Gstaad Events: An Independent Guide to What’s On

The Palace above Gstaad · October 2020. Photo: Samuel Barlow · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Image cropped.

The Biggest Annual Events in Gstaad

EFG Swiss Open Gstaad

Next edition: July 10 to 18, 2027
Location: Roy Emerson Arena, in the center of Gstaad
Organized by: Grand Chelem Event SA
Title sponsor: EFG

The EFG Swiss Open Gstaad is the natural place to begin. Its first tournament was held in 1915 on clay courts beside the Gstaad Palace. It later moved into the center of the village and is now an outdoor clay court ATP 250 event.

Historical context: The tournament grew out of a difficult moment in Gstaad’s early development as an international resort. The railway reached the village in 1904 and the Palace opened in 1913, but the First World War caused visitor numbers to fall while the cost of coal for heating rose sharply. In the summer of 1915, the Palace held a tennis tournament to attract additional guests. The first event was won by Russian player Victor de Coubasch. What began as a practical response to wartime tourism pressures became one of Gstaad’s defining institutions. The organizers describe it as Switzerland’s oldest tennis tournament.

Its place in world tennis: Before air travel became routine, leading Australian players who came to Europe for Wimbledon often remained for the summer and competed in Gstaad. Roy Emerson won the tournament five times, the official record, and the arena now bears his name. Emerson was not simply a local favorite. He won 12 major singles titles and 16 major doubles titles, placing the Gstaad venue’s name firmly within the wider history of the sport.

Roger Federer provides the modern Swiss connection. He made his ATP Tour debut in Gstaad in 1998, finished as runner-up in 2003 and returned to win the title in 2004. Few tournaments contain such a neat span of tennis history, from early hotel courts and the amateur era to the rise of Switzerland’s greatest player.

Gstaad is played at about 1,050 meters above sea level and is commonly described as Europe’s highest ATP tournament. The thinner air makes the ball travel higher and faster, partly offsetting the slower clay surface. Its present ATP 250 classification makes it one of the smaller events on the main men’s tour, but that label does not capture its historical importance. Gstaad remains a living bridge between the first age of Alpine tourism and today’s global professional game.

Beach Gstaad

The 2027 edition: June 30 to July 4, 2027. 

Gstaad will host CEV EuroBeachVolley. This is a continental championship rather than a regular stop on the worldwide Beach Pro Tour. Europe’s leading pairs will compete for European titles, while Gstaad’s usual international Elite tournament takes a one year break. The regular tour event is due to return in 2028.

Location: the Eisbahn site in central Gstaad.

2027 hosts: CEV, Swiss Volley and Sport Events Gstaad GmbH

Regular event title sponsor: Swatch

Top level international beach volleyball first arrived in Gstaad in 2000. Tournament sand and temporary stands transform the village ice rink grounds into an Alpine arena, placing a sport associated with coastlines among chalets and mountain peaks. The organizers describe Gstaad as the longest serving host on the international beach volleyball tour.

The key historical fact: Beach Gstaad emerged from a failed first attempt. A tournament planned for July 20 to 23, 1995 did not take place because the organizers lacked sufficient funding and resources. In September 1999, Ruedi Kunz convened a meeting to revive the project, and Sport Events Gstaad GmbH was founded that November. The plan was both ambitious and practical: reuse infrastructure from Gstaad’s established tennis tournament for a second major summer event. Kunz then sold his information technology company to secure part of the inaugural budget. The full account appears in the tournament’s official history.

The first tournament, held in 2000, was a women’s FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour event. Because the organizers were short of helpers, they recruited friends, relatives, and even spectators to fill essential roles. On the night before the final, guests leaving the sponsors’ evening picked up shovels and helped convert the two-court layout into a single center court. Cowbells also made their debut as trophies during that first edition and have remained one of the tournament’s defining traditions.

Its place in world sport: When Gstaad staged its first tournament in 2000, beach volleyball had been an Olympic discipline for only four years, having made its debut at the Atlanta Games in 1996. The sport itself was older, but it was still developing its identity as a global Olympic attraction. Gstaad became an early and highly visible example of how elite beach volleyball could succeed far from a coastline. Temporary sand courts in the center of a mountain village, framed by the Bernese Alps, gave the event an identity unlike that of traditional seaside tournaments.

A major milestone came in 2007, when Gstaad hosted the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships. By then, Gstaad was already an established World Tour venue. The championship demonstrated something more significant: that its temporary Alpine arena could host the sport’s global title event. Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh won the women’s championship, while Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers won the men’s title. The results are recorded in Volleyball World’s official championship archive.

Gstaad Menuhin Festival and Academy

Next season: July 16 to September 4, 2027
Location: Across Saanenland and the neighboring Pays-d’Enhaut and Simmental, with principal venues in Gstaad and Saanen
Organized by: Gstaad Menuhin Festival & Academy AG; Daniel Hope is artistic director.

Founded by Yehudi Menuhin in 1957, the Menuhin Festival Gstaad has grown into a classical music season lasting just over seven weeks. It brings major soloists, orchestras, chamber ensembles, opera singers, and emerging musicians to concert spaces across the region. The present Menuhin Festival Academy was created later, in 2008, as a distinct structure for musical training.

The key historical fact: Gstaad supplies the festival’s internationally recognized name, but Saanen Church is its birthplace. In 1956, Gstaad tourism director Paul Valentin asked Menuhin to bring concerts to the summer season. Menuhin accepted, and the first festival consisted of only two performances, held in Saanen Church on August 4 and 6, 1957.

The four musicians were Menuhin, cellist Maurice Gendron, composer and pianist Benjamin Britten, and tenor Peter Pears. What began as music among friends developed into one of the region’s defining cultural institutions. The official festival history still describes this informal spirit of friends making music together as a guiding idea.

How the festival grew: Chamber music in the churches of Saanenland formed the original heart of the program. A decisive change came in 1989, when the Festival Tent made it possible to bring large symphony orchestras to Gstaad. That history explains the festival’s present character: intimate chamber music belongs naturally in the region’s churches, while orchestral concerts and opera can fill the much larger tent.

The Academy is a later extension of Menuhin’s commitment to teaching. Created by the festival in 2008, it allows selected young professionals to study with established performers and then appear before festival audiences. Its programs have included conducting, piano, voice, and strings, with public rehearsals and masterclasses making the process of musical development part of the festival experience. The Academy’s current program therefore makes Gstaad both a concert destination and a training ground for another generation of musicians.

The present Academy should not be confused with the separate International Menuhin Music Academy, which Menuhin founded in Gstaad in 1977. The two share his educational ideals but have distinct institutional histories.

Its wider meaning: The original request for concerts had a practical purpose: strengthening Gstaad’s summer season. Menuhin, however, brought a much broader outlook. He had performed hundreds of concerts for Allied troops during the Second World War and, together with Britten, played for survivors of Bergen-Belsen in 1945. He later served as president of the International Music Council and treated teaching and cultural exchange as part of a musician’s public responsibility.

This history gives substance to the festival’s international character. Menuhin did not merely lend his name to a resort event. He built a gathering around friendship, education, and the belief that music could cross political, cultural, and linguistic boundaries. The festival’s geography reflects that idea: its venue network extends from German language communities in the Bernese Oberland into the French language Pays-d’Enhaut.

