Harder Kulm

• Attraction type: Natural site, Mountain top, By funicular
• Escort: independent (no guide)
• Region: Interlaken (Bernese Oberland)
• Duration: 1 day or less

An easy ride and great views

Harder Kulm is a mountain at 1321m, located above the tourist town Interlaken. It can be reached in a 10-minute ride by funicular. The funicular valley station is at 5-minute walk from the railway station of Interlaken Ost.

Once you’re at Harder Kulm, you can look down onto Interlaken and the surrounding lakes. If weather is clear, you’ll also see the snow-capped Bernese Alps, including the famous trio Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. You can enjoy the views from the panorama restaurant too.

What to expect at the top

Once you get off the funicular, you have to walk a bit to reach the actual viewing point and restaurant. This is a 5-minute walk over an easy gravel path. You’ll end up at a spectacular viewing platform, supported by a steel construction. It’s called the “Two Lakes Bridge”, as visitors can look down onto Lake Thun and Lake Brienz.

You’ll also find a playground and the panorama restaurant. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. From mid-April to mid-October, the funicular operates in the evenings as well. Harder Kulm is a great place to experience the sunset while dining!

From May to October, there are live folklore shows, allowing you to get acquainted with Swiss traditions. They probably won't be held in 2022 though.

There's a 1,5- to 2-hour circular hiking trail. On panels along the way, information about the history and geology of this area is provided.

How to prepare

The views are the main reason to get up to Harder Kulm, so check weather forecasts and make sure it’s not too cloudy or rainy. There might be some wind at the top, so dress accordingly. Don’t forget your sunglasses either.

If you plan to hike, make sure you wear solid hiking shoes and other appropriate gear.

Combine a visit to Harder Kulm with other activities

A trip to Harder Kulm can be done quickly if you want, even within 1 hour from Interlaken. There’s plenty of time for more activities on the same day.

• 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.
• Enjoy a boat ride over Lake Thun and visit a mountain top such as Niesen, Stockhorn or Niederhorn. Or explore the lakeside towns Spiez and Thun.
• Take a boat ride over Lake Brienz and visit Brienz, the Aare Gorge, the Reichenbach Falls or the Ballenberg open-air museum.

An overview of more activities in the Bernese Oberland can be found here.