MySwissAlps.com includes 
This page was last updated by 
Season: early April to late November
Recommended season: early April to late October
Max. altitude: 1321 m (4334 ft)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 to the rail station of Interlaken Ost.
The viewing platform (called the "Two Lakes Bridge") 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 - 2026 prices
| View more prices and discounts | Price high season (May-October 2026) | Price low season (January-April and November-December 2026) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| View ticket prices and discounts (swissactivities.com) | CHF 22 | CHF 19 | Return trip with a Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Travel Pass Flex, Swiss Half Fare Card or Berner Oberland Pass |
| View Jungfrau Travel Pass prices (swissrailways.com) | CHF 0 | CHF 0 | Return trip with a Jungfrau Travel Pass |
| View ticket prices and discounts (swissactivities.com) | CHF 44 | CHF 38 | Return trip with a normal ticket, full fare |
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.
➤ 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 | Discount 50%:
|
| 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. It's a 5-minute walk to the funicular from the railway station of Interlaken Ost.
Directions at the station show where to leave the station. You'll cross the English garden, with the river Aare on your right. Then turn right over the bridge: you can't miss the valley station when crossing it.
The funicular ride to the top
The funicular runs every half hour, but if it's busy it may be operating continuously. You'll have to scan your pass or ticket to open the electronic turnstiles. You can then get seated in the funicular.
The steep journey up takes 10 minutes. An intercom provides information about the mountain and the funicular in several languages.
The tracks run through a forested area, so there's no continuous view. Yet, you can see the views slowly unfold, and as soon as you reach the Harder Kulm top station there's a gorgeous panorama.
My tip is to take place in the lowest segment for an unobstructed view down on the tracks.
Walking from the top station to the restaurant
Via an easy, slightly ascending paved path you'll walk from the mountain station of the funicular to the restaurant, the terrace and the Two Lakes Bridge in a few minutes. You'll see wood sculptures on your way.
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. I 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 I drive to Harder Kulm?
No, Harder Kulm can not be reached by car. The only way up (other than hiking) is the funicular.
Operation dates, schedules and timetable
2026 operating dates for Harder Kulm
The funicular operates from 3 April to 29 November 2026. Evening rides are available from 18 April to 25 October 2026.
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. From mid-May, the panorama restaurant is open in the evenings, and sunset dining is an option. Within this timeframe, I 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 tips and forecast for 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 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: dress accordingly.
If you plan to hike, wear solid hiking shoes and other appropriate gear.
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 lunch, dinner, and apero dishes. From mid-April to October, the funicular operates in the evenings as well. Harder Kulm is a great place to experience the sunset while dining!
- There are regular live alphorn concerts.
- There’s a 1- to 1.5-hour circular hiking trail.
Is Harder Kulm as good as other mountain tops in the Jungfrau Region?
I feel 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 ibexes 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.
➤ Where to buy Harder Kulm tickets: trusted points of sale
Promotions
There are currently no promotions available.
- www.restaurantharderkulm: Harder Kulm restaurant
- www.outdooractive.com: 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
Budget mountain excursions
Boat Lake Thun
Boat Lake Brienz
Brienzer Rothorn
Niesen
Interlaken
Bernese Oberland
