The Steepest Cable Car in the World Just Opened at a Swiss Ski Resort

Currently, Norway’s Loen Skylift holds the record for the world’s steepest cable car, with a maximum gradient of 60 percent. But if the developers of the new project are correct, that’ll change as soon as the Guinness World Records team confirms the Swiss cable car’s superlative.

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The cable car is part of a larger “SCHILTHORNBAHN 20XX” project, designed to make it easier and quicker to reach the Schilthorn Summit, 6,670 feet above the town of Stechelberg. The Stechelberg-Mürren cable car is one of two that opened on the same day, though the middle leg of the trip (from Mürren to Birg) is far less steep. However, it does operate at extremely high elevations, and uses unique technology to ensure it’s stable and smooth, even in extremely high wind.

It’s referred to as a “funifor” (a portmanteau of “funicular” and “funivia;” the latter means “cableway” in Italian) and is made up of two entirely separate systems, so one cable car can be stopped while the other one runs. Each has two ropes, or cables: one to keep it on a straight, tight track, and the other that rotates to move the cabins. That makes it far more stable than systems in which the cars hang from just one moving cable.

One of two lines between Mürren and Birg is finished, with the other expected by November 2025. The final segment of the Swiss cable car project (between Birg and Schilthorn Summit) will begin operations in March 2025, and be fully completed by spring 2026. Prior to the project, the trip from Stechelberg to the summit took 32 minutes and involved three connections; now, only two connections are required, and the total travel time will be 22 minutes. The new technology also allows the cars to operate in extremely windy, snowy, and intense conditions, meaning closures due to winter storms will likely be a thing of the past.

Photo: Schlithorn Piz Gloria/Marco Zurschmiede

One of its most famous draws at the summit is the Piz Gloria, a revolving restaurant that became famous as the primary filming location for the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The restaurant rotates 360 degrees, allowing visitors to enjoy unparalleled views of the Swiss Alps, including famous peaks like Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, and even Mont Blanc, on a clear day. The summit also houses Bond World 007, an interactive exhibit dedicated to the film, showcasing props, memorabilia, and visuals of iconic scenes. There’s also the “007 Walk of Fame,” where actors and crew involved in the film have left their handprints and signatures, including James Bond himself (actor George Lazenby).

Guests who don’t want to go all the way to the summit can also stop at Birg, the second station, and check out the Thrill Walk. It’s a free suspended walkway with a glass floor and crawl-through open tunnel, offering views of the mountains from hundreds of feet above the ground. It’s worth exploring if you’re keen to see the views but aren’t ready to take on the region’s more active via ferrata climb.

The walk/crawl-through tunnel at the Thrill Walk in Birg. Photo: Jungfrau Region Tourism

In the winter, skiing is the big draw, and the Mürren-Schilthorn winter sports area has about 30 miles (50 km) of trails. There’s only one trail off the Schilthorn Summit, however. It’s a an expert route called “the Inferno,” and is the starting point for the longest downhill ski race in the world, held every January. It’s part of the Jungfrau Ski Region program, and ski lift tickets (including the new Swiss cable cars) start around 79 euros (about $80) per day for adults. Tickets for other transportation throughout the Jungfrau region for activities like sightseeing, hiking, or Mario Kart-style racing are generally more affordable, starting at 19 euros.