The Aare Route follows the river from the small glacier lake on the Grimselpass until it joins the Rhine. After a racy stretch down the pass road, it passes the Aareschlucht (gorge) and deep lakes on the way to the Mittelland region.

The Aare Route follows the largest Swiss river from the glacier lake on the Grimsepass to the confluence with the Rhine at Koblenz.

A breathtaking descent from the Grimselpass, passing the Aareschlucht, to stunning views over the peaceful Brienzersee to Interlaken, cradle of tourism in the Bernese Oberland. The more open Thunersee takes the Aare to more level ground, the Aaretal, to Bern, the stately capital city, its world-famous arcades sheltered from the rain.

Towards the Seeland, after the Bielersee, the Aare as a constant companion, through Mittelland forests and fields, past power stations and bridge towns. Everything seems to be pushed into the narrow urban ribbon of land at the foot of the Jura: Aare and traffic, towns and people, factories and warehouses. In between the baroque pearl of Solothurn with its symbolic eleven. But the rural, unhurried Mittelland is always near and nature never far away. Switzerland’s «backyard » is extremely exciting.

Stages Places   Arrival / return travel  Rail, bus, boat recommendations  Deviation in the Böttstein region due to construction work  

Length305 km
of which unsurfaced: 70 km

 Height differenceOberwald (Gletsch)–Koblenz: 1'700 m
Koblenz–Oberwald (Gletsch): 3'100 m

 RequirementsGrade: easy (without Grimsel Pass)
Conditions: easy (without Grimsel Pass)

 SignalizationFor cycling, follow the logo indicated on the red signposts.