Find upcoming Gstaad events, festival dates, venue information and independent local reporting for Gstaad, Saanen and surrounding villages.
This site was launched in July 2026 by Ardan Michael Blum, who lived in Geneva for 30 years and returns regularly to Gstaad, Saanen and Lenk.
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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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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. Services from Interlaken also continue through 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.
Important: In event publicity, “Gstaad” may mean the village, the wider holiday region or a programme extending across the Saanenland and neighbouring valleys.
Switzerland Tourism presents Gstaad as both a village and a holiday region. Those uses overlap, but they are not geographically identical.
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.
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.
“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.
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 programmes and regional visitor information.
Cultural and sporting organisations often use Gstaad as an umbrella destination name while operating in several villages. This is ordinary regional branding, but it can conceal a meaningful location difference when the precise venue is omitted.
The Gstaad Menuhin Festival’s 2026 venue and direction pages, for example, cover locations in Gstaad, Saanen, Schönried, Gsteig, Lauenen, Rougemont, Vers-l’Église, Château-d’Oex, Zweisimmen, Boltigen, Abländschen and Lenk (my favourite place for long summer walks), as well as the Col du Pillon. A concert presented under the festival’s Gstaad name is therefore not necessarily in Gstaad village.
The same issue appears in sport. The Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad carries Gstaad in its name, but the 2026 tournament took place from 20 to 23 August on the polo ground beside the runway at Saanen Airport, several kilometres from Gstaad’s Promenade.
Under the canton’s three-municipality definition of the Saanenland, the region comprises Saanen, Gsteig and Lauenen; Zweisimmen and Lenk are nearby Simmental inclusions rather than Saanenland villages.
Gstaad — an internationally known resort village within the Municipality of Saanen, with the traffic-free Promenade at its centre.
Saanen — the municipality’s historic main village and the seat of its municipal administration. Its village centre is listed in the federal inventory of built sites of national importance, and Saanen Church and Hotel Landhaus are established concert and event venues.
Schönried — a village within the Municipality of Saanen, set on a terrace above the main valley. The Horneggli valley station is a few minutes’ walk from Schönried railway station.
Saanenmöser — a high-lying village within the Municipality of Saanen, at the Saanenmöser Pass crossing between Saanen and Zweisimmen. Because the same name can refer to the settlement, pass and transport destinations, directions should specify the exact destination—for example, Saanenmöser railway station or the Saanersloch valley station.
Gsteig — the village where the Municipality of Gsteig’s administration is based, south of Feutersoey. It lies on the road and PostBus route from Gstaad towards Col du Pillon. A marked hiking route and a seasonal cable car from Innergsteig provide access towards the Sanetsch reservoir area.
Zweisimmen — a village in the Simmental and a municipality of the same name, east of the Saanenland. Its station is a regional rail junction for routes towards Spiez and Interlaken, Montreux and Gstaad, and Lenk.
Lauenen — the principal village of the separate Municipality of Lauenen, in a side valley south of Gstaad. Its historic village core includes the old church district, while Lauenensee lies farther up the valley in the Gelten–Iffigen nature reserve.
Turbach — a dispersed side-valley settlement and Bäuert within the Municipality of Saanen, southeast of Gstaad. Its houses are spread through a predominantly agricultural mountain valley rather than concentrated in a compact village centre.
Lenk — a village at the head of the Upper Simmental and a municipality of the same name. Although outside the narrowly defined Saanenland, it is linked with Gstaad by rail via Zweisimmen and on foot by Via Alpina stage 16.
Feutersoey — a village in the Municipality of Gsteig, on the upper-Saane route between Gstaad and Gsteig. At Feutersoey, the Tschärzistal side valley branches towards Arnensee.
Abländschen — a small hamlet within the Municipality of Saanen, in the upper Jaun valley away from the municipality’s main Saane valley and below the Gastlosen. The seasonal Mittelberg route links Saanen, Abländschen and Jaun via the pass.
Wispile — Of the many points of interest bearing the Wispile name, I have selected the Höhi Wispile mountain station, the gondola’s upper station and the principal lift-served access point for the high ridge above Gstaad. Several distinct places in the area carry the Wispile name, so this marker does not represent the valley station, middle station, every locality along the ridge, or the separate 1,939-metre mountain summit. The mountain station stands near Berghaus Wispile at approximately 1,907 metres. From here, walking routes follow the broad panoramic ridge toward Vorderi Wispile and Chrine, with longer routes continuing toward Lauenensee, Lauenen or Gsteig. A mountain restaurant, playground and petting zoo are situated near the station, while seasonal activities include hiking, winter walking, sledging and access to ski terrain. Gondola service, trails and facilities operate seasonally and may also depend on weather and mountain conditions; check their current status before travelling.
