Wasserngrat: chairlift up, moitié-moitié fondue at the top

Above Gstaad, a 4-seat chairlift climbs 663 m from Bissen in about 6 minutes to the Bergrestaurant Wasserngrat, run by the brothers Nik and Simon Buchs. Plattform J once put their lunches at zero or four hundred a day, depending on the weather. In winter the lift runs daily from 18 December 2026 to mid-March 2027. Up top, order the moitié-moitié, equal parts Gruyère AOP and Vacherin Fribourgeois AOP, with a 10 cl glass of white or an apple juice, then find the one Fendant on the wine list. You can also walk up the groomed winter trail, or in late summer end the roped ridge hike from Leiterli at the restaurant.

What to do there

5 things to do

1. 1 Catch the 182 and Ride the Chair Up Adventure · Price: moderate

   The 6-minute chairlift ride from Bissen to the restaurant.

   Riders have gone up the Wasserngrat by chairlift since April 1946; today's 4-seat chair was built in 1999.

   Where: the valley station, Scheidbachstrasse 2 in Bissen, Gstaad. PostBus 182 runs from Gstaad station to the stop "Gstaad, Wasserngratbahn" right at the lift, all year; parking there is free by day.

   What: ride up 663 m in about 6 minutes.

   How: adults CHF 20 one way, CHF 30 return; children 6–15 CHF 12 or 17.

   Backup: if the lift is closed, take PostBus 182 to the stop Bissenegg for the giant fondue pot of the cheese grotto (step 5).

   Log Memory
2. 2 Earn It on Foot Instead Adventure · Free · Optional

   Optional: walk or snowshoe up the steep Tiger Trail, or take the roped ridge from Leiterli in summer.

   For those who would rather earn the fondue.

   Where: start at the valley station and finish at the top station. WHAT in winter: the lift company keeps its trail-running route open and groomed for winter walkers and snowshoers: 2.2 km and 633 m up, about 2 h on foot. The region's S4 snowshoe route takes the same line, 2.3 km in 1:45 h, rated difficult: take snowshoes, good footwear and poles, and go only with a good weather and avalanche forecast. WHAT in summer: the Tiger Trail climbs the same slope. For sure-footed, fearless hikers only: the 10.9 km ridge hike from Leiterli, about 4 h, ends at the restaurant; ropes secure the exposed sections, and it is not for wet weather, fog or snow.

   How: free on foot; riding down costs CHF 20 one way.

   Backup: ride up instead (step 1).

   Log Memory
3. 3 Order the Moitié-Moitié Wine · Price: moderate

   Fondue for two or more at the top station; the house says its cheese comes from Moléson, and the story goes that a dropped bread costs a round.

   The dish is a Fribourg recipe: moitié-moitié means equal parts Gruyère AOP and Vacherin Fribourgeois AOP, with a little white wine; the house says its own comes from Moléson near Gruyères.

   Where: the Bergrestaurant Wasserngrat at the top station.

   What: order the Fondue Moitié-Moitié, CHF 29 a head, for two or more; kirsch is CHF 8 extra. With it, a 10 cl glass of white from CHF 8, or no alcohol at all: apple juice CHF 4, Schümli 0.0% (33 cl) CHF 6.50, tea CHF 5. At the end, lift out la religieuse, the crust of toasted cheese at the bottom of the pot. The story goes that whoever drops bread in the pot buys the table a round.

   How: under three people need no booking. If you are walking or skiing down afterwards, remember what Suva's winter-sport lead says: alcohol limits perception and slows reactions.

   Backup: if the fondue is off, rösti with two fried eggs costs CHF 23 (summer 2026 menu).

   Log Memory
4. 4 Find the One Fendant on the List Wine · Free

   Free: read the wine list and find the single bottle from Valais labelled Fendant.

   Fendant is the Valais name for Chasselas, a dry white made only in Valais, and the name has been protected since 1966.

   Where: at your table.

   What: ask for the wine list and count the Chasselas. Many come from Vaud: Féchy La Colombe, Dézaley Corniche, Clos du Rocher from Yvorne. One comes from the Vully, Cru de l'Hôpital, the kind of Chasselas Fribourg's tourist office pairs with moitié-moitié. Then find the one Fendant: Les Terrasses Plamont from Domaine La Rodeline, 2022.

   How: reading the list is free; the summer 2026 list prices this Fendant at 53 a bottle.

   Backup: none needed.

   Log Memory
5. 5 Take the Photo the 1931 Photographer Could Not History · Free

   Free: your photo memory at the top station, where the chair arrives.

   In 1931 a photographer in Gstaad caught the Palace Hotel, the Giffernhorn and the Wasserngrat under snow; chairlift riders came only in April 1946.

   Where: the top station, where the chair arrives.

   What: take your own picture from up here: the chair coming in, your pot, your table.

   How: free.

   Backup: if the lift is closed, take PostBus 182 from Gstaad to the stop Bissenegg; the giant fondue pot of the cheese grotto sits right above it and seats up to eight; it cannot be reserved. Order a fondue backpack the day before from the Molkerei Gstaad (open Monday to Saturday), from CHF 18 a head for two or more, and take the photo sitting in the pot.

   Log Memory

Insider tips

• In summer the lift runs only Thursday to Sunday, from the end of July to the beginning of September: on a Monday it is shut.

• The fondue is for two or more at CHF 29 a head, kirsch CHF 8 extra; under three people need no booking.

• Lift closed? Take PostBus 182 to the stop Bissenegg: the giant fondue pot of the cheese grotto stands right above it. Order a fondue backpack from a Gstaad dairy the day before.

• In summer the GA, Halbtax and Gstaad Card are not valid on the lift; the Magic Pass is.