Mountains

• Niesen
• Stockhorn
• Niederhorn
• Schilthorn
• Jungfraujoch
• Glacier 3000

• Known as the Swiss Pyramid, the Niesen is one of the Bernese Oberland’s most recognisable silhouettes — sharp, solitary, and almost perfectly drawn against the sky.

  The journey up is part of its charm. From Mülenen, the historic Niesenbahn climbs steadily towards the summit, with Lake Thun below and the peaks of the Bernese Alps opening beyond. At the top, the view is wide and wonderfully composed.

  Once a year, the mountain becomes the setting for the Niesen Stairway Run, when runners take on the service staircase beside the funicular. Everyone else can take the gentler way up.

  A clear-lined mountain, a nostalgic ascent, and a view worth slowing down for.

   

• The Stockhorn is a quieter classic — broad, calm and beautifully placed between the Simmental and Lake Thun.

  The cable car carries you up in two gentle stages, with the landscape opening slowly below: green valleys, dark forests, the lake in the distance and, on clear days, views stretching far across the Bernese Alps. At the top, the mood is less dramatic than some of the higher peaks, but no less rewarding — wide, open, and easy to linger in.

  There are short walks around the summit, a panoramic viewing platform, and a mountain lake just below for a slower pause on the way back down.

  A soft-spoken summit with space, views and a little more quiet.

• Above Lake Thun, the Niederhorn brings together lake, forest and high alpine views — with Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau across the horizon.

  The journey up begins gently, with the funicular from Beatenbucht and the cable car from Beatenberg carrying you higher above the water. As you rise, the view shifts from lake and village to open ridgelines and the great peaks beyond.

  At the top, it is a place for an easy walk, a slow lunch, or simply standing still for a while. Wildlife is often part of the landscape here too — ibex, marmots and birds of prey are regularly seen along the quieter paths.

  A calm, open viewpoint above the lake, with Switzerland laid out in layers below.

• Cinematic and high, the Schilthorn is a mountain day with real drama — reached through the Lauterbrunnen Valley and the car-free village of Mürren.

  At the summit, sweeping views open across the great peaks of the Bernese Oberland, with Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau holding the horizon. Piz Gloria adds its own quiet character, known for its revolving restaurant and its place in James Bond history.

  Pause at Birg on the way up or down for the Skyline Walk and Thrill Walk — exposed, memorable, and close to the mountain.

  A scenic journey, a high viewpoint, and a little old-school cinema in the clouds.

• Iconic for a reason, the Jungfraujoch is all snow, ice and altitude — a classic Swiss high-alpine experience, and one of the most recognisable journeys in the Alps.

  The train carries you steadily upward through the mountains to the highest railway station in Europe. At the top, the landscape feels almost unreal: glacier light, wide white views and the Aletsch Glacier stretching into the distance.

  It is a bigger day out, and often a busy one. To step away from the usual flow, take the marked walk across the snow to the Mönchsjoch Hut. It brings a little more space, a little more silence, and the feeling of being properly high up in the mountains.

  For those who want the grand Swiss mountain moment, Jungfraujoch still delivers — especially with a few extra steps beyond the main route.

  A journey into ice, height and a view that stays with you.

• Further afield, but striking, Glacier 3000 is a more elemental kind of mountain day — all glacier air, open ridgelines and wide, exposed views.

  The journey takes you towards Les Diablerets, where the cable car rises quickly into a landscape that feels brighter, sharper and more remote. At the top, the Peak Walk by Tissot links two summits by suspension bridge, with the Alps stretching out in every direction.

  There is snow here for much of the year, and a different sense of scale: less soft pasture, more rock, ice and sky. For those who want to move, there are glacier walks and seasonal activities; for others, it is enough to stand still and take in the height.

  A little further to reach, but worth it for a mountain day that feels clear, raw and beautifully high.