5 Things to do in the Romantic Village of Spiez, Switzerland

Last updated on November 21st, 2022 at 03:53 pm

Switzerland is a super romantic country to visit. Known for its cheese (fondue anyone?), chocolate, and stunning landscapes, it is an ideal place for any couple looking for a retreat from the world. Here, it feels like you could remain hidden from the rest of the world for years as you tuck yourselves away into the mountainous landscape.

In particular, Spiez is one of my favorite romantic villages in Switzerland. I stumbled upon it completely by accident many years ago. I was traveling with my parents and we missed our connecting train in Spiez by mere minutes. (Luckily, our tickets were regional tickets so they were good for any time of the day.) Since we had to wait for the next train, we decided to stash our bags in the luggage lockers and explore. It’s a place we have talked fondly about ever since.

After my husband and I moved to Germany, we were talking about places we wanted to visit and, of course, Switzerland came up. I immediately thought of Spiez and I knew that this is where we should go for our weekend retreat. If you are planning a trip to Switzerland, you do not want to miss this hidden gem.

***Disclaimer: always be sure to check Switzerland’s COVID related entry restrictions and regulations as well as regulations for visiting any tourist sites before booking any part of your journey! 🙂

Where is Spiez?

Spiez is a tiny, idyllic Swiss village that is on the southern banks of the Thunersee (Lake Thun). It is located in the Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss canton of Bern.

How to get to Spiez, Switzerland:

Nearest Airport: Bern International Airport

Bern: It’s about 35 min by car or public transport to get to Spiez from Bern.

Zurich: It’s about 2 hrs by car and about 1.5 hrs by public transport to get to Spiez from Zurich.

Things to Do in the Romantic Village of Spiez, Switzerland

Spiez is an ideal romantic getaway in Switzerland. It is small enough to be walkable, but there are also plenty of diversions to enjoy. Below I have listed five of my favorite things to do in Spiez. I hope that you will also find that while this may be a small village, it is not laking for amazing things to do!

1. Learn the History at Spiez Castle

Spiez’s medieval Castle is a really nice place to visit. It has an interesting history which was shaped by three main families who owned it: the barons of Strättligen, the lords of Bubenberg, and the patrician family from the city of Berne, the von Erlachs.

Inside the castle, you will find exhibitions about the history of the castle and the families that lived there. But, the best part is at the top of the tower. Here, you will will get enjoy the beautiful views and a refreshing breeze. This is also where you have the opportunity to armor up, mount your steed, and “race off to battle”. (Please note that COVID related rules and regulations may effect interactive displays such as this one.)

Once you’re finished with your castle tour, don’t forget to stop in at the 1000-year-old Castle Church as well!

This is a smaller castle, and it will probably only take you 30-45 minutes to see all of it. Please visit their website for more information on ticket prices and opening hours.

2. Explore the Romantic Village of Spiez, Switzerland and it’s Locally Produced Wine

Spiez is an adorable village and there are lots of shops and restaurants you can visit in town. You can also enjoy a stroll along the harbor, around Lake Thun, or explore the Spiez Vineyard Sensory Adventure Trail.

This sensory trail was designed for you to learn all about wine production in Spiez. There are 12 stops along the trail with information boards and some even have interactive pieces. (see the photo below and to the right) There are also QR codes which can be scanned to access short films.

All in all, the trail is rather short and will only take you 1-2 hours, depending on how long you decide to pause at each stop. Please note that it does go uphill and at the top you will find some beautiful views of Niesen Mountain (photo above on the left), Spiez, and the Thunersee.

While you are out, don’t forget to stop in at the Spiezer Alpine Weinkultur to sample some of their delightful offerings!

3. Enjoy the Views from Niesen Mountain

The Niesen is a 2,362 meter (7,749 ft) high mountain peak that overlooks Lake Thun and Spiez. There are two ways to get to the top. You can choose to hike up the mountain, or there is a funicular train that you can ride to the top and back.

