The Brienz Rothorn Bahn is a vintage steam cogwheel mountain train that travels from the Brienz village to the Rothorn Kulm viewpoint at 2351m. The train carries about 100 passengers. It takes about 1 hour to reach the top.

Address: Hauptstrasse 149, 3855 Brienz

Open: early June to late October

Tickets: buy in advance with seat reservation via Brienz-rothorn.ch

Timetable

This train runs to the Brienzer Rothorn viewpoint early June to late October.

Note: starting in mid May, train may run from Brienz to the Planalp middle station, but not all the way to the top.

The train departs about every hour. First ride up at 8:36 (on summer weekends at 7:36). Last ride down at 17:40. Check current timetable.

Tickets

In 2025, a round trip ticket for the Brienzer Rothorn mountain train costs CHF 96/adult + CHF 8 for seat reservation.

Discounts: 50% discount with Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Half Fare Card or GA. Free with the Lucerne Tell Pass and Berner Oberland Pass. But you should still buy a seat reservation to secure your time slot.

💡Pro tip: you ride free on your birthday!

Seat reservations

⚠️Reservations recommended! The train has limited capacity, so there are often long lines or tickets sell out for weekends and holidays.

You select a day and timeslot for both the ascent and descent. If you are just visiting the viewpoint, you'll need an hour. If you are eating at a restaurant and/or hiking down to the Eisee lake, you would need 2-3 hours at the top.

Seating

Each train compartment fits 8 people. The staff will tell you where to sit and will not accommodate special requests for sitting near the window or together with a large group.

How to get there

The Brienz Rothorn Bahn departs from the Brienz village, just east of Interlaken.

By public transport: Take a train to Brienz. The mountain train station is directly across the street. From Lucerne 1h27, Interlaken Ost 21 mins.

By car: Drive to Hauptstrasse 149, 3855 Brienz. Near the mountain train station, there is parking at Trachtlistrasse 13-3, 3855 Brienz. If this is full, you could park at the Brienz train station or other car parks in the Brienz village. But some limit you to 2 hours, so check the terms carefully.

💡Note: If you are coming from Lucerne, the Sörenberg cable car might be a little more convenient (and less expensive) – see on map.