5 Best Things to Do in Meiringen, Switzerland
Are you looking for the best things to do in Meiringen, Switzerland? It’s a popular destination where you can discover unique sights. Most people only do a day trip, but for the best experience, we recommend spending at least 2-3 days there.
Wondering what to do in Meiringen? The most popular attractions are the Aare Gorge and the Reichenbach Falls. But during your stay, you can also visit great attractions such as the Oltschibachfall Waterfall, the Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge, the Sherlock Holmes Museum, and the Gelmerbahn.
This ultimate guide includes the best time to visit, how to get there, restaurant and hotel recommendations, and the best things to do in Meiringen.
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Best things to do in Meiringen
Meiringen is a perfect base for exploring waterfalls and stunning gorges, offers beautiful photo opportunities, and is an unmissable destination for Sherlock Holmes fans. We honestly didn’t expect to be so enchanted by this picturesque village, and would love to go back to see more.
1. Aare Gorge (Aareschlucht)
Over tens of thousands of years, the Aare has carved its way through the limestone cliffs to form the gorge, which is only 1-2 m wide in places. The Aareschlucht is a 1.4 km long walkway and a 200-meter deep natural wonder. It is a beautiful, easy walk that is accessible to all ages and a truly refreshing experience in summer. For the best experience, arrive early to avoid the crowds.
It takes about 45 minutes to walk through the stunning gorge via bridges and tunnels. This was undoubtedly one of our favorite things to do in Meiringen.
Then, you can walk back on a public hiking trail over the ‘Lammi’ pass, which takes about 1 hour, or take the Meiringen-Innertkirchen railway that runs alongside the gorge.
Read the full post → How to Visit Aare Gorge
How to Get to the Aare Gorge?
We arrived by car. Aare Gorge has two entrances (West/East), and free parking is available on both sides. Take a train to Meiringen, then change to the regional train to either the Aareschlucht West or Aareschlucht Ost stop and walk to the park entrance.
If you’re coming from Innertkirchen, use the east entrance. From the west entrance to the middle of the gorge, it is accessible by wheelchair and stroller.
Budget Tip
Enjoy unlimited access by bus, train, and boat to visit more than 41 cities, reach peaks of many mountains, and sail through beautiful lakes in Switzerland with the Swiss Travel Pass.
2. Reichenbach Falls
Reichenbach Falls is known worldwide as the site of a fictional event where Sherlock Holmes clashed with Professor James Moriarty. This hike is a must for Sherlock Holmes fans. The stunning waterfall is 120 meters high and is easily accessible using the Reichenbachfall-Bahn.
The Reichenbachfall-Bahn operates from May 3 to October 5, 2025, from 9 AM to 5:30 PM (last ascent at 5:15 PM).
The Reichenbachfall-Bahn ticket costs 12 CHF (15 USD) for a round trip and 8 CHF (10 USD) one way for adults. For children (6-15 years old), the return ticket costs 8 CHF, and a single ticket costs 6 CHF (7,50 USD). Dogs are allowed on the bahn. Tickets can be purchased online or at the valley station.
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The waterfall is dry during the winter months, so the best time to visit is from May to early October.
3. Gelmerbahn
Visiting the Gelmerbahn is one of the best things to do in Meiringen, and it was our favorite experience. The Gelmerbahn cable railway station can be reached by car in about 25 minutes. Alternatively, take the No. 161 bus to the Handegg Gelmerbahn bus stop.
The Gelmerbahn was originally built to transport heavy building materials for the Gelmer Dam. With a gradient of 106%, it is the steepest open passenger funicular railway in Europe. The funicular railway takes just 12 minutes to reach the summit. For the best experience, we recommend that you sit in the front row of the funicular when you are coming down.
The impressive Handeckfallbrücke is located right next to the Gelmerbahn base station and offers fantastic photo opportunities. Most people just come to ride the Gelmerbahn and quickly see the mountain lake, but hiking around Gelmersee (Lake Gelmer) is one of the most beautiful hikes in Switzerland.
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For another unique experience, take the world’s steepest funicular railway from Schwyz to Stoos.
4. Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge
After the Aare Gorge, we didn’t think it was worth visiting another gorge. As we visited both, we can tell you that they are different, both offered a unique experience, and should not be missed during a visit to Meiringen. We recommend that you first visit the Aare Gorge, then explore the Rosenlaui Gorge and the Glacier area.
It is open from 9 AM to 6 PM (May 17 to September 30, 2025) and 9 AM to 5 PM (October 1 to October 29, 2025). The entrance fee to Gletscherschlucht Rosenlaui is 12 CHF (15 USD) for adults and 6 CHF (7.50 USD) for children. Children under 6 years are free of charge.
