Hiking The Swiss Pyramid - Mt, Niesen
Sean and I often frequent Lake Thun and the surrounding area. We have spent many evenings exploring the city of Thun and riding around the Bernese Oberland region. One of our favorite picnic spots is situated on the shoreline of this deeply-blue alpine lake and we have always been drawn to the pyramid shaped mountain that dominates the skyline. So on one cloudy Saturday morning we decided to climb the Swiss pyramid.
How to reach the top of the swiss pyramid and explore!
Nisen is a mountain peak located in central Switzerland in the Bernese Alps situated in Canton Bern. The summit of the mountain is 2,362 metres and can be reached by foot, funicular or a mixture of the both. We opted for a mixture to get the full experience.
When you arrive at the NiesenBahn station you can make your way to the ticket booth. You will have a choice of three tickets, one-way (fr.38), return (fr.59) or a hiking ticket (fr.48). If you have a GA card or a Halbtax card you will be able to receive a discounted ticket. We chose the hiking ticket meaning we could use the funicular railway for 3 sections. During the season the funicular railway runs at 30 minute intervals and if you choose to take the railway directly to the summit it takes 30 minutes.
We bought our tickets and waited a few moments inside the station for the funicular to arrive. The Niesenbahn is one of the longest funiculars in Europe. The route up is divided into two sections, Mülenen to Schwandegg and Schwandegg to Niesen Kulm the summit station.
The red funicular arrived and we hopped on board and started our journey up the mountain, the first section is around 2111m with a maximum gradient of 66%. The views out the window consist of dense forest trees with the occasional panorama of the surrounding Alps. However what is most impressive is the funicular track was built in 1908. Alongside the track you will notice a staircase, this is the longest staircase in the world according to the Guinness world record book. All 11,674 steps lead you to the summit but unfortunately this is inaccessible to the public.
We reached Schwandegg and exited the station to start our hike to the summit. You have two routes to choose from:
Route Five - Will take you two hours and 15 minutes and is the most direct route to the summit. This route closely follows the funicular railway track and is very steep. This route is not recommended if you’re hiking with children.
Route Six - Will take you three hours and is the more scenic route taking you over Alpine Meadows. It also offers you many panoramas and lots of photos taking opportunities. This route is more suited for children and leisurely hikers.
We opted for the more leisurely route six, with time on our hands and our backpacks packed we started our hike around Niesen. The trail is clearly marked, passing through multiple fields filled with Swiss alpine cows. The trail can be slightly uneven and rocky at times but overall is a very easy hike for the whole family. After a couple of hours of hiking we started to reach the summit and the modern Berghaus that sits on Niesen’s peak came into view. When you finally reach the summit you will be met with 360° panorama views of the Bernese Alps, Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, as well as over the Bernese Mittelland all the way to the Jura.
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You can visit the Mountain 365 days a year however Niesenbahn runs differently each year so make sure to check out the website before you visit.
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Yes! The Berghaus restaurant has wonderful options for brunch, lunch, snacks and dinner!
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Before visiting make sure to check out the Niesen website for their regular events including brunch and full moon dinner! ere
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Yes there is parking at the Niesenbahn. Five hours will cost you Fr.5 and the whole day it will cost you Fr.8.
At the Berghaus Niesen Kulm you can have brunch, lunch and dinner and even stay overnight. With unbeatable views and an extensive menu everyone will be able to find something to eat and drink as they marvel in the surrounding views. Weather you come for a post hike snack or a five course evening meal this Mountain lodge is the perfect place to relax.
After enjoying a well-deserved coffee at the Berghaus we descended the mountain using the last funicular of the day. Overall we loved our day exploring the Swiss Pyramid and would recommend it to anybody looking to enjoy a nostalgic day in the mountains.
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