This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Braunwald.
Braunwald, Switzerland, is a village with approximately one thousand three hundred people in east central Switzerland. The picturesque settlement belongs to the Canton of Glarus. The official language is German, but many locals speak Swiss German in a local dialect; even if your mother tongue is German, you might not understand everyone.
If you travel around Switzerland by public transport, you can get to Braunwald by train. The train connection is crucial, since the resort is car-free, and Braunwald is well known for that. The travel time is around ninety minutes from Zürich Main Train Station. Zürich Airport is also the closest airport offering numerous international flight links. The airport is just north of the city centre and frequent train connections make it very easy to get to the main station.
Braunwald was mentioned first in documents in the fifteenth century, although the area was used for cattle farming, sheep farming, and hunting in the previous centuries. The nature is undoubtedly the biggest attraction in the region.
The highest summit of the Glarus Alps, Tödi, dominates the area and is one of its highlights. The massive mountain is more than three thousand six hundred metres high and it is considered one of the most difficult lines for ski-mountaineering in the European Alps. Hiking is possible during all seasons. Winter hikers enjoy more than twenty kilometres of prepared trails. It is a perfect option to relax and to get away from the stressful city life. In summer, you can go mountain biking and try out more than forty-seven kilometres of mountain trails. Braunwald offers the highest alpine rose gardens, and a less-dramatic activity is visiting the Alpine Rose Gardens, where you can look at more than five hundred different species of roses.
There are a couple of hotels in the village. You can choose from places from one up to four stars in the region. Some accommodations are not located in the centre of the village. Backpackers who want to enjoy the unique experience of a car-free village in the typical backpackers' style should check out the Braunwald, Switzerland hostel supply in the area. Your Braunwald, Switzerland hostel is open all year round and offers free Wi-Fi not only in common rooms but also in the dorms.
Written by local enthusiast for Braunwald hostels
