waterfall
Reichenbach Falls
The dramatic cascade where Sherlock Holmes fell, climbed by a vintage funicular above Meiringen.
1 km · about 5 min drive
EuropeSwitzerlandBern
Meiringen
Bern, Switzerland · Europe
About Meiringen
Meiringen works well as a base: 15 minutes from Lungern, 17km from Lake Brienz.
Meiringen is in Bern, Switzerland, with about 4,700 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Lungern, about 7 km away.
Meiringen (Swiss Standard German pronunciation: [ˈmaɪrɪŋən]) is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. Besides the village of Meiringen, the municipality includes the settlements of Balm, Brünigen, Eisenbolgen, Hausen, Prasti, Sand, Stein, Unterbach,Read more
Unterheidon, Wylerli and Zaun. The municipal coat of arms shows a black eagle in a yellow field. ("Or an Eagle displayed Sable crowned, beaked, langued and membered of the first.")
Formerly the coat of arms of the entire Oberhasli Talschaft, this design continues the imperial coat of arms.
Meiringen is famous for the nearby Reichenbach Falls, a waterfall that was the setting for the final showdown between Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional detective Sherlock Holmes and his nemesis Professor Moriarty. The village is also known for its claim to have been the place where meringue was first created.
Where to Stay in Meiringen
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Meiringen?
Within an hour or so of Meiringen: Reichenbach Falls (1 km), Brünig Pass (5 km), Grosse Scheidegg (9 km), Glaubenbielen Pass (12 km).
Are there any good drives near Meiringen?
The nearest famous roads are Brünig Pass, Grosse Scheidegg and Glaubenbielen Pass.
Where is Meiringen?
Meiringen is in Bern, Switzerland, about 7 km from Lungern.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 4,652
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Switzerland
- Region
- Bern
- Timezone
- Europe/Zurich
- Coordinates
- 46.7271, 8.1872
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Switzerland
Motorway vignette (toll sticker) required: buy at the border or online. Roadside assistance (TCS): 140.
Full driving guide for SwitzerlandTags
Worth the detour from Meiringen
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
mountain pass
Brünig Pass
The year-round link between Interlaken and Lucerne, low enough to stay open and scenic enough to enjoy.
5 km · about 10 min drive
mountain pass
Grosse Scheidegg
A high pass between Grindelwald and Meiringen reserved for postbuses and closed to private cars, with a full-frontal view of the Wetterhorn.
9 km · about 20 min drive
mountain pass
Glaubenbielen Pass
A quiet pass over the Obwalden ridge between Giswil and Sörenberg, with wide views over the Entlebuch biosphere.
12 km · about 25 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Grindelwald & First
An iconic Swiss Alpine village beneath the Eiger's north face, with the First cliff walk, gondola, and adventure playground above.
16 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Iseltwald
A tiny village on Lake Brienz made world-famous by the Netflix series Crash Landing on You, with a photogenic jetty extending into turquoise waters.
17 km · about 20 min drive
natural wonder
Lake Brienz
A dazzling turquoise lake in the Bernese Oberland, fed by glacier meltwater and famed for the Giessbach waterfalls on its southern shore.
17 km · about 20 min drive
cafe
Hotel Steingletscher
A mountain inn beside the Susten Pass in Switzerland offering views of the Stein Glacier, a perfect rest stop on the classic Three Passes driving route.
18 km · about 20 min drive
Driving roads near Meiringen
19 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 60km.
- Right hereBrünig PassThe year-round link between Interlaken and Lucerne, low enough to stay open and scenic enough to enjoy.
- Right hereGrosse ScheideggA high pass between Grindelwald and Meiringen reserved for postbuses and closed to private cars, with a full-frontal view of the Wetterhorn.
- Right hereGlaubenbielen PassA quiet pass over the Obwalden ridge between Giswil and Sörenberg, with wide views over the Entlebuch biosphere.
- 16 kmGrindelwald & FirstAn iconic Swiss Alpine village beneath the Eiger's north face, with the First cliff walk, gondola, and adventure playground above.
- 20 kmSusten Pass ViewpointA pull-off on one of Switzerland's most beautiful passes with views of the Steingletscher glacier tumbling into a turquoise lake.
- 20 kmThree Passes Road (Susten-Grimsel-Furka)Switzerland's classic triple-pass loop combining the Susten, Grimsel, and Furka passes in a single epic Alpine circuit.
Driving in Switzerland
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.82/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
- Vignette
- Required, around €42 for a short-stay sticker
When to drive here
April to October
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