Things To Do in Wengen

The ski area around Wengen is highly developed, with ski trails carved into the sides of Männlichen, Kleine Scheidegg, Lauberhorn, and Eigergletscher. A triumph of alpine engineering, the town and its region contain three mountain railways, two aerial cableways, one gondola, 31 lifts, and 250km (155 miles) of downhill runs. You'll also find a branch of the Swiss Ski School, more than 11km (7 miles) of trails for cross-country skiing, a curling hall, an indoor swimming pool, and a day nursery.

During the summer the district attracts hill climbers from all over Europe. The hiking trails are well maintained and carefully marked, with dozens of unusual detours to hidden lakes and panoramas. Wengen also has five public tennis courts available through the tourist office , a natural skating rink (natureisbahn), and a partially sheltered indoor rink (kunsteisbahn). The hours these rinks keep are subject to change, so check with the tourist office for details.

Nearby Attractions

From Wengen and Grindelwald, a number of excursions take you up and down the Lauterbrunnen Valley. You can visit Trümmelbach Falls, which plunges in five powerful cascades through a gorge. You can take an elevator built through the rock to a series of galleries (bring a raincoat). The last stop is at a wall where the upper fall descends. The falls can be visited from the end of May through June and in September and October daily from 9am to 5pm; in July and August daily from 8:30am to 6pm. They're closed during other months. Admission is 11F for adults, 4F for children 6 to 16, and free for children 5 and under. It takes about 45 minutes to reach the falls on foot. For information, call tel. 033/855-32-32. A postal bus from Lauterbrunnen (only 15 min. from Wengen by train) stops at Trümmelbach Falls. It costs only 5F for adults, 4F for children, and departs once an hour from Lauterbrunnen. For information, call tel. 033/828-70-38.

You might also want to visit the base of the Staubbach Waterfall, which plunges nearly 300m (984 ft.) in a sheer drop over a rock wall in the valley above Lauterbrunnen. Lord Byron compared this waterfall to the "tail of the pale horse ridden by Death in the Apocalypse." Staubbach can be reached from the resort village of Lauterbrunnen, which lies only 15 minutes from Wengen by train. From the center of Lauterbrunnen, follow the signposts along a walkway running along a creek and then be prepared for some steep stairs to reach the viewing point for the falls.