Home Europe A Perfect Day Trip to Schilthorn, Switzerland

A Perfect Day Trip to Schilthorn, Switzerland

by Andy Vanr

Take a day trip to Schilthorn, the Swiss mountain made famous by 007 James Bond. Discover incredible mountain scenery, great hiking and thrilling activities. It is one of the best cable car journeys in Switzerland.

We’ve got all you need to know for your day perfect trip to Schilthorn!

Snow-covered mountain side deep green valley
Our view from the peak of Schilthorn into the stunning green valley was spectacular. Everything shines in the spring sunshine.

Schilthorn Day Trip Itinerary

We recommend taking the 4 cable cars between Stechelberg base station and the Piz Gloria station at the beginning of the day. Explore Schilthorn’s peak fully. On the way down the mountain, stop at each station and discover its attractions.

  1. Ride to the top of Schilthorn and admire the endless mountain views.
  2. Explore the Bond World 007 museum.
  3. Indulge in the lunch buffet at Piz Gloria, a revolving restaurant. 
  4. Take the cable car back down, exploring the attractions on the way.
  5. At Birg Station, experience the Thrill Walk, carefully navigating along the cliff pathway.
  6. At Murren, enjoy one of the short hikes, such as the Flower Trail.
  7. At Stechelberg base station, walk to the foot of Murrenbach waterfall, the tallest waterfall in Switzerland.

Schilthorn Cable Car Map

This map shows the 4 cable cars on the route to the peak of Schilthorn.

Schilthorn Map with cable car routes and stations marked
Schilthorn Map with cable car routes and stations marked

Piz Gloria – The Top of the Schilthorn

It is only a 30-minute, 4-cable-car ride from the Stechelberg base station to the Piz Gloria station.  The station is at the Schilthorn peak, an elevation of 2970 meters. 

Head outdoors to the Skyline View platform.  Enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.  On a clear day, see over 200 mountain peaks, including the Jungfrau mountains.

Take just a few steps off the platform and touch the snow, even in the summer.  There is always snow here, 365 days a year. We visited in mid-May and it was snow-covered at the top though melting quickly.

Observation platform station background
The Piz Gloria’s observation platform, at Schilthorn’s summit, is a great place to see many neighbouring mountain peaks and valleys.
Val on Piz Gloria observation platform mountain ridges valleys snow closest
The Jungfrau, one of the highest summits in the Bernese Alps, is visible behind Val to the southeast.

James Bond at the Schilthorn

The Schilthorn played a starring role in the James Bond film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.  The mountain top is the headquarters of Bond villain, Blofeld.

The Walk of Fame showcases the cast and crew members of the film. It starts just below the Skyline Viewing area and follows the ridge.

Back inside, the Bond World 007 museum displays Bond memorabilia. It describes the production and history of the 1969 Bond film.  Test your skills in the helicopter attack simulator.

Even the washrooms have a James Bond theme.  Signs direct users to “Aim Like James”. Toilet flushing is accompanied by James Bond theme music.

Val beside cardboard figure James Bond
Val with George Lazenby aka Jame Bond star of 1969 On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
Snowy mountain ridge path with signs
Enjoy the Walk of Fame beside the Piz Gloria station and learn a bit about the cast and crew of the film.

Piz Gloria Restaurant

The revolving restaurant sits at the top of the station. The name Piz Gloria is the fictional mountain peak in the 1969 film. It is both the name of the restaurant and the cable car station.

The restaurant revolves a full circle in 45 minutes allowing diners ever changing views.  Enjoy your meal, the mountain views and the paragliders soaring in the distance.

Yellow paraglider above mountain peaks
Paragliders launch from high up the mountain side and land in the valley close to the Stechelberg station.
Val holding champagne flute by window of Piz Gloria restaurant with mountain scenery in background
We enjoyed the ever-changing backdrop and our meal in the revolving Piz Gloria restaurant.

The James Bond Brunch comes with complimentary champagne.  We highly recommend this buffet. We thoroughly enjoyed it.