Eggli — a lift-served mountain area above Gstaad, reached by the Gstaad–Eggli gondola and, in winter, also served from Saanen. In summer, Eggli has marked walks towards Gstaad and Saanen; the wider walking terrain towards La Videmanette crosses the Bern–Vaud cantonal and German–French language boundary. In winter, Eggli and La Videmanette are linked within one ski area when the connecting lifts and pistes are operating. | Here is a view from Eggli looking down to Gstaad.
Wasserngrat — a ridge and small lift-served mountain area above Gstaad, reached by chairlift from the valley station at Bissen. The chairlift operates only on selected days in summer and serves one end of the demanding, partly exposed 10.9-kilometre high-level hike between Wasserngrat and Leiterli–Betelberg above Lenk. In winter, its pistes include the black Tiger Run, piste 56, which the operator describes as the region’s steepest descent.
Horneggli — a lift-served mountain area above Schönried, with its valley station approximately five minutes on foot from Schönried railway station. In summer, it is one endpoint of SwitzerlandMobility Route 306, the Horneggli Panorama Trail, which runs from Rinderberg via Hornberg. In winter, Schönried is an entry point to the connected Rinderberg–Saanersloch–Horneggli ski sector.
Saanerslochgrat — the upper-station and ridge area above Saanenmöser, reached in winter by the two-section Saanenmöser–Saanenwald–Saanerslochgrat gondola. The operator currently lists Saanersloch for winter operation only. Its valley station is a few minutes on foot from Saanenmöser railway station and provides the Saanenmöser entrance to the connected Rinderberg–Saanersloch–Horneggli ski sector.
Rinderberg — a lift-served mountain above Zweisimmen, with its gondola valley station a few minutes on foot from Zweisimmen railway station. In summer, the signed Rinderberg–Horneggli panoramic route follows the high ground towards Horneggli. In winter, when the connecting lifts and pistes are open, Rinderberg provides the Zweisimmen entrance to the connected ski sector.
La Videmanette — 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 walking and, when installed and open, to three via ferrata routes on Le Rubli. In winter, when the linking lifts and pistes are open, it forms part of the Eggli–La Videmanette ski area.
Glacier 3000 — a branded high-altitude mountain excursion and ski area principally accessed from Col du Pillon, where the principal valley station lies in Ormont-Dessus, in the canton of Vaud. On the Bernese side, the Martisberg nature reserve lies in the municipality of Gsteig, within the Saanenland; the Canton of Bern states that a Glacier 3000 aerial cableway and pistes cross its high valley. The two cable-car sections run from Col du Pillon via Cabane to Scex Rouge. From the upper station, visitors can reach the Peak Walk, take the Ice Express towards the Glacier Walk, and access seasonal skiing and other weather-dependent activities. Scheduled PostBus services connect Col du Pillon with Gstaad and Les Diablerets.
Lauenensee (Lake Lauenen) — a natural mountain-lake site at about 1,380 metres in the Municipality of Lauenen. The singular name covers the main lake and the officially mapped kleiner Lauenensee. Their surrounding moors form a core area of the cantonal Gelten–Iffigen nature reserve. Seasonal PostBus route 181 runs from Gstaad, while road access ends at a limited paid car park that can close when full. Walking and open-water bathing are possible, but the protection rules require visitors to remain on marked routes through the moors, keep dogs on leads and avoid riding bicycles on the protected southeast path and boardwalk; watercraft are generally prohibited apart from specifically authorised rowing boats.
Arnensee (Lac d’Arnon) — a hydroelectric reservoir at about 1,542 metres in the Tschärzistal, within the Municipality of Gsteig rather than Gstaad. The municipality records the conversion of the former natural lake into a reservoir, and the SwissDams record identifies its hydropower purpose and operator. Summer road access branches from Feutersoey via a toll road that closes to private and tourist traffic in winter; there is no normal scheduled service to the lakeshore. Visitors come for lakeside walking, open-water swimming and regulated fishing requiring a Bern patent. Pedalos, stand-up paddleboards and rowboats are offered seasonally.
