Brienz Rothorn Train: Most Scenic Steam Railway in Switzerland
The Brienz Rothorn train is one of the most scenic steam train rides in Switzerland and was high on my bucket list. This century-old cogwheel train takes you from the turquoise shores of Lake Brienz all the way to the summit of Brienz Rothorn Mountain, known as Rothorn Kulm.
Ever since I came across a clip of this vintage red train chugging past the endless green meadows and the sparkling Lake Brienz on Instagram, I knew it had to be part of our trip.
But can you believe that we almost missed this train? I’ll share how that happened and all the tips you need to know so you don’t make the same mistakes.
In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know to plan your own unforgettable ride on the Brienz Rothorn Railway.
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my business so I can create content like this for you!
Your Switzerland Trip Essentials
- Swiss Travel Pass – unlimited travel in Switzerland by train, bus, boat, and public transportation. Discounts of up to 50% on many excursions, as well as free entrance to over 500 museums.
- Swiss Half Fare Card – 50% off most public transportation (trains, boats, and buses) in Switzerland for 1 month
- Berner Oberland Pass – covers transportation in the Bernese Oberland region including the Brienz Rothorn train
- E-sim for Switzerland
- See my 7 day Switzerland Itinerary
About Brienz Rothern Railway
The Brienz Rothorn Bahn is one of Switzerland’s most charming and historic mountain railways. Built in 1892, it has been operating for over 130 years and is one of the few trains still powered by steam locomotive engines.
The route begins in the small lakeside village of Brienz, located on the turquoise shores of Lake Brienz, and climbs up to the summit of Brienzer Rothorn which stands at 2,350 meters above sea level.
Operating season is typically during the summer months to early fall.
For 2025, the dates of operation is June 07 to October 26, 2025.
The full journey takes about one hour each way, passing through lush alpine meadows and dense pine forests, with sparkling views of Lake Brienz along the way. I initially thought an hour might feel long, but it turned out to be the perfect amount of time to enjoy the scenery and the nostalgic charm of the open-air red carriages.
Route and Scenery
The journey on the Brienz Rothorn Train begins at the small lakeside station in Brienz, a charming Swiss village known for its woodcarving tradition.
After waving goodbye to the friendly station agent, the train began its ascent to Rothorn Kulm. We were immediately surrounded by postcard-perfect scenery. The route climbs steeply through meadows and forests, and passes by cows peacefully grazing on the grass.
About half way up (30 minutes into the ride), the train stops at Planalp middle station where it is refueled with water. This brief stop takes about 5 minutes, but you have to stay seated. However, those who don’t plan on doing the entire journey can get off here and hike down to Brienz, which takes about 2 hours.
Once refuled, the journey continues. As the train gains elevation, you’ll start to see Lake Brienz again but now framed by dramatic mountain peaks. The higher you go, the more expansive the views will become.
One of the best parts of the ride is that the train has open-air carriages, which let you fully experience the rhythmic chug of the steam engine and the crisp mountain air.
The final stretch near the summit reveals a completely different landscape of rocky cliffs and alpine grasslands, eventually opening up to panoramic views from the Brienzer Rothorn summit.
How to Get to Brienz Rothorn Railway
Reaching the Brienz Rothorn train is easy. Brienz is located in the Bernese Oberland region, between Interlaken and Lucerne. It is easy to get here by the efficient railway system in Switzerland.
From Lucerne: take the panoramic train Luzern-Interlaken Express. You’ll pass through turquoise lakes and green meadows before arriving at Brienz Station in about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
From Interlaken: 25 minutes by train, or take the scenic boat across Lake Brienz.
We set out from our accommodation in Grindelwald, so we took a 30 minute train to Interlaken and then another short train to reach Brienz. On the way back we took a boat to Interlaken.
All of the routes above and the Brienz Rothorn Railway are covered by the Berner Oberland Pass, which I highly recommend you get if you are exploring this region for a few days. For our entire trip, we got the Swiss Half Fare Card (valid for 1 month) and the Berner Oberland Pass (4 day pass) which worked out great.
Once in Brienz, the Brienz Rothorn Bahn station is located right next to the main SBB train station and a few minutes away from the boat dock.
Schedule and Tickets
Schedule
The Brienz Rothorn railway operates seasonally, usually from early June until late October when weather is favorable for mountain travel.
In 2025, the dates of operation are June 07 to October 26, 2025.
Trains typically depart approximately every hour from morning until late afternoon, with the last return service leaving the summit in the early evening. You can check the official schedule here. The earliest train departs Brienz at 7:36 am, and the latest return from the Rothorn Kulm is 5:40 pm.
The Brienz Rothorn Railway has limited capacity. Each compartment holds up to 8 guests. On busy summer days, trains can and will sell out, so I highly recommend you book seat reservations ahead of time.