On the top of the mountain, you will find some areas to walk around, a guesthouse with a cafe and beautiful overlooks. It’s a great place to bring a picnic lunch and spend a relaxing afternoon. We even came across a couple that had brought up a portable fondue maker! I won’t lie, we were a bit jealous of their ingenious setup. 😀

Hiking Niesen Mountain

There are multiple trails and starting point to hike up the mountain. Honestly, I think if you want to hike up, the best option would be to start at the base of the mountain in Mülenen. This is where the funicular train goes up. The trail is much better marked and in better condition (in my personal opinion).

As for us, we stayed in a wonderful Airbnb in Diemtigtal, which is just outside of Spiez. Our hosts were really familiar with the mountain and were able to guide us to a good starting point. They also pointed out which trail marker symbols we should look for to get to the top. While it was certainly nice to be able to start our hike directly from our AirBnb, the trail was not always clearly marked. We definitely had some moments of uncertainty. But, after 6 hours of hiking (including stops for a picnic lunch and water breaks) we made it to the top.

We are in pretty decent shape, but I can say we were quite worn out by the time we reached the summit. We decided that it was going to be too difficult to try and navigate down the way we had come up. So, we decided to follow the path next to the Niesenbahn (Funicular train). But, it started getting dark on the way down, so we ended up jumping on the Funicular train at the half way point.

Reflecting back on our adventure, I would say that if you want to hike: start early and be prepared for a full day event. Or, to make things easier, plan to take the train up and hike back down.

Taking the Niesenbahn to the Summit

Even if you are not a hiker, you can still easily enjoy the views from the top. The Niesenbahn may not be the cheapest mode of transport. But, it will get you to the top in about 30 minutes. Please note that you will have to change trains at the halfway point.

You can find out more about ticket times and prices for the Funicular train on their website. Please note that the months of operation are late April to mid November.

Some Interesting Information About the Niesenbahn

The Niesenbhan was completed in 1910 to help make it easier for guests and supplies to get up to the Berghaus Niesen Kulm. Prior to its construction, all supplies had to be brought up to the guesthouse by foot. Even guests had to climb the mountain if they wanted to stay at the Berghaus. Or, if they had enough money, it was possible to rent horses, mules, or sedan chairs carried by four men to get to the top.

Fun Fact: the service stairway next to the Niesenbahn is the world’s longest staircase according to the Guiness Book of World Records! It has 11,674 steps total, but is not open to the general public. However, once a year, a special event called the Niesenlauf is hosted in the area. People from all over the world can register to race up the steps. To learn more about this very intense race, please click here.

4. Discover Diemtigtal Nature Park

My husband and I actually stayed in Diemtigtal National Park during our visit. It is a beautiful valley tucked away into the mountains. Here, you will discover great hiking trails and options for downhill mountain biking in summer or skiing in winter. You can learn more about things to do on the Diemtigtal National Park website.

There are a wide variety of hiking trails with options for all kinds of people and families. To learn more about the options, check out this website.

5. Go Paragliding

This is a pretty common recreational activity in Switzerland because of the air currents in the area. I have been to Switzerland three times, and each time I have admired the paragliders as the float gracefully through the air. I have longed to be up there, seeing the world from a bird’s eye view. But, to this day, this items remains on my bucket list. I guess it just means I need to go back again!!

If you are interested in a paragliding experience, there are many options in the area. Just click here to see a map of the options.

Additional Things to do Nearby

1. Visit stunning Interlaken

I visited Interlaken many years ago and I loved it! Here’s a website with photos and a list of things to do. We personally rode the train all the way up to the Jungfraujoch (amazing!), walked along the turquoise waters of Lake Brienz, and enjoyed the stunning views as well as a meal at Schilthorn.

2. Oberhofen Castle

3. Hünegg Castle

In Conclusion

I hope that this post has inspired you to consider Spiez for your next romantic getaway in Switzerland! I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below!

Happy Travels,
<3 Christine