This is not a single Gstaad village event: The Festival Tent, used for major orchestral and operatic performances, and the intimate Gstaad Chapel are in Gstaad. Saanen Church remains the festival’s historic chamber music heart. The wider venue network includes churches and concert spaces in Gsteig, Lauenen, Rougemont, Vers-l’Église, Château-d’Oex, Zweisimmen, Boltigen, and Lenk.

The 2027 season: The 71st Festival will be presented under the theme PASSION and will mark 200 years since Beethoven’s death. Initially announced artists include Anne-Sophie Mutter, Ray Chen, Igor Levit, Daniil Trifonov, Avi Avital, and Alice Sara Ott. Confirmed larger projects include Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Verdi’s La traviata, and appearances by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. The full 2027 program will be announced in December. Advance ticket sales open December 15, 2026. 

Glacier 3000 Run

Next edition: August 7, 2027
Location: Established route from Gstaad Promenade to Scex Rouge at Glacier 3000
Organized by: The Glacier 3000 Run Organizing Committee and Gstaad 3000 AG

First held in 2008, the Glacier 3000 Run carries runners from the center of Gstaad into a very different Alpine world. The established main course covers 26.2 kilometers, or about 16.3 miles, and finishes at Scex Rouge, 2,950 meters above sea level. Despite the number 26.2, it is not a marathon. The official route includes 2,015 meters of cumulative ascent and 115 meters of descent.

The course initially follows the valley from Gstaad through Grund, Gsteig, and Reusch. After reaching Reusch at kilometer 15.6, the character of the race changes sharply. The remaining 10.6 kilometers account for most of the climbing, taking runners through forest, Alpine pasture, rocky high mountain terrain, and finally a short glacier section. The published course map divides the standard route into 6.7 kilometers of asphalt, 19 kilometers of natural paths, and approximately half a kilometer on the glacier.

One remarkable historical fact dates from the race’s first edition. British runner Martin Cox won the inaugural event in 2008 in 2 hours, 20 minutes, and 2 seconds. That performance remains the men’s standard course record listed by the organizers. The women’s record, 2 hours, 32 minutes, and 4 seconds, was set by Switzerland’s Martina Strähl in 2016. Both marks appear in the event’s official results archive.

The race can be understood as a vertical portrait of the region. It begins amid the hotels, shops, and railway connections of Gstaad, follows the inhabited valley, and ends in the high Alpine landscape above Les Diablerets. In doing so, it connects the Saanenland in canton Bern with the Vaud Alps and demonstrates how closely Gstaad’s identity is tied to the mountains beyond the village.

The mountain, however, has the final word. Exceptional heat and glacier melting forced organizers to shorten the course in 2022. In 2023, snow and cold made the upper section unsafe, so the finish was moved down to Cabane at 2,525 meters. These changes are part of the race’s history and explain why records from altered courses cannot be compared directly with results from the complete route.

Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad

Next edition: August 19 to 22, 2027
Location: Polo field beside Gstaad Airport in Saanen
Organized by: Polo Club Gstaad, with Hublot as title sponsor

Established in 1996, the Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad brings international polo to a grass field beside the runway at Gstaad Airport. The next tournament is scheduled for August 19 to 22, 2027, and has been announced by the organizers as its 30th edition.

The tournament has been part of Gstaad’s summer calendar for three decades, although it has not taken place every year. The 25th edition was originally planned for 2020 but was canceled because of the COVID pandemic. It was canceled again in 2021 before finally taking place in 2022. Hublot reported that the tournament returned after this two year interruption, with the watchmaker continuing a sponsorship relationship that began in 2007.

The competition combines amateur team patrons with professional players from leading polo nations. In 2026, the field consisted of four teams, sixteen players, and approximately 120 horses. Each team had a combined handicap of 14 goals. In polo, that number represents the total ratings assigned to the four players, not the number of goals scored during a match.

Argentine players and horses have been especially prominent in Gstaad. This connects the Saanen tournament with Argentina’s central place in modern professional polo, while Swiss and other European players give the competition a broader international character. The horses are essential athletes rather than background attractions, and the tournament recognizes a Best Playing Pony alongside its awards for individual players.

The setting is as important as the sporting format. For several days, a field beside a working Alpine airport becomes a polo ground surrounded by temporary hospitality areas, stables, spectators, sponsors, and visiting teams. It is an unusually concentrated expression of Gstaad itself, bringing an international event into a valley where open land, aviation, agriculture, tourism, and village life exist within very limited space.

Recent programs have included qualifying matches on Thursday, a players’ parade through Gstaad on Friday, semifinals and a gala on Saturday, and the final on Sunday. General admission to the 2026 matches was free, while hospitality required reservations. The detailed 2027 program, team list, admission arrangements, and tournament handicap have not yet been published.

Gstaad Züglete

Usual time: Early September
Next announced edition: The exact date still to be published
Location: Gstaad Promenade
Organized by: Dorforganisation Gstaad, with participating farming families and local groups

The Gstaad Züglete brings flower decorated cattle, farming families, large bells, music, and a market for regional products into the center of Gstaad. Several separate herds normally pass along the Promenade during the day. The word Züglete broadly means a move or relocation in Swiss German. In this setting, it describes the seasonal movement of livestock away from the high summer pastures.

The farming practice is much older than the public festival. Johann von Grünigen helped bring the celebration into the center of Gstaad in 2015, combining the livestock movement with market stalls, yodeling groups, and cowbell associations. The first Gstaad Züglete attracted relatively modest public attention, but it developed into a larger village event involving several farming families.

The von Grünigen family’s journey provides one documented example of what lies behind the public procession. An official account follows the family as it leaves Alp Mettlen before dawn with 37 Simmental cows and a breeding bull. The approximately 25 kilometer route passes through Turbach and Gstaad before ending at the Vorschess Pertoli in Saanen. A Vorschess is a lower pasture used between the high Alpine grazing season and the animals’ return to the valley farm. The route, herd size, and individual animals in this account should not be treated as fixed details for every family or every edition.

The event belongs to the broader Alpine pasture season, a system that includes moving livestock between different elevations, caring for animals on mountain pastures, producing Alpine foods, and maintaining knowledge shared across generations. UNESCO placed Switzerland’s Alpine pasture season on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2023. That recognition applies to the wider agricultural practice, not specifically to the Gstaad Züglete.

This distinction gives the event its real meaning. The cattle are not decorative performers brought into the village for a tourism display. They belong to working farms and are completing part of a necessary seasonal movement. Their passage along a Promenade known for hotels and international boutiques briefly reveals another Gstaad, one shaped by pastures, livestock, cheese production, family labor, and the agricultural use of the surrounding mountains.

Recent editions have also included musical performances, local food stalls, activities for children, and a lunchtime Menuhin Festival concert at the Kapälli. These details vary from year to year.

Country Night Gstaad

Next edition: September 10 and 11, 2027
Location: Festival Tent, Gstaad
Presented by: Country Night Gstaad; Bach Promotion GmbH operates the event office

Country Night Gstaad has brought leading country musicians to the village since 1989. Its first lineup included Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, the Forester Sisters, and Stella Parton. Later editions have featured artists such as Buck Owens, Emmylou Harris, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Kenny Rogers, Miranda Lambert, and Rosanne Cash.

The official archive contains no edition for 2020, with concerts returning in 2021. This interruption explains why the 2027 event is announced as the 38th edition. The dates are confirmed but remain subject to change, and the 2027 performers have not yet been announced.

The event demonstrates the international reach of a musical tradition that developed in the southern United States from intertwined Black and white influences. In Gstaad, country music enters a different rural setting shaped by Alpine farming, tourism, and Swiss folk culture. Its long history has made it an established part of the village’s September calendar.

