3 Beautiful Hikes in the Bernese Oberland — Ranked From My Favorite to Least Favorite
If you’re planning a summer hiking trip to Switzerland, the Bernese Oberland gives you an almost overwhelming number of trails to choose from.
During a June anniversary trip, we based ourselves in Spiez and spent three days exploring the surrounding mountains, lakes and villages. Hiking was a huge part of the trip, but the three main hikes we did couldn’t have felt more different.
One was steep enough that I was absolutely working for the view.
One took us through peaceful Swiss countryside past rivers, mountains and grazing cows.
And one led to one of the most photographed lakes near Grindelwald — which, if I’m being completely truthful, left me a little underwhelmed.
All three were worth doing for different reasons.
But I definitely wouldn’t rank them equally.
Here are the three hikes I’d recommend in the Bernese Oberland, ranked from my favorite to least favorite — plus which I’d choose depending on the kind of Switzerland hiking experience you’re looking for.
#1 Oeschinensee — Best Overall
Best for: Big views + hikers who want to work for them
Difficulty: Easy to reach the lake; moderate-to-strenuous if you continue onto the surrounding trails
Crowds: Busy around the main lake area
Payoff: ★★★★★
Would I do it again? Absolutely
If I could repeat only one hiking experience from this trip, I’d choose Oeschinensee.
We started in Kandersteg and took the cable car up toward the lake. From the mountain station, the initial walk toward Oeschinensee was relatively easy and mostly flat. A big highlight for me was walking past adorable cows.
If you’re not interested in doing much walking, it’s still possible to experience the lake. We saw visitors using the shuttle service between the cable-car area and waterfront, and there are restaurants around the lake where you can stop for food and drinks.
But I wouldn’t stop there.
We grabbed a pasta Bolognese at one of the restaurants, refueled and then headed onto one of the hiking trails surrounding the lake.
That’s when Oeschinensee went from beautiful to spectacular.
You Have to Get Above the Lake
The trails become significantly steeper once you start climbing around Oeschinensee.
You will be working.
But this is one of those hikes where every bit of elevation makes the view better.
As we climbed, the perspective opened up over the enormous blue-green lake below us, surrounded by dramatic mountain peaks.
This was the Switzerland I wanted.
If you’re physically comfortable with steeper hiking, I’d give yourself enough time to explore beyond the waterfront. The elevated views were easily some of my favorites from the entire trip.
THE VERDICT: THRILL
Oeschinensee wins for me because the destination isn’t the end of the experience. Reaching the lake is only the beginning.
#2 Rosenlaui — Best for a Peaceful Swiss Countryside Hike
Best for: Scenery without the bucket-list crowds
Difficulty: Easy-to-moderate on the route we took
Crowds: Much quieter than Grindelwald
Payoff: ★★★★★
Would I do it again? Yes
Rosenlaui was almost the complete opposite of our experience hiking around Grindelwald.
And that’s exactly why I loved it.
We drove toward the Rosenlaui area, parked near Schattenhalb and spent roughly three hours hiking through the surrounding landscape.
Our route was relatively flat, so this wasn’t the hike where I felt like I was trying to conquer a mountain.
Instead, we walked alongside rivers, through green countryside and past cows grazing so close to the trail that we could practically reach out and touch them.
There were mountains around us, but without the feeling that we were walking in a line toward the same famous photo everyone else wanted.
The Little Things Made This One
One of my favorite parts of hiking in this area wasn’t a viewpoint at all.
We came across local self-service fridges and stands selling things like homemade jams or cheese along the route. There were horses frolicking in a pasture and we even met a friendly dog.
Those are the moments I remember.
It felt less like visiting an attraction and more like getting a glimpse of everyday life in the Swiss countryside.
Eventually rain moved in and we took shelter at Hotel Rosenlaui until the shower passed — another reminder that mountain weather can change quickly, even during June.
THE VERDICT: THRILL
If Oeschinensee was my favorite for dramatic scenery, Rosenlaui was my favorite for the experience.
If you prefer peaceful countryside, rivers, cows and wandering through beautiful terrain over chasing famous Instagram spots, put this one high on your list.
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#3 Grindelwald First to Bachalpsee — Best Famous Hike
Best for: First-time visitors + iconic Grindelwald scenery
Difficulty: Moderate
Crowds: High
Payoff: ★★★☆☆
Would I do it again? Maybe — but for the hike, not necessarily the lake
This is probably my controversial ranking.
The hike from Grindelwald First to Bachalpsee is one of the area’s best-known hiking experiences.
And it is beautiful.
We started at Grindelwald First around 10 a.m., first exploring the First Cliff Walk before continuing toward Bachalpsee.
There are sections of the trail that get surprisingly steep, but overall I’d consider it a manageable moderate hike.
It was also considerably colder at elevation than it had been in Grindelwald below, so don’t assume that sunny June weather in town means you’ll want the same clothing once you’re up in the mountains.
So…Was Bachalpsee Worth It?
Kind of.
The mountain scenery along the hike is gorgeous.
Bachalpsee itself was smaller than I expected.
After hiking alongside quite a few other tourists for a relatively long time, I remember reaching the lake and thinking:
That’s it?
It’s still beautiful.
And once you reach the Bachalpsee area, there’s more room to wander into the surrounding open landscape, which I really enjoyed.
But compared with the enormous scale of Oeschinensee or the peaceful experience around Rosenlaui, the actual lake wasn’t my favorite payoff of the trip.
THE VERDICT: CHILL
I’d still recommend doing it — especially if this is your first time in Grindelwald. The First Cliff Walk is a must.
Just go for the entire mountain experience rather than hiking solely because you’re expecting Bachalpsee itself to blow you away.
So Which Swiss Hike Should You Choose?
If you only have time for one, I’d choose:
Oeschinensee if you want the biggest wow factor.
Choose Rosenlaui if you want peaceful Swiss countryside and fewer tourists.
Choose Bachalpsee if you’re already visiting Grindelwald First and want one of the area’s classic hikes.
And if you have three days?
Do all three.
They’re different enough that none felt repetitive, and together they gave us three completely different versions of hiking in the Swiss Alps.
My Final Ranking
Oeschinensee — Best Overall
Rosenlaui — Best Experience
Bachalpsee — Beautiful, but Most Overhyped
The biggest lesson I took from this trip was that Switzerland’s most famous hike isn’t necessarily going to be your favorite.
Sometimes the trail you’ve seen hundreds of times on Pinterest is worth doing.
And sometimes the hike where you get caught in the rain, walk alongside cows and stumble across homemade jam for sale ends up being the one you remember more.
Xx Sylvia
