About the hostel

Mountainhostel & Host Janine Wenger

Hello Traveller

I'm Janine, your host - you can see me on the bottom right corner in front of the Mountainhostel on the picture above. 

Welcome to a very unique place in the Swiss Mountains.

I hope you’re sitting comfortably because the Mountainhostel has some history!

 
Today in 2022, the hostel is maintained by my wonderful team and me. 

We rennovated the house in 2020 but let me tell you, the story goes way back in time... 

The Mountain Hostel was built in 1563, it was occupied by two families which kept cows and goats in the basement and lived in the building above which was split into two.

It remained a farming home for hundreds of years until its purpose was changed in 1939 when Lina Von Allmen

converted the building to a hostel for the first time. 

Back then, there was not Internet. Word of mouth brought travellers from

all over the world to Gimmelwald, it was wild, free and THE place to be. 

In 1995, Petra and Walter Brunner put our their heart and soul renovating it to

a charming yet modest state and kept the place alive for many years. 

When I met Petra in 2019, I was 24 years old but she gave me the chance to be

the next keeper of this very special place and let me buy the place off her and Walter. 

Together with some friends, I rennovated the place again to what it is today. 

To see pictures of the latest work, click here. 

The Mountain Hostel reflects the village of Gimmelwald where we are located, it's a simple, rustic, and friendly

place for travelers and locals alike to rest weary feet after long days out on the alps

or just a social, low key home away from home.

I hope to meet you up here with us at some point. 
Come as a stranger, leave as a friend. 

Love, Janine

Located in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Jungfrau region, our Mountain Hostel Gimmelwald is simply love at first sight. Buzzing with travelers from around the world, it is quite common to come here for a day and stay for weeks!

With perfect access to the many hiking trails from our front door, we also make a great base for your outdoor activities.

The hostel seems to attract a certain type of traveler – social, fun, respectful and adventurous with a love for the natural beauty that the Alps provide. A photographers dream, Gimmelwald is a place you really have to see to believe.

The easygoing and fun environment at our hostel leads to memories and friends that last a lifetime. In the evenings you will find travelers playing cards and games, guitar and piano. It’s amazing to see familiar faces that come back every year sitting side by side with new travelers in awe of the view, having a beer on the deck as the sun sets on the mountains…

The Mountain Hostel will be the highlight of your trip and an unforgettable experience!

Janine Wenger