Shortcuts & Logistics – Via Alpina: Bernese Oberland

 

For all information regarding Swiss transport connections, timetables, and live updates, use the official SBB site/app:
👉 www.sbb.ch/en

Swiss PostBus timetables:
👉 www.postauto.ch/en

Meiringen → Schwarzwaldalp

Shortcuts:

• Funicular Train (Reichenbach Falls): Duration 7 mins, frequency every 15 mins in summer. Saves 250m of elevation gain.

  3 May – 5 October – See here

  09.00 am to 05.30 pm (last ascent 05.15 pm)

• Bus 174 (Meiringen – Schwarzwaldalp): ~40 mins. Free with hotel guest card (provided on booking). Runs hourly during summer.

  • Stops en route: Hop on/off for partial stages.

Skip Stage:
Take bus directly to Schwarzwaldalp.

📅 Timetable: PostBus 174 Meiringen–Schwarzwaldalp

 

Schwarzwaldalp → Grindelwald

Shortcuts:

• Bus 174 (Schwarzwaldalp – Grindelwald): ~50 mins. Free with hotel guest card (provided on booking). Scenic ride over Grosse Scheidegg. Runs several times daily in summer.

• Gondola Grindelwald–First: 25 mins. Direct ride from town to First (2,168m). Perfect if skipping the climb. Or in reverse First – Grindlewald. Covers 1130m elevation gain/loss.

• Gondola Bort Station: Gondola stop en route—option to ride down to Grindelwald. Saves 500m descent.

Skip Stage:
Bus Schwarzwaldalp → Grindelwald.

📅 Timetable: PostBus 174 Schwarzwaldalp–Grindelwald Bus

Grindelwald → Wengen

Shortcuts:

• Wengernalp Railway: Europe’s longest cog railway. Runs Grindelwald → Kleine Scheidegg → Wengen → Lauterbrunnen.

  • To shorten: Board/Descend at Alpiglen (saves 550m elevation gain),  Kleine Scheidegg (saves 1000m elevation gain), Wengernalp (saves 600m elevation loss), Allmend (saves 230m elevation loss).

  • Trains every 30–60 mins.

Skip Stage:
Take train full way Grindelwald → Wengen.

📅 Timetable: Wengernalpbahn (WAB)

 

Wengen → Mürren

Shorcuts:

• Train Wengen – Lauterbrunnen: ~15 mins. Saves 450m of elevation loss.

• Lauterbrunnen Valley Floor Bus (Line 141): Runs Lauterbrunnen → Stechelberg (~20 mins).

• Gondolas:

  • Lauterbrunnen – Grutschalp (Saves 650m elevation gain)

  • Stechelberg – Mürren (Saves 775m elevation gain)

  • Mürren – Schilthorn (if extending)

• Train Grutschalp – Mürren (Saves 4.2kms and 170m elevation gain)

Skip Stage:
Train Wengen → Lauterbrunnen → Gondola/Bus/Train → Mürren.

📅 Timetable: SBB Route Planner

 

Mürren → Griesalp

No direct shortcuts hiking-wise.

Skip Stage:

Public transport Mürren → Griesalp via Lauterbrunnen & Reichenbach.

• Train & Gondolas: Mürren – Grutschalp OR Grutschalp – Lauterbrunnen OR Mürren – Stechelberg.

• Bus Lauterbrunnen → Interlaken → Reichenbach.

• PostBus Reichenbach – Griesalp: ~1h. Famous for its steep 28% gradient (most adventurous bus ride in Switzerland).

📅 Timetable: Reichenbach–Griesalp PostBus

 

Griesalp → Kandersteg

Shortcuts:

• Gondola Oeschinensee – Kandersteg: Saves 500m elevation loss at the end.

Skip Stage:
PostBus Griesalp → Reichenbach → Train Reichenbach – Kandersteg.

📅 Timetable: SBB Route Planner

 

Kandersteg → Adelboden

No direct shortcuts hiking-wise.

Skip Stage:
Bus or train+bus combo to Adelboden.

• Public transport option:

  • Bus Kandersteg – Adelboden direct (~1h).

  • Or train Kandersteg – Frutigen + bus Frutigen – Adelboden.

📅 Timetable: SBB Kandersteg–Adelboden

Adelboden → Lenk

Shortcuts:

• Bus Adelboden – Geils (Line 230): Hourly service, ~20 mins.

• Bus Lenk, Bühlberg – Lenk Bahnhof (Line 281): Hourly service, avoids 600m descent.

• Gondolas:

  • Adelboden – Geils (Saves 250m elevation gain)

  • Bergläger – Hahnenmoospass (Saves 240m elevation gain)

  • Höchst gondola (Saves 350m elevation gain)

  • Sillerenbühl gondola (Saves 480m elevation gain)

Skip Section:
Bus Adelboden – Frutigen → Train Frutigen – Spiez – Zweisimmen → Train Zweisimmen – Lenk.

📅 Timetable: SBB Adelboden–Lenk

 

Lenk → Gstaad

Shortcuts:

• PostBus Line 182: Turbach – Gstaad Bahnhof. Saves 350m descent.

• Runs a few times daily—check exact timetable.

Skip Section:
Direct train Lenk – Gstaad (~35 mins).

📅 Timetable: SBB Lenk–Gstaad

✅ Local tip: Save the SBB Mobile app and PostBus app offline. Both show live delays, platform changes, and next departures—essential in the Alps.