Cheaper lesser known mountain tops in Switzerland?

Aside from Luzern, Jungfrau and Zermatt/Haut Valais regions, what are some significantly cheaper (and hopefuly less crowded) cogtrains, funiculars, gondolas or chairlift rides with outstanding alpine or non-alpine views?

Hi Travel2Live,

Is this list helpful?

www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/12-ideas-for-cheap-mountain-trips-in-switzerland

Basically - everywhere not normally mentioned!

in other words avoid the Jungfrau region, Titlis/PIlatus/Rigi, and Zermatt and away you go!

The Upper Engadine and Locarno have nice mountain views but I’m not sure they are cheaper or substantially less crowded than First or Schilthorn. Pretty much everywhere is cheaper and less crowded than Jungfraujoch.

Mark

There are some really nice mountain tops in Ticino. Scroll down on this page for a list of places I visited, and I enjoyed all of them: www.myswissalps.com/ticino/activities

Hi Travel2Live,

All cogwheel railways, funiculars and gondolas that are not affected by mass tourism are generally cheaper! Good and inexpensive options are available in the mountain regions of Uri, Schwyz, Glarus, Nidwalden, Obwalden and Ticino.

Martin

Hi Travel2Live,

I can recommend Stoos in Central Switzerland. If you have a Swiss Travel Pass or Tell Pass, you can travel for free on the rotating funicular up to the car-free village (Stoos). Then you can take the chairlifts up to Fronalpstock or Klingenstock for an amazing view of the surrounding mountains and lakes. The tickets for the chairlifts are discounted with the Swiss Travel Pass and regional pass.

The Swiss Travel Pass is also valid for travel on the cable car to Klewenalp, also in Central Switzerland. There are chairlifts to take you further up if you wish. Also with the Swiss Travel Pass you can travel for free up to the mountain villages of Bettmeralp and Riederalp in Upper Valais. Both are easily accessible from Brig.

Regards,

Anna

Rigi is included in STP.

To escape the crowd get off in Staffel an hike to Rotstock for a similar view or even better view.

Hello Travel2Live,

In the Zurich area you could visit Felsenegg. On a clear day you can enjoy views of Lake Zurich and the mountains in the distance.

To reach Felsenegg you can take a train there from Zurich main station and then make the 5 minute walk to the cable car.
You can also visit Uetliberg mountain from Zurich main station and then enjoy the panoramic walk (1h 45m) to Felsenegg (great option if it is a nice day!) and then take the cable car down.

• https://www.myswissalps.com/zurich/activities

Flumserberg could be another option, located between Zurich and Chur. You can take a cable car up and enjoy the views and the area. See timetable for planning. https://www.myswissalps.com/timetable

Kind regards,

Yolanda

Anna, Arno, Mark, Yolanda, gramels, 1960man and Swiss Sights: THANK YOU all for so many good ideas, I have some homework to do (a little overwhelmed right now but will handle it).

Niederdorf, Moleson, Brienz Rothern, Engelberg or the Locarno mountains are maybe (big maybe) the not sooo expensive high mountain trains I am looking for but I haven't done my research yet. Fortunately, I still have time :-)

Hello Travel2Live

I strongly recommend the little town / large village of Leysin, on a plateau high above Aigle. It's on a lovely sunny slope with spectacular views over the Rhône valley.

There's a little narrow gauge cog train that leaves from outside Aigle station on a regular basis and climbs at a ridiculous angle. The journey to Leysin-Feyday station takes less than half an hour. Leysin is very attractive, and has a range of cafés and shops. It's also very slopey!

There's a free bus to take you round. It's about every hour, though the timetable doesn't span the whole day.

The station is at the west end of the village, while the chair lift (télécabine) to the Berneuse mountain (2000m) is at the east end, about a 10 to 15 minute walk. The views from the top to les Diablerets to the east, and over the Rhône valley towards Mont Blanc to the south and Lac Léman (Lake Geneva) to the west, are just stunning, and I'm sure the trip is much cheaper than the Bernese Oberland. And a bonus: if you are 77 and over, the lift is free, with a reduced price for pensioners. There's a good café at the top, reasonably priced.

When I was in Leysin last September, it was 25 degrees at the top, with clear blue skies (and it was fairly breezy). There were no crowds - just a smattering of visitors.

For train nerds - after Leysin-Feyday station, the little train has one more stop - Leysin Grande Hôtel. The line disappears into a tunnel, climbing steeply on a corkscrew and curving through 180 degrees in a short distance. The Hôtel station is a faded remnant of Leysin's early days as a health resort. Very few people go up there. Lovely! The history, geography and uniqueness of this little line are fascinating, and plans for its future astonishing!

Hope that gives you more food for thought.

John

Hi john

your suggestion sounds very appealing. Do you have any photos you could share?

mark

Here you are, Mark - 6 photos of Leysin and la Berneuse summit from the Télécabine, from last September.

1 Leysin from below, steep rack railway on left (this is taken from the Sportscentre / local bus terminus at the foot of the village.

2 Leysin, village centre

3 Les Diablerets from mid point of Leysin Télécabine

4 Leysin, Berneuse, Télécabine summit and café

5 Leysin, Berneuse, Télécabine summit overlooking les Diablerets

6 Leysin, Berneuse, Télécabine summit overlooking Rhône valley (Aigle is hidden behind the crag on the right)

I'll follow this up with some shots of the local narrow gauge railway from Aigle to Leysin.

John

... and here are some shots of the little train from Aigle to Leysin:

7 Leysin and 2 other mountain lines leave from here, outside Aigle station

8 Leysin Feyday station, towards Aigle

9 Leysin Feyday station, towards Grand Hôtel

10 Leysin Grande Hôtel station, terminus

11 Leysin Village station, towards Rhône valley

12 Leysin Village station, twists and turns

Hi John

Lovely photos ! Looks like it would be just the ticket for someone wanting to avoid the commercialism and crowds. Perfect for a quiet yet scenic vacation destination.

Thanks for sharing, Mark

I stayed there for a week last September. Perfect!

John

Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures John! Much appreciated :-).

Hi John,

where exactly did you stay?

Lothar

Hi Lothar

I stayed 6 nights at the Hôtel Central Résidence, a decent fairly large 3 star hotel in the centre of the village. Most of the rooms have views such as I've just posted, over the Rhône valley. There are several hotels in Leysin.

I seem to remember that Leysin claimed to be the sunniest place in Switzerland.

John

Hi John,

Leysin looks like a beautiful, charming village. I rode from Aigle to les Diablerets on way to the Glacier 3000, and for almost the whole ride I could see across the valley towards where Leysin must be. It was very scenic and very 'Swiss' the whole ride. Thank you for the beautiful photos and the recommendation. I will try to get there on my upcoming September trip. Thanks again.

Regards,

Danielsan