Switzerland Guide
The Emmental
Getting around
The best way to get around in the Emmental is by bike or on foot, both of which allow you to set your own itinerary and pace; stations at Bern, Langnau and Burgdorf have bikes for rent. A scenic train line between Bern and Luzern passes through Konolfingen and Langnau, while a branch line runs north from Langnau through Hasle to Burgdorf, shadowing the Emme through verdant countryside. Postbuses from Marbach run through Schangnau to Kemmeriboden.
Tourist offices in Bern and Langnau heavily tout hiking, with maps and route suggestions galore. Walking through hillside pastureland from Burgdorf to Affoltern, for instance, takes about three hours; from Burgdorf along the riverbank to Hasle, or from Walkringen (above Konolfingen) to Lützelflüh, a little less. For a ramble down the Emme from Langnau to Burgdorf, or a stiffer hike from Langnau up to the Napf, reckon on a leisurely six hours or more. Pro Emmental also has details of companies that can inexpensively transport your bags around the region, enabling you to spend the day walking unencumbered.