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Lunch Atop the Swiss Alps on Schilthorn

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During a one week swing through Switzerland two years ago, I took a bus from Interlaken to a train, to a tram which rose to an elevation of 10,000 feet amongst the jagged mountain peaks of the Swiss Alps.

My destination? A rotating restaurant on Schilthorn peak, which was built for the James Bond movie "Her Majesty's Secret Service." It was there that I enjoyed my one and only lunch atop the Swiss Alps.

Jungfrau (4,158m), Monch (4,099m), and Eiger (3,970m) mountains
View of (from right to left): Jungfrau (4,158m), Monch (4,099m), and Eiger (3,970m) mountains from atop Schilthorn.
Skiiers on Interlaken bus
An Interlaken bus loaded with Skiiers and their equipment. The scene reminded me of the old Warren Miller ski videos I use to watch as a kid. At the time, I dreamed of skiing in Switzerland, and the irony of not skiing once I made it as an adult was not lost on me!
The train to Interlaken
For those without a car, taking the train is one way to reach the tram to Schilthorn.
The rotating restaurant atop Schilthorn
The rotating restaurant built atop Schilthorn (10,000 feet) was the scene of the James Bond movie "His Majesty's Secret Service."
Out of bonunds
A warning sign greets skiers and snowboarders considering the off-piste (out of bounds) terrain atop Schilthorn.
The Swiss Alps
The mountain peaks of the Swiss Alps extend as far as the eye can see.
Spatzli Delight
For lunch, I ordered Spatzli Delight: mini dumplings with homemade cheese spaetzle, bacon, roasted onions, and pear slices. And hot coffee to drink. It was as delicious as it looks!
Looking back at Schilthorn
A look back at Schilthorn from the descending tram. It was mid-afternoon, and the sun was already heading toward the western horizon.
Ski lift
A ski lift as seen from above on the tram. The little people on skis below helped to give me a sense of scale.
Ski village
On the way down from Schilthorn, I stopped midway to walk around a small ski village. There wasn't much to see except for a few small shops selling food to the skiers who rent condos up there.

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About Dave Lee

Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 68 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.

Comments

  1. Andrew says

    Beautiful pictures, I'm genuinely jealous--I vaguely remember my high school trip to Lake Lucerne, it was stunningly quaint and beautiful, I can't wait to go back to Switzerland. Did you have any problems breathing at that altitude?

    Cheers,
    Andrew

    • Dave says

      Hey Andrew, since I wasn't doing much in the way of physical exercise, I don't recall any trouble breathing, but I bet my heart was beating a little faster. And it was really cold up there!

    • Mike says

      Hi Andrew! I hiked from the town below and it took me a very long time to hike up. It took me about 7 hours to hike, which apparently should only take 5. Every few feet I climbed, I had to stop and rest. Definitely didn't go as fast as I would have liked.

  2. Mike says

    Hey Dave! I don't remember you going through Switzerland during your trip. I actually hiked from Gimmelwald up to the Schilthorn, and barley survived. I am just luck I made it down on the last cable car of the day. I did go during summer, so it wasn't as bad. However, there was some snow left at the top.

  3. @_thetraveller_ says

    Although I hate skiing.. I would head to that mountain top to eat that delicious looking lunch...

    • Dave says

      It was a decadent lunch, and surprisingly, not any more expensive than a lunch back in Interlaken. Of course lunch in any Swiss restaurant seems to run $20-$25, whether you're on top of a mountain or not.

  4. GlobalButterfly says

    WOW!!!!!!!!!!! Now that's a view so special that I could care less what I was eating.

  5. Joya says

    That is the perfect lunch! This is going on my bucket list.

    • Dave says

      And because it takes some effort to get there, even by taking the bus/train/tram, the lunch is like a delicious reward!

  6. Dustin Main says

    You're making me want to go skiing Dave, and that's bad because it's warm and toasty here in Buenos Aires...

    (skiing will probably win though)

    • Dave says

      I was talking to a friend yesterday about a ski trip he took to Chile last Summer. He had a great time -- said the whole mountain was reserved for the foreigners who travel down there.

  7. Dylan says

    Wow the Alps are truly amazing!

  8. Fiona says

    Gorgeous views! Looks so calming. And that lunch, it's making me hungry! What a perfect day.

  9. SEO USA says

    Switzerland hill photos fantastic. No one can't see without come this website.very nice. thanks for sharing this information

  10. Skiurlaub says

    Your photos look amazing and Skiing in Switzerland is awesome. But often a litte bit expensive for students and backpackers.
    I prefer going to France. Though there the "Käs Spätzle" are missing. =)

  11. Barbara says

    Beautiful photos! We've been to Switzerland and can't wait to go back, your photos make me want to plan the trip soon!