Gelmerbahn Funicular

If your kids love a thrill, the Gelmerbahn is one ride you won’t forget. Once the steepest funicular in Europe (with a gradient of 106%!), it feels less like a train ride and more like a slow rollercoaster into the mountains.

You now must book your tickets in advance with a specific up and down time!

• The ride: Open-air cars crawl almost vertically up the mountain above Handegg in the Grimsel region. The views are incredible—waterfalls, cliffs, and turquoise streams rushing below. It only takes about 10 minutes, but your heart might beat faster the whole way.

• At the top: You arrive at Lake Gelmer (Gelmersee), a stunning alpine reservoir. There’s a loop trail around the lake (about 2 hours, not stroller-friendly) with picnic spots and plenty of space for kids to play by the shore.

• With kids: Kids can ride, but smaller ones might find the steep climb scary. Bring layers—it’s much cooler at the top.

• Details:

  • Duration: ~10 minutes each way.

  • Cost: CHF 40 return per adult / CHF 20 per child (6–15).

  • Season: June–October, weather permitting. Tickets often sell out—book ahead online.

👉 The Gelmerbahn is part thrill ride, part scenic journey, and it drops you into one of Switzerland’s prettiest alpine lakes—a combo that’s hard to beat.