Lac Retaud — a small mountain lake at 1,685 metres near Col du Pillon, in the Municipality of Ormont-Dessus, canton of Vaud, and therefore outside the Saanenland. It is a practical excursion from Gstaad: PostBus serves Col du Pillon from the Gstaad and Les Diablerets directions, followed by roughly a half-hour walk. Summer swimming and paddling are advertised, while fishing requires a Vaud permit. The lake adjoins the nationally important Retaud low fen, so visitors should follow marked routes and local conservation instructions.
Seebergsee — a natural mountain lake with underground inflows and outflows at about 1,830 metres. It lies on Zweisimmen municipal territory, within both the Diemtigtal Regional Nature Park and the cantonal Spillgerten nature reserve. It is a wider-area excursion east of Gstaad rather than a Saanenland lake. From Gstaad, travel by train to Zweisimmen; a pre-booked seasonal hikers’ taxi can continue to Meieberg, followed by a marked mountain walk. An alternative approach through Zwischenflüh uses a permit-controlled mountain road to designated parking or a longer walk from the PostBus stop. Reserve rules prohibit fires, camping or bivouacking, drones, floating craft, plant collecting and uncontrolled dogs.
Lenkerseeli — a small village-edge lake in Lenk, in the Simmental rather than the Saanenland. It lies a few minutes’ walk from the village centre within the nature reserve of the same name. The surrounding path is flat and wide and is maintained for walking in winter as well as summer; a longer barrier-free Lenk circuit also passes the lake. Lenk is reached from Gstaad by rail through Zweisimmen. The adjacent AlpKultur playground makes this the most accessible family-oriented entry in the list; the lake itself should not be assumed to be a bathing facility.
Iffigsee — a mountain lake at 2,065 metres in the Municipality of Lenk and within the Gelten–Iffigen nature reserve. From Gstaad, the usual approach is by rail through Zweisimmen to Lenk, followed by the seasonal bus to Iffigenalp; drivers must observe timed one-way road controls. The lake itself is accessible only on foot. The direct return hike from Iffigenalp is approximately 3 hours, with 523 metres of ascent, following a T2 mountain-hiking route. Fishing requires a day permit; winter access is an avalanche-terrain ski or snowshoe undertaking rather than the normal hike.
Sanetschsee (Lac de Sénin) — a hydroelectric reservoir at about 2,034 metres in the Municipality of Savièse, canton of Valais, north of the Col du Sanetsch. It is not in Gsteig, although it is associated with the Bernese side because the seasonal Sanetsch cable car climbs from the Innergsteig power-station area to a mountain station beside the reservoir. A circuit of roughly one to one-and-a-half hours follows the lake. Longer mountain-hiking access is possible from Gsteig, while the road approach reaches the dam only from Savièse on the Valais side. Cable-car, road, trail, water-level and dam access can change because of season, weather or maintenance.
On a computer, open Google Translate, choose Websites, leave the source language as Detect language (or select German), choose English, enter the page URL and click Go. Google notes that website translation is not available in every region. Some articles on this site also provide direct translation links under “Further Reading”.
Machine translation can mishandle names, local expressions, legal language and technical details. Use it for general understanding and consult the original source whenever exact wording matters. See Google’s current website-translation instructions.
This is an independent editorial guide. Unless expressly disclosed otherwise, neither the author nor this website is affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or officially connected with Gstaad Saanenland Tourism, the Municipality of Saanen, any event organizer, transport operator, mountain-sports organization, venue, hotel, business, public authority, or other individual or organization mentioned. The author retains sole editorial control. Names and trademarks are used only to identify the subjects discussed; inclusion does not imply a recommendation or endorsement.
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Information about Gstaad, Saanenland, and surrounding communities is provided for general editorial and reference purposes. This website does not control the events, services, locations, routes, or facilities it describes. Dates, programs, performers, prices, ticket availability, entry requirements, transportation arrangements, accessibility provisions, cancellation policies, operating conditions, and safety requirements may change.
Before purchasing tickets, traveling, participating in an activity, or making consequential plans, confirm current information with the responsible organizer, venue, transport operator, service provider, or public authority. Follow all current instructions, warnings, closures, and local safety requirements. Nothing on this website replaces guidance from organizers, qualified guides, emergency services, or public authorities.
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Note: “Gstaad Saanenland Tourism” remains a current official English name used by the organization, although some official pages use the German “Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus.” Official Gstaad source.
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