What is Harder Kulm?
Harder Kulm is a viewpoint on a hill at 1321 m altitude above Interlaken, open from April to November. You can reach it by a 10-minute funicular ride that starts close the rail station Interlaken Ost.
The top offers views of large parts of the Bernese Oberland. You can have brunch, lunch, and even dinner in the panorama restaurant: there are evening rides during the summer season.
About prices, tickets, and reservations
Harder Kulm - 2024 prices
Price | More information and prices | Description |
---|---|---|
CHF 22 | more info | Return trip with a Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Travel Pass Flex or Swiss Half Fare Card in high season: June-July-August |
CHF 19 | more info | Return trip with a Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Travel Pass Flex or Swiss Half Fare Card in other operation months: April-May, September-October-November |
CHF 0 | more info | Return trip with a Jungfrau Travel Pass in all operation months: April-November |
CHF 0 | more info | Return trip with a Berner Oberland Pass in all operation months: April-November |
CHF 44 | more info | Return trip with a normal ticket, full fare, in high season: June-July-August |
CHF 38 | more info | Return trip with a normal ticket, full fare, in other operation months: April-May, September-October-November |
Where to buy your tickets
You can get your tickets to Harder Kulm online, or at the valley station in Interlaken.
Reservations
You don't have to make reservations for a trip to Harder Kulm.
Get your tickets for Harder Kulm
Book your tickets with and without rail pass discounts here. Or find a tour that suits your needs.
Offered by GetYourGuide: www.getyourguide.com
- Easy, online, free cancellation in most cases
- Best Price Matching: GetYourGuide will pay the difference if you find a lower price.
- Extra Support: if you buy here, MySwissAlps can also assist if you have questions about your order.
Offered by GetYourGuide: www.getyourguide.com
- Easy, online, free cancellation in most cases
- Best Price Matching: GetYourGuide will pay the difference if you find a lower price.
- Extra Support: if you buy here, MySwissAlps can also assist if you have questions about your order.
Offered by Klook: www.klook.com
- Best price guarantee: Klook will refund double the difference if you find a lower price.
- Extra Support: if you book here, MySwissAlps can also assist if you have questions about your order.
Promotions
There are currently no promotions available.
Cheaper Harder Kulm tickets with your rail pass
The below rail passes offer discounts or even free traveling to Harder Kulm.
Pass | Discount |
---|---|
Berner Oberland Pass |
Free:
|
Day Pass |
Discount 50%:
|
Eurail Global Pass |
Discount 50%:
|
Interrail Switzerland Pass |
Discount 50%:
|
Jungfrau Travel Pass |
Free:
|
Swiss Half Fare Card |
Discount 50%:
|
Swiss Travel Pass |
Discount 50%:
|
Swiss Travel Pass Flex |
Discount 50%:
|
How to reach Harder Kulm: directions and map
How to get to the valley station in Interlaken
Harder Kulm can be reached by funicular from Interlaken. The ride takes about 10 minutes. The valley station is located close to the railway station of Interlaken Ost and can be reached in a 5-minute walk. It's on the other side of the river Aare and you'll see it quickly after crossing the bridge.
Where to park if you come by car
If you come by car, you can park it at the P+R parking lot near the railway station. We recommend using public transportation though. That allows you to combine your trip to Harder Kulm with other activities: you can start and end wherever you like, without having to return to your car.
Can one drive to Harder Kulm?
No, Harder Kulm can not be reached by car. The only way up (other than hiking) is the funicular.
Map: funicular route Interlaken-Harder Kulm
Operation dates, schedules and timetable
2024 operating dates for Harder Kulm
The funicular operates from 29 March to 1 December 2024. Evening rides are available from April to October.
Planning your trip in the timetable
You can either consult the Harder Kulm timetable here, or use the general Swiss timetable:
- The valley station is called "Interlaken Harderbahn".
- The top station is "Harder Kulm".
Best months for your excursion
The best season to go to Harder Kulm is early April to late October. This is when the panorama restaurant is open in the evenings and sunset dining is an option. Within this timeframe, we prefer:
- Mid-April to June. The combination of green valleys and snow on the high Bernese Oberland mountains is beautiful.
- Mid-September to October. This is when you can see the onset of autumn colors in the valley.
Weather at Harder Kulm
The views are the main reason to get up to Harder Kulm, so check weather forecasts and make sure it’s not too cloudy. You can estimate with quite some certainty if the sky is clear enough while you're in Interlaken. It's only a short ride up, so there's no huge risk of dramatic weather changes during the ascent.
Even though Harder Kulm is at lower altitude than many other Swiss mountain tops, don't underestimate the temperature difference with Interlaken in the valley. It will be a bit cooler at the top and it can be windy too: dress accordingly.
If you plan to hike, make sure you wear solid hiking shoes and other appropriate gear.
5-day forecast for Harder Kulm
What to see and do at the top
Once you get off the funicular, you have to walk a bit to reach the viewing point and restaurant. This is a 5-minute walk over an easy gravel path. Here’s what you can do:
- Admire the views from a spectacular viewing platform, supported by a steel construction. It’s called the ‘Two Lakes Bridge’, as you can look down onto Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. You’ll also see the famous mountain trio Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, framed by the rest of the Jungfrau Region and other parts of the Bernese Oberland.
- The panorama restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. From April to October, the funicular operates in the evenings as well. Harder Kulm is a great place to experience the sunset while dining!
- From June to September, there are live folklore shows demonstrating Swiss traditions.
- There’s a 1- to 1.5-hour circular hiking trail.
Is Harder Kulm as good as other mountain tops in the Jungfrau Region?
We think that Harder Kulm is different from most other mountains in the Jungfrau Region. Pros of other mountain tops are:
- They’re higher. This means that the trip up is usually longer and more spectacular.
- They’re closer to the snow-capped Alps and give you the feeling you’re right within the mountains.
The advantages of Harder Kulm are:
- It’s very easy to reach.
- It’s relatively affordable.
- You’ll have amazing panoramic views of the Bernese Oberland, with the highest mountain tops somewhat in the distance.
Other activities to do on the same day
A trip to Harder Kulm can be done quickly if you want, even within 1 hour from Interlaken. You can combine it with any of these activities:
- Explore Interlaken and do some souvenir shopping.
- For kids, consider a visit to Heimwehfluh, the JungfrauPark or the Alpenwildpark Interlaken. This is a small zoo with alpine ibex and a marmot colony next to the Harder Kulm valley station.
- Travel into the Jungfrau Region and enjoy one of the many activities there.
- Enjoy a boat ride over Lake Thun and visit a mountain top such as the Niesen, Stockhorn, or Niederhorn. Or explore the lakeside towns Spiez and Thun.
- Take a boat ride over Lake Brienz and visit Brienz, Brienzer Rothorn, the Aare Gorge, the Reichenbach Falls or the Ballenberg open-air museum.
Other websites of interest
- www.restaurantharderkulm: Harder Kulm restaurant
- www.jungfrau.ch: Harder Kulm circular hiking trail
Schedules
- www.jungfrau.ch: Harder Kulm operation dates and timetable
- www.jungfrau.ch: operation dates and hours of transport in the Jungfrau Region
Prices
- www.swissactivities.com: Harder Kulm ticket prices