Adelboden Travel Guide
Adelboden Travel Guide
Adelboden is one of my favorite towns in the Swiss Alps. It’s a bit off the beaten path, and less popular than towns like Interlaken or Grindelwald, but to me, it is one of the most stunning places in Switzerland and worth the extra effort it can take to get there!
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- *Backpacks & Bubbly – Top Picks for Drinks With A View*
- How to Get to Adelboden
- Where to Stay in Adelboden
- What to do in Adelboden
- How Many Days to Spend in Adelboden
- Safety for Solo Female Travelers in Adelboden
- Top Adelboden Blog Posts
Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!
*Backpacks & Bubbly – Top Pick for Drinks With A View*
The Axe Bar at the Cambrian Hotel Adelboden
The Cambrian has the most stunning view of the Alps and Engstligen Falls & The Axe Bar (open to guests and the public) is a great place to take advantage of those stunning views. I seriously could have stayed here forever.
How to get to Adelboden
Adelboden is not the easiest place to get to in Switzerland, but it is so worth it! If you’ve rented a car you can drive there, but the roads to get there are pretty windy and narrow, so just make sure you feel comfortable driving, particularly if you’re going to be coming or going at night!
If you’re taking public transport, like me, you’ll likely need to make several connections to get to Adelboden! I was coming from Bern, but the route is similar if you’re coming from Zurich or Lucerne.
Train to Spiez
To get to Adelboden from any of the major cities in Switzerland you’ll need to get to Spiez, which is accessible by train. Coming from Bern, the train for Spiez departed about every 30 minutes, so no matter what time you’re departing form Bern you shouldn’t have to wait to long to get to Spiez.
The ride takes less than 30 minutes. The vista outside of the Spiez train station is absolutely stunning and if you have any time between trains I recommend walking across the street to take in the views and snap some photos!
Train from Spiez to Frutigen
From Spiez you’ll want to take the train to Frutigen. This is a short trip, less than fifteen minutes, and is only a few stops, so make sure you’re paying attention. The train from Spiez towards Frutgen departs every 30 minutes.
Also, make sure to request your stop by pressing the stop request button on any of the doors. The train usually stops in Frutigen regardless, but I like to make sure.
Bus from Frutigen to Adelboden
From Frutigen you’ll want to take the bus to Adelboden Post. The bus departs hourly from right outside the Frutigen train station. Adelboden Post is the final stop, so you can ride it all the way to the end if you’re staying in downtown Adelboden. There are a few other stops in Adeldoben, so make sure to confirm which is the closest to your hotel. The ride is about thirty minutes.
Where to Stay in Adelboden
I stayed at the Cambrian Hotel and I cannot recommend it enough! It was one of my favorite hotels I’ve ever stayed at. It’s right across from the main bus station is downtown Adelboden, which made it super convenient. The entire stay was perfect!
Some of the highlights from the Cambrian were the incredible pool with insane mountain views (see picture) Plus, it was a great place to relax and cool down after a long day of hiking and exploring. The included breakfast was a buffet with tons of options, although for me the best part was getting to eat it out on the patio overlooking the mountains.
The bar had an awesome vibe and stayed open late, plus, all the bartenders were extremely friendly and attentive. The hotel restaurant, Bryn Williams, was also my favorite meal during my ten days in Switzerland.
When I make it back to Adelboden the Cambrian will absolutely be my first choice for accommodations!
What to Do in Adelboden
Hike to the Giant Swing
The Giant Swing at the top of Tschentenalp was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had! And it’s super easy to get to once you’re in Adelboden. Check out my blog post with detailed instructions on how to get to the Giant Swing by hiking or by cable car!
There are also tons of other great hikes in the Adelboden area, you can find the various routes on All Trails!
Explore Engstligen Falls
From most of Adelboden you have a stunning (albeit far off) view of Engstligen Falls, but although they look far away, they’re actually only about a 90 minute walk/hike from downtown. You can actually use Google Maps for this one. It will guide you towards the roads (which have very few cars and are fine to walk on) but the trail is right nearby and is easy to spot from the road.
The falls are massive and are pretty awesome to see up close. Plus, the hike there takes you through some of the cutest neighborhoods in Adelboden, and then along a river in the more remote areas of the town. You can also take the local bus which will get you about a 10-15 minute walk from the falls if you’re not up for a longer trek!
Ski / Snowboard
If you’re in Adelboden in the winter it is perfect for skiiers and snowboarders with tons of options, stunning vistas, and cozy bars and inns for an après ski after a long day on the slopes! I cannot wait to make it back there in the winter!
How Many Days to Spend in Adelboden
2-3 Days
Adelboden is a small town, if you’re just looking to get a feel and see the highlights 2 days is definitely enough. A third can easily be added if you want to get some extra hiking or skiiing in, or simply enjoy a relaxing day at a hotel with stunning views!
Safety for Solo Female Travelers in Adelboden
5 out of 5
Adelboden was one of the places I’ve traveled alone that I felt the most safe! It was a fairly remote area, so besides hiking I spent a lot of time at the resort, but everyone was super friendly and helpful and I never felt unsafe!
