Berner Oberland Pass: prices, coverage, and when to buy

What is the Berner Oberland Pass?

The Berner Oberland Pass is a regional unlimited travel pass covering the mountain railway and lake boat network in the Bernese Oberland — Switzerland’s most dramatic alpine region, centred on Interlaken and stretching up to the great mountains of the Jungfrau group: Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.

It is designed specifically for visitors who plan to spend several days in this region, exploring the valleys and peaks above Interlaken: the Lauterbrunnen valley with its 72 waterfalls and the cliff-side villages of Wengen and Mürren; the Grindelwald valley below the Eiger’s north face; the high-altitude circuit of the Männlichen, Kleine Scheidegg, and Grindelwald First; and the summit railways toward Jungfraujoch.

The pass is issued by the Jungfrau Railways group, which operates the majority of the mountain transport infrastructure in the Bernese Oberland, in partnership with BLS (Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon) regional railways and the lake boat service on lakes Thun and Brienz.

Buy the Berner Oberland Pass online — available for Swiss Half Fare Card holders and standard pricing; buying in advance ensures availability in peak season.

What the Berner Oberland Pass covers

The pass provides unlimited travel across a comprehensive network:

Regional railways and mountain trains:

• BLS trains between Spiez, Interlaken Ost, Interlaken West, and Zweisimmen
• Berner Oberland Bahn (BOB): Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen
• Wengernalpbahn (WAB): Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald to Kleine Scheidegg
• Wengernalpbahn connections to Wengen and Mürren (via Grütschalp cable car from Lauterbrunnen)
• Schynige Platte Bahn: rack railway above Wilderswil with panoramic views of the Jungfrau group
• Brienz Rothorn Bahn: steam rack railway from Brienz to the Rothorn summit

Cable cars and gondolas included:

• Grindelwald-First gondola
• Männlichen cable car from Grindelwald
• Mürren cable car sections (Grütschalp–Lauterbrunnen–Mürren connections)
• Niederhorn cable car above Beatenberg

Lake boats:

• BLS lake boats on Lake Thun (between Thun, Spiez, and Interlaken West)
• BLS lake boats on Lake Brienz (between Interlaken Ost and Brienz)

What is NOT included: The Berner Oberland Pass does not include the Jungfraujoch summit railway (the Jungfraubahn from Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch at 3,454 metres). This is the most expensive single ticket in the region (CHF 145–195 depending on season and departure point) and is not covered by any regional pass. See the Jungfrau Travel Pass guide for the best options for visiting Jungfraujoch.

The pass also does not include the Harder Kulm funicular above Interlaken or the Heimwehfluh cable car — these small local lines are excluded. The Schilthorn (Piz Gloria) cable car from Mürren and Stechelberg is also not included.

2026 prices

Prices for the Berner Oberland Pass vary by duration and class. All prices are in Swiss francs (CHF):

Standard price (2nd class):

Duration	Adult	Youth (6–15)
3 days	CHF 198	CHF 99
4 days	CHF 228	CHF 114
5 days	CHF 258	CHF 129
6 days	CHF 285	CHF 143
10 days	CHF 345	CHF 173

With Swiss Half Fare Card (50% reduction):

Duration	Adult (with HFC)
3 days	CHF 99
4 days	CHF 114
5 days	CHF 129

If you already own a Swiss Half Fare Card (annual card), the discounted Berner Oberland Pass is exceptional value. The Half Fare Card itself costs CHF 120 per year and gives 50% off almost all Swiss rail fares — it is one of the best transport value tools in Switzerland.

Buy the Swiss Half Fare Card — particularly useful if you are spending more than a week in Switzerland on day trips and regional exploration.

Children under 6 travel free. Children 6–15 pay half price. A Family Card (free with some Swiss passes) allows children 6–15 to travel free when accompanied by a parent — check whether this applies when purchasing.

The pass is available for 3, 4, 5, 6, or 10 consecutive days. There is no flex/non-consecutive option — the days must run continuously from the first activation date.

How to buy the Berner Oberland Pass

Online (recommended): Available through the GetYourGuide link above, through the Jungfrau Railways website (jungfrau.ch), and through select online travel agents. Buying online in advance guarantees your pass and allows you to plan your days more precisely.

