Normally we prefer to go south in winter 🌞 However, the pandemic had encouraged us for the last 2 years to move our vacations to Austria & Switzerland. This winter, the little obstacle 2G was added. However, when it comes to holidays, there are no lame excuses for us, we look for solutions! So we activated our gray brain cells and lo and behold… we spent the most beautiful winter holiday so far in the Swiss mountains and all without any restrictions 😉
We looked for a cozy little chalet through Airbnb. The amenities included a sauna, a whirlpool and a pellet stove. So we had a small wellness oasis within our own four walls. Kayla also seemed to immediately feel at ease and even benefited enormously. During our hotel stays she always spends time alone in the room, in the chalet she had our full attention 😊
One of the main reasons why we chose the Swiss mountains (besides the beauty of the destination)… no Covid certificate was needed for gondola rides and outdoor restaurants/patios 😍
So… so what can you do in Engelberg? We list our personal top 3 activities in this blog 😊
UP THE TITLIS GLACIER
Engelberg Titlis is the largest ski area in Central Switzerland and offers 82 km of ski slopes, 5 cross-country ski runs, a 3.5 km long toboggan run, snow-covered snowshoe trails and winter hiking trails. So it definitely won’t be boring.
A ride on the Titlis Rotair (the world’s first revolving cable car) to the 3238 meter high Titlis is relatively expensive, but absolutely worth seeing. Once at the top, there are several glacier experiences to choose from.
A visit to the glacier grotto is included in your ticket. You will find the entrance on the first level of the TITLIS mountain station. A 150 meter long corridor of the grotto takes you ten meters below the surface of the glacier. The ice in here is up to 5000 years old. The temperatures are freezing at -1.5 degrees Celsius.
If you have a head for heights, then your next step should be the Titlis Cliff Walk – Europe’s highest suspension bridge at 3041 meters. On the 1 meter wide and 100 meter long bridge you can enjoy a spectacular view.
Another experience is the Ice Flyer chairlift. If you haven’t enjoyed enough glacier views yet, you can buy a ticket for CHF 12 (as of 2022) and float over the glacier world.
Finally, we went on an easy winter hike on the glacier path to Strotzig Egg. The 1-hour walk (there & back) is suitable for every level and you can take in the entire mountain panorama one last time.
BRUNNI – THE SUNNY SIDE OF ENGELBERG
Skiing, tobogganing, winter hiking or simply enjoying the sun… on Brunni you are spoiled for choice. We took the cable car from Engelberg to Ristis. From here, a panoramic, perfectly groomed winter hiking trail leads over the Rigidalalp up to the Brunnihütte SAC.
Length: 8 km (there & back)
Walking time uphill: 1 hour 15 minutes
At an altitude of 1860 meters, the Brunnihütte SAC invites you to have a little refreshment. However, we only decided on a hot coffee to warm up and had an extensive lunch after our hike in the Ristis mountain restaurant.
If the 1-hour ascent is enough for you, you can also take the chairlift back to Ristis.
SOAK UP ON THE SUN AT FUERENALP
Our 3rd recommendation is a ride on the cable car up to Fürenalp (1850 m) – a retreat for those seeking peace and quiet with an imposing mountain backdrop and a view of the Titlis east face.
A 2 km long panoramic trail invites you to take a walk followed by a sleigh ride. You can borrow a toboggan free of charge from the Fürenalp mountain restaurant.
Another highlight of the Fürenalp is the take-away fondue sled. If you order in advance, Gasthaus Fürenalp will provide you with a packed fondue sled for two people including wine. You can then just go with it and find your undisturbed place 😍
However, we can absolutely recommend the gourmets among you to visit the sun terrace of the restaurant. Delicious cuisine, an exquisite wine list and a grandiose Kaiserschmarren await you there 😋
Our personal opinion about Engelberg:
- our highlight was the glacier visit
- fantastically beautiful mountain scenery
- Engelberg is a nice little place
- We’ll be back for hiking in the summer.
On the following pages you can get a very good overview of Engelberg and our excursions:
For better orientation I have selected a winter map of Engelberg for you:
Best travel time:
For winter sports enthusiasts we recommend December to March, you can even ski on the glacier from October to May. For a hiking holiday you should choose the months of June to October.
Accommodation:
We chose a private chalet:
https://www.airbnb.ch/rooms/16093165?source_impression_id=p3_1647871778_LC1kP2lToYLU2Afs
Finally, our YouTube video about our stay in Engelberg 😍
