As of October 2026, property in Lenk im Simmental costs about CHF 8,000–10,500 per m²: apartments average roughly CHF 8,100/m² and houses CHF 10,400/m² (Neho/Lookmove). A 120 m² apartment is typically near CHF 1 million, a 200 m² chalet CHF 1.7–2.1 million, around half the Gstaad level per m².
Key figures for Lenk
| Figure | Value | Source, date |
|---|---|---|
| Apartments, average price per m² | CHF 8,097 (median CHF 8,253) | Neho/Lookmove, October 2026 |
| Houses and chalets, average price per m² | CHF 10,416 (median CHF 9,072) | Neho/Lookmove, October 2026 |
| Apartments, alternative estimate | CHF 9,350/m², 12-month change +3.6% | RealAdvisor, September 2026 |
| Houses, alternative estimate | CHF 8,560/m², 12-month change +2.8% | RealAdvisor, September 2026 |
| Typical range, houses | CHF 5,800 – 16,300/m² | Neho/Lookmove, October 2026 |
| Second-home share | 63.8% (threshold: 20%) | ARE housing inventory, 2017 |
| Holiday homes for foreigners | Permitted (Lex Koller tourist commune) | Canton Bern, EG BewG Annex 1 |
| Municipal tax multiplier | 1.79 (canton average 1.708) | Raiffeisen commune data, 2025 |
| Population | 2,442 | Raiffeisen commune data, 2024 |
| Altitude of the village | 1,068 m | Lenk-Simmental Tourism |
What does a chalet in Lenk cost?
A family chalet of around 200 m² in Lenk usually lands between CHF 1.7 million and CHF 2.1 million at today's average rates per square metre. Older chalets needing work sit below that range; well-placed, recently renovated chalets with open views sit above it.
The spread is wide. Neho's October 2026 data shows the cheapest fifth of houses below about CHF 7,200/m² and the most expensive fifth above about CHF 16,200/m². Position matters more than size: sunny slopes above the village towards the Metsch and Betelberg lifts, and quiet parcels towards the Simmenfälle, command the upper end.
Two data providers rarely agree in a small market. Neho/Lookmove (October 2026) puts houses at CHF 10,416/m² on average; RealAdvisor (September 2026) puts them at CHF 8,560/m². Both rely on asking prices and models rather than notarised sale prices, and Lenk has only a few dozen listings at any time. We treat the two as a corridor rather than a single number.
What does an apartment in Lenk cost?
Apartments in Lenk trade at roughly CHF 8,000–9,400 per m², so a 120 m² three-bedroom apartment typically costs between CHF 1.0 million and CHF 1.1 million.
The two sources differ on direction as well as level. Neho reports a sharp 12-month fall for apartments (−21.2%), which in a market this thin often reflects a change in what happens to be listed. RealAdvisor shows apartments up 3.6% over the same period and up 22.2% over five years. For a buyer, the practical conclusion is that apartment prices in Lenk have been broadly stable, with individual listings varying more than the market itself.
Is Lenk cheaper than Gstaad?
Yes. Per square metre, Lenk costs roughly half of what the wider Gstaad market costs, and a fraction of prime Gstaad.
As we set out in our Gstaad price per square metre guide, portal data places the Gstaad market at around CHF 20,000–22,000/m², with upscale and luxury holiday homes considerably higher. Zweisimmen, the rail hub between the two valleys, shows apartment and house medians of about CHF 8,250/m² and CHF 12,500/m² in Neho's August 2026 data, which places Lenk in a similar band (see our Zweisimmen property prices overview).
What the difference buys is a different kind of place. Lenk is a working Simmental village with a strong family ski and hiking clientele, not an international resort. Buyers who choose it usually want space, nature and value; buyers who choose Gstaad want the village, its schools, its social calendar and the depth of its resale market.
Can a foreigner buy property in Lenk?
Yes, as a holiday home. Lenk is listed in Annex 1 of canton Bern's implementing law on the acquisition of property by persons abroad (EG BewG) as a tourist commune, alongside Saanen, Gsteig, Lauenen, Zweisimmen, St. Stephan and Boltigen.
The permit is granted within the cantonal quota and is issued by the Regierungsstatthalteramt Obersimmental-Saanen. Canton Bern's published conditions:
- Net living area generally no more than 200 m², up to 250 m² where a greater need is shown.
- For a holiday home that is not a condominium unit, a plot of generally no more than 1,000 m², up to 1,500 m² in exceptional cases.
- No permit if the buyer, a spouse or registered partner, or a child under 18 already owns a holiday home in Switzerland.
Some tourist communes in the canton add their own restrictions, summarised by the cantonal Amt für Wirtschaft, so the current position for Lenk should be confirmed before an offer. EU/EFTA nationals resident in Switzerland and holders of a C permit buy without a permit. Our Lex Koller guide covers the general rules.
Can you build a new holiday chalet in Lenk?
