If you check out my travel guide to Jungfrau and the surrounding area, you know how much I love this part of Switzerland. Even though switching trains and stations may keep you at sixes and sevens, it’s actually a big part of the fun if you think about it.
As part of my visit to Interlaken, I decided to hang around Harder Kulm by cable car to reach the top of the mountain. The observation deck at the summit offers such a brilliant view over the mountains.
Getting to Harder Kulm is a piece of cake. You can either choose to hike or take the Harderbahn cable car ride within 8 minutes. From there, you can soak up the majestic view over the lakes along the way (which I will dig deeper into later in the article).
If the air is crisp, you can enjoy a dramatic sunset before the sun beams down and nightfall approaches. Read on and follow me as I show you how to get to the top of Harder Kulm and what to do when you get there.
Further Read: A Fairytale Escape to Interlaken: Your Ultimate Guide to the Most Enchanting Sights!
Is Harder Kulm Worth Visiting?
So what’s special about Harder Kulm? Harder Kulm is a local mountain topped with a famous restaurant on the summit where you can enjoy a hearty dinner before snuggling on a fluffy bed at your hotel at night.
Harder Kulm is one of the best vantage points at an altitude of 1,322 meters, looking out to a beautiful, wraparound vista over the Jungfrau, Eiger, Mönch, Lake Thun, and Lake Brienz.
Given the fact that getting to Harder Kulm is easy and straightforward, it becomes a big hook for travelers of all ages. You can take on a short, scenic hike or wind down with a pleasant cable car ride with your kids.
How to Get to Harder Kulm By Cable Car?
Since hiking is not the best thing to do in Harder Kulm at night, I decided to take the cable car ride from the base to the top. No matter which option you go for – a hike or a cable car ride – you need to depart your journey at the Harderbahn Station.
The Harderbahn Station is only a stone’s throw away from the Interlaken OST Station in less than 10 minutes of walking. Even though this is a short stroll, the view is still spectacular from all sides, hugging you with the charming forest and passing the wildlife park.
The location of Harder Kulm station is very easy to find. There are signs along the way after you leave the Interlaken Station, which soon leads you to the cable car station just right downstairs. There are lots of people going in the same way so you don’t have to worry about getting lost.
After arriving at Harderbahn Station, there was a big queue in the waiting line. Sometimes this causes a little confusion for first-time travelers to Harder Kulm because both Swiss Travel Pass holders and regular ticket holders stand in the same wait line. Not until you reach the ticket counter will you show the pass you’re holding.
The cable car runs every half an hour. But as long as you get into the cable car, the journey doesn’t last long. That being said, you only need to spend 8 minutes going up the mountain over an altitude of 1322 meters. And then when you exit the cable car, walk for 8 more minutes and you’ll see the Harder Kulm restaurant. Right next to the restaurant is the Two Lakes Bridge connected to an open-space viewing platform with a glass floor.
And this is where the game begins! Fantastic views over the surrounding mountains and lakes start to pop out even clearer in the dazzling sunlight at the end of the day.
Get Discounted Tickets When Visiting Harder Kulm
You can get the tickets at the Harderbahn Station when you arrive or online before you come. The ticket includes the cable car ride, Harder Kulm visit, and the observation deck. The rail pass is also included if you travel from the Interlake OST area as most people do.
Let’s go over the discount rate for holders of the Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Half Fare Card, and Eurail Global Pass!
Swiss Travel Pass discounts
- Funicular from Interlaken to Harder Kulm: 50% off
- Train to Interlaken Ost: free
Swiss Half Fare Card discounts
- Funicular from Interlaken to Harder Kulm: 50% off
- Train to Interlaken Ost: 50% off
Eurail Global Pass discounts
- Funicular from Interlaken to Harder Kulm: 25% off
- Train to Interlaken Ost: 25% off for those traveling from the Jungfrau region.
Harder Kulm and The Panorama Over Lütschine Valley
The view over the mountains and the lakes is the biggest hook that beckons travelers’ attention. The sweeping wraparound vista is totally worth it, so take your time and slow down so you can soak up the view as much as you do.
The panorama goes all the way to Lütschine Valley, Lake Thun, Lake Brienz and the summits of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfraujoch. Don’t take my word for it! You’ve gotta go there and see it yourself.
Since the view is the biggest reason why people come here, you’ve gotta check the weather and the best time to visit Harder Kulm. When the weather is good and the air is crisp with a decent amount of sunshine, the horizon seems to extend for miles.
There have been complaints about the fact that people get disappointed when the view is not as expected due to overcast weather. So make sure you keep this in mind!
The best place to enjoy the view is – as I said – the platform right in front of the restaurant. It juts out all the way to the edge of the mountain, hanging above the cliff. The vantage point has a glass-bottom section. As the mountain breeze caresses your skin and the scent of the mountains kicks in, all of the stresses are instantly washed away as you’re standing on top of the world.
If you’re wondering what is the best time to visit Harder Kulm, I would say May, a month just before the peak season in Interlaken and Switzerland in general. Even though you need to wait for a clear sunny day, it also holds you back in doubt when it gets overcrowded.
What Is the Best Time of the Day to Visit Harder Kulm?
The best time of the day to go on top of Harder Kulm is in the afternoon when sunset is around the corner. This is when the sunlight illuminates the snow-capped mountains of the Jungfrau range with a lovely, dazzling, dreamy color.
Essential Tips to Visit Harder Kulm for First-Time Travelers
- The restaurant and the funicular are only open from mid-April 25 to mid-October.
- Sunset makes the view even more spectacular when the horizon comes alive at its finest.
- Bring your sunglasses to cope with the light at sunset as it can be very bright.
- Obtain a Swiss Travel Pass for a steep discount.
- Steer clear from the crowd by following a little trail (which is nestled on the right of the observation deck). Keep following down the trail for some moments in private.
Final Words: Where Else Can You Go in Switzerland?
I hope you enjoy Harder Kulm as much as I do. And while you’re there, don’t forget to drop by the area around Interlaken, especially Jungfraujoch. If this is what you’re interested in, consult my travel guide right here for the best insightful tips on how to get there and obtain discounted tickets:
Wondering where else to go in Switzerland? These travel guides will inspire your wanderlust:
- Riding Tips for Glacier Express Switzerland for First-Timers
- A Summer Travel Guide to Zermatt: Swiss Travel Pass and Things to Do
- Ultimate Travel Guide to Lucerne: A Blissful Escape to Switzerland’s Magical Lakeside City
Everything You Need to Know about Switzerland
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- Travel Guide: A Pocket Switzerland Travel Guide
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