Luzern to Interlaken by Train
The ride from Luzern to Interlaken climbs over the Brünig pass on the GoldenPass line, swapping Lake Lucerne for mountain valleys and finishing above Lake Brienz.
The journey
Trains from Luzern to Interlaken Ost run direct, hourly, and take about one hour and fifty minutes, climbing over the Brünig pass as part of the GoldenPass route. It’s a genuinely scenic ride, alternating between forested valleys and open mountain views for most of the way.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Duration | ≈ 1 h 50 |
| Frequency | ~1 per hour |
| Changes | Direct |
| Departs | Luzern |
| Arrives | Interlaken Ost |
Why it’s slower than it looks
The Brünig pass is a narrower, steeper line than Switzerland’s main corridors, which is exactly why it takes longer for the distance covered, and exactly why the views are better than the faster alternatives.
Two lakes, one ride
The journey starts alongside Lake Lucerne, crosses the pass through forest and open pasture, then descends toward Lake Brienz on the approach into Interlaken, so the scenery changes character more than once along the way.
Tickets
A Swiss Travel Pass covers this route in full, and it’s one of the more rewarding legs to have included if you’re already holding one for a longer trip through central Switzerland.
Plan it live
An hourly service means a missed train costs real time on this route, and the Brünig pass section can run slightly behind schedule in poor weather. The Swiss Transport app shows live departures from Luzern and tracks the journey so you know exactly when to expect the arrival at Interlaken Ost.
Plan Luzern → Interlaken live
Free Swiss Transport app, live departures, platforms and every connection.