Is Brienz Rothorn Bahn included in Swiss Travel Pass?

You can travel on the Brienz Rothorn Bahn for half price if you hold a Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Half-Fare Card. For even better value, holders of the Berner Oberland Pass and the Tell Pass can travel on the Brienz Rothorn Bahn for free.



In 2026, the Brienz Rothorn Bahn (the historic steam cogwheel railway) is not fully included in the Swiss Travel Pass, but it is heavily discounted. Holders of the Swiss Travel Pass receive a 50% discount on the ticket price for the journey from Brienz to the summit of the Brienzer Rothorn. While the pass covers most "regular" trains, buses, and boats for free, the Brienz Rothorn Bahn is considered a "special mountain excursion." To get the discount, you must present your valid Swiss Travel Pass at the ticket counter in Brienz or select the "Half Fare/Swiss Travel Pass" option when booking online. A 2026 "pro-tip" