Hike the Harder Kulm

How to get to the top of the Harder Kulm?

Here are all the information you need to know to hike or take the funicular to reach the summit of Harder Kulm, Top of Interlaken.

Interlaken – Harder Kulm

The Harder Kulm is a viewpoint at 1,321 meters in the Berner Oberland region of Switzerland, overlooking the towns of Interlaken and Unterseen⁠. At the summit, there is a wonderful restaurant that looks like a small castle where you can enjoy the magnificent bird's eye views of Interlaken.⁠

Can you walk to Harder Kulm?⁠

The Harder Kulm is the starting point for many mountain hikes. You can even walk from Interlaken up to the Kulm rather than take the funicular.  Getting to Harder Kulm on foot is not a long hike. It is nevertheless a demanding one, on a mountain path, with some sections with quite a strong elevation, requiring physicality and good shoes. A classic in Interlaken with the highlight being a magnificent view from the restaurant terrace.

Where to start hiking the Harder Kulm?

The Harder Kulm hike starts at the Interlaken-Ost station.

You can arrive by train at Interlaken-Ost station directly from Bern. If you are coming by car there are multiple car parks available to you, see here. And from Balmers Hostel, it is a 20-minute walk.

Starting from the station, looking all the way west, and then walking along the Aare to the bridge, crossing it, and heading towards the funicular station that goes up to the Harder Kulm.

Hiking to the top of the Harder Kulm

The start of the climb which is right next to the funicular station does not give you time to warm up. It goes straight up.
Most of the hike is in the forest and constantly climbing. Some sections are quite steep. You might meet a lot of people who go down and therefore few who go up. The path is not very wide with many bends.

Now and then the forest clears up allowing you to catch a glimpse of the view that grows in as you climb. You will cross the lines of the funicular several times. And at the end of a clearing, the path is even flat in some places. That means that the end is not far away. Last climb, small very tight bends, and then you will tumble in front of the restaurant with the pointed roof. At first glance, it looks like a small castle.

Go directly to the terrace that is called, the bridge of the two lakes. Lake Brienz on the left, and Lake Thun on the right. This is the best place to see the distinct colors of the two lakes.

Going down by funicular

You can take the funicular to go up as well as to go down but the funicular is not in operation all year round. It is generally closed between December to mid-April. Find out before if you are not going to walk back down. See the Harder Kulm website here for exact dates, prices, and ticket purchases.

We would also like to point out that while the Harder Kulm looks easy enough to reach on foot, it is a hard hike. Its close appeal from Interlaken is misleading. The trail is a steep mountain path and therefore requires special conditions such as good footwear and a trained hiking physique. Too often I see people on the trail, not equipped and poorly trained, undertaking the ascent and, unfortunately, suffering from it. The hike must be fun, you have been warned ......