Aareschlucht, Meiringen – Top Attraction
1. Aareschlucht
Overview: Aareschlucht, or Aare Gorge, is a 1.4-kilometer limestone gorge between Meiringen and Innertkirchen, with a raised walkway above the Aare River.
It is a seasonal, one-way walk best done from the West Entrance toward the East Entrance, then returned by the Meiringen–Innertkirchen railway.
Timing & Execution: Arrive at 08:30 on a weekday, before tour groups and midday heat; allow 60–90 minutes for the gorge walk plus travel time.
The season runs from 3 April to 1 November; the West Entrance opens from 3 April, while the East Entrance opens from 9 May, and both entrances must be open for the full through-walk.
Transit & Validation Traps: From Meiringen station, take the Zentralbahn R71 from platform 13 toward Innertkirchen; get off at Aareschlucht West for the west entrance or Aareschlucht Ost for the east entrance.
Validate or buy the train ticket through the SBB Mobile app, SBB website, or the on-train machine; do not assume the gorge ticket covers the outbound train.
The west entrance is a short walk from Aareschlucht West station, while the east entrance is directly beside Aareschlucht Ost station.
Ticket Verdict: Budget/Low-Cost paid entry; buy at the official Aareschlucht ticket desk or through the official online channel.
The listed adult fare is CHF 13, children aged 6–15.99 pay CHF 8, and children under 6 enter free; a combined ticket with Reichenbach Falls is also available.
Scams & Tourist Traps: Ignore unofficial “gorge shortcut” or “private access” sellers around Meiringen station.
Buy only at the official Aareschlucht desk or official online channel, and do not pay for the gorge walk beyond the official admission system.