Gstaad New Year Music Festival

Usual time: Late December to early January
Next confirmed season: December 26, 2026 to January 10, 2027
Location: Concert venues in Gstaad, Saanen, Rougemont, and Château-d’Oex
Presented by: Altezze e Musica; founded and artistically directed by Princess Caroline Murat

Founded in 2005, the Gstaad New Year Music Festival brings classical music to the region during the Christmas and New Year holiday period. The 2026–2027 season is announced as the festival’s 21st edition. Its programs have combined opera singers, instrumental soloists, chamber music, baroque music, young performers, literary events, and occasional jazz.

Despite its name, this is not simply a Gstaad village event. Its concerts extend across the Saanenland and into the neighboring Pays-d’Enhaut. Gstaad and Saanen are in the canton of Bern, while Rougemont and Château-d’Oex are in the canton of Vaud. The festival therefore crosses municipal, linguistic, and cantonal boundaries, using music to connect communities on both sides of the regional border.

Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad

Usual time: Late January to early February
Next confirmed edition: January 29 to February 6, 2027
Location: Gstaad Chapel, Saanen Church, and Rougemont Church
Presented by: Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad; Renaud Capuçon is artistic director

Founded by Thierry Scherz in 2001, Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad combines concerts by internationally established musicians with sustained support for emerging artists. Violinist and conductor Renaud Capuçon has served as artistic director since 2016.

The festival’s structure is built around artistic exchange between generations. Young musicians give afternoon recitals in Gstaad Chapel, receive guidance from an established mentor, and perform a work by the festival’s resident composer. Major evening concerts take place principally in the churches of Saanen and Rougemont. The Thierry Scherz Prize can give one of the participating young musicians an opportunity to make a professional recording.

The 2027 edition is devoted to the cello. Seven young cellists are scheduled to perform in Gstaad Chapel, while the wider program includes Truls Mørk, Kian Soltani, Mischa Maisky, Jaemin Han, Martha Argerich, Renaud Capuçon, and other prominent musicians. 

Individual 2027 concerts are now listed on Ticketcorner. Check the selected concert’s date, venue, price, and availability before booking. 

Although the festival carries Gstaad’s name, its three principal venues create a regional event. Gstaad Chapel and Saanen Church are in the canton of Bern, while Rougemont Church is across the cantonal boundary in Vaud. Its concentrated nine-day format and emphasis on mentorship give it a distinct identity from the longer summer Menuhin Festival.

11 Miles Away: International Balloon Festival

Usual time: Late January
Next confirmed edition: January 23 to 31, 2027
Location: Château-d’Oex, canton Vaud
Presented by: The International Balloon Festival organizing committee with Pays d’Enhaut Région

The International Balloon Festival is the largest nearby omission from many Gstaad guides. Founded in 1979, it brings international crews and dozens of balloons to Château-d’Oex for nine days. The organizer estimates a typical audience of 20,000 to 50,000 and reported more than 45,000 visitors in 2026.

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Upcoming Gstaad Events

• 2026: October, November, December.

• Extended Date Events

October 2026 Events

Festival du Bois qui Chante

October 9–18, 2026

Hours: Vary by performance. Locations: Château-d’Œx and Rougemont.

About: The festival includes chamber and vocal music, percussion and harp, film, a baby concert, a musical forest walk, a singing brunch and a literary event. The October 10 opening begins with a free public aperitif at 4:00 p.m., followed by the opening concert at 6:00 p.m. The closing concert is October 18 at 5:00 p.m. in the Temple de Château-d’Œx.

Admission: Varies by event; some activities require advance reservation.

Website: Festival du Bois qui Chante

Älplerfest and Älplerzmorge Lenk

October 10–11, 2026

Älplerfest: October 10. 

Älplerzmorge: October 11. 

Venue: Dorfzentrum Lenk, Markt-/Gadeplatz, 3775 Lenk im Simmental; Sunday breakfast in the festival tent.

About: Saturday centres on the arrival of the decorated cattle, the selection of Miss Lenk, the Buremärit farmers’ market, music, food and an evening celebration. Sunday continues with the Älplerzmorge breakfast featuring local produce.

Saturday: Cattle arrival by 9:30 a.m.; formal opening at 9:45 a.m.; evening celebration from 8:00 p.m.

Sunday: Breakfast from 9:00 a.m. to noon, with last admission at 11:00 a.m.

Website: Älplerfest and Älplerzmorge

125 Years of the MOB

October 17–18, 2026

Locations: Lenk station square and the Zweisimmen–Lenk railway line. 

About: The anniversary weekend brings historic MOB railway travel and Belle Époque activities to Lenk. The program includes a historic train journey, activities around the station square, a local-history presentation and a traditional livestock show on Saturday, followed by a Belle Époque brunch at the Lenkerhof on Sunday.

Website: 125 Years of the MOB

Berglauf Arnensee

October 18, 2026

Start: 9:30 a.m. Venue: Feutersoey, with the route continuing toward Seeberg and around Arnensee. 

Distance: 11 km mountain run / 7 km Nordic Walking.

About: The mountain run follows the gravel path to Seeberg, continues around Lake Arnensee and finishes at the established destination. Children's races are also part of the program.

Registration: Online by October 16 at 8:00 p.m. On-site registration closes 30 minutes before the mountain run and walking start. All children's registrations close at 11:45 a.m.

Website: Berglauf Arnensee.

Gstaader Messe 2026

October 22 to 25, 2026

Venue: The 44th Gstaader Messe is advertised by the organizers as the final edition held in the tennis hall and Festival Tent. 

Opening hours: Thursday, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.; Friday, 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.; Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Admission: Free.

About: The Gstaader Messe is the Saanenland’s large regional trade and community fair. Around 70 exhibitors are expected, representing local businesses, tourism and guest exhibitors. The program also includes the traditional apprentice competition and regional food.

Event information: Gstaad Saanenland Tourism

Website: Gstaader Messe

Literarischer Herbst Gstaad

October 22 to 25, 2026

Locations: Various venues in Saanen and Gstaad.

About: Literarischer Herbst Gstaad is a four-day contemporary literature festival with readings, discussions, workshops, graphic novels, music and a literary walk. The opening program begins at 7:30 p.m. on October 22 at the Youth Hostel in Saanen. Friday continues at the Saanerhof from 7:30 p.m. Saturday, October 24, includes events at Kleines Landhaus, the Museum der Landschaft Saanen and Hotel Gstaaderhof. On Sunday, a literary walk from Gruben to Gstaad begins at 10:30 a.m., followed by events at Hotel Arc-en-ciel.

Festival and weekend pass holders must reserve a place separately for each event they wish to attend. Advance booking is recommended for Friday and Saturday evening events because seating is limited. 

Website and tickets: Literarischer Herbst Gstaad

Event information: Gstaad Saanenland Tourism

21st Homemade Metzgete in Saanenmöser

October 23 to 25, 2026

Venue: Golfhotel Les Hauts de Gstaad & SPA, Bahnhofstrasse 7, 3777 Saanenmöser.

Meals: Lunch and dinner.

Reservation: Required.

About: The Golfhotel holds its 21st homemade Metzgete, a traditional Swiss autumn meal centred on freshly prepared pork dishes. Host Markus Sprenger prepares the hotel’s Metzgete selection using old family recipes, with dishes served at lunchtime and in the evening from Friday through Sunday.

