The Niederhorn is one of the picturesque mountains around Interlaken and is certainly worth spending a day exploring. Sitting at 1,963 meters (6,440 feet) above sea level on the shores of Lake Thun, it is a great day trip from pretty much all the major Swiss cities you might be visiting.
A trip to the Niederhorn offers a range of things to do including
- cable car rides with spectacular views
- hiking trails
- wildlife tours
- hang gliding
and lots more – there is something for everyone to enjoy at the Niederhorn.
In this article, we will run through everything you need to know about doing a day trip to the Niederhorn from how to get there, riding the Niederhorn mountain cable car, prices, and all the lovely things to do once you reach the Niederhorn peak too.
Table of Contents
General Information
| Altitude | 1,963 meters (6,440 feet) |
| Visit Duration | A Full Day is best, Half Day is also possible |
| Ticket Prices | Beatenbucht to NiederhornAdult: CHF 38 single, CHF 56 return Pensioner: CHF 38 single, CHF 56 return Student: CHF 38 single, CHF 56 return Children (6-16): CHF 19 single, CHF 28 return Beatenberg to NiederhornAdult: CHF 31 single, CHF 42 return Pensioner: CHF 31 single, CHF 42 return Student: CHF 31 single, CHF 42 return Children (6-16): CHF 15.50 single, CHF 21 return Various other tickets are available including hiking options, see here for all the details. |
| Discounts | Beatenbucht to NiederhornAdult: CHF 38 single, CHF 56 return Pensioner: CHF 38 single, CHF 56 return Student: CHF 38 single, CHF 56 return Children (6-16): CHF 19 single, CHF 28 return Beatenberg to NiederhornAdult: CHF 31 single, CHF 42 return Pensioner: CHF 31 single, CHF 42 return Student: CHF 31 single, CHF 42 return Children (6-16): CHF 15.50 single, CHF 21 return Various other tickets are available including hiking options, see here for all the details. |
| Website | niederhorn.ch |
| Accessibility | Wheelchair Accessible |
How to Get There
By Car
One way of getting to the Niederhorn is via car and parking at either the Beatenbucht or Beatenberg cable car stations. Parking at Beatenberg will save you some money on the cable car ride, so it is recommended to park there.
Drives times to the Beatenbucht/Beatenberg cable car station from all the major Swiss cities are as follows:
- From Geneva – 2 hours 55 mins
- From Zurich – 2 hours 20 mins
- From Basel – 2 hours 30 mins
- From Bern – 1 hour 5 mins
- From Lucerne – 1 hour 30 mins
- From Interlaken – 25 mins
Parking & Prices
- Beatenbucht Parkhaus Niederhornbahn – 2 hrs CHF 3, 24 hrs CHF 7
- Beatenbucht Seerestaurant – Per hr CHF 1, 24 hrs CHF 8
- Beatenberg Station – 2 hrs CHF 3, 24 hrs CHF 7
- Beatenberg Lood – 1-6 hrs CHF 3, 6-9 hrs CHF 4, 12 hrs CHF 5
By Public Transport
You can also reach the Niederhorn by taking public transport to the Beatenbucht/Beatenberg cable car station from all the major Swiss cities and the journey time/major changes are as follows:
- From Geneva to Beatenberg – 3 hours 38 mins – train from Geneva to Bern, change trains to Interlaken West, bus 101
- From Geneva to Beatenbucht – 3 hours 12 mins – train from Geneva to Bern, change trains to Thun, bus 21
- From Zurich to Beatenberg – 2 hours 35 mins – train from Zurich HB to Interlaken West, change to bus 101
- From Zurich to Beatenbucht – 2 hours 1 min – train from Zurich HB to Bern, change trains to Thun, change onto bus 21
- From Basel to Beatenberg – 2 hours 41 mins – train from Basel SBB to Interlaken West, change to bus 101
- From Basel to Beatenbucht – 2 hours 5 mins – train from Basel to Thun, change on to bus 21
- From Bern to Beatenberg – 1 hour 33 mins – train from Bern to Interlaken West, change to bus 101
- From Bern to Beatenbucht – 1 hour – train from Bern to Thun, change on to bus 21
- From Lucerne to Beatenberg – 2 hours 48 mins – train from Lucerne to Interlaken West, change to bus 101
- From Lucerne to Beatenbucht – 2 hours 7 mins – train from Lucerne to Bern, change trains to Thun, change to bus 21
- From Interlaken to Beatenberg – 33 mins – Bus 101 from Interlaken West
- From Interlaken to Beatenbucht – 23 mins – Bus 21 from Interlaken West
Highlights of the Niederhorn
Cable Car Ride
One of the best bits of seeing the Niederhorn is actually the journey on the cable car that takes you up to the mountain.
