Wengen

Wengen is a resort town in Switzerland located beneath the Eiger and Jungfrau.

Understand

The town sits above Lauterbrunnen and can be accessed via train, from Lauterbrunnen or from Grindelwald. Both Wengen and Grindelwald are rather upscale resorts, both for skiing in winter and hiking and bicycling in summer.

A view of Wengen from across the valley.

Get in

Wengen is most easily reached by train. Travel on the Berner Oberland-Bahn (BOB) from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen and then change to the Wengernalpbahn (WAB) for the picturesque journey up the mountainside to Wengen.

Get around

Wengen is a car-free village so the only way to get around is by walking. A few of the hotels run electric vehicle transfers to and from the station. This has the added advantage of making it a coach trip free zone, some of the surrounding villages which are accessible by road are not so lucky.

See and do

Summer

• Hiking:
  • Wengen-Männlichen (4.6 km, 2hr 30min, medium difficulty). A nice quiet trek as the less energetic all take a cable car. There are a couple of alternative routes and it is also possible to take the cable car up and walk down to Wengen instead. 
  • Wengen-Wengernalp-Kleine Scheidegg (6.9 km, 2hr 45min, medium difficulty). From the Wengernalp up to Kleine Scheidegg, there are great views on the surrounding mountains. From Kleine Scheidegg, it's also possible to hike down to Grindelwald. 
• Swimming: The outside swimming pool has amazing views of the Jungfrau and glacier, there is a very friendly bar and cafe there and the water is refreshing!

Winter

• 🌍 Grindelwald - Wengen ski area (155 km, 27 lifts), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. The ski area is shared with Grindelwald. From Wengen the ski area can be accessed either by cable car or by train to Kleine Scheidegg. Day pass Fr. 63/32, it is also possible to get combined tickets for the whole Jungfrau area. (updated May 2017)
• Ice skating and curling: Check out the local ice rink.

Events

• Alpabzug. Every autumn, the cows that have grazed all summer in the alpine meadows are brought down to the valley for the winter. If you're lucky, you might happen to be there on a day when they do this. It's quite an amazing sight and sound. (updated May 2017)
• Mendelssohn Musikwoche Wengen, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. A classical music festival taking place every year over a week in August with a focus on Mendelssohn. Fr. 55 per concert. (updated May 2017)

Buy

There are various tourist shops in the village, including an information centre, as well as a small Coop supermarket where you can buy groceries. The Made in Switzerland Shop is a great place to buy presents as you avoid the disappointment of your "authentic" souvenir coming from China. There are several stores selling gear for hiking, climbing, and skiing.

Eat

For gourmet dining, the Hotel Regina has 14 Gault Millau points à la carte restaurants, such as "Chez Meyer's" and "Jack's Brasserie" along with an excellent wine list. Mary's Cafe next to the Lauberhorn finish Line (Innerwengen, next to the Lift) has traditional Swiss food and cheese fondue. There are also a few recommendable restaurants in the town, but most fine dining will take place in the hotels in the area. There is a small coop grocery store in the town.

• 🌍 Restaurant Bären, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. (updated Mar 2017)
• Hotel Berghaus, Am Wengi 1412 A, ☎ [phone]. Their restaurant is open to the public, reservations suggested. The chef owner works in a tiny, but f,ully professional, clean and efficient kitchen. Excellent and local food from soups to desserts. 

Drink

Note that the town is quiet, especially in summer, and not the best location if you are into wild clubbing.

Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

• 🌍 Belvédère, Galliweidli, fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Member of Swiss Quality Hotels International. Three star hotel located 500 m from the railway station and the city center away. Bar and terrace with panoramic view of the alps. Single room from Fr. 109, double room from Fr. 218 (as of low season 2009). 
• 🌍 Alpenrose (a short way up the road from the train station on the outskirts of the town), e-mail: [e-mail]. A lovely chalet. Their half-board includes a magnificent breakfast spread and multi-course dinner each evening. 

Splurge

• 🌍 Hotel Regina, Schonegg 1347a, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Check-in: 14.00, check-out: 12.00. Open since 1894. Guests can see spectacular views of the mountains of the Jungfrau region, the Lauterbrunnen valley, and Wengen from its windows. In 2004 this four-star hotel was honoured as a Swiss Heritage site. It offers rooms with balcony or terrace. The whole Hotel has Public Wireless LAN. With a piano bar, 2 conference rooms, a gym, sauna and steam bath as well as a beauty centre and a gift shop called "Boutique SENS". Room prices from Fr. 130. 

Go next

Wengen is an excellent base for exploration of the Lauterbrunnen area. A very popular trip is the Jungfraubahn which takes you through a tunnel in the mountains above Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch - 3454m above sea level.

A great view can be had from the top of the Schilthorn, home to the highest revolving restaurant in the world! At 2970m, the viewing area offers excellent views of the Eiger, the Mönch and the Jungfrau, as well as many other peaks. The Schilthorn may be reached by taking the Schilthornbahn cable car up from Stechelberg, through Gimmelwald, Mürren and Birg.

Trümmelbach Falls is a worthwhile place to visit in the valley. The falls can be reached, as can Stechelberg, by Postautobus from Lauterbrunnen.

The Männlichen cable car leaves from Wengen.