Event information: Berner Bauern Verband

Website: Golfhotel Les Hauts de Gstaad & SPA

Mixed Doubles Gstaad

October 27–29, 2026

Venue: Curling Hall Gstaad, Sportzentrumstrasse 5, 3780 Gstaad. Field: 20 international mixed-doubles teams. Entry fee: CHF 400.

About: The tournament brings 20 international mixed-doubles teams to Gstaad. The prize fund is at least CHF 10,000 provided that at least 16 teams participate. Match times and spectator arrangements had not yet been published.

Website: Mixed Doubles Gstaad

Traditional Warenmarkt in Saanen

October 28, 2026

Time: 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. 

Venue: Dorfplatz / Begegnungszone, Dorfstrasse, 3792 Saanen.

About: The traditional market brings together local and visiting traders offering goods from Switzerland and abroad. Food stalls serve visitors, with tables and benches in the village.

Website: Traditional market in Saanen

Oktoberfest Gstaad

October 30 and 31, 2026

Venue: Eisbahn Gstaad, Promenade 76, 3780 Gstaad.

Friday: Festival opens at 5:00 p.m. Live band FolkXtime from 7:00 p.m. End at 11:00 p.m.

Saturday: Festival opens at 5:00 p.m. DJ Yvan from 7:00 p.m. End at midnight.

About: Oktoberfest Gstaad returns for two evenings with a decorated festival tent, traditional food, music and Oktoberfest-style celebrations. Friday is built around live music from FolkXtime, while Saturday changes to a DJ-led party with DJ Yvan. Table packages and reservations are available through the organizer.

Website: Oktoberfest Gstaad 2026

Simmentaler Gnuss-Märit

October 31, 2026

Time: 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Venue: Viehschauplatz, St. Stephan.

About: A regional food market featuring vegetables, mountain potatoes, honey, cheese, sausages, baked goods and other local products.

Website: Municipality of St. Stephan event calendar

Brass Band Harmonie Saanen Family and Autumn Concerts

October 31, 2026

Family concert: 4:00 p.m.

Autumn concert: 8:15 p.m. 

Venue: Landhaus Saanen.

About: The day begins with a family concert in the afternoon before Brass Band Harmonie Saanen returns for its autumn concert in the evening.

Website: Brass Band Harmonie Saanen

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November 2026 Events

MSSO Kids Singers Final Concert

November 1, 2026

Time: 5:00 p.m. 

Venue: Kirchgemeindehaus, Untergstaadstrasse 8, 3780 Gstaad.

About: The MSSO Kids Singers present their public final concert in Gstaad, following a 4:00 p.m. rehearsal.

Website: MSSO Kids Singers flyer

20 Years of the Gstaad Curling Hall

November 5–8, 2026

Start: Group A begins on the evening of November 5. 

Venue: Curling Hall Gstaad, Sportzentrumstrasse 5, 3780 Gstaad.

About: The anniversary tournament marks 20 years of the Gstaad Curling Hall and runs November 5–8, 2026. Confirm entry availability, match times, and spectator arrangements with Curling Club Gstaad. 

Website: 20 Years of the Gstaad Curling Hall

12th Gstaader Open-Air Cup

November 21–22, 2026

Curling Club Gstaad lists its 12th Gstaader Open-Air Cup for this weekend. Confirm the venue, match times, and spectator arrangements with the club. 

Website: https://www.curling-gstaad.ch/

Literature Lenk — Der Röstigraben n’existe pas

November 27 to 29, 2026

Venues: Mainly Kulturhaus Lenk, Aegertenstrasse 1, 3775 Lenk. The film and discussion on November 28 takes place at Cinema Lenk.

Program times: Friday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday at 11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., and 8:45 p.m.; Sunday at 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.

About: LiteratureLenk brings together authors from Switzerland’s German and French language regions for a festival centered on mountain literature. The program includes readings, discussions, a film screening, and a presentation by writing workshop participants. A children’s and family reading takes place at Kulturhaus on Sunday, November 29, at 3:00 p.m.

Languages: German and French, depending on the session.

Website: LiteratureLenk program

Simmentaler Gnuss-Märit

November 28, 2026

Time: 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. 

Venue: Viehschauplatz, St. Stephan.

About: A regional market featuring vegetables, mountain potatoes, honey, cheese, sausages, baked goods and other products from the region.

Website: Municipality of St. Stephan event calendar

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December 2026 Events

Jodlerklub Lauenen Evening Concert

December 4, 2026

Time: 8:15 p.m. 

Venue: Church of Lauenen, 3782 Lauenen.

About: Jodlerklub Lauenen presents its evening concert in the village church. Admission is free, with a collection.

Organizer: Jodlerklub Lauenen.

Website: Jodlerklub Lauenen agenda

Lenk Ski and Snowboard Test Weekend

December 5–6, 2026

Venue: Talstation Metsch, Stand Xpress, 3775 Lenk im Simmental.

Registration: Not yet available.

About: Visitors can test current ski and snowboard models with advice from local sports retailers and take part in technique workshops with qualified instructors. The workshops are not beginner lessons. Ski testers can also receive discounted lift tickets and two mulled wines at the Tipi Bar.

Website: Lenk event page

Brass Band Harmonie Saanen Advents- und Jubilarenkonzert

December 6, 2026

Time: 3:00 p.m. 

Venue: Landhaus Saanen, Dorfstrasse 74, 3792 Saanen.

About: Brass Band Harmonie Saanen presents its traditional Advents- und Jubilarenkonzert. Admission is free, with a collection.

Website: Brass Band Harmonie Saanen

Adventsmäret Gsteig

December 12, 2026

Time: 5:00–approximately 9:00 p.m. 

Venue: Turnhalle, Gsteig.

About: The Advent market brings decorated stalls and Christmas gifts to Gsteig, with a large Christmas tree forming part of the setting.

Organizer: Dorforganisation Gsteig-Feutersoey.

Website: Advent market

Weihnachtsstimmung Zweisimmen

December 12, 2026

Time: 2:00–9:00 p.m. 

Venue: Bahnhofstrasse, 3770 Zweisimmen.

About: Bahnhofstrasse becomes a Christmas meeting place with market stalls, food stands, music and fire bowls.

Organizer: Gewerbeverein Zweisimmen.

Website: Weihnachtsstimmung Zweisimmen

HUUS Gstaad Curling Tournament

December 18–20, 2026

Venue: Curling Hall Gstaad, Sportzentrumstrasse 5, 3780 Gstaad. 

Edition: 10th HUUS Gstaad Curling Tournament.

About: The tenth HUUS Gstaad Curling Tournament returns to the Gstaad curling hall. An online registration form is available; team availability should be confirmed with the club. Match times and spectator arrangements had not yet been published.

Organizer: Curling Club Gstaad.

Website: HUUS Gstaad tournament

Weihnachtszauber Lenk

December 19–20, 2026

Venue: Kronengärtli, Kronenplatz and Hotel Krone, 3775 Lenk im Simmental. Hours: Exact times not yet published.

About: Saturday brings evening shopping and a Christmas-story reading at Hotel Krone. Sunday continues with a Samichlaus visit, candle making, Sunday shopping, family activities and a Christmas competition.

Website: Weihnachtszauber Lenk

Gstaad New Year Music Festival

December 26, 2026–January 10, 2027

Hours: Vary by concert. 

Locations: Multiple venues across the Saanenland and Pays-d’Enhaut.

About: The festival brings classical vocal and instrumental music, young-artist performances, literary events and jazz to venues across the region. The published calendar is an advance program and may change, so each concert should be checked before attending.

