Harder Kulm

Harder Kulm is Interlaken's home mountain at 1,322 m and offers one of the most spectacular viewpoints in Switzerland. From the famous Two Lakes Bridge platform, visitors enjoy simultaneous views of the turquoise Lake Brienz and deep blue Lake Thun — framed by the iconic trio of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The nostalgic funicular takes 10 minutes from its valley station to the summit; counting the walk there, it is 20 minutes from Interlaken Ost station.

What Makes Harder Kulm Special?

Harder Kulm is Interlaken's home mountain and offers one of Switzerland's most impressive viewpoints. Standing on the cantilevered Two Lakes Bridge, you're literally between two worlds: the turquoise Lake Brienz to the left, the deep blue Lake Thun to the right — and straight ahead, the mighty trio of Eiger (3,967 m), Mönch (4,107 m) and Jungfrau (4,158 m).

The viewing platform "Zwei-Seen-Steg" (Two Lakes Bridge), opened in 2012, extends as a cantilevered steel structure over the cliff edge. The effect is breathtaking: you stand at 1,322 metres above sea level with a clear 360° view of the entire Jungfrau Region.

Highlights & Experiences

• Two Lakes Bridge with cantilevered panoramic views
• 360° views of Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau and both lakes
• Panorama restaurant with sun terrace
• Historic funicular railway (since 1908)
• Hiking trails from the summit (e.g. Augstmatthorn)
• Free access to the viewing platform

Getting There from Interlaken

By Funicular (Recommended)

The Harderbahn funicular does not depart from Interlaken Ost station but from its own valley station, Interlaken Harderbahn, for which the timetable counts a walk of its own. The ride takes 10 minutes, climbing 735 vertical metres at a maximum gradient of 64%. The nostalgic funicular has been running since 1908 and has been modernised while keeping its historic charm.

Allow twenty minutes from Interlaken Ost all the same, not ten: the timetable puts another ten minutes on the walk from the station to the Interlaken Harderbahn valley station. The connection runs without a change — 9:00 from Interlaken Ost, 9:10 from the valley station, 9:20 at the top (checked against the timetable on 21.08.2026). The ten minutes quoted everywhere are the ride alone.

• Operating season: 3 April to 29 November 2026, first ascent 9:10 am (checked against the timetable on 06.08.2026: no service runs on 2 April or 30 November, and the 9:10 holds across the whole season)
• Last ascent: shifts by three and a half hours across the season — 7:10 pm on the first day of operation, 8:40 pm in June and August, 8:10 pm in mid-October, and only 5:10 pm in November. This is the figure to check before a sunset trip, and the only one on this page that changes several times a year.
• Frequency: Every 30 minutes (more frequent at peak times)
• Price: from CHF 22 one way from Interlaken Ost, CHF 44 up and back — two single trips, the operator gives no return discount (queried in its booking flow, checked 17 August 2026). The operator’s two figures do not contradict each other, they belong to two seasons: its Harder Kulm page says “from CHF 22.–”, its price overview “from CHF 19.–” — CHF 19 applies until 30 April and from 1 November, CHF 22 from 1 May to 31 October (boundary measured to the day). Half Fare Card, GA, Swiss Travel Pass and the guest card each reduce it differently — jungfrau.ch carries the current fare table.

On Foot (Free)

All three Harder Kulm hikes — the climb from Interlaken, the summit loop and the exposed Hardergrat ridge — with walking times, ascent and grade, are on our Interlaken to Harder Kulm hiking page. The ridge itself is two different walks under one name — both, with escape routes and the water question, are on the Hardergrat Trail page. More routes around Interlaken are on the Interlaken hiking page.

The trail from Interlaken Ost climbs 750 metres over 4.1 kilometres on a marked mountain path (T2). Allow two and a half to three hours going up — published estimates range from 1h30 to 3h50, which makes most of them useless for planning. Particularly pleasant in the cooler temperatures of spring and autumn.

Practical Tips

• Best time of day: Sunset (summer around 8:30–9:00 pm) or early morning for clearest views
• What to bring: Light jacket (5–8 °C cooler than the valley), sunscreen, camera
• Restaurant: The Harder Kulm Panorama Restaurant serves Swiss cuisine with views — reservation recommended
• Hiking tip: The ridge over the Augstmatthorn to Alp Lombach is one of the finest in the Bernese Oberland — but it is 11.2 km, 4h45 and graded T3 with exposed sections, not a stroll from the summit

Related Articles

Nature & garden

Schynige Platte

An alpine botanical garden at 1,967 m with around 800 plant species, reached by the 1893 cogwheel railway from Wilderswil.

Mountain excursion

Jungfraujoch — Top of Europe

Europe's highest railway station at 3,454 m, with the Ice Palace, the Sphinx terrace and the Aletsch Glacier.

Mountain lake

Bachalpsee

A mountain lake at 2,266 m below the Faulhorn, reached by cableway to First and about an hour on foot along an easy T1 path. There is no road and no lift to the lake itself.

Back to overview: All Attractions