Kandersteg Favorite Tips by Rhondaj Top 5 Page for this destination

Just the Right Size

Favorite thing: Kandersteg can be walked end-to-end in about a half-hour stroll. It would seem quite small to people who love cities, but if you are looking for a quaint, yet not too remote village, this is the place. There are two grocery stores, a Migros and Coop. Neither are very large, but you'll find enough... A few specialty shops, a few souvenir shops, etc. Plenty of restaraunts and cafes. All nestled together in charming buildings with a river flowing through it. Just beautiful.

Fondest memory: Each of us 'adopted' a mountain during our stay. Then we would remark on the beauty and the weather conditions of our 'own' mountain. Or conversely, we would say, "Oh look, your mountain is covered in clouds, while MY mountain is basking in sunlight." Here is Jenna in 'downtown' Kandersteg with 'her' mountain behind her.

Eating In

Fondest memory: Staying in a chalet, taking care of ourselves, helped us to feel a part of the town. Our landlady provided us with a shopping bag and each morning we would visit the butcher and the baker. For more supplies, we'd go to the Coop, or perhaps the Migros. I wouldn't trade these experiences for eating at a restaurant every day. Eating in was a real money saver too!

Chalets

Favorite thing: Most chalets have flower boxes and gardens. There are some vegetable gardens as well. I was surprised at how many of the flowers were the same type as what I grow at home-but bigger, healthier, and more colorful! So we came up with 3 ideas why it is so: (can't be because of MY gardening skills)

1. the mountain air
2. the glacier water
3. the cow manure in the soil

My husband thought I should bring some cow patties home to experiment with in my garden. I rejected the idea. (although having that in my plane carry-on might have given me a few clear seats on either side of myself...)

A Discovery

Favorite thing: One day we mistakenly left a piece of bread out on the balcony. When we got home there were these cute little chickadee like birds nibbling on it. Except they were more of an olive green color, and much shyer than chickadees I know.

So I spent the rest of the week leaving them out a piece of bread each morning. I wasted too much time trying to photograph these shy, but quick birds! The only way I could catch a photo was with the door shut, so I have a glass reflection.

I wonder if they miss their daily bread?

Peaceful Dorf

Favorite thing: Even though Kandersteg is easily accessible by train (and car I suppose), it really is a quiet village. Even though our chalet was right off the 'main' street, there was very little traffic.

I was a bit worried about this, because I knew that Kandersteg rail station is a loading point for cars to access the train passing through the Loeschberg Tunnel, but it all occurs on the outskirts of town.

Swiss Phone Booths

Favorite thing: Take no money. You must have a phone card. Available at the post office and the Coop in our village. You can send an email too! Up to 250 characters. (but not check your's-sending only)

You could buy a phone card ahead of time at:

http://www.raileurope.ekit.com/ekit/About/PhonecardFeatures

or rent a cell phone:

http://www.cellularabroad.com/gsmrental.html

Everywhere you look...

Favorite thing: Here is Bob's mountain. That stinker had a rainbow on his one night! Kandersteg is surrounded by mountains, no matter which way you look...

Fondest memory: Clear mountains could become cloud covered within the hour. Those clouds could get 'hung up' or drift on away. I loved watching the constant changes...

Catholic Church

Fondest memory: I looked at this church everyday for months. When I got to Kandersteg I had in mind to look out for it, and I actually saw it on my first walk from the train station to our chalet!

It is on the webcam page of the Bernerhof Hotel, and I've been taking a peek at the weather on their site everyday for a while now. http://www.bernerhof.ch/

You can't miss this church, it sits out all alone in a field right off of Kandersteg's main street through the village. You will pass this church on a walk up to the Oeschinensee.

Not to be outdone by the Protestant Church right down the road, the Catholic Church also has English speaking services in the summer, and their's starts earlier in the season.

Protestant Church

Fondest memory: Kandersteg has two churches. The Protestant church is in the village hub-bub. The bells ring every fifteen minutes. We often stopped for a beer/ice cream break (one or the other-not both at the same time) at the Cafe Schweizerhof that is directly opposite the church.

Service times are listed on the boards in front of the church. In July and August there are services in English.