Niederhorn and Beatenberg

The Niederhorn is a 1,950 metre summit above Lake Thun, reached from Beatenbucht via Beatenberg in the Bernese Oberland of Switzerland. The route has two stages. A funicular climbs from the lakeside at Beatenbucht to the village of Beatenberg, which stretches along a sunny terrace above the lake. From Beatenberg, a gondola, operated by Niederhornbahn AG at Schmockenstrasse 253, carries visitors to the summit. At the top, the panorama covers Lake Thun, the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau trio and, on very clear days, the Jura range to the north-west. A restaurant with a terrace serves meals, and a summit platform offers the main viewpoint. Trails lead from the summit to Burgfeldstand and Gemmenalphorn, ranging from short ridge walks to several hours of hiking, and families can use the Niederhorn's easy paths. Most visitors spend a half day. The funicular to Beatenberg operates year-round, while the gondola to the Niederhorn runs from 1 May 2026 to mid-November, then again at Christmas for winter, with maintenance closures, so the timetable at niederhorn.ch should be checked. An evening ride on Friday and Saturday costs CHF 42 return from Beatenbucht, and daytime fares are listed on the operator's site. Visitors get to Beatenbucht by bus from Interlaken Bahnhof in about 15 minutes. A clear morning offers the best Jungfrau panorama, and weekdays are quieter than sunny summer weekends. The summit is cooler than the lakeshore, so layers and sturdy shoes are advisable. Operator phone is +41 33 841 08 41.