In Switzerland: Available at the BLS counters in Interlaken Ost and Interlaken West stations, and at Jungfrau Railways ticket offices in Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen.

Activation: Activate on the first day of use. The pass is date-specific; once activated, it runs for the chosen number of consecutive days.

Planning your days with the Berner Oberland Pass

To extract the most value from the pass, you need to use it on days when you are making multiple journeys or significant mountain railway trips. Here is a guide to what individual components cost, so you can gauge break-even points:

• Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald (BOB): CHF 11.60 one-way
• Grindelwald to Kleine Scheidegg (WAB): CHF 32 one-way
• Lauterbrunnen to Kleine Scheidegg via Wengen: CHF 32 one-way
• Grindelwald First gondola: CHF 47 return
• Schynige Platte: CHF 50 return
• Lake Thun boat cruise (Interlaken to Thun): CHF 30 one-way
• Lake Brienz boat (Interlaken to Brienz): CHF 18 one-way

A single day combining Grindelwald, the WAB to Kleine Scheidegg, and the First gondola would cost approximately CHF 90–100 in individual tickets. A 3-day pass at CHF 198 breaks even if you have just two such active mountain days.

Suggested 5-day itinerary with the pass:

• Day 1: Grindelwald — Grindelwald First gondola and trails — back to Interlaken by BOB
• Day 2: Lauterbrunnen — Wengen — Kleine Scheidegg — return via Grindelwald (WAB circuit)
• Day 3: Schynige Platte rack railway and alpine garden — afternoon Lake Brienz cruise
• Day 4: Mürren via Grütschalp cable car — Schilthorn area hikes — Lauterbrunnen
• Day 5: Lake Thun cruise — Spiez — return by BLS train

This itinerary would cost CHF 300+ in individual tickets; the 5-day pass at CHF 258 saves approximately CHF 50–60 while providing flexibility to add or change activities spontaneously.

Berner Oberland Pass vs. Swiss Travel Pass

The Swiss Travel Pass and the Berner Oberland Pass are different products serving different travel patterns.

Swiss Travel Pass: Best for visitors covering multiple regions of Switzerland — Zurich, Lucerne, Bern, Geneva, the Bernese Oberland, and connections between them. The STP covers Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and many regional networks, gives free museum entry, and provides 50% discounts on most mountain railways.

Berner Oberland Pass: Best for visitors who are staying in the Bernese Oberland for their entire (or majority of their) trip and want unlimited access to the regional mountain network. It covers more of the Jungfrau Railways infrastructure than the Swiss Travel Pass does.

The key overlap issue: The Swiss Travel Pass gives 50% discount on many Jungfrau Railways components (including the BOB, WAB, and some gondolas) but does not include them free. The Berner Oberland Pass includes them free. For 3–5 days focused entirely in the region, the Berner Oberland Pass typically delivers more rail transport value than the Swiss Travel Pass equivalent-duration option.

Combining them: Some visitors use the Swiss Travel Pass for transit to/from Interlaken (SBB trains from Bern, Lucerne, or Zurich) and add the Berner Oberland Pass for their regional days in the mountains. This is a logical combination if the regional mountain days justify the additional outlay.

With a Half Fare Card: If you have an annual Swiss Half Fare Card, the Berner Oberland Pass at half-price is almost certainly better value than any other option for spending 3–10 days in the region.

See the full Swiss Travel Pass guide for a complete breakdown of what each pass level covers and the best approach for different itinerary types.

Best time to use the Berner Oberland Pass

Summer (June–September): All mountain railways, gondolas, and boats are operating. This is the peak season and the most expensive for accommodation, but the full network is available.

Winter (December–March): The pass is available in a modified winter version. Some summer hiking-focused gondolas (Grindelwald First) operate for skiing; others close. The WAB to Kleine Scheidegg is open for skiers and winter hikers. Lake boats have a reduced winter timetable. Confirm operating status of specific lines before purchasing for a winter trip.

Shoulder seasons (April–May, October–November): Some higher-altitude lines close for maintenance or operate a restricted timetable. The Schynige Platte typically opens mid-June. Check individual operating dates at jungfrau.ch before purchasing.

Getting to the Berner Oberland

The Berner Oberland Pass does not cover travel to the region from Swiss cities. Getting to Interlaken from major Swiss cities:

• From Bern: 50 minutes by BLS/SBB InterRegio train
• From Lucerne: 1 hour 50 minutes via Bern
• From Zurich: 2 hours via Bern

These connections are covered by the Swiss Travel Pass, by Swiss Half Fare Card (50% discount), or by standard SBB tickets. Factor in the Interlaken transit cost when comparing the overall value of different pass options.

For the full picture on passes covering the Jungfrau region, see also the Jungfrau Travel Pass guide and the Tell-Pass guide. For itinerary ideas, the 7-day Switzerland itinerary includes a solid Bernese Oberland section that pairs well with this pass.

What to see in the Berner Oberland with the pass

To help you plan your days, here is a guide to the main experiences the pass gives access to:

Kleine Scheidegg and the Eiger trail

Kleine Scheidegg (2,061 m) is the high mountain saddle between Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen, reached by the WAB rack railway from both valleys. It is the midpoint for the Jungfraujoch rail journey and one of the most dramatic viewpoints in the Alps — the north face of the Eiger (1,800 metres of sheer limestone) looms directly above.

The Eiger Trail (Eigerweg) from Eigergletscher down to Grindelwald Grund is one of the best marked hiking trails in the Bernese Oberland: a 3–4 hour route with the Eiger north face as a constant backdrop. It is accessible from Kleine Scheidegg (take the Jungfraubahn one stop to Eigergletscher) and ends in Grindelwald, from where the BOB returns you to Interlaken.

Grindelwald First

Grindelwald First (2,168 m) is the main summer activity area above Grindelwald village, reached by the gondola included in the pass. At the First station, the First Cliff Walk extends along the cliff edge with exposed grated walkways and viewing platforms — dramatic but safe. The First Flyer zip-line and mountain carts are separately priced activities.

From First, the walk across to Bachalpsee (a high alpine lake at 2,265 m, about 45 minutes each way) is one of the most popular short hikes in the region and achievable by anyone in reasonable fitness. On clear days the lake surface reflects the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.

Schynige Platte

The Schynige Platte (1,967 m) is reached by the rack railway from Wilderswil (near Interlaken West), included in the pass. At the summit, the Alpine Garden (Alpengarten) displays several hundred native alpine plant species in their natural growing conditions — one of the finest alpine botanical gardens in Switzerland. The panoramic walk along the ridge gives views over both Lake Thun and Lake Brienz simultaneously, with the Bernese Alps rising behind.

Lake Thun and Lake Brienz

The BLS lake boats on both lakes are included in the pass, turning them from simple transport into scenic experiences in themselves. The boat from Interlaken West to Thun (70 minutes) passes along the northern shore with consistent views of Niesen and Stockhorn. The boat to Brienz (45 minutes east) passes Giessbach Falls — a spectacular 14-stage waterfall beside a Belle Epoque hotel that can be reached by a small funicular (not included, approximately CHF 5) from the boat pier.

Mürren and the Schilthorn

Mürren is one of Switzerland’s most famous car-free mountain villages — perched on a cliff 800 metres above the Lauterbrunnen valley with a front-row view of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. Access via Lauterbrunnen cable car (Grütschalp) and narrow-gauge railway is included in the pass. The Schilthorn cable car above Mürren (with the revolving Piz Gloria restaurant, famous from James Bond’s “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”) is not included but offers a 50% discount for pass holders.

Accommodation in the Berner Oberland

The pass does not include accommodation, but it makes car-free accommodation in the mountain villages viable and attractive. Staying in Grindelwald, Wengen, Mürren, or Lauterbrunnen gives direct access to the mountain railway network.

Grindelwald is the largest of the mountain villages and has the widest range of accommodation (hotels, hostels, chalets, apartments) with direct BOB and WAB access.

Wengen is car-free, quieter, and extremely popular with British visitors — it has been a favourite since the Victorian era. Access is by WAB from Lauterbrunnen only.

Mürren is the highest of the accessible villages and the most dramatically positioned. Access by cable car and cliff-top railway only.

Lauterbrunnen is the valley floor base, with lower prices than the mountain villages and direct access to all rail connections.

All of these options are within the Berner Oberland Pass network, making them genuinely car-free in a way that is practical rather than limiting.

