Switzerland Guide
The Bernese Oberland
To the Schilthorn
One of the most dramatic mountain excursions in the region is by a series of cable cars from the valley floor at Stechelberg, via Mürren, on a breathtaking ride up to Birg and then the Schilthorn summit (2970m; 
www.schilthorn.ch ). The trip's less expensive than that to the Jungfraujoch, and also less of a tourist merry-go-round, but just as memorable. The exposed top terrace is, if anything, even more dramatic than the Jungfraujoch, with a wraparound vista of icy peaks, from the Eiger to the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc, plus a clear view down to Thun and Bern. You can enjoy the exceptional views and sip cocktails in the revolving Piz Gloria summit restaurant, which featured in the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service; a touristy Bond-centred audiovisual show plays in the basement.
As with the Jungfraujoch, it's easy – if you're based in Interlaken, say – to go up one way and down another. The train from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen connects well with the link to Mürren (by gondola to Grütschalp and then clifftop train), from where the cable car rises to the summit. On the way down, you can stay with the cable car to Stechelberg, and then make your way by bus back down the valley floor to Lauterbrunnen (perhaps via the Trümmelbach falls), from where trains return to Interlaken. This whole trip, with an hour on top to enjoy the views, takes four hours, compared with six for the equivalent ride from Interlaken up the Jungfraujoch (the last 40min of which is climbing inside a dark tunnel).
Fares on the Schilthornbahn are steep, but not outrageous. A round-trip from Interlaken to the top is Fr.114, from Stechelberg Fr.96, from Mürren Fr.66.