Website: Gstaad New Year Music Festival

Status: Advance program.

Kuhfladenlotto Lenk

December 28, 2026

Food and drinks: From 5:00 p.m. Cows: From 6:00 p.m. 

Venue: Field beside the Tipi at the TEC car park, 3775 Lenk im Simmental.

About: Two Simmental cows are brought onto a field divided into 400 numbered squares. The first cowpat landing in its ticket square wins CHF 500 and the second wins CHF 1,000.

Organizer: Skiclub Lenk

Website: Kuhfladenlotto Lenk

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Extended Events

HC Gstaad-Saanenland First-Team Home Games

Selected home dates from October 25, 2026–January 30, 2027

Competition: Men’s 3. Liga, Central Switzerland, regular season. 

Venue: Eisbahn Gstaad, Promenade 76, 3780 Gstaad.

About: These are the selected first-team home fixtures currently listed for Gstaad during this period. Fixtures can change, so the federation schedule should be checked before attending.

October 25: EHC Oberlangenegg II — 6:00 p.m.

October 31: SC Freimettigen — 6:00 p.m.

November 14: EHC Grindelwald — 7:30 p.m.

November 21: SV Röthenbach — 8:00 p.m.

December 5: EHC Kandersteg — 6:00 p.m.

December 20: EHC Adelboden II — 6:00 p.m.

January 2: EHC Lenk-Zweisimmen — 6:00 p.m.

January 9: EHC Thun-Lerchenfeld — 8:30 p.m.

January 30: HC Beo Yetis II — 8:30 p.m.

Official Site: Swiss Ice Hockey schedule

Le Potag’Oex Farm Market

Every Friday and Saturday

Friday: 5:00–7:00 p.m. Saturday: 9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. 

Venue: Chemin du Chamaveau 9, 1660 Les Moulins.

About: Le Potag’Oex sells seasonal organic produce directly from the farm. No closing date is published, so operation should be confirmed before making a winter trip.

Website: www.lepotagoex.ch

Status: Recurring.

Community Lunch in Gstaad

Every Thursday.

Venue: Kirchgemeindehaus Gstaad, Untergstaadstrasse 8, 3780 Gstaad.

Cost: CHF 10, including drinks.

About: A weekly community lunch open to everyone. Registration is required by Wednesday at noon. The current listing does not publish a serving time or holiday exceptions, so these should be confirmed when registering.

Organizer: Frauenverein Saanen.

Contact: 033 744 81 86 or 079 697 31 40.

Website: Frauenverein Saanen

Status: Recurring.

Visit the Ellenberger Family Farm

Last date: October 16, 2026

• Prior dates include: September 25 and October 2, 9 and 16, 2026

Time: 10:00 a.m.; approximately one hour. 

Venue: Chalberhönistrasse 46, 3792 Saanen.

About: A family farm visit centred on the farm animals, including goats, cows, calves, donkeys, rabbits, cats and Mogli, the farm dog. At least one child and one adult must participate, and every attendee requires a booking.

Admission: Free.

Booking: By 4:00 p.m. the preceding day.

Language: German, with simple explanations possible in French or English.

Equipment: Sturdy shoes and clothing that can get muddy.

Website: Visit the Ellenberger farm

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Gstaad Area Map: Landmarks, News & Article Locations

User tip: Use the control at the upper left of the map, beside the profile image, to open the map legend and list of places.

View a larger version of this map

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Latest Articles

October 2026

• Gstaad Cricket Club Opens the Game to Beginners

• What a Violin Competition Can Give a Young Musician

New: the Gstaad Cheese Guide

September 2026

• Park Gstaad Plans Summer 2027 Reopening as a Four Seasons Hotel

• Inside Gstaad’s Cheese Grotto

• Gstaad Carriage and Sleigh Rides

• Why Gstaad Has a Yacht Club Away from the Water

• Does Gstaad Close? Seasons and Lunch Breaks

• Why Two Passing Loops Matter to Gstaad’s Rail Connections

• Iffiglauf & Kids-Run: From Lenk To Iffigenalp

August 2026

• Gstaad Züglete: Update

• Gstaad’s Familiar Chalet Appearance Is Deliberate and Regulated

• Zweisimmen Church — The Medieval Murals the Reformation Hid

• How Saanenmöser Turns a Wartime Folk Play into Community Theatre

• The Last Cattle Auction on Gummalp

• Who Actually Receives Fibre First in Saanen?

• Gsteig Council Election Leaves One 2027 Seat Unfilled

• Sanetsch Cable Car No Longer Accepts Magic Pass

• Saanen Bridge Petition Seeks a Safer School Route

• The Menuhin Festival Began with Two Concerts in Saanen

• Alpine Cheese and Bell Market

July 2026

• The Gstaad Züglete Brings the Alpine Season Through the Promenade

• National Hiking Day Brings Switzerland’s Walking Culture to Gstaad

• Gstaad Alive Gives Kapälliplatz a Summer Life of Its Own

• Zweisimmen Sets a Long Table in Bahnhofstrasse

• New Rega Helicopter Strengthens Rescue Capability Around Gstaad

• New Planning Rules Take Effect for Gstaad’s Sport and Culture Centre

• Stefanos Tsitsipas Wins the 2026 Swiss Open Gstaad

• Harry’s Bar Begins a Summer Residency in Gstaad

• WoW Gstaad Brings Writers and Readers Together in the Alps

• Menuhin Festival Gstaad Opens Its 70th Edition

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Understanding the Gstaad Region

Explore the Guide by Section

Use the links below to move directly to a topic or destination covered on this page.

• Rail and Bus Connections

  • The MOB Network at a Glance

  • From Montreux to Zweisimmen

  • Lenk and the Junction at Zweisimmen

  • Regional Trains and the GoldenPass Express

  • PostBus Connections to the Side Valleys

  • Using the Gstaad Card and Pass d’Enhaut

  • Planning a Journey

• The Western Bernese Oberland

  • Gstaad Village

  • Saanen Village & Municipality

  • What "Saanenland" Means

  • Why Events Outside Gstaad Village Use the Gstaad Name

• Gstaad & Area Villages

• Mountain Areas Near Gstaad

• Area Lakes & Reservoirs

See also: The Biggest Annual Events in Gstaad, Starting With Tennis

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Rail and Bus Connections

The MOB Network at a Glance

The Montreux Oberland Bernois Railway Company, known as the MOB, links many of the villages in which events advertised under the Gstaad name are held. It carries regional trains as well as GoldenPass scenic services.

According to the official MOB network description, the 62.4-kilometre Montreux–Zweisimmen main line and the 12.9-kilometre Zweisimmen–Lenk branch form a 75.3-kilometre network. Its highest point is at Saanenmöser, 1,275 metres above sea level.

From Montreux to Zweisimmen

The metre-gauge main line leaves Montreux above Lake Geneva and climbs towards the Pays-d’Enhaut and the Bernese Oberland. Among other stops, it serves Château-d’Oex, Rougemont, Saanen, Gstaad, Schönried, and Saanenmöser before reaching Zweisimmen.

Between Rougemont and Saanen, the railway crosses from the canton of Vaud into the canton of Bern and from the French-speaking Pays-d’Enhaut into the German-speaking Saanenland. Zweisimmen lies farther along the route in the Simmental.

