52 posts
If the weather is nice then Harder Kulm is nearby and there is a decent restaurant when you get to the top. One and a half hours should be sufficient to have lunch, see the sites from the look out area and still get back to your train connection.
8889 posts
Doesn’t give you much time. Harder Kulm is a good suggestion from stodgytj. The funicular station is about 500 meters from Interlaken Ost station – head west and over the bridge. But the funicular only starts running 14 April. See http://www.jungfrau.ch/shop/e n/tickets/bergbahn/ang ebote/harder-kulm/billete-harderkulm
The Hotel Du Lac is right next to Interlaken Ost station (on the northern side) and has a nice restaurant right on the water. You can walk along the water side in the direction of Interlaken West and return up the main street Höweweg.
72625 posts
>> If the weather is nice then Harder Kulm is nearby
>> the funicular only starts running 14 April.
Another thing to take into account is that it only runs every half-hour in each direction. So it would take careful planning to get yourself back to Interlaken Ost station in time to catch your train, including time to stow and retrieve your luggage. (Having a collection of CHF 5, CHF 2, and CHF 1 coins on hand will be handy to avoid wasting time getting change for the lockers.)
Do you absolutely have only 1.5 hours to spend in Interlaken? Connections between Interlaken Ost and Luzern are frequent, so if you really wanted to go up to Harder Kulm, and enjoy lunch there, could you perhaps consider taking a later train to Luzern if necessary?
Alpenrose
1206 posts
I would like to second Alpenrose’s suggestion of catching another later train on to Lucerne, and then you could go up to the Harder Kulm without worrying about getting down too late for your next connection. You won’t regret going up to the Harder Kulm if the weather is good. Check this: http://www.interlaken.ch/en/e xcursion-harder-kulm.html
72625 posts
Thanks for your recommendations to see Harder Kulm. I will consider taking a later train from Interlaken to Lucerne. Do you know if the Saver Day Pass covers the transport to Harder Kulm?
8889 posts
Harder Kulm is 50% discount with a Swiss Travel Pass but no discount with a SDP unless you also have a Swiss Half Fare Card. Full fare is CHF32.
15484 posts
Hi Drasti,
You already got some good suggestions, but just in case: Interlaken is not on a lake (the lakes are out of town) but it is on a river. The river is not very prominent unless you specifically go and see it as per Rockoyster’s suggestion.
Two suggestions: with just 1.5 hours you can get off the train in Interlaken West and have a stroll along the main street to the Interlaken Ost station. This takes half an hour or so, so you will have time for stops. If the weather is clear you will have a nice view of the Jungfrau about half way. Or you can skip Interlaken and spend your time in Brienz instead, which is on a lake.