Switzerland's Gorgeous Alpine Village Is An Outdoor Playground For Adventurous Travelers

On your next trip to the Alps, skip the big cities and visit what could be the most adorable village in Switzerland. Kandersteg is full of alpine chalets, stone bridges, and historic churches. It is surrounded by alpine pastures, turquoise lakes, and high mountains. Plus it attracts adrenaline junkies with its exciting outdoor activities. 

This idyllic spot is in the Bernese Oberland. The region is on the northern side of the Bernese Alps, which is famous for its gorgeous landscape. The Kander, a river that originates from the Kander Glacier, runs through the Gastern Valley and through the center of the small village. Cows with bells around their necks graze both in the middle of Kandersteg and on the green hillside pastures surrounding it. Those hills hide lakes, such as stunning Lake Oeschinen, the largest lake in the valley. The hike to this alpine lake in Switzerland is just as dazzling as its bright blue water. With towering peaks, including Balmhorn to the south, Blüemlisalp to the east, and Gross Lohner to the west, encircling the whole area, Kandersteg looks like a postcard.

The most scenic way to reach Kandersteg is by train. The BLS Lötschberg mountain line starts in Bern, the unofficial capital of Switzerland, and connects the Bernese Oberland with Valais farther to the south. The trip (around $24) takes a little over an hour. It hugs the southern shore of Lake Thun, passes Felsenburg Castle, and crosses the Kander Viaduct before arriving at the Kandersteg railway station. Everything in the village is easily walkable from there.

When you arrive in Kandersteg, the picturesque village immediately captivates you. So do the three cable car options that depart from the center of town and head up the mountains. The Kandersteg Oeschinensee Cable Car (from $45 round trip) brings you close to Lake Oeschinen. The eight-seat gondolas offer beautiful views of the Gastern Valley during the 15-minute trip to the upper station. From there, it is a 25-minute walk or a quick electric taxi ride to the lake, which is part of the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage site. You can rent a row boat from Berghaus Arva, ride the mountain coaster (a summer toboggan), or go for a hike. The Heuberg Loop, the Fründenhütte Trail, and the Hohtürli mountain pass all start near the lake.

The larger Sunnbüel Cable Car ($30.50 round trip) fits 40 people and departs every 30 minutes. At the top, you can hike the Gemmi Pass to Lake Daubensee, follow the Arvenseeli Trail to three small lakes with deep-blue water, and go rock climbing on the limestone cliffs in the Winteregg Climbing Garden. After your adventures, you can relax with a bowl of goulash on the outdoor terrace of Bergrestaurant Sunnbüel.

The third option, the Allmenalp Cable Car ($30 round trip), is one of the steepest in Europe. From here, you can climb the iron pegs and cable bridges on the Allmenalp Via Ferrata, or learn how to paraglide during a tandem flight.

Kandersteg doesn't shut down when the snow starts to fall. The village becomes a winter wonderland once it's covered with white powder. Kandersteg is one of the largest cross-country skiing areas in Switzerland. It has almost 40 miles of groomed trails for both classic and skate skiing. Leisure trails wind through the village, while high-altitude trails climb up into the mountains. Some trails are even illuminated for night skiing.

You can also go downhill skiing and snowboarding in Kandersteg. Oeschiland (half-day tickets $44) is the perfect place to learn how to ski. It features a ski school and two T-bar lifts. You can go sledding and tobogganing here, too. There are plenty of winter activities for non-skiers, as well. On Sunnbüel, trails are groomed for winter hiking and snowshoeing. The circular Altelsblick Trail is a one-hour hike, while the Spittelmatte and Stock Snowshoe Trails have stunning mountain views. Or you can try ice fishing for Arctic char and rainbow trout more than 5,000 feet above sea level on Lake Oeschinen.

After exploring Kandersteg, you might be curious what else is hidden in the Bernese Oberland. Gstaad lies west of Kandersteg and is a charming European destination that's great for amazing winter adventures. Wengen, in the opposite direction, is where you can escape typical tourist spots on your Switzerland trip. Just don't be surprised when you decide to return to Kandersteg. The gorgeous alpine village is the ultimate outdoor playground.