Lenk and the Junction at Zweisimmen

Lenk is part of the MOB network, but it is not on the Montreux–Zweisimmen main line. It lies on a separate 12.9-kilometre branch running from Zweisimmen. The branch opened in 1912, seven years after the Gstaad–Zweisimmen section completed the main line in 1905, as recorded in the MOB history.

Some journeys between Gstaad and Lenk require a change at Zweisimmen, while some regional services run through. Check the specific departure in the current timetable.

At Zweisimmen, the metre-gauge MOB line meets the standard-gauge BLS line to Spiez, over which the GoldenPass Express continues to Interlaken Ost. The carriages pass through a gauge-adapting installation, where their variable-gauge bogies adjust from 1,000 to 1,435 millimetres and the coach height is altered for the different platforms. The locomotive is also changed because the two networks use different electrical systems. Passengers remain aboard. The official GoldenPass technology explanation describes the process in detail.

Apart from GoldenPass Express through services, passengers travelling between the BLS line from Spiez and the MOB line towards Gstaad or Montreux normally change trains at Zweisimmen.

Regional Trains and the GoldenPass Express

The GoldenPass Express is a regular timetabled service, but not every train on the MOB line is a GoldenPass Express. Regional trains, GoldenPass Panoramic services and Belle Époque trains have different stopping patterns. For a local event, a regional service may provide a more convenient departure time or a stop closer to the venue.

On the GoldenPass Express, seat reservations are strongly recommended in first and second class and compulsory in Prestige class. A valid transport ticket or guest card does not, by itself, include a seat reservation or guarantee carriage on a full GoldenPass Express. Travellers who need a particular departure should reserve a seat; otherwise, another connection may be more dependable. Prestige class also requires a valid first-class ticket and a supplement that includes the compulsory reservation. Current conditions are given in the MOB seat-reservation guidance.

PostBus Connections to the Side Valleys

PostBus connects the railway corridor with Lauenen, Turbach, Gsteig, Feutersoey and other settlements beyond the rail line.

The official Gstaad–Saanen PostBus network map (PDF) shows how railway stations, village bus stops, side-valley routes and services operating only at certain times connect. It does not cover every AFA service around Lenk or the TPC network in the Pays-d’Enhaut. Use the map for an overview of the Gstaad–Saanen network and the SBB journey planner for the service operating on a particular date.

For an event outside the railway villages, allow time for the bus connection and any final walk. Check the last usable return connection as well, since evening, seasonal and mountain services may be infrequent.

Using the Gstaad Card and Pass d’Enhaut

Eligible guests staying in accommodation subject to the local visitor tax receive the Gstaad Card from the first overnight stay. It covers second-class travel on designated public transport during the stay, including covered portions of arrival and departure journeys. Anyone planning to use it for the arrival journey should ensure that the valid card or mobility ticket has been issued and is available before boarding.

The current public-transport coverage includes year-round MOB rail travel between Rougemont and Lenk via Gstaad and Zweisimmen. It also includes specified AFA and PostBus services serving places such as Saanenmöser, Lauenen or Lauenensee, Turbach, the Col du Pillon, Simmenfälle, Bühlberg and Iffigenalp or Alpenrösli. Some routes and endpoints operate only in summer or winter, so consult the current timetable before travelling.

The card issued depends on the location of the accommodation, not simply on the transport route being used. Guests staying in the Pays-d’Enhaut, including Château-d’Oex, Rougemont and Rossinière, receive the Pass d’Enhaut from the first night. For staying guests, it is active throughout the arrival day and remains valid until 05:00 on the morning after departure. Its transport coverage and other benefits differ by season.

The Gstaad Card applies only in second class and within its designated validity area. First-class upgrades, uncovered portions of journeys and seat reservations are not included. Individual seat reservations on MOB trains are generally optional, although they are recommended during busy periods. Prestige travel requires a valid first-class ticket and a compulsory reservation.

The Gstaad Card does not include fares for dogs or bicycles; ordinary fares and route-specific carriage rules apply. The Sparenmoos service is not included as free transport, although the card may provide a reduced fare on a seasonal hiking taxi.

Groups of ten or more must register or reserve with each relevant operator in advance, even when every passenger holds a guest card. Deadlines differ by operator and route: consult the current instructions issued by PostBus, AFA and the relevant railway company.

The Gstaad Card does not provide general mountain-lift or ski-area access. Any card-specific reduction for a lift or other attraction must be checked separately.

Information checked: 24 August 2026. Routes, seasonal operations and conditions can change; verify the current timetable and operator information before travelling.

Planning a Journey

For each event, confirm the exact village and venue, the nearest railway station or bus stop, the approximate walking time and any limitation affecting the return journey. A street address alone may not show whether a bus connection or a substantial walk is required.

Travellers who need step-free access should check the precise station and train. MOB states that accessibility varies on regional services and that Belle Époque carriages are not accessible to wheelchair or walker users. The MOB accessibility guide and the SBB journey planner provide service-specific information. Connecting buses, the route from the stop and the venue itself must be checked separately.

Shortly before departure, check the SBB journey planner, the PostBus timetable and the live MOB traffic information. Recheck the last return connection, particularly during bad weather, construction work or major events.

Further Information

• MOB network and history

• GoldenPass Express

• Gstaad–Saanen PostBus network map (PDF)

• Gstaad Card information

• Pass d’Enhaut information

• MOB guest-card validity

• MOB accessibility information

• Current MOB traffic information

• Swiss public-transport timetable

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The Western Bernese Oberland

Gstaad lies in the Saanenland, at the western edge of the Bernese Oberland in the canton of Bern. The Saanenland borders Fribourg to the north, Vaud to the west, Valais to the south and the Simmental to the east.

By rail, the two principal approaches are from Montreux in the west and Zweisimmen in the east. Travellers from Geneva, Geneva Airport or Lausanne usually reach Montreux first; travellers from Zurich, Zurich Airport, Bern or Basel generally approach through Bern, Spiez and Zweisimmen. From Interlaken, the GoldenPass Express runs through Zweisimmen towards Gstaad and Montreux; other itineraries normally require a change at Zweisimmen. Exact itineraries vary, so consult the rail and bus information above and check the live SBB timetable for the travel date.

By road, common approaches are through Zweisimmen, Château-d’Oex and the Col du Pillon. Weather, roadworks and event traffic can affect the best route, so check current conditions and the venue’s exact address before setting out.

Gstaad Village

Gstaad is a resort village in the Municipality of Saanen. Its centre includes the traffic-free Promenade, hotels, shops, restaurants and event venues. Gstaad is not a municipality in its own right; that is why “Gstaad” and “Saanen” can appear together in addresses and official records.

An event carrying the Gstaad name may therefore take place in Saanen, Gsteig, Lauenen, Zweisimmen or another locality. Treat the event name as a destination label, not as the venue address.

Important: In event publicity, “Gstaad” may mean the village, the wider holiday region or a program extending across the Saanenland and neighbouring valleys. 

Said differently: Gstaad is both a village and a holiday region. Those uses overlap, but they are not geographically identical.

Saanen Village & Municipality

“Saanen” can mean either Saanen village or the larger Municipality of Saanen. The village is the municipality’s main settlement and administrative centre. The municipality also includes Gstaad and other settlements and valleys.

The municipality says it comprises the main village of Saanen and ten Bäuerten, which it describes as subareas and valleys: Abländschen, Bissen, Ebnit, Gruben, Grund, Gstaad, Kalberhöni, Saanenmöser, Schönried and Turbach.

