Getting Around Interlaken by Public Transport

The network in one minute

Interlaken is small, its own centre is easily walkable, but it’s the gateway to the mountain railways that climb toward Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and Jungfraujoch, and to the boats that cross Lake Thun and Lake Brienz on either side of town.

• Trains, the main-line connects Interlaken to Bern, Lucerne and Zürich.
• Mountain railways, smaller cog and rack trains climb from Interlaken into the high valleys of the Jungfrau region.
• Lake boats, seasonal boats cross Lake Thun to the west and Lake Brienz to the east.

Ost or West

Interlaken has two stations about twenty minutes apart on foot, and it genuinely matters which one you use. Interlaken Ost is the hub for the mountain railways heading up toward Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and eventually Jungfraujoch, and it’s also where the Lake Brienz boats dock. Interlaken West sits closer to the town centre and mainly serves the main-line trains and Lake Thun boats.

If your plan involves the mountains at all, head straight for Ost, don’t get out at West by mistake.

Tickets without the guesswork

Fares into the Jungfrau region are priced separately from the main-line network, since the mountain railways are steep, specialised lines. A Swiss Travel Pass covers the approach from the main cities and discounts the mountain sections beyond Interlaken.

See it live

The mountain railways run less frequently than the main line, and a missed connection at Interlaken Ost can mean a long wait for the next train up. The Swiss Transport app shows live departures for both stations and the exact connections onward, so your onward legs actually line up.