Ready for a thrilling ride? The Gelmer Funicular is one of the steepest mountain railways in the world, climbing a jaw-dropping 47° incline up to a stunning turquoise lake at 1,850 meters!
In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know — from its wild history to tickets, tips, and when to ride. Get ready to experience one of the most epic rides in the Bernese Oberland!
Fun Facts About The Gelmer Funicular
Did you know the Gelmerbahn will turn 100 in 2026?
It was originally built in 1926 to haul materials for a hydroelectric dam, but it wasn’t opened to the public until 2001. Since then, it’s been thrilling visitors with its insanely steep ride and epic mountain and lake views.
It was once Switzerland’s steepest funicular, and it held the title until 2017, when the Stoos funicular edged it out by just 1%.
Still, Gelmerbahn remains the steepest open funicular in Europe and its 12-minute ride up the mountainside is pure adrenaline (especially if you’re afraid of heights 👀). It’s kinda of like a slow-motion roller-coaster right in the heart of the Alps!
Gelmerbahn Tickets & Times
Tickets for the Gelmer funicular can be purchased in the ticket office on the spot or online.
Pro Tip: I recommend buying them online a few days in advance since the funicular is quite popular in the summer and long queues tend to form (and sometimes the whole thing is full for days or weeks ahead).
If you buy your tickets online, you need to exchange the voucher for actual tickets at the office at least 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time; otherwise, they will give your seats to someone else. The ticket office is at the bottom station of the funicular, just across the iconic Handeggfall suspension bridge.
Ticket Prices
- Adults: Single ride – 29 CHF / Return ride – 40 CHF
- Children (6 to 15 years) – Single ride – 10 CHF / Return ride 20 CHF
It’s worth noting that dogs are allowed on the funicular, and small dogs that can fit in your lap get to ride for free. Larger dogs (shoulder height of more than 30 cm) that require their own seat are charged a children’s ticket fare.
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Opening Times
The funicular is open in the summer season, and also in the shoulder seasons when snow is not an issue:
- 7 June – 19 October 2025
- June, September, October: 9 am – 4 pm (last ascent 3.48 pm, last descent 4.00 pm)
- July, August: 9 am – 5 pm (last ascent 4.36 pm, last descent 4.48 pm)
Riding the Gelmerbahn
Gelmerbahn connects the village of Handegg to the upper terminus at Lake Gelmer, which boasts exquisite nature and lake views. In only 10 minutes, you will climb to an altitude of 448 meters in a train car that doesn’t have a roof, sides, or seatbelts. Passengers are secured in place with a metal rod, similar to what you hold onto during rides at amusement parks.
The views during the funicular ride are some of the best you can experience in this part of Switzerland. If you aren’t afraid of heights, you will enjoy the experience, so long as you remember that you’re on exposed terrain for 12 minutes, so appropriate clothing and lots of sunscreen are a must.
On the other hand, if you’re even a little bit afraid of heights, you probably won’t enjoy this ride that much. The upside is that you’re only on there for about 12 minutes, so you might just be able to grin and bear it.
How to Get to Gelmerbahn Funicular
The Gelmerbahn base station and ticket office are easy to reach by car. There are a few parking lots near the ticket office, and this is by far the best way to travel to the funicular.
Otherwise, there are hourly connections via Meiringen, either by bus 161, which is more direct but less frequent, or by taking another train from Meiringen and then bus 171 from Innertkirchen Grimseltor.
👉👉 Pro Tip: If you use the SBB to search for connections, the final stop is called “Handegg, Gelmerbahn.”
You can find all the times/dates and options on sbb.ch/en