What "Saanenland" Means

Saanenland is not a municipality and it does not include every place associated with Gstaad events. The Municipality of Saanen defines the Saanenland as the municipalities of Saanen, Gsteig and Lauenen. Zweisimmen, Rougemont, Château-d’Oex, Lenk and Les Diablerets fall outside that three-municipality definition, even though they may appear in the same event programs and regional visitor information.

Why Events Outside Gstaad Village Use the Gstaad Name

Cultural and sporting organizations sometimes use Gstaad as a regional destination name. For visitors, the distinction matters: an event bearing the Gstaad name may take place in another village or at a mountain venue.

The Gstaad Menuhin Festival illustrates this geographical spread. Its concert venue page lists locations in Gstaad, Saanen, Gsteig, Lauenen, Rougemont, Vers-l’Église, Château-d’Œx, Zweisimmen, Boltigen, Abländschen, and Lenk, my favorite place for long summer walks. Its directions page also includes Schönried and Glacier 3000 at Col du Pillon. A concert presented under the festival’s Gstaad name is therefore not necessarily in Gstaad village.

The Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad provides a sporting example. During the August 20–23, 2026 edition, matches were played on the polo ground beside the runway at Saanen Airport, a few kilometers from Gstaad village. The program also included a players’ parade through Gstaad on August 21, showing how one event can involve several locations.

Before arranging accommodation or transport, check the venue name and address on the official event listing. Plan both the outward and return journeys around that location, including any event-specific parking or shuttle arrangements.

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Gstaad & Area Villages

The Saanenland comprises the municipalities of Saanen, Gsteig, and Lauenen. This selection also includes Zweisimmen and Lenk in the neighboring Simmental, alongside smaller communities within the Saanenland.

• Gstaad is an internationally known resort village within the Municipality of Saanen. Its pedestrian Promenade provides a central place to stroll, shop, and eat. The pedestrian centre is one part of the village; roads serve its surrounding neighborhoods and facilities.

• Saanen is the municipality’s historic main village and administrative seat. It is recorded in Switzerland’s federal ISOS inventory of historic settlements of national importance. Saanen church and Hotel Restaurant Landhaus are established Menuhin Festival venues; consult the program for performances during your visit.

• Schönried is a village within the Municipality of Saanen, set on a terrace above the main valley. Its railway station makes it a practical arrival point for mountain excursions: the Horneggli chairlift valley station is a few minutes’ walk away. Check the lift’s operating dates when planning an ascent.

• Saanenmöser is a village within the Municipality of Saanen, around the pass connecting the Saanenland with the Simmental. When arranging transport, specify Saanenmöser railway station, your accommodation, or another precise destination. The Saanersloch gondola valley station is a few minutes’ walk from the railway station, with the gondola currently listed for winter operation.

• Gsteig is the principal village and administrative centre of the Municipality of Gsteig, south of Feutersoey. It lies on the road and PostBus route 180 from Gstaad towards Col du Pillon and Les Diablerets. Mountain paths lead towards the Sanetsch reservoir, while the seasonal cable car from Innergsteig offers lift access during its operating season. As of October 12, 2026, the cable car is closed for its winter break through June 11, 2027.

• Zweisimmen is a village and municipality in the Simmental, northeast of Gstaad. Its railway station is a regional junction, with connections towards Spiez and Interlaken, Gstaad and Montreux, and Lenk. This makes it a useful transport hub for exploring both the Simmental and the Saanenland; check the timetable for your particular connection.

• Lauenen is the principal village of the separate Municipality of Lauenen, in a side valley south of Gstaad. Its older village centre includes preserved wooden houses and a sixteenth-century church. Lauenensee lies farther up the valley, amid the protected wetlands of the Gelten–Iffigen nature reserve. PostBus route 181 serves Lauenen throughout the timetable year.

• Turbach is a dispersed valley community within the Municipality of Saanen, southeast of Gstaad. It is also a Bäuert, a traditional local community. Its farms and homes are spread through the valley, whose course initially runs east before curving south towards Trüttlisbergpass. PostBus route 182 provides access from Gstaad.

• Lenk is a village and municipality near the head of the Upper Simmental. From Gstaad, it is reached by rail via Zweisimmen. The Via Alpina connection from Lenk to Gstaad crosses Trüttlisbergpass and descends through the Turbach valley. This is a full-day mountain hike: the published stage covers approximately 22.6 kilometres and takes about seven and a half hours of walking.

• Feutersoey is a village within the Municipality of Gsteig, on the main valley route between Gstaad and Gsteig. Here the Tschärzistal branches towards Arnensee. Summer road access to the reservoir follows a toll road; it closes to private and tourist traffic in winter. PostBus route 180 serves Feutersoey on the main road.

• Abländschen is a small hamlet and dispersed settlement within the Municipality of Saanen, in the upper Jaun valley below the Gastlosen. Its setting lies away from the municipality’s main Saane valley. Seasonal PostBus route 185 links Saanen with Abländschen and Jaun via the Mittelberg Pass. The published 2026 season ends October 25; operating days vary during the season, so check the timetable for your travel date.

Mountain Areas Near Gstaad

The mountain areas around Gstaad offer different kinds of excursions, from shorter ridge walks and family facilities to exposed mountain routes and high-altitude attractions. Before travelling, check the operating dates of the lifts and the status of your intended trail or activity, particularly when an excursion depends on a lift for the return journey. Any suggested walking route, path, or itinerary is used at the visitor’s own discretion.

• Wispile refers here to the Höhi Wispile upper gondola station, beside Berghaus Wispile at around 1,900 metres. This is distinct from the valley station, Bodme middle station, and the separate 1,939-metre Stand summit. From the upper station, ridge walks lead towards Vorderi Wispile, with longer routes continuing towards Chrine, Lauenensee, Lauenen, or Gsteig. The Lauenensee extension includes a steep descent and should be planned as a mountain hike. Summer attractions near Berghaus Wispile include a restaurant, playground, and petting zoo. Winter activities include skiing, winter walking, and sledging when conditions permit. The sledging route towards Gsteig requires approximately 40 minutes pulling the sled along the ridge before the downhill run begins.

• Glacier 3000 is a high-altitude mountain excursion and ski area principally accessed from Col du Pillon, in Ormont-Dessus, canton of Vaud. The main cable-car route ascends in two sections via Cabane to Scex Rouge. The wider ski area also reaches the Bernese side around Reusch in Gsteig, where the canton records lift infrastructure and pistes crossing the Martisberg nature reserve. From Scex Rouge, visitors can access the Peak Walk and take the Ice Express chairlift towards the maintained Glacier Walk, when those activities are open. Skiing and other attractions have their own seasonal and weather-dependent availability. Regular PostBus services connect Col du Pillon with Gstaad and Les Diablerets. Check each intended activity as well as the main cable cars before travelling.

• Eggli is a lift-served mountain area above Gstaad, reached by the Gstaad–Eggli gondola and, in winter, also served from Saanen. Its walking routes towards Gstaad and Saanen offer views across the surrounding valleys. Longer routes towards La Videmanette extend across the Bern–Vaud cantonal boundary and into the French-speaking Pays-d’Enhaut. In winter, Eggli and La Videmanette form a connected ski area when the necessary lifts and pistes are operating. Here is the selected view from Eggli towards Gstaad.

