Hiking in Bernese Oberland — where Goethe left his mark

Hiking Collection by MySwitzerland

Tours

35:51 h

63.5 mi

14,700 ft

In this Collection, we take you on a hike through the Bernese Oberland, once a source of inspiration for Goethe. In 1779, he traveled with his hiking group through the Alps around the lakes Thun and Brienz as well as the famous mountains Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Rushing waterfalls fall hundreds of feet into the depths, narrow paths meander through impressive glaciers and deep gorges, imposing peaks towering up into the sky form the backdrop of lush green mountain meadows: this is the Bernese Oberland – today as in the past.

Goethe once walked through the Reichenbach valley, crossing the Große Scheidegg and the Lauterbrunnen valley. On his way, he visited impressive glaciers and gorges with thundering rivers. In his book "Ferne Berge im Sonnenschein" (Distant Mountains in the Summer), author Jürgen Pachtenfels describes Goethe's journey through Switzerland and reconstructs the hike through Bernese Oberland that we show you here. You can experience the same journey up close and follow in the footsteps of the great poet, Goethe.

In addition to Goethe's hike, we have compiled six other walking experiences in the Bernese Oberland to help you discover the full diversity and beauty of the region. On the different day hikes, you will explore the Morgenberghorn, the Oeschinensee, and the Simmental medicinal herb garden. All hikes can be reached by public transport, so you can easily discover the Bernese Oberland for yourself just as Goethe did.

On The Map

Tours & Highlights

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Durchs Berner Oberland (5-6 Etappen) – Wo Goethe seine Spuren hinterließ
Difficult
21:20
40.3 mi
1.9 mph
9,025 ft
6,775 ft
Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
On this nearly 65-kilometer hike, you can follow the footsteps of Goethe in the Bernese Oberland. From Guttannen you can hike up to the Berghotel Obersteinberg near Stechelberg - depending on your personal condition you can split the hike up to five to six days. As milestones Meiringen, the Schwarzwaldalp…
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Erlebnis: Wanderung zum Morgenberghorn
Difficult
05:38
6.14 mi
1.1 mph
3,550 ft
3,600 ft
Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Sure-footedness, sturdy footwear and alpine experience are essential on the nearly ten-kilometer hike. The beautiful route takes you past the impressive Pochten Falls and brings you to the Rengglipass and the Morgenberghorn.

Let's start the circular hike in Suld, where you can catch the bus from July…
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Erlebnis: Horneggli Panoramaweg
Intermediate
01:59
4.01 mi
2.0 mph
350 ft
1,050 ft
Intermediate Hiking Tour. Great for any fitness level. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
This approximately six and a half kilometers long hike lives up to its name. From the path you can enjoy fascinating views of the striking Gstaad mountains with the Rüebli or the Gummfluh and on the massif of the Alpennordkette.

From the starting point of the panoramic route, you can reach Zweisimmen…
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Erlebnis: Wanderung am Oeschinensee mit Picknick
Intermediate
04:03
6.90 mi
1.7 mph
1,100 ft
2,750 ft
Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
On this approximately eleven-kilometer route, you will hike through the beautiful Bernese mountains and the picturesque Oeschinensee. Along the way you will always have breathtaking views of the blue lake and the opportunity to have a cozy picnic on the shore.

The wonderful hike starts at the top station…
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Erlebnis: Unterseener-Uferweg
Easy
01:15
3.09 mi
2.5 mph
0 ft
25 ft
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
It starts at the station Interlaken West. From here you hike along the Aare in the direction of Lake Thun. It goes past green meadows, wide fields and the wildly overgrown riverbank, sometimes through sparse woodland. On the horizon you always have the imposing mountain scenery of the Bernese Oberland…
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Erlebnis: Heilpflanzengarten Simmental
Easy
01:36
3.14 mi
2.0 mph
675 ft
675 ft
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
From the railway station Boltigen you wander through the cozy village until you reach the village brook at the edge of the village. He follows it along the shady edge of the forest to Tubetal. Here you turn right and follow the path that leads you past green meadows and fields to Adlemsried. In the small…
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