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February 26, 2018 By Hailey

7 Reasons to Add the Oeschinensee to Your Swiss Travel Itinerary

When visiting Switzerland, you really can’t have the full Swiss experience without at least one mountain excursion on your travel itinerary. But with so many gorgeous Alpine peaks to explore, how can you decide which one is right for you?

In my experience, a day at the Oeschinensee is bound to please most travelers. A high mountain lake above the town of Kandersteg in the Bernese Oberlands, the Oeschinensee is a spectacular location to get your Alpine fix. In fact, the region is a UNESCO World Heritage destination – noted for its unique landscapes and easy access. I believe that no matter what kind of traveler you are, you are sure to find this special slice of Swissness unforgettable.

7 Reasons to Add the Oeschinensee to Your Swiss Travel Itinerary

1. The town of Kandersteg is absolutely adorable and easy-to-reach.
Just a one-hour direct train ride away from Bern, Kandersteg is an attainable Alpine destination that doesn’t require a lot of effort on your part. In town, you can choose from dozens of hotels in order to extend your stay in the region. If you have the time to spare, I say do it!

2. The mountains are accessible to all ages and abilities.
A short walk from the Kandersteg train station leads you to the Oeschinensee cable car, which carries you some 400 meters up above the valley floor. Easy walking trails from the upper station to the lakeshore allow visitors of all ages and abilities to enjoy the area. It’s possible to bring a stroller for little ones, and in the summer, an electric shuttle helps folks move to and fro for an extra fee.

Travel Tip: Except in winter, you can hike back down to Kandersteg and save some Swiss franc on the cable car return ride. It’s a lovely walk… and it’s all downhill!

3. You can swish down the Alpine slide!
Before you reach the lake, a ride (or five!) down the Alpine slide is a must! The toboggan run – called the Rodelbahn in German – is just to the left of the gondola station, and it’s open from May to October (as long as it’s not raining). Thankfully, it’s not just for kids; plenty of adults get in on the fun, too!

Travel Tip: the line for the rodelbahn can get pretty crowded on weekends. For a better slide experience, visit Kandersteg’s Oeschinensee on a weekday when you are more likely to get the whole run to yourself!

4. The Oeschinensee is truly stunning.
Words just don’t do this mountain landscape justice. With turquoise blue waters and waterfall-veined cliffs rising vertically from the opposite shores, the Oeschinensee has to be one of the most mesmerizing sights in all of Switzerland.

I’ve found Kandersteg’s Oeschinensee so enchanting that it secured a top spot on my Swiss Favorites list, and you can find out where it ranks by subscribing to Postcards from Hailey. I’ll send you my lookbook, The Best of Switzerland: My Top Ten Places in the Swiss Confederation, so you can take note of all my favorite places in this Alpine nation. Just click here to submit your information and get your free download now!

5. Enjoy the sun in the summer and the snow in the winter.
No matter in which season you visit, there is so much to do at the Oeschinensee! In the summer, enjoy swimming and rowing, fishing and sun bathing, hiking and biking, and picnics surrounded by astonishing scenery.

In the winter, you can do some skiing, go sledding, or just go for a winter walk. And once the lake freezes over, you can go ice-skating or ice fishing! It’s a magical winter wonderland.

6. You can have a meal at a mountain restaurant or even stay a night in the guesthouse.
For a trip to the Oeschinensee, you don’t have to carry a backpack full of supplies. Plenty of food and drink is available at a number of restaurants, which offer the usual Swiss suspects – beer, sausage, soups, schnitzel, and rösti (Swiss hashbrowns). In the summer, the Berghotel is open to guests, allowing you to spend even more time by this enchanting lake.

Oeschinensee Restaurant
Eating at the Oeschinensee

7. Okay, let’s be honest… there’s really no reason NOT to go to the Oeschinensee!
A visit to the Oeschinensee is truly a delight any time of year. And Kandersteg is a great little mountain village, which also gives you access to several other high Alpine areas, like the Sunnbüel or the Blausee. After three visits to this Swiss town, I’m still itching to go back and do more… and that’s why Kandersteg is at the top of my list for best places in Switzerland!

For more on this magical Swiss setting, visit these websites to get ticket prices, live webcam shots, and other helpful information to plan your visit:
Kandersteg: http://www.kandersteg.ch/en/w/home
The Oeschinensee: https://www.oeschinensee.ch/en/

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN TO SHARE…

Hi there! Isn’t this one of the most stunning landscapes you’ve ever seen? Do you think you’d prefer a summer visit or a wintry experience? Can you suggest some more gorgeous Alpine destinations that I need to check out?

