should have mentioned this first, since the James Bond theme is super unique and over the top — no pun intended. Shortly after the Schilthorn opened, James Bond filmed a movie here and helped put this place on the tourist map.
For a chance to fist bump James Bond, head to the outdoor Walk of Fame. This short walk has 15 info panels, each one featuring a cast member, their signature, a personal message, and their fist — waiting for you to fist bump back!
And if you like to accumulate random Jeopardy facts like me, one of these panels explains that the late Queen of England is actually a Bond Girl!
Before you head inside, snap your best selfie with Bond on the terrace. Brett always has way too much fun with this!
Next, immerse yourself in Bond’s Spy World Museum, complete with trivia, a bobsled or helicopter simulator, and loads of fun games.
And lastly, make sure to take a potty break up here. Because the Bond elements are hilarious, like James talking to you when you flush the toilet or wash your hands. They even won a World Tourism Toilet Award! But it’s kinda weird to take pictures in the bathroom so you’ll just have to take our word for it and experience for yourself when you come visit.
All in all, Bond fans won’t be disappointed.
5 | You want a little adrenaline…but not too much.
Fifth, come here if you want a little adrenaline…but not too much. This is particularly good for your wild teens who are looking for an adrenaline rush.
This adventure is at the Birg Thrill Walk, one station below. And it’s a free stop already included in your ticket on your way up or down!
Head down the steps, balance on a tightrope, walk across a glass floor, and crawl through a chain link tunnel — all attached to the side of a cliff! Truly, Bond would be so proud of you. Jana’s favorite is definitely the tunnel, but you gotta be flexible to crawl through it, haha!
If you’re not a dare devil, you can also take in the views from the giant terrace beside the station and restaurant. And if you happen to enjoy hiking, we really like the trail from Birg to the little alpine lake of Grauseeli below.
6 | You’re traveling outside peak season.
And sixth, you’ll love the Schilthorn if you’re traveling outside of peak season, especially late-April to early-May and late-October through November. That’s when a lot of mountain transport lines close for a few weeks for seasonal maintenance, and sometimes the hiking trails are also not accessible between seasons.
But the Schilthorn stays open. So if you’re visiting then and feel like there’s not much open, you can definitely enjoy the Schilthorn.
You should skip the Schilthorn if…
Now if none of those points align with you, then you should probably skip the Shilthorn.
But even if several of those points sound interesting, there are still a few situations where we might recommend skipping the Schilthorn. Because our goal is to help you travel Switzerland with confidence, and that means being honest about the downsides, too.
So here are 4 reasons to reconsider…
1 | Your budget is already stretched.
The Schilthorn is the second most expensive mountain excursion in the Jungfrau Region, right behind Jungfraujoch.
Beyond tickets, eating in the restaurant could quickly make this trip cost hundreds of Swiss francs. So if you’d rather spend your money elsewhere, that’s totally okay. And we will share some money saving tips in a moment.
2 | You’d care more about hiking than viewpoints.
Yes, you can hike to or from the Schilthorn. In fact, I have hiked up here from two different directions. But, the trails are narrow and steep, with loose rock and plenty of exposure. So don’t attempt them unless you’re a very experienced alpine hiker. Even Jana is an experienced hiker and she hasn’t hiked here.
3 | The weather is bad.
The Schilthorn is all about the views. And while weather can change quickly in the Alps, we wouldn’t go up if the forecasts and webcams are showing persistent cloud cover.
4 | You’re only going because someone else said you should.
Although there’s lots of Instagram peer pressure to see and do everything, we rarely say that something is a must-see for everyone. Instead, find the experiences that fit your travel style. And if the Schilthorn doesn’t make the cut, that’s okay!
Schilthorn Tickets, Directions, and Tips
Before you make your final decision about if you should visit the Schilthorn, here are a few practical things you should know.
1 | How much does it cost to visit the Schilthorn?
Like we just said, this is an expensive trip, with prices up to 115 CHF roundtrip for adults. But you can snag a free ticket on your actual birthday! Or you can save money with some type of transportation pass. For example, the Half Fare card and Swiss Travel Pass give a 50% discount and the ride is completely free with the Berner Oberland Pass.
And tip: if you’re traveling with the Jungfrau Travel Pass, or the Eurail/Interrail Pass, the cheapest route is to travel from Lauterbrunnen via Grütschalp, because this way up to Mürren is covered by those passes.
Use our free Swiss Train Pass Checklist to decide which train pass (or passes) are best for your itinerary in less than 5 minutes.
You can buy tickets on the SBB App, SBB website, the Schilthorn website, or one of their stations.
If you’re also planning to enjoy the brunch or afternoon platter, buy a combo ticket to save even more money. The only time this doesn’t make sense is if you’re traveling with the Berner Oberland Pass since your transportation is already covered. And the best place to buy this is directly on the Schilthorn website so you can also make a table reservation at the same time.
2 | When to visit the Schilthorn
Thankfully, the Schilthorn is usually open year round. I think we’ve visited here in every season of the year, and it’s always stunning.
The first ride up from Stechelberg is between 7 and 8:00am depending on the time of year, and the last descent is between 5 and 6:00pm.
There’s no reservation system for the cable cars, and no reason to buy your ticket far in advance. So we suggest looking up the forecast on MeteoSwiss and checking out the Schilthorn webcam on the morning of your visit to see if the views are clear. Then buy your ticket on the SBB app or online before departing. And be sure to pack a jacket no matter what time of year you’re visiting since it’s often pretty chilly at nearly 10,000 feet!
And if you’re a snow sports enthusiast, you cannot miss the Schilthorn ski area in Winter, which boasts a snowpark, speed slalom course, and the steepest ski slope in the Jungfrau Region.
3 | How to reach the Schilthorn
The Schilthorn summit was opened to the public in 1967 as the world’s longest aerial cableway. It’s no longer the longest, but the new section from Stechelberg to Mürren built in 2024 is now the world’s steepest! And, I thought this was really fascinating, all of the power for the Schilthornbahn is generated by hydroelectricity or solar-powered batteries that recharge when the cable car descends.
Now let’s talk about how to get here. There are 2 different routes to reach Mürren from Lauterbrunnen, and then a single route from Mürren to the Schilthorn. In our opinion, we think it’s great to ride up one way and down the other.
- From Lauterbrunnen, option 1 is to ride the bus to Stechelberg, and then ascend on the steepest cableway in the world to Mürren.
- Or option 2 is to ride the cable car from Lauterbrunnen to Grütschalp, followed by the train to Mürren. For both of these rides, be sure to sit on the left side for the most panoramic views. And once you’re in Mürren, walk about 10 minutes across town to the Schilthorn cable car station.
- Now all travelers follow the same route: a cable car from Mürren to Birg, then a switch to the final cable car to the Schilthorn.
If you’re coming by car, you can park in either the garage at the Lauterbrunnen train station or the large parking lot at the Schilthorn station in Stechelberg. And if you’re coming by public transport, there are trains that connect Lauterbrunnen to Grindelwald and Interlaken and beyond.
4 | What to do after the Schilthorn
Yes, the Schilthorn is an amazing mountaintop excursion worth at least a few hours of your time. But pair it with our favorite nearby villages of Mürren and Gimmelwald, and you have the recipe for a perfect day in the Swiss Alps!
In fact, if you only have 1 day in the Jungfrau Region, head here. And If you’d like us to completely plan this day for you so all you have to do is show up and enjoy yourself, you can find that itinerary in our 1-Week Guide to the Jungfrau Region. And we’ll see you in Switzerland!
