Kandersteg Village, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

06/11/2026

Kandersteg is a small mountain village in the Bernese Oberland, in the canton of Bern, Switzerland. It lies at about 1,175 metres in the upper Kander Valley, surrounded by high peaks such as the Blüemlisalp and the Balmhorn. About 1,300 people live here. Kandersteg became a holiday resort in the 19th century, and the village grew quickly when the Lötschberg railway tunnel was built between 1906 and 1913. Today it is a popular base for hiking in summer and for cross-country skiing and winter walks in winter.

What to See

The village stretches for about 3 km along the main street, with traditional wooden chalets, hotels, shops and restaurants. In the centre stands the small white Reformed church. Its first chapel was built in 1511, and it is one of the oldest buildings in the village. Another historic building is the Ruedihus, a wooden house from the 18th century that is now a hotel and restaurant. At the edge of the village is the Kandersteg International Scout Centre, which welcomes thousands of young Scouts from all over the world every year. You can also see the Nordic Arena with its ski jumps. From the village, cable cars go up to Lake Oeschinen, Sunnbüel and Allmenalp, and a bus goes into the wild Gastern Valley. The blue Blausee lake is only a short drive down the valley.

How to Get There and Practical Information

Kandersteg is on the Lötschberg railway line. Regional trains run every hour from Bern and Spiez, and from Brig in the Valais. The trip from Bern takes about one hour. Kandersteg is also the northern station of the Lötschberg car train: you can drive your car onto the train and travel through the 15 km tunnel to Goppenstein in the Valais in about 15 minutes. Local buses connect the train station with the cable cars in summer. Walking around the village is free. With a guest card from your hotel you get discounts on some cable cars. Some hiking paths above the village can be closed because of rockfall risk, so check the local information before you go.