Postcards from Hailey
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Comments

  1. Shraddha says

    January 25, 2020 at 1:50 pm

    Love this place and I must visit soon!

    Reply
    • Hailey says

      February 4, 2020 at 7:03 pm

      Yes, it is so special! <3

      Reply
  2. nila says

    August 24, 2018 at 10:28 am

    I have added this place and will be there soon.

    Reply
    • Hailey says

      September 4, 2018 at 3:42 pm

      Hey Nila! Glad you are putting the Oschinensee on your Travel Bucket List. It’s totally worth it! Say hello to the lake for me!

      Reply
  3. Roccojack says

    May 10, 2018 at 12:01 pm

    I also explored these all fabulous places in my these tours and have a joyful time with my family and friends. I am sure your shared information would be useful for all fun and travelling lover.

    Reply
    • Hailey says

      May 15, 2018 at 7:01 pm

      Oh, I’m so glad you’ve experienced the wonder that is The Swiss Alps! I love these mountains and I’m glad to hear that you do too! :)

      Reply
  4. Hanka says

    February 26, 2018 at 11:14 am

    We really love the Oeschinensee. It´s a great place to show our visitors the Alpine beauty and have fun by having a barbecue on the shores of the lake. Recently, we´ve experienced this area also in winter – it was a lovely hike :) You can take a look here:
    http://www.adinajustina.com/en/2018/01/hiking-with-kids-winter-walk-to-the-oeschinensee-kandersteg/
    I would be happy if you stopped by and left a comment ;)

    Reply
    • Hailey says

      February 26, 2018 at 8:44 pm

      Ah, you had fantastic weather on your winter excursion to Oeschinensee! It’s such a great place, and I’m glad you and your family have been able to enjoy it :) Thanks for sharing!

      Reply

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Hailey Domeck is a Southern girl with a Spanish heart and Swiss soul.

As a wife, mom, and travel addict, her love for mountains, fairy-tales, and great food keep her mind and heart always on the lookout for the next great adventure.

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💫 2020 - not about travel; all about family. 💫

#littleAlpenRose #WaveyBow
For me, this year was all about #motherhood - the For me, this year was all about #motherhood - the beauty of growing a child in the womb and then nurturing a precious newborn around the clock; the wild roller coaster of shepherding a toddler, whose contagious joy and  stubborn defiance make each day a challenge and a gift; the mundane tasks that help make a home feel warm and welcoming; and a bunch of other things. 

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Merry Christmas, y’all! 🤍 No matter your circ Merry Christmas, y’all! 🤍 No matter your circumstances, may you experience JOY in this holiday season and have HOPE  for a brighter year ahead. 

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📷: @whitneykeilman
• T H A N K F U L • We are saying thanks for • T H A N K F U L • 

We are saying thanks for all things in life this week. It’s so easy to get stuck on either the big picture or the tiny details, but I believe it’s important to take it all in - like I did on this ridge overlooking #Manang Village last year while trekking the #AnnapurnaCircuit in #Nepal. 

Creating a culture of gratitude takes intentionality and discipline... and it’s especially not easy when babies and toddlers demand so much of you at all hours of the day and night. Yet, here we are at the start of the holiday season, and I’m choosing to be grateful for the whole lot. 

What are you thankful for this year?
Hooray, it’s the weekend! 🥳 I don’t have a Hooray, it’s the weekend! 🥳

I don’t have any big plans today (#newbornlife), but I’m recalling the joy of “Heidi Hailey” in the Himalayas last November. ☺️ Shout out to @thatdutchieguy for bringing his Polaroid camera on our #CreateConnectNepal journey... what a fun way to capture special moments, - like my favorite stretch of the #AnnapurnaCircuit in the #Manang District ❣️

What are you up to this weekend?
As I sit here nursing an 8-week old babe, it’s j As I sit here nursing an 8-week old babe, it’s just wild to me that on this date exactly one year ago, I was walking among giants and completed the most difficult hike of my life. 

On November 11, 2019, the #CreateConnectNepal team and I went up and over the Thorong La Pass. At 17,769 feet (5416m), this is the pinnacle of the Annapurna Circuit and one of the highest mountain passes in the world. The day began in the dark with a grueling 4+ hour ascent through snow-kissed trails and then required a fierce descent down a bone dry valley. It demanded everything of me. 

Yet, that day up and over Thorong La was just one part of my epic adventure in #Nepal last November. I am eternally grateful for that experience and cherish those memories dearly. I also miss those people a lot. ❣️
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