Interlaken by Train: Routes, Stations and Rail Tours

How Do You Get to Interlaken by Train?

Almost everyone comes through Bern. From the capital the line runs south to Thun, then follows the southern shore of the lake through Spiez, with the water spread out below the track and the Niederhorn rising on the far side, where paragliders circle down towards town on a fine day. Sit on the left as you head for Interlaken, because that's the lake side all the way from Spiez. Trains call at Interlaken West first and finish a few minutes later at Interlaken Ost.

It's a busy line, with trains to Interlaken every half hour.

From Zurich, Basel and the Airports

The train from Zurich to Interlaken usually means a quick, timed change at Bern, although some InterCity trains run straight through, and from Basel there are direct trains too. Zurich Airport has its station right under the terminal. From Geneva, the journey runs along Lake Geneva to Lausanne and Fribourg, with a change at Bern.

From London to Interlaken

You can do London to Interlaken in a day without flying: Eurostar to Paris, a TGV Lyria from Gare de Lyon to Basel, then a Swiss train for the last leg. Our guide to the train to Switzerland from London walks you through every connection, and Paris to Switzerland by train covers the French half of the journey.

The Scenic Interlaken Train Rides from Lucerne and Montreux

Two panoramic trains end their run at Interlaken Ost. Both are worth the extra time.

Luzern-Interlaken Express over the Brünig Pass

Leaving Lucerne, the train slips past the Alpnachersee and up the Sarneraatal, then engages its cogwheel for the steep climb to the Brünig Pass, where you'll feel it grip the rack and haul itself up through the woods. At Meiringen it reverses. The last stretch runs along Lake Brienz, turquoise below the cliffs, and it's the best part of the ride! Trains run every hour, there's a bistro on board, and you can reserve a seat but don't have to. Switzerland Tourism's page has the official timetable links, and our Luzern-Interlaken Express guide covers the route.

GoldenPass Express from Montreux

This one solved a puzzle that beat engineers for more than a century. From Montreux the line climbs above Lake Geneva on narrow gauge track, through Château-d'Oex and Gstaad, while the line from Zweisimmen down to Interlaken is standard gauge. The GoldenPass Express changes gauge at Zweisimmen with you still in your seat, then drops through the Simmental to Spiez and the lake.

Pick second class, first class or Prestige, where the seats are raised for better views, and BLS recommends a reservation in second and first (it's compulsory in Prestige). More in our GoldenPass Express guide.

Interlaken Ost or Interlaken West: Which Station?

Get off at Ost for the mountains.

It's the terminus for most long-distance trains, the start of the Bernese Oberland Railway, and where both panoramic trains begin and end. Lake Brienz boats leave from beside it.

Interlaken West is the town centre stop, closer to the shops and many hotels, with the Lake Thun boats leaving from here. It's an easy walk between the two along the Höheweg, with the Jungfrau filling the view across the Höhematte meadow.

Staying the night? Interlaken's guest card gives overnight visitors free local buses and trains in the area. It can't be stacked with Swiss Travel Pass discounts, so check which saves you more.

Into the Jungfrau Region on the Mountain Trains

This is what you came for. From Interlaken Ost, the Bernese Oberland Railway runs up the Lütschine valley with two trains coupled together, and at Zweilütschinen they split: one half goes to Lauterbrunnen, the other to Grindelwald. Check which part you're sitting in, because it's an easy mistake. Jungfrau Railways runs them every half hour.

• Grindelwald: the village under the Eiger, with the Eiger Express gondola from Grindelwald Terminal linking to the Jungfrau Railway.
• Lauterbrunnen: the valley of waterfalls, where a cogwheel line climbs to car-free Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg, and a cable car and cliff-top train lead to Mürren.
• Jungfraujoch: the highest railway station in Europe. Our Jungfraujoch guide covers both ways up.
• Schynige Platte and Harder Kulm: a vintage cogwheel train from Wilderswil and a funicular from the edge of town, both summer only.

On clear summer days Jungfrau Railways strongly recommends a paid seat reservation for the Jungfraujoch. Nobody wants to spend a blue-sky morning in a queue.

How the Escorted Rail Tours Handle Interlaken

Each holiday uses Interlaken differently, and that's the easiest way to choose between them.

Travelsphere: The Best of Switzerland

You arrive in style, on the Glacier Express to Brig with lunch on board, then on to several nights in a four-star hotel in Interlaken. There's a free day with an extra trip to the Jungfraujoch, then an included day at Trümmelbach Falls, the Schilthorn and Mürren. You leave by boat to Spiez Castle and take the GoldenPass train towards Lausanne. Read our guide to The Best of Switzerland tour or see the dates on Travelsphere's website.

Travelsphere: Winter in Switzerland

This one keeps you in Interlaken all week, so you unpack once. A railway day takes you to Grindelwald and up by cogwheel train to Kleine Scheidegg under the Eiger North Face, with lunch included, before you ride down past the frozen Staubbach Falls. Another day you board the GoldenPass Express to Montreux for Château de Chillon. See our Winter in Switzerland tour page, or check the winter departures with Travelsphere.

Newmarket: Swiss Alpine Glories and the GoldenPass Train

Newmarket bases you in Château-d'Oex, on the GoldenPass line itself. One included day takes the GoldenPass Express to Interlaken, then a coach to Grindelwald. Another runs the other way, down to Montreux. It suits you if the train is the heart of the week and Interlaken a day out. More in our Swiss Alpine Glories guide, or view the holiday on Newmarket's website.

What all three take off your hands:

• Seat reservations on the panoramic trains
• Connections between trains, boats, coaches and hotels, with the Holiday Director or tour manager beside you
• No luggage to drag across a busy station, and no guessing which half of the train goes where
• Tickets for the mountain railways and cable cars on the included days

The tour cards above show the current from price and departure months.

Planning Your Own Trip

Going independently? Sort these out before you leave home.

The Interlaken tourist office lists engineering work, such as the replacement buses between West and Ost this autumn. For tickets and passes, see our guide to Swiss trains.

Interlaken is also a stop on the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland. If you'd rather ride these lines on a longer escorted journey, our Swiss rail holidays page compares every tour. For the next big resort to the south, see Zermatt by train.

Questions people ask