Practical tips for using the pass

Validate before boarding: On rack railways and gondolas, show your pass to staff before boarding. Some gondolas have electronic validators; others rely on staff checks.

Peak season queues: In July and August, queues for the Grindelwald First gondola and the Männlichen gondola can be significant, particularly between 10am and 1pm. Arrive early (cable cars typically start at 8am or 8:30am) or go later in the afternoon.

Download the Jungfrau Railways app: The JR app provides real-time operating status for all included lines, weather at each mountain station, and waiting time information. Essential for flexible day planning.

Hiking maps: The Berner Oberland 1:50,000 hiking map (available at bookshops in Interlaken and Grindelwald) covers all trails within the pass network. The SchweizMobil app (free) has digital versions with GPS tracking.

For more on the broader transport options and how the Berner Oberland fits into a Swiss trip, see the getting around Switzerland guide and the Swiss Travel Pass guide. For planning a first trip to the Bernese Oberland, see the Interlaken destination guide.

Combining the Berner Oberland Pass with the Glacier Express

The Glacier Express — the famous “slowest express train in the world” running from Zermatt to St Moritz — does not pass through the Bernese Oberland, but visitors completing a broader Switzerland circuit sometimes combine a Berner Oberland Pass stay with the Glacier Express at the start or end of their trip.

Zermatt is accessible from Interlaken via a connection through Bern and Visp (approximately 3 hours total), or more directly via the scenic Lötschberg mountain route. The Berner Oberland Pass does not cover Zermatt connections; these use SBB and the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (MGB), which are covered by the Swiss Travel Pass or purchased separately.

The Bernese Oberland on foot

The Berner Oberland Pass is primarily a transport product, but its greatest value is unlocked through hiking. The region has over 300 kilometres of marked hiking trails, ranging from easy valley walks to demanding mountain ridge routes. A few highlights accessible from pass-covered transport:

The Lauterbrunnen–Mürren cliff path: Walk from Lauterbrunnen up the valley to Stechelberg, take the cable car to Gimmelwald, then walk the cliff-edge trail above the valley to Mürren (about 1.5 hours). This is one of the region’s finest low-technical walks with consistent valley panoramas.

Grindelwald First to Grosse Scheidegg: A full-day ridge walk from First (reached by gondola) across to Grosse Scheidegg and down to Grindelwald — approximately 5 hours, requiring good fitness and mountain hiking boots. Stunning views of the Wetterhorn and Eiger throughout.

Kleine Scheidegg circular: From Kleine Scheidegg, the ridge walks in either direction (toward Lauberhorn or toward Eigergletscher) give ever-changing Jungfrau group perspectives without significant difficulty. Good for acclimatising to altitude before a Jungfraujoch visit.

Schynige Platte ridge: The ridge walk from Schynige Platte across to Faulhorn (2,681 m) and down to Grindelwald First is one of the most celebrated multi-hour alpine walks in the region — about 6 hours — and is accessible via the Schynige Platte rack railway (included) and the First gondola (also included). A long mountain day using only pass-covered transport.

Where to stay in the Bernese Oberland

The pass’s value is maximised by staying within the network it covers, rather than commuting from Bern or Zurich each day. Recommended bases:

Interlaken: The transport hub, widest accommodation range, best connections. Reasonable prices by Swiss standards. Good for families and those who want city-level amenity with mountain day trips.

Grindelwald: A proper mountain village (1,034 m) with excellent trail access and a vibrant tourism infrastructure. Accommodation from luxury hotels to simple mountain hostels. Busy in summer — book early.

Lauterbrunnen: The most affordable base in the network. The valley is narrow and dramatic; the village simple. Excellent connections to all mountain railways. A good budget choice.

Wengen: Car-free, quieter, at 1,274 m with beautiful views. Reached by WAB from Lauterbrunnen only. A traditional mountain resort with a loyal repeat visitor base.

Staying one or two nights in different bases is facilitated by the pass — move your main luggage via SBB’s Reisegepäck luggage forwarding service and explore each area by day.

For accommodation booking, see the Switzerland budget guide for price expectations by village type. For the 7-day Switzerland itinerary suggestions on how to structure a Bernese Oberland stay within a wider Swiss trip, that guide incorporates the pass network into a practical daily framework.