On your way to the car park, you will see the Rosenlaui viewpoint. You can stop on the side of the road for a quick photo or walk back from the parking lot.
The path through the gorge is well-maintained, and the tour takes about 45 minutes. You will pass along waterfalls, natural whirlpools, and fantastically shaped rocks. At the end of the gorge, a forest path leads back to the entrance.
The hiking trail is not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. You can visit in rainy weather, but wear good shoes and a raincoat. It will be much colder than outside, so bring a sweater or light jacket.
How to Get to the Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge?
- By public transport: Travel to Meiringen by train, then change to the PostBus and travel to the bus stop at the Gletscherschlucht Rosenlaui entrance. The PostBus leaves every hour from the train station between 8:20 AM and 4:20 PM. The travel time is about 35 minutes, and the bus ticket costs 13.40 CHF (about 17 USD) per person per way.
- By car: The gorge is accessible by car. A parking ticket is required to visit the Rosenlaui, Schwarzwaldalp area. There are plenty of parking spaces. During our visit, the full-day parking ticket costs 8 CHF (10 USD), and the afternoon ticket (from noon) costs 4 CHF (5 USD).
Keep reading → Beautiful Places to Visit in Switzerland
5. Sherlock Holmes Museum
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional private detective created by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. If you are a Sherlock Holmes fan, don’t miss a visit to the museum. The museum has carefully and authentically reconstructed the living room of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson at 221B Baker Street, London.
It is open every day in summer (May 1, 2025, to October 31, 2025) from 1 PM to 5:30 PM, and in winter on Saturdays and Sundays (November 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026) from 1:30 PM to 5 PM. The entrance fee to the museum is 7 CHF (about 9 USD) for adults and 4 CHF (5 USD) for children (6-15 years old).
You can also buy a combined ticket to the museum, which includes the Reichenbachfall Funicular (round trip).
Where to Stay in Meiringen
If you’re traveling with family or a group of friends, accommodation like Swisspeak Resorts is affordable and offers perfect views of the Swiss mountains.
For those arriving by public transport, we recommend the Victoria Alpine Boutique Hotel near the train station.
However, if you explore the area by car, you can easily find affordable accommodations, such as Ufem Egg Ferienwohnungen, which is also close to the Aare Gorge.
See also → Best Hotels in the Swiss Mountains
Best hotels in Meiringen
- Mid-Range: Hotel Dakota or Hotel Reuti
- Budget: Gasthaus Brünig Kulm
If you don’t want to stay here, Interlaken is still a good option, as you can easily catch a train to the village.
How to Get to Meiringen, Switzerland
Meiringen is a small village in the Bernese Oberland of Switzerland, about a 25-minute drive from Interlaken and a 50-minute drive from Lucerne. The nearest airport is the Bern Airport (airport code BRN), about 1 hour away.
It is easily accessible by train or car from Interlaken, Bern, Lucerne, or Zurich. The train from Zurich takes about 3 hours.
Enjoy unlimited access by bus, train, and boat to visit more than 41 cities, reach peaks of many mountains, and sail through beautiful lakes in Switzerland with the Swiss Travel Pass.
Best Restaurants
- Restaurant und Pizzeria Bahnhöfli (Perfect for lunch or dinner)
- Rössli Piccante (Heavenly grilled dishes)
- Frutal Versandbäckerei (Traditional pastries and desserts)
- Du Pont (The best Rösti at the entrance to the Aareschlucht)
Best Time to Visit Meiringen
Switzerland is a popular destination all year round! But the best time to visit Meiringen is between May and October. The summer months are ideal for hiking and outdoor activities.
A popular attraction like the Aareschlucht is only open seasonally, usually from mid-April to early November. We visited both gorges at the end of June, and the weather was fantastic. But we recommend bringing a light jacket or sweater.
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In high season, we strongly recommend booking accommodation and tours in advance!
We hope our list of the best things to do in Meiringen will help you plan your next trip to Switzerland. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comment below.
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Hi,
Thank you for creating this post- it is super insightful!
The photo where you are both on the floor with the beautoful mountain- is this the glacier or a different part of Rosenlaui? How did you manage to get to this location?
Would really appreciate the help!
Hi!
We are happy you liked it! Yes, this is Rosenlaui Glacier. You can reach this viewpoint by walking from the parking lot.
Best regards,
Dittus and Mate
Hi,
Thank you for the post, wonderful information here.
I would like to visit both gorges in the coming Wednesday and I will be staying in Lucerne. Do you think it is feasible and will it be a good idea?
Hi Carrie! We are happy you liked it!
Sounds great, and you can visit both gorges in one day from Lucerne. But we recommend you start at the Aare Gorge and arrive as early as possible. After that, visit the Rosenlaui Gorge.
Enjoy your trip!