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Saanen

Bern, Switzerland · Europe

About Saanen

Saanen works well as a base: 20 minutes from Château-d'Oex, 31km from Blausee (Blue Lake).

Saanen is a town located in Bern, Switzerland. With a population of 6,621, it is an important destination in Europe.

On a road trip, Saanen sits in Switzerland, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Zurich time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Saanen to your route.

About Saanen

Saanen (German pronunciation: [ˈzaːnən]; French: Gessenay; Highest Alemannic: Saanä) is a municipality in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is the capital of the Obersimmental-Saanen administrative district.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Saanen

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Saanen?

Saanen offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Saanen?

Plan your road trip to Saanen with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Saanen as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Saanen located?

Saanen is located in Bern, Switzerland, Europe. The coordinates are 46.4894 latitude, 7.2600 longitude.

What is the population of Saanen?

Saanen has a population of approximately 6,621 people, making it a town in Switzerland.

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Quick Information

Population
6,621
Continent
Europe
Country
Switzerland
Region
Bern
Timezone
Europe/Zurich
Coordinates
46.4894, 7.2600

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in Switzerland

Police
117
Ambulance
144
Fire
118
All emergencies
112
Driving side
right

Motorway vignette (toll sticker) required: buy at the border or online. Roadside assistance (TCS): 140.

Full driving guide for Switzerland

Tags

EuropeSwitzerlandBernTown

Worth the detour from Saanen

8 notable places within an hour's drive.

mountain pass

Col du Pillon

A 1,546 m pass in the Vaud Alps between Les Diablerets and Gstaad, the gateway to the Glacier 3000 cable car and a smooth, scenic link on any western Swiss Alps road trip.

14 km · about 25 min drive

landmark

Gruyères

Car-free hilltop town of a single cobbled street rising to a 13th-century castle amid cheese country, with the surreal twist of the H.R. Giger Museum and its Alien-themed bar inside Château St. Germain.

17 km · about 20 min drive

mountain pass

Sanetsch Pass

A spectacular dead-end climb from the Rhône vineyards above Sion past the Tsanfleuron glacier to 2,242 m; because no through road exists it stays near-empty, and only a cable car continues to Gsteig.

18 km · about 20 min drive

castle

Château de Chillon

A medieval island castle on the shores of Lake Geneva, the most visited historic monument in Switzerland.

27 km · about 30 min drive

landmark

Montreux

The 'Pearl of the Swiss Riviera' on Lake Geneva, home to the famous jazz festival, Freddie Mercury's statue, and nearby Château de Chillon.

28 km · about 30 min drive

natural wonder

Blausee (Blue Lake)

A small but enchantingly clear blue lake in the Kander Valley, its transparent waters revealing submerged tree trunks and trout.

31 km · about 35 min drive

natural wonder

Oeschinen Lake (Oeschinensee)

A stunning turquoise mountain lake at 1,578 metres surrounded by dramatic cliff walls and waterfalls above Kandersteg.

36 km · about 40 min drive

landmark

Kaufdorf VW Beetle Graveyard

Atmospheric forest clearing filled with rusting classic Volkswagen Beetles, a pilgrimage site for VW enthusiasts.

41 km · about 45 min drive

Driving roads near Saanen

  • Right hereCol du PillonA 1,546 m pass in the Vaud Alps between Les Diablerets and Gstaad, the gateway to the Glacier 3000 cable car and a smooth, scenic link on any western Swiss Alps road trip.
  • 18 kmSanetsch PassA spectacular dead-end climb from the Rhône vineyards above Sion past the Tsanfleuron glacier to 2,242 m; because no through road exists it stays near-empty, and only a cable car continues to Gsteig.
  • 41 kmLavaux Vineyard TerracesUNESCO-listed terraced vineyards cascading down to Lake Geneva, cultivated since the 11th century with spectacular views of the Alps.
  • 45 kmSchilthorn & Piz GloriaA 2,970-metre peak with a revolving restaurant made famous as a Bond villain's lair in On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
  • 52 kmCircuit BremgartenThe 7.3km forest circuit outside Bern where racing ended after Switzerland banned circuit motorsport in 1955. Its dappled, constantly curving roads through the Bremgartenwald are open to traffic and eerily unchanged.
  • 56 kmJungfraujoch – Top of EuropeEurope's highest railway station at 3,454 metres, offering views of the Aletsch Glacier and an ice palace carved inside the mountain.

Driving in Switzerland

Drives on
the right
Petrol
~€1.82/litre
Motorway tolls
None
Vignette
Required, around €42 for a short-stay sticker

When to drive here

April to October

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Saanen.

Gstaad

🇨🇭 Switzerland

3 km awayPop. 9,200

Château-d'Oex

🇨🇭 Switzerland

10 km awayPop. 3,034

Sankt Stephan

🇨🇭 Switzerland

11 km awayPop. 1,352

Zweisimmen

🇨🇭 Switzerland

11 km awayPop. 2,813

Lenk

🇨🇭 Switzerland

14 km awayPop. 2,268

Charmey

🇨🇭 Switzerland

16 km awayPop. 1,713

Gruyères

🇨🇭 Switzerland

17 km awayPop. 1,646

Broc

🇨🇭 Switzerland

18 km awayPop. 2,148

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence