Schilthorn, Switzerland

The Schilthorn: The World’s Steepest Cable Car and the Restaurant Where James Bond Had Breakfast

In spring 2026, the Schilthorn completed a major infrastructure overhaul: the final Birg-Schilthorn section entered service, featuring a new Funifor cable car system with two cabins on separate cables – designed for superior wind resistance in the exposed alpine conditions near the summit. The new cable car is the steepest in the world, with a gradient of 159.4 percent on the upper section. Despite construction-related restrictions during the rebuild, visitor numbers increased nearly 22 percent in 2025, which tells you something about how much demand there is for this specific mountain.

The Schilthorn rises to 2,970 metres in the Bernese Oberland, accessible from the car-free village of Murren, which itself requires reaching via cable car and cog railway from the valley floor at Lauterbrunnen. The journey from Stechelberg takes about 30 minutes in stages through Gimmelwald and Murren before the final ascent to the summit. The approach past Murren gives you the first clear views of the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau – the three peaks that define this section of the Alps.

Piz Gloria

The revolving restaurant at the summit is where most visitors are heading. It turns through 360 degrees in about 45 minutes, giving continuous views of the Alps, the Bernese lowlands, and on clear days the Matterhorn visible in the distance to the southwest. The restaurant reopened with the renovation completion in 2026 with upgraded facilities.

Piz Gloria’s film history is specific: it served as the villain’s headquarters in the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, starring George Lazenby. The film used the actual summit location for exterior shots and the restaurant interior for the sequences where Bond infiltrates the mountaintop base. A James Bond exhibition at the summit covers this history with movie memorabilia and interactive displays. It is, in the context of a 360-degree Alpine panorama, a slightly absurd addition, but it is what it is, and the exhibition is genuinely well put together.

The View

On a clear day, the 360-degree panorama from the summit takes in the Eiger North Face, the Monch and Jungfrau, the Bernese Alps stretching in both directions, and the Swiss plateau far below. The Matterhorn and Mont Blanc are occasionally visible on exceptional days. This is one of the arguments for arriving early in the morning when atmospheric haze has not yet built up.

Getting There

From Interlaken, take the train to Lauterbrunnen, then the cable car to Murren, then continue to Stechelberg for the Schilthorn gondola. Alternatively, take the Wengernalp Railway from Lauterbrunnen through Wengen for a different approach route to the valley. The Swiss Travel Pass covers the valley rail connections; the Schilthorn cable cars are extra. Book ahead in peak summer.

From Murren, the mountain is also accessible on foot for serious hikers; the Schilthornweg trail approaches from the Birg shoulder.

Practical Notes

Weather at 2,970 metres changes quickly. The summit can be in cloud when the valleys are clear; check the live summit webcam before committing to the journey. Altitude effects are possible; take the ascent stages slowly. Bring an extra layer regardless of the valley temperature. Paragliding from the summit is available in suitable conditions for those with the appropriate experience.