Perched on a plateau in the Bernese Highlands, Adelboden is a picturesque Swiss village that was first mentioned in the 15th century. Until a road was built from Frutigen in the 19th century, Adelboden was largely isolated from the rest of the world but rapidly flourished as a winter sports hub thanks to the organised travel pioneer Sir Henry Lunn.
Things to do in Adelboden
In the heart of Adelboden is a charming Gothic church, which was constructed in the 15th century and named in honour of St. Anthony. Topped by a square tower, it features a whitewashed base and houses beautiful stained glass windows created in the early 20th century by Augusto Giacometti.
A short drive from Adelboden will take you to the two-tiered Engstligen Falls, which tumbles 375 metres down a rocky cliff along the Engstligen River. If you follow the river north, you’ll arrive at the narrow Choleren Gorge, where craggy cliffs and tumultuous waters can be explored along a network of bridges and walkways. Combine your visit with a stop at the Pochtenkessel where the waters from two rivers converge to create a deep cauldron.
In the winter months, you can take advantage of around 200 kilometres of pistes within the Adelboden-Lenk ski area, with everything from family-friendly runs to challenging descents that host events for the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup. Once the snow melts, the mountains transform into a hiker’s paradise, with spectacular views across the rugged mountains and flower-filled meadows of the Bernese Highlands.
Getting around Adelboden
Adelboden is around an hour’s drive from Bern and 2.5 hours from Geneva Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Buses connect to Adelboden and the village is small enough to explore on foot. Cable cars ascend to the surrounding ski slopes.