Just to note: it is stated on the official website that in the event of high passenger numbers or technical failure of a steam locomotive, diesel locomotives may be used for passenger services. While I definitely think the steam engines are undoubtedly more historic and charming, the breathtaking views and the experience would remain just as scenic so don’t let this deter you from going.
Ticket Prices
Round trip journey from Brienz to Rothorn Kulm and back to Brienz costs 96 CHF.
If you have the Swiss Half Fare Card or the Swiss Travel Pass, you get a 50% discount at 48 CHF.
If you hold the Bernese Oberland Pass, the entire journey is covered.
Tickets can be purchased online, at the station, or through Swiss railway ticketing apps.
If you are a holder of any of the passes mentioned above (Swiss Travel, Half Fare, Berner Oberland), then head to the station to get your tickets after showing the passes.
Seats are reserved for CHF 8 and you can reserve them here.
Reservations are technically not required, but highly recommended during peak summer dates or if you are traveling in a large group. While some other trains in Switzerland allow standing passengers if there aren’t any more seats, these trains have very limited capacity and will not take on more guests once full.
The seats are not numbered. The agent at the station will guide you to an empty seat once it is your turn to board the train.
Now here’s where I nearly missed this train:
The train ride and the return trip was included in our Berner Oberland Pass, so we didn’t realize that seat reservation had to be done separately. When we finally realized this and went online to reserve seats, they were sold out for the next two days which was the only days left in the Bernese Oberland region for us.
We showed up to the station following morning and there was a sign that stated that seats were sold out. We inquired about a waitlist, and got our family of 6 on the waitlist. The waitlist is on a rolling basis, meaning if the people currently on the waitlist prior to us did not get on the next train, they would still remain ahead of us for the train after that. So there was really no guarantee when or if we would even get on the train that day.
Another problem was that there had to be enough seats on a return journey train.
We decided to at least wait for one train (an hour). Somehow, we got REALLY lucky and all of the people in front of us on the waitlist did not show up when the numbers were being called, so we got on the next train. And thankfully, there were 6 seats available for the return journey later that day.
We were given the option to go to the midway station and get off and hike down if the return seats did not open up, but looking back, I am so glad we didn’t do that. The best views are up at the top, and the paths to hike down did not seem easy. We would have missed out on so much.
Rothorn Kulm
Once you arrive at the summit of the Brienzer Rothorn, you’ll have opportunities to see the trains for a bit longer while they’re at the Rothorn Kulm summit station. We snapped a few photos with the empty train with beautiful breathtaking panorama unfolding in the background.
The suggested minimum stay at the summit is 30 minutes. We didn’t have much time since the only return trip available after miraculously getting on the train was shortly after arrival to the summit.
We spent some time breathing in the fresh mountain air, and taking in the incredible panorama of the surrounding mountains from the viewing platform and all angles around us.
Given the elevation of the Brienzer Rothorn mountain (2,350 meters or 7,710 feet above sea level), it was quite chilly at the summit.
There are two restaurants (the mountain hotel Rothorn Kulm and the Rothorn summit restaurant) which we unfortunately did not have time for, and numerous hikes and walks around the summit which again, we did not really have enough time for. Regardless, the scenic ride up and admiring the amazing views of the Swiss Alps was definitely an unforgettable experience.
As mentioned above, there is a hotel called Mountain Hotel Rothorn Kulm where you can spend a night at. While we didn’t do this, I can imagine it to be an amazing experience to wake up to a gorgeous panoramic view.
Are Dogs Allowed on the Brienz Rothorn Train?
Yes!
We took our dog Mochi on this beautiful train ride and I think she LOVED it!
Tickets for dogs are CHF 10 per dog, for either one way or a round trip. Dog tickets can’t be purchased online, so you’ll have to buy them at the ticket office at the station in Brienz. You do not have to make reservations for your dog.
Final Thoughts
Riding the Brienz Rothorn Train was one of the highlights of our Switzerland trip. It’s just perfect. The red and green vintage color of the open carriage trains, the sound of the steam engine whistling through the meadows, and picture-perfect views throughout the ride and at the summit. The entire experience was so beautiful, I’d recommend it to anyone visiting Switzerland.
My entire family agrees that this was one of everyone’s favorite memories from Switzerland!
Your Switzerland Trip Essentials
- Swiss Travel Pass – unlimited travel in Switzerland by train, bus, boat, and public transportation. Discounts of up to 50% on many excursions, as well as free entrance to over 500 museums.
- Swiss Half Fare Card – 50% off most public transportation (trains, boats, and buses) in Switzerland for 1 month
- Berner Oberland Pass – covers transportation in the Bernese Oberland region including the Brienz Rothorn train
- E-sim for Switzerland
- Golden Round Trip from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus
- Silver Round Trip from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus
- Golden Round Trip – Guided Group Tour
- See my 7 day Switzerland Itinerary
2 Comments