In most cases, no. Lenk's second-home share is far above the 20% threshold of the federal Second Homes Act, at 63.8% in the Federal Office for Spatial Development's 2017 inventory.
New homes in Lenk are therefore generally reserved for primary residence, with narrow exceptions. Homes that already existed under the law in force on 11 March 2012 can, as a rule, continue to be used and sold as second homes. This is why existing chalets carry a premium over new-build apartments with a primary-residence condition, and why the legal status of a chalet should be checked in the land register before any price discussion. Our article on the Second Homes Act explains the categories.
What is it like to own a home in Lenk?
Lenk sits at 1,068 m at the head of the Simmental, below the Wildstrubel. It is quieter than Gstaad, more outdoors-led, and busy in both seasons.
- Skiing: the Metsch gondola connects Lenk to the Adelboden-Lenk ski area; the Betelberg gondola serves a gentler family area on the other side of the valley.
- Summer: the Simmenfälle waterfalls, the Lenkerseeli lake and a dense network of hiking and mountain-bike trails. Lenk borders Lauenen across the mountains, so the Saanenland is a long walk rather than a long drive.
- Getting there: the MOB branch line runs 12.9 km from Lenk to Zweisimmen, where the GoldenPass line continues to Saanen, Gstaad and Montreux. Bern is about 1 h 20 by car and about 1 h 45 by public transport; Geneva about 2 h 40 by car. Saanen airport is the nearest airfield for private aviation.
- Local transport: Lenk's bus lines are free for residents and for guests who pay the tourist tax.
Demand is real: Lenk-Simmental recorded 810,885 overnight stays in hotels and holiday accommodation in 2025, which supports the long-let and holiday-rental market.
What we see on the ground
Lenk enters our conversations in two ways. Some buyers start in Gstaad, find that the space they want exceeds their budget, and widen the search up the Simmental. Others already know the valley, often from family ski holidays, and want a larger chalet within reach of Gstaad rather than inside it.
Our advice is the same in both cases. Establish first whether a property can legally be used as a second home and whether a foreign buyer can acquire it, because those two facts decide its value more than its finishes. Compare price per square metre only with genuinely similar homes, since a single listing can move published averages in a village of this size. And allow for a slower resale than in Gstaad, where the international buyer pool is deeper. We are glad to look at a specific property in Lenk alongside comparable options in Zweisimmen, Lauenen and the rest of the Saanenland.
Glossary for searches in other languages: chalet for sale in Lenk is "Chalet kaufen Lenk" or "Immobilien Lenk im Simmental" in German, and "chalet à vendre Lenk" in French; an apartment is "Wohnung kaufen Lenk".
Frequently asked questions
What is the average price per m² in Lenk?
As of October 2026, Neho/Lookmove puts apartments at an average of about CHF 8,100/m² and houses at about CHF 10,400/m². RealAdvisor's September 2026 figures are CHF 9,350/m² for apartments and CHF 8,560/m² for houses.
Can a foreigner buy a holiday home in Lenk?
Yes. Lenk is one of canton Bern's tourist communes where persons abroad may buy a holiday home with a Lex Koller permit, within the cantonal quota. Living area is generally limited to 200 m² and the plot to 1,000 m².
Can a new chalet in Lenk be used as a second home?
Generally not. With a second-home share far above 20%, new homes in Lenk are mostly reserved for primary residence. Homes that existed before 11 March 2012 can usually be used as second homes.
Is Lenk cheaper than Gstaad?
Yes, considerably. Lenk trades at roughly CHF 8,000–10,500/m², against around CHF 20,000–22,000/m² for the Gstaad market on portal data and far more for prime Gstaad.
How do you get from Lenk to Gstaad?
Via Zweisimmen, by road or by the MOB railway, changing trains at Zweisimmen for Saanen and Gstaad. In summer, hiking routes link Lenk and Lauenen across the mountains.
What is the tax rate in Lenk?
Lenk's municipal tax multiplier was 1.79 in 2025, slightly above the canton Bern average of 1.708 (Raiffeisen commune data).
Sources
- Neho: Quadratmeterpreis und Immobilienpreise in Lenk (BE), October 2026
- RealAdvisor: Lenk property prices, September 2026
- Neho: Quadratmeterpreis Zweisimmen, August 2026
- Canton Bern, Regierungsstatthalterämter: Erwerb von Grundstücken durch Personen im Ausland
- Plattform J: Hoher Zweitwohnungsanteil (ARE inventory, 2017)
- Raiffeisen: Gemeindeinfo Lenk (2024–2026)
- Adelboden-Lenk-Kandersteg: Destination information Lenk
- Lenk-Simmental Tourism: Arrival and mobility
- Montreux–Lenk im Simmental railway line
Figures are portal-based estimates as of the dates shown, not valuations. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.
For a confidential conversation about a property in Lenk or anywhere in the Saanenland, contact The Gstaad Collection.