Switzerland Guide
The Bernese Oberland
Schynige Platte
One of the finest mountain excursions in the country is the ride up to the breathtaking Schynige Platte at 2000m, from where you can survey some of the best panoramic views in the entire Alps.
The rack-railway (June– Oct only) up to Schynige Platte starts from the peaceful village of Wilderswil, a few kilometres south of Interlaken, reachable from Ost station by train or from West station by bus #5. From Wilderswil, trains coil their way up for fifty minutes through some spectacular scenery to the top station, from where perfect views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, ranged high above the valley opposite, open up. A short walk away is the busy restaurant and Kulmhotel ( 
033 822 34 31, 
www.schynigeplatte.ch ; Price: Fr.100-150).
Marked trails lead out in all directions from here. The Panoramaweg is unmissable: an easy trail, it leads you on a two-hour circuit of the summit ridge above the station, with, at the halfway point, an unforgettable panoramic view taking in the full sweep of the Thunersee, Interlaken and the Brienzersee. The return leg continues in a wide arc through meadows to the Botanischer Alpengarten (Fr.3), filled with the local flora, and one of the few places where you can be guaranteed to see a genuine living edelweiss.
As a longer alternative, one of the most attractive walks leads from Schynige Platte along the crest up to the Faulhorn (2681m), and then down past the tranquil Bachalpsee to First and Grindelwald (roughly 6hr). This is worth doing at any time, but if you're around in July and August, grab the unique opportunity to walk the route by moonlight: on the two Saturday nights with the fullest moon, trains leave Interlaken Ost at 10.20pm, bringing you to Schynige Platte by 11.40pm, from where a local guide leads you along the six-hour trail.
The standard fare from Interlaken is Fr.60 return, or Fr.30 after 2pm; two kids can travel free with a fare-paying adult. Every Wednesday in July and August, trains depart Wilderswil at 5.35am to catch the summit sunrise, with the optional extra of breakfast (Fr.15) at the Kulm hotel.