• Wasserngrat is a ridge and small lift-served mountain area above Gstaad, reached by chairlift from Bissen. PostBus route 182 towards Turbach serves the “Gstaad, Wasserngratbahn” stop beside the valley station. Summer chairlift service operates on selected days. The published Leiterli–Wasserngrat hike starts above Lenk’s Betelberg and covers 10.9 kilometres in approximately three hours and fifty minutes, including partly exposed ridge sections. Check both lifts before starting: a closed Wasserngrat chairlift adds a substantial, steep descent into the valley. In winter, the black-marked Tiger Run, piste 56, is described by the operator as the region’s steepest descent.

• Horneggli is a lift-served mountain area above Schönried, currently reached by chairlift from a valley station a few minutes’ walk from Schönried railway station. In summer, it is one endpoint of the marked panoramic route between Rinderberg and Horneggli via Hornberg, Route 306. This is a mountain walk with some narrower sections requiring sure-footedness. In winter, Schönried provides an entrance to the connected Rinderberg–Saanersloch–Horneggli ski sector. Check current project and operating notices when planning future visits, as the Horneggli–Hornberg area is scheduled for redevelopment.

• Saanerslochgrat is the upper-station and ridge area above Saanenmöser, reached by the two-section Saanenmöser–Saanenwald–Saanerslochgrat gondola. The operator currently lists this gondola for winter operation only. Its valley station is a few minutes’ walk from Saanenmöser railway station and provides the Saanenmöser entrance to the connected Rinderberg–Saanersloch–Horneggli ski sector. Snow and weather conditions can affect the connecting lifts and access to individual sectors.

• Rinderberg is a lift-served mountain above Zweisimmen, with its gondola valley station a few minutes’ walk from Zweisimmen railway station. The upper station stands at about 2,004 metres; a short uphill walk reaches the summit viewpoint at about 2,079 metres. In summer, Route 306 towards Hornberg and Horneggli covers approximately 5.9 kilometres in two hours in that direction. Although much of the ridge path is broad, some sections require sure-footedness. In winter, Rinderberg provides the Zweisimmen entrance to the connected ski sector when its linking lifts and pistes are operating.

• La Videmanette is a lift-served mountain area above Rougemont, reached by gondola from a valley station a short walk from Rougemont railway station. Its upper station provides access to mountain walks, including a circuit through Les Praz and Ruble with sections requiring sure-footedness. It also gives access to three seasonal via ferrata routes on Le Rubli, with substantially different difficulties, graded K1, K3, and K5−. Check route availability and equipment requirements before setting out. In winter, La Videmanette forms part of the Eggli–La Videmanette ski area when the connecting lifts and pistes are open.

Area Lakes & Reservoirs

• Lauenensee (Lake Lauenen) is a natural mountain-lake site at about 1,380 metres in the Municipality of Lauenen. It includes the main lake and the smaller, officially mapped kleiner Lauenensee. Their surrounding moors form an important core area of the Gelten–Iffigen nature reserve. Seasonal PostBus route 181 connects Gstaad with the lakeside access area; its published 2026 season runs through October 25. Drivers use a limited paid car park, and the access road closes when parking is full. Walking and summer bathing are possible. Remain on marked paths and boardwalks through the moors, keep dogs on leads and out of the lake, and do not cycle on the protected southeast path and boardwalk. Watercraft are generally prohibited, with a retained exception for previously authorized rowing boats.

• Arnensee (Lac d’Arnon) is a hydroelectric reservoir at about 1,542 metres in the Tschärzistal, within the Municipality of Gsteig. The municipality describes its conversion from a natural lake, while the SwissDams record confirms its hydropower purpose. Summer access follows a toll road from Feutersoey, which closes to private and tourist traffic in winter. Plan the final journey separately from public transport to Feutersoey. Visitors come for lakeside walking, summer swimming, and fishing with the required Bern fishing permit. Huus am Arnensee offers pedal boats, paddleboards, and rowing boats, and sells fishing day permits during its operating season.

• Lac Retaud is a small mountain lake at 1,685 metres near Col du Pillon, in Ormont-Dessus, canton of Vaud. From Gstaad, take PostBus to Col du Pillon, then allow approximately half an hour for the uphill walk. Summer road access also reaches parking near the lake; a seasonal Diablobus from Les Diablerets is another advertised option. Summer activities include swimming and paddleboarding. Fishing requires a Vaud permit and compliance with the annual season; current visitor guidance prohibits fishing on Fridays. Nationally important fens lie beside the lake, so follow marked routes and local conservation instructions.

• Seebergsee is a natural mountain lake at about 1,830 metres on Zweisimmen municipal territory, within the Diemtigtal Regional Nature Park and the Spillgerten nature reserve. It has no surface inflows and drains partly underground. From Gstaad, travel by train to Zweisimmen, then arrange a hikers’ taxi to Meieberg, followed by a marked mountain walk. Confirm operating dates and book ahead. The alternative approach through Zwischenflüh uses a permit-controlled mountain road to designated parking, or a substantially longer walk from the PostBus stop. Visitor rules prohibit fires, camping, bivouacking, drones, flotation devices, and collecting plants. Keep dogs under control and out of the lake. Boats and rafts are prohibited for ordinary visitors, and radios and music equipment are prohibited around the lake.

• Lenkerseeli is a small lake near the village centre of Lenk, in the Simmental. Its flat, wide lakeside path is maintained for winter walking as well as summer visits. From Gstaad, travel by train through Zweisimmen to Lenk. The adjacent AlpKultur playground makes this a practical family outing when conditions permit. Describe the level paths directly rather than promising universal accessibility; visitors requiring step-free travel should check assistance arrangements for the train journey. The lake lies within the Lenkerseeli nature reserve, where bathing and all watercraft are prohibited.

• Iffigsee lies at about 2,065 metres in the Municipality of Lenk, within the Gelten–Iffigen nature reserve. The usual summer approach from Gstaad is by train through Zweisimmen to Lenk, followed by the seasonal Iffigenalp bus. Drivers must observe the alternating traffic windows on the narrow Iffigenstrasse, which closes in winter. From Iffigenalp, the lake requires a hike: the direct return route takes approximately three hours, with 523 metres of ascent. Fishing requires the lake’s local day card, available at Berghaus Iffigenalp during the fishing season. Camping, bivouacking, and watercraft, including paddleboards, are prohibited. Winter approaches cross avalanche terrain and require appropriate experience and equipment.

• Sanetschsee (Lac de Sénin) is a hydroelectric reservoir in the Municipality of Savièse, canton of Valais, north of Col du Sanetsch. Its normal full reservoir level is about 2,034 metres; the actual water level varies. During its operating season, the Sanetsch cable car climbs from Innergsteig to a mountain station beside the reservoir. From the “Gsteig b. Gstaad, Post” bus stop, allow approximately 25 minutes to walk to the valley station. The lake circuit takes roughly one to one-and-a-half hours and includes rocky sections requiring sure-footedness. Longer mountain-hiking access is possible from Gsteig; road access approaches from Savièse on the Valais side. Check cable-car operations, road and trail conditions, and any restrictions around the dam before setting out.

• Forellensee (Zweisimmen) is a small artificial lake at about 920 metres on the northern edge of Zweisimmen, in the Simmental. The municipality’s planning report links its creation around 1900 to gravel extraction for railway construction and the subsequent impounding of water. Its southern section forms the Forellensee nature reserve, providing habitat for rare aquatic plants and a breeding site for common toads. Within this protected section, remain on designated footpaths and keep dogs on leads. Bathing, angling, entering shore vegetation, using unauthorized watercraft, and erecting tents or other shelters are prohibited. Important: Confirm current access and availability directly before making a special trip.

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