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Season: late April to early November
Recommended season: late April to early November
Max. altitude: 2362 m (7749 ft)What is the Niesen? 
The Niesen is not as famous as many other mountains in Switzerland, but it actually is one of the best viewing points in the Bernese Oberland. This pyramid-shaped mountain is easy to reach, for example from Thun, Interlaken, Bern, and Kandersteg. Plus: the excursion is relatively affordable.
You can reach its top by a steep funicular ride from Mülenen in the Kander Valley, south of Lake Thun. At the top, there's a hotel, a restaurant, a playground, and most importantly: a magnificent 360°-view over the lakes and mountains of the Bernese Oberland.
➤ Ticket prices and reservations
Niesen ticket prices 2026
The standard fare for a return trip Mülenen-Niesen is CHF 64 per adult. With a Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Travel Pass Flex or Swiss Half Fare Card, you get 50% off. The Berner Oberland Pass grants a free trip.
Find a full overview of rail pass discounts here.
Where to buy your Niesen tickets
Tickets for the funicular can be purchased online and at the valley station in Mülenen.
Reservations
You don't have to make reservations for a trip to Niesen. Advance reservation for a culinary evening ride is recommended though.
➤ Get discounts for Niesen with your rail pass
| Pass | Discount |
|---|---|
| Berner Oberland Pass | Free:
|
| Day Pass | Discount 50%:
|
| Swiss Half Fare Card | Discount 50%:
|
| Swiss Travel Pass | Discount 50%:
|
| Swiss Travel Pass Flex | Discount 50%:
|
How to reach the Niesen: direction and map
You first need to travel to Mülenen. There, you'll switch to the funicular.
Traveling to Mülenen
Mülenen is a village in the Kander Valley, south of Spiez on Lake Thun. Mülenen can be reached by car or by train (5 minutes from Spiez). It's a 4-minute walk from the train station to the funicular station.
Traveling from Mülenen to the Niesen
The funicular crosses the river Kander immediately after departure. Then it creeps up the forested slopes until it reaches the mid-station Schwandegg after about 10 minutes. That's where you'll switch to another funicular that takes you along the slightly shorter second leg of the trip to the top. The entire funicular trip is completed in half an hour.
Operation dates, schedules and timetable
2026 operation dates and times for the Niesen
From 25 April until 8 November 2026, the funicular operates daily at a 30-minute intervals (or a 15-minute interval if it's busy). The first ride up departs from Mülenen at 08:00; the last descent from the top is at 17:45.
In addition, there are evening rides. These take place between 17:30 (departure to the top from Mülenen) and 19:30 (the last departure option down from Niesen Kulm) on the following days:
- Wednesdays from 1 July to 28 October 2026
- Fridays and Saturdays from 1 May to 7 November 2026
12-13 June: Niesen-Stairway-Run
On 12 and 13 June 2026, the yearly Niesen-Stairway-Run takes place. Expect more crowds than usual!
Planning your trip in the timetable
You can check the Niesen timetable through the link here. Planning your trip with the Swiss timetable is possible too. The below names are used:
- The destination is called "Niesen Kulm".
- The train station of Mülenen is simply called "Mülenen".
- The funicular valley station is "Mülenen (Niesenbahn)".
- The mid-station, where you'll usually not get out, is "Schwandegg".
Best months to visit Niesen
An excursion to Niesen can be made from late April to early November. I think the trip is a good option during this entire period:
- The most striking contrast between vegetation in the valleys and snow-capped mountain tops can be seen in April to June (spring) and October (fall).
- July, August, and September are perfect if you want a refreshing break from high temperatures in the valleys.
- From October, the sun is in the right position for the Niesen to cast its nearly perfect triangular shadow over Lake Thun.
- In early November, vegetation in the valleys isn't at its best, and it's usually too early to expect a significant amount of snow on the mountains. But Niesen is one of the few peaks that can be reached until this time of the year, which makes it an excellent choice if you're visiting the Bernese Oberland in this period. Many other mountains plan revision breaks from mid-October.
Weather forecast and tips
The Niesen is not exceptionally high for Swiss standards. There will normally be no snow on the top in late spring, summer, and early fall. It can still be chilly though, as the top is fully exposed to the wind. Dress in multiple thinner layers so that you can adapt to whatever circumstances you will encounter. Take along sunglasses.
It is essential to check the weather forecast. There's no point in going up if clouds are blocking the views from the top of the Niesen, and you definitely need good weather if you want to do some hiking.
What to expect from an excursion to the Niesen
- You’ll make a spectacular steep funicular ride. The views get better and better as you slowly creep up the mountain.
- At the top, it’s an easy 5-minute walk from the funicular station to the viewing platform.
- From the platform, you’ll have a magnificent 360°-view over Lake Thun, the Kander Valley, the towns of Spiez, Thun, and Interlaken, plus the rest of the Bernese Alps. Even the Jura mountain range in the far north-west can be seen if the sky is clear.
- There’s a hotel, a restaurant, and a playground.
- The funicular normally operates until late afternoon. On many Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights you can visit the Niesen in the evening as well, when the restaurant serves typically Swiss dishes during special culinary events: Swiss-style buffets and fondue nights, for example.
How long an excursion to Niesen takes
In many cases, a trip to Niesen takes about half a day.
A single funicular ride from Mülenen to the top takes 30 minutes. So if you spend an hour at the mountain, count on 2 hours in total from Mülenen. Your total excursion time depends on where you’re traveling from. Some examples of a 1-way trip duration from popular towns:
- Thun-Niesen: 1h00
- Kandersteg-Niesen: 1h15
- Bern-Niesen: 1h20
- Interlaken Ost-Niesen: 1h30
Hiking to and from Niesen
There are several hiking trails from the valley to the top. Note that the Niesen is shaped like a pyramid. The slopes are steep and so are the trails. These are no beginner’s walks!
There is a funicular station called Schwandegg halfway up the mountain, so you can walk part of the route up or down if you want. An uphill hike from Schwandegg to the top takes about 2h30, without breaks. Descending takes approximately 1h15. I prefer going up. Even though this requires more effort, it’s much easier on the knees than descending.
What else to do on the same day
If you spend half a day on your excursion to Niesen, you can add more activities. My suggestions:
- Visit Thun and make a boat trip on the lake. If you plan well, you could even add a trip to the mountain Niederhorn on the opposite side of the lake.
- Visit Bern.
- Make a train ride to Kandersteg and visit the Oeschinen Lake (“Oeschinensee”) or the Blausee.
- Enjoy a part of the Lötschberg Mountain Railway.
➤ Buy your Niesen tickets here: my recommendations
Promotions
- www.niesen.ch: culinary evening rides
- www.niesen.ch: hiking trails
Schedules
- www.niesen.ch: Niesen timetable
Prices
- www.niesen.ch: Niesen ticket prices
Swiss Coupon Pass
Lötschberg Mountain Railway
Boat Lake Thun
