Travel & Stay

And other good things to know.

Lodging

The Mountain Hostel

Rustic but charming, the Mountain Hostel will be our home base for festivities. Think ‘adult summer camp’ for vibes here - it’s very much a shared space, but we’re confident you folks will dig it!

Please note that Gimmelwald is only accessible by a cablecar that runs about every 20 minutes from Stechelberg in the valley 1,500’ feet below. It’s about a 100 foot walk from the cablecar station to the hostel.

Space here is limited.

Other Lodging

There are many other options in the area. In the village of Gimmelwald, including Pension Gimmelwald, Olle & Maria’s, and Esther’s Guesthouse. Everything in the village has very limited space, and we recommend booking sooner rather than later.


Just a short cable car above the village of Gimmelwald is the town of Mürren. Hotels abound here, with Alpenruh and Blumental being excellent options we’ve tested personally.

Important Things


There are a few things we really want to emphasize!
First, things to bring: a towel for those staying in the hostel. You can also rent one for 2 CHF, which might be worth it, but also no telling what type of towel it would be. Shower shoes optional as well.
Also, a reminder that Switzerland does not have the same plug as the rest of Europe. You need a three-pronged plug, and there is an outlet at every bed. Those are sufficient for phones, but if you need to use something such as a hair dryer, you’ll need a converter or, perhaps easier, a dual-voltage hair dryer.
For those staying in alpine huts at some point in the trip, please bring a sleeping bag liner! Unlike the hostel, sheets are not washed regularly and
these are required (though Gleckstein does have a few for 6 CHF rental).

Paying for things!
The Swiss practically invented tourism, so you’ll find they’re very good at taking your money. However, many places will not accept AMEX, so please have something else handy.
It’s also a good idea to have cash on hand. As we wander, you might find a little farm stand you want to buy cheese from! Also, for those staying at any
alpine hut - including Glecksteinhütte - know they are CASH ONLY. This applies not only to food and frosty beer at the top, but the entirety of your booking.

Useful Links
Website for the Mountain Hostel
Incredibly detailed maps for planning hikes
Website for booking train tickets - or better yet, just download the app
Packing tips from the G.O.A.T. Rick Steves

Swiss BINGO! Screenshot and play as you go!

If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out and ask.

Transportation

There are a few ways of reaching Gimmelwald from the airport - and your itinerary outside of the wedding will likely determine which is best for you.

The most affordable option would be taking a bus from ZRH directly to Interlaken, where a train then additional bus ride would get you to the cable car station in Stechelberg.

If you’re considering buying a Flexible Swiss Travel Pass for your time in Switzerland, then you’d likely arrive by train. This is great if you’re not interested in driving mountain roads, or you just want to relax and enjoy the scenery. If arriving by train, consider the Half Fare Card, as it is also beneficial with lifts and trains in the region without buying a full pass. Lastly, there’s the Bernese Oberland Pass, which covers trains and buses in the immediate region and also provides discounts for other lifts and sights in the region. Any pass requires a bit of math ahead of time to make sure you get your money’s worth.


Renting a car is also a great option for exploring Switzerland and arriving to Gimmelwald. While you can truly reach every nook and cranny of Switzerland by public transportation, a car makes it a little easier to do on your own timing. Know that it’s unlikely you’ll use the car on Wednesday or Thursday and parking is about $20/day at the cablecar station, but there’s still a good chance a car is cheaper if at least two people share the cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We recommend flying into Zurich, but Geneva and Basel are also worth checking to see if it’s significantly cheaper.

  • No need to show up at the Mountain Hostel before 3pm on Tuesday as we won’t be able to check in before then. Please enjoy other things in the area! Lunch at the Horner Pub, explore Trummelbach Falls, gaze up at Staubach Falls, ride to the top of the Harder Kulm in Interlaken, take a boat ride across Brienzersee - so much to do.

  • There’s no need to get fancy - this is a mountain wedding! Flannel or sweater? Great. Jacket or dress? Sure. Lederhosen or dirndl? Knock yourself out.

    Keep it comfortable and lean casual.

  • Light breakfast will be provided for those staying at the Mountain Hostel and those staying elsewhere will likely have a similar service at their accommodations.

    We’ll be providing dinner for the wedding, of course.

    Details for dinner on the 9th are being finalized.

  • The ceremony itself will be at the Mountain Hostel in the early afternoon of September 10th. However, we are hoping guests can join us in Gimmelwald from the evening of the 8th to the morning of the 11th.

    You certainly don’t have to be here until the ceremony on the 10th! We want you to have time to explore this magical region.

    We chose this midweek time in hopes of giving folks making this journey an opportunity for exploration on either side of the ceremony.

  • Anything your adventurous heart desires! In the immediate area around Gimmelwald, you can go for a stroll, take a hike, ride a scenic gondola, walk through a waterfall canyon, explore Mürren, stay in an alpine hut, rent a mountain bike, cruise down to the valley on a bike, eat cheese, paraglide, take a train to Kleine Scheidegg, one of the craziest via ferrata courses in the world, and so much more.

    We’re happy to help you plan your journey to Switzerland and what else you might want to see! Some of our favorite areas outside of the Jungfrau region include Luzern, Zermatt, the Appenzell mountains, Stoos/Fronalpstock, and Engelberg - but you really can’t go wrong anywhere in this beautiful country.

  • Our venue actually stopped doing weddings because they had so many rude and rowdy weddings, but they made an exception because they trust us - and we trust you.

    Gimmelwald is an incredibly tiny and quiet village and we want to be respectful of our neighbors. There will still be lots of partying, but we need to be mindful of our noise, especially in the evenings, to continue that trust through the week.