Be sure to make a lunch buffet reservation before coming up the mountain at the cable car ticket office. 

Distant mountains turning staircase on rock
Walk around the vertical cliffs below Birg Station.

Thrill Walk – Birg

Stop at Birg Station, elevation 2677 meters, for some more excitement.  The 200-metre pathway called the Thrill Walk sits below the station.  Navigate a series of “see-through” pathways that hang over the edge of the cliff.  Crawling through a chain link tube dangling over the abyss is not for the faint of heart.

Andy crawling through wire mesh tunnel mountain background
I crawled through the chain-link fence tube on the Birg Thrill Walk.
Val on glass floored bridge by mountain rock face
The view is stunning in every direction, even through the glass below your feet.

If this sounds a bit too “thrilling”, admire the views from the Birg Skyline Walk. This platform extends out from the station providing more stunning panoramic views.

Murren

Visit the beautiful village of Murren, elevation 1638 meters.  Walk along Murren’s ridge road, exploring the shops and restaurants along the way.  Enjoy one of the short walks in the area, such as the Flower Trail.  On this 20-minute interpretive trail, learn about the more than 150 species of mountain flowers that grow in the area.  Try the Water Labyrinth, a race to get to the finish line without getting wet.

For a short hike, begin at Murren and walk downhill to the pretty town of Gimmelwald, about 30 minutes away.

People walking street colourful buildings
Explore the colourful streets of Murren.
Val on path through pasture from mountain village Gimmelwald
A number of mountain hikes begin from the village of Gimmelwald.

Ride the cable car down to the floor of the Lauterbrunnen Valley and base station Stechelberg.

Lauterbrunnen Valley Waterfalls

The steep-sided valley is the ideal place to find incredibly high waterfalls.  The word Lauterbrunnen translates to “many fountains”.  The Lauterbrunnen Valley is home to an incredible 72 waterfalls.

Enjoy visiting one or all of these 3 stunning waterfalls, all located near the Schilthorn.

  1. Murrenbach Waterfall is one of the highest waterfall in Switzerland.  This freefalling waterfall, not a cascade as previously thought, plunges 417 meters.  It is located right beside Stechelberg cable car station.  Walk the short path from the parking lot for an up-close look at this amazing waterfall.
Water falls over tall steep cliff
The Murrenbach Waterfall is impressive. Its water is very cold as it is meltwater from the peaks of Birg and Schilthorn Mountains.
  1. Staubbach Falls, located near the village of Lauterbrunnen, plunges 297 meters.
  1. Trummelbachfalle is a series of 10 glacier-fed waterfalls.  Up to 20,000 litres of water per second drain from the nearby mountains, eroding the rock as it falls.  A tunnel lift takes visitors to a pathway to experience the powerful forces of water.

Schilthorn – Know Before You Go

Where does the Schilthorn cable car start?  How do I get to the base station?

The Schilthorn cable car begins at the Stechelberg base station.  Most people travel from Interlaken to Stechelberg.

By car, the drive from Interlaken to Stechelberg is 17 km.
By train, travel from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen, then take the bus to Stechelberg.  Another alternative from Lauterbrunnen is a cable car from Lauterbrunnen to Grutschalp and a train from Grutschalp to Murren.

People inside cable car
4 short cable car rides transported us from the parking lot at Stechelberg Station to the peak of the Schilthorn.

Where can I buy Schilthorn Tickets?

Purchase Schilthorn Tickets online or in person at the Stechelberg cable car station. 

Don’t forget to make reservations for lunch too!

What will the weather be like at Schilthorn?

A clear day is the best day at the top of Schilthorn. Be sure to check the Schilthorn weather and live webcam before you leave.

Andy clasped hands index fingers point ahead mountain background
Be sure to channel your inner James Bond, at Piz Gloria station at the top of the Schilthorn.
Billboard advertising Schilthorn station
The Piz Gloria station was used for the filming of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, the 6th James Bond film, released in 1969.


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