Bernese Oberland

The Bernese Oberland is the Switzerland of the collective imagination: immense peaks, glacial valleys, turquoise lakes and villages gathered beneath the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Interlaken sits between Lakes Thun and Brienz, while Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren and Grindelwald lead deeper into one of Europe’s most dramatic mountain landscapes. Belle Époque grand hotels and traditional timber chalets recall the birth of Alpine tourism, but the region also has a quieter contemporary architectural side, where timber, stone and concrete are being used to rethink the mountain retreat without losing its connection to place.

Food and drink remain firmly rooted in Alpine traditions. Mountain cheeses, rösti, cured meats and dishes designed for cold weather are still part of the experience, while farms and dairies throughout the valleys keep production remarkably local. Contemporary restaurants increasingly work with regional herbs, vegetables and mountain produce rather than relying entirely on familiar Swiss classics. The vineyards around Lake Thun add a less obvious dimension, while historic hotel terraces and mountain restaurants reached by cable car or railway make the setting as memorable as whatever arrives on the plate.

The Bernese Oberland’s most interesting hotels range from grand 19th-century landmarks and historic mountain inns to converted chalets and contemporary hideaways overlooking extraordinary landscapes. At DNA Hotels, we curate the places where architecture, food, history and the mountains become inseparable—hotels that capture the romance of classic Alpine travel while proving that Switzerland’s most famous mountain region still has room for individuality, experimentation and genuinely good design.