What to expect:

Berggasthaus Bollenwees is one of the most beautifully located mountain guesthouses in Switzerland for us, sitting right above the turquoise Fälensee in the middle of the Alpstein mountains. Surrounded by dramatic cliffs and peaceful alpine scenery, it’s the perfect place to slow down and experience a real Swiss mountain overnight stay.

We stayed here during our Saxer Lücke – Fälensee – Sämtisersee hike and absolutely loved the atmosphere. Waking up next to the lake before the day hikers arrive feels incredibly special. The guesthouse offers simple mountain rooms, delicious Swiss food and one of the most stunning terraces in the region.

How to get here:

The most scenic route is to start in Frümsen, take the Staubern cable car up and hike via Saxer Lücke down to Fälensee and Bollenwees.

You can also hike up from Brülisau, which takes around 2–3 hours one way depending on your pace.

Around 1.5h drive from Zurich.

When doing the full crossing hike, it’s best to come by public transportation.

Starting point: Frümsen Rathaus

Ending point: Brülisau

Notes:

This is a mountain guesthouse in a remote alpine area, so pack light but bring everything you need for an overnight stay. Reservations are highly recommended during summer and weekends.

The area around Fälensee is especially magical during sunrise and sunset.

Touristy: 👥👥👥

Child-friendly: ⭐⭐⭐

Wow factor: 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

Physically demanding: 👟👟👟