Combining Wengen/Männlichen/Kleine Scheidegg/First
A couple is planning a trip to Switzerland in June/July and will spend three days in Wengen, aiming to hike from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg while also visiting First. They're looking for advice on the best itinerary and must-see attractions, as they enjoy hiking and unique experiences.
- Plan to start your hike early to maximize your day.
- Consider separating the hikes into different days for a more relaxed experience.
- Check the schedule for the lifts as they close earlier than the trains.
- Look into the Swiss Travel Pass for convenient access to cable cars and trains during your stay.
- Don't miss exploring Mürren and Lauterbrunnen while in the area.
AI-generated summary-
Hi! My husband and I have an upcoming trip to Switzerland in June/July 2022. We will be spending three days in Wengen; on one of those days we would like to combine the hike from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg with a trip up to First and then back down to Wengen. Looking for the best itinerary as it relates to time of day, transport and attractions. Any favorites or hidden gems? We are in our late 50’s; love hiking, history, beautiful scenery and unique experiences. Thank you!
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Wengen and its area is absolutely beautiful! For your question, based on my experience, Mannlichen is more than half a day as well as First! You could go up Mannlichenbahn in Wengen, hike the Panoramaweg, ride down with the train to Grindelwald, short walk to Firstbahn, go up with Firstbahn, enjoy a bit of the view there and travel back to Wengen (beware, the lifts close earlier than the train). To me, this too tight and limitative for one single day. I would rather take one day for each and expand your day as you please and feel. For example, in Kleine Scheidegg, you could decide to hike down to Wengen and have lunch in a mountain restaurant or take advantage of being there to do a part or all of the Eiger trail. If First, while up there, you can walk to Bachalpsee, walk the cliff walk, enjoy one of the activities offered up there and on the way back enjoy Grindelwald.
Also, while in Wengen, discovering Mürren and Lauterbrunnen is a must!
We were lucky enough to spend 2 weeks in Wengen. There is so much to discover!
Hi EASW,
Welcome to MySwissAlps!
I think that if you set out early it might be possible to combine those trips in one day. Optionally, you could do it in reverse by travelling first to Grindelwald and taking the cable car to Grindelwald First. Be sure to check out the First Cliff Walk at the top. Maybe you can plan to have your breakfast or brunch at the restaurant’s terrace overlooking the mountains. After brunch, take the cable car down, walk to the Grindelwald train station and take the train to Grindelwald Terminal. Here you can board the Eiger Express gondola to Mannlichen. Hike the Panoramaweg from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg. Finally, take the train down to Wengen.
However I agree with LeVoyageur that it might be more practical to plan these trips on different days particularly if you wish to hike the trail from First to Bachalpsee.
Regards,
Anna
Thank you, LeVoyageur and Anna, for your replies and suggestions. I do not want to try and cram so much into one day that we will be rushing around or looking at our watches. I had a thought. We will be arriving in Wengen (from Luzern) around 12:45 p.m. or so on June 27th. If we first drop our belongings off at our hotel, would we have enough time to take the cable car to Mannlichen, hike down to Klein Scheidegg, and then take the train back to Wengen? From what I read, it looks doable to me, but welcome your input. That would free up one day to do the First and Grindelwald activities and wander around Wengen some more. We do have one day put aside to explore Murren, the Shilthorn, Trummelback Falls, etc, too. Of course, this all hinges on the weather cooperating, so we will keep our plans flexible!
I did something similar on my trip. Arrived around noon at the hotel and took the cable car to Mannlichen, hiked to Klein Scheidegg, and then took the train back to Wengen.
The next day we took the train to Eigergletscher and hiked down to Alpiglen and from there to the train to Grindelwald and then went to First.
Hi EASW,
A half-day allocated for a trip to Mannlichen from Wengen including the hike from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg is doable. My kids and I did the trail last year when we stayed in Grindelwald. It took us about 1.5 hours to complete the hike. We left in the morning and were back in Grindelwald after lunch at Kleine Scheidegg. It’s a lovely trail and fairly easy too.
Anna
Hi, can you please explain this part in a little more detail?
The next day we took the train to Eigergletscher and hiked down to Alpiglen and from there to the train to Grindelwald and then went to First.
Unfortunately, if you follow Anna’s advice exactly at Grindelwald Terminal you’ll enjoy a spectacular trip up the Eiger Express gondola but it will take you to Eigergletscher not Männlichen.
Also, it is possible to take a regular and direct bus service (No. 121 direction: Grindelwald Terminal) from the bottom of Firstbahn to Grindelwald Terminal. Once there look out for signs for the gondola to Männlichen which will put you on the correct leg of the appropriately named ‘V Bahn’.
Andrew
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for pointing that out. We took the gondola, not the Eiger Express, from Grindelwald Terminal to Mannlichen. The Eiger Express goes direct to Eigergletscher.
http://www.myswissalps.com/mannlichen/gettingthere
Regards,
Anna
hi We have stayed at the Hotel Alpenrose for many years. If you have not booked your hotel , give them a try. best food in Switzerland, 3 star, traditional hotel, overlooking the valley and waterfall. same family for 150 years.
One hint after you drop your stuff at the hotel, if they are far away from the Manlicheen Bahn, have the hotel taxi take you to the cable car. We have walked to Kliene Schiedig in about 1 or 1/1, . We are 68 . Then we take the train up halfway to the Eigergletscher and walk down. You can walk part way back to WEngen to look atr the spectacular grand canyon waterfall scenery. Then pick up the train back to Wengen.
If you wanted to go to Grindelwald, you can walk to Kliene Schiedig, take the train to the Eigergletscher, take the very fast and beautiful scenery Cable car to Grindelwald. Then take a train or bus to the Grindelwald First cable car. Walk the scarey cliff walk , and come back,. Or walk down to another bus stop, Bachalpsee, or to another cable car .
I suggest one day at Wengen, Kliene Schiedig and Jungfrau. Then go to Grindelwald the next day. Then go across to Murren. I fyou have time a boat trip from Lauterbrennen to the waterfall with an antigue hotel .
Enjoy your trip. We have been there many times and it is our favorite place in Europe, Totally safe, Totally clean, and the Trains run on time all the time. Your hotel or train station will provide for youa train and cable car hiking pass that will cover all your cable cars, ferries, and trains. If you have not booked in Wengen yet, Look up the Hotel Alpenrose, The location is magic, a hotel dog, great food, original Swiss family owners . sadly no swimming pool but there is a pool in Wengen or you can pay for one at a more expensive hotel in town.
From Wengen we took the train Eigergletscher, which is the next stop above Kleine Scheidegg. (you will have to change trains.)
From there we hiked on the Eiger trail down to the Apiglen train station and took that train down to Grindelwald.
Hope that helps.
Thanks. i looked up the map on sbb.ch
Thank you for your advice, Rgoppelt, we are indeed booked at Hotel Alpenrose and looking forward to our stay! We have a pool here at home, so no requirement for it when we go on holiday. 🙂
I really appreciate all the information and recommendations offered here. You are all giving me so many ideas!
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