The journey is split between a funicular and cable car and as you begin to rise in altitude you will be treated to epic views across Lake Thun and the mountain peaks of the entire Bernese Alps.
The cable car also has huge panoramic windows to give you the best panoramic views of the landscapes possible and this means you can take amazing photos too. The views only get better as you rise higher and higher on your journey.
The ride up to the Niederhorn begins at either Beatenbucht or Beatenberg stations and the cable cars/funiculars depart every twenty minutes. The price from Beatenbucht is CHF 38 single, CHF 56 return, and from Beatenberg CHF 31 single, CHF 42 return for adults.
Hiking & Mountain Trails
Once you have arrived at the Niederhorn you will find lots of hiking and mountain trails to explore. There are trails to suit all abilities, so whether you are a super hiker or visiting as a family, you will find a hike to enjoy.
All the trails are well-marked and take you through the beautiful alpine environment. A lovely hike to try is the Niederhorn Ridge Trail which is 7 km long and takes about 3 hours.
Before you set off on the hike, take in views at the peak and then follow the well-marked trail along the ridge before hiking down to Beatenberg Station – this hike will also save you some cash on cable car tickets.
Be sure to dress/pack appropriately and check the weather conditions before hiking as the weather can change rather quickly.
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Berghaus Niederhorn
A visit to the mountain guesthouse of Berghaus Niederhorn at the summit is a must, whether for lunch, to stay, a drink, or just for the view. It is, in my eyes, an ideal place to rest and refuel your Niederhorn adventure.
The guesthouse has an excellent restaurant so be sure to book a table on the terrace so that you can dine while looking at insane views over Lake Thun and into the mountains.
There is nothing quite like having a drink and a delicious meal while pinching yourself to remind you that you are not in a dream while looking at the views.
The guesthouse also has comfortable rooms to stay in if you wish to spend the night – seeing stunning mountain scenery is hard to beat at sunrise. Make sure to make your reservations well in advance, especially during peak times.
Wildlife Observation (Guided tours)
The Niederhorn is home to a lot of Swiss wildlife including ibex, chamois, marmots, and various bird species too.
Chances are you will spot a few of these wild animals while hiking along the trails but it is also cool to do one of the guided wildlife tours which is available every Thursday morning between July and September.
The tours are led by knowledgeable guides who will teach you all about the local fauna, their habitats, and help spot them with the included binoculars.
Prices range from CHF 50-59 for adults and CHF 39-44 for kids depending on whether you travel from Beatenbucht or Beatenberg, the cable car ticket is included in the price.
Trotti Biking
If you want to get your adrenaline going, why not try some Trotti biking at the Niederhorn.
What’s a trotti bike you might ask? Trotti bikes are specially designed scooters that allow you to cruise down the mountain on designated trails.
This “scooter bike descent” is suitable for all ages and does not require any prior experience.
As you descend, you’ll enjoy cruising down the mountain with stunning scenery around you.
Rentals are available at cable car stations, safety equipment is provided, and it costs CHF 15 per scooter.
You can choose between two scooter bike routes – “Rocky’s Run” which is a 6 km route from Vorsass straight to the Beatenberg Station that takes about 30 mins, or “Happy’s Trail” which takes you to the Bodenalp, the Rischerental Valley, and along the main road to Beatenberg station.
Hang Gliding
If you want to take things to another level and get a bird’s eye view of the area, hang gliding at the Niederhorn is an experience like no other. You will soar through the skies in tandem with an instructor and be able to see some epic aerial views of the Swiss Alps.
Alpine Orienteering
Alpine orienteering is a cool and unique activity that combines navigation skills with the beauty of the Niederhorn.
Armed with a map and compass, you embark on a little adventure to find various checkpoints scattered throughout the mountain.
This is a great activity for families and groups as it offers a fun and interactive way to explore the area while learning about orienteering.
There are 4 routes to choose from, ranging from easy to hard and they are as follows in order of difficulty:
- Rocky’s Path
- Happy’s Path
- Yummy’s Path
- Lenny’s Path
A Visit To St. Beatus Caves
While not directly located on the Niederhorn, a visit to the nearby St. Beatus Caves is something you should not miss while in the area.
You will find it along the road that follows Lake Thun down from both the Beatenbucht and Beatenberg stations.
The St. Beatus Caves are rather lovely. You will go on a fascinating underground hike through chambers, beautiful rock formations, and subterranean waterfalls.
Guided tours are available too if you want to learn more about the geological history and legends associated with the caves.
There is also a great restaurant by the caves serving drinks and good food with awesome views across the lake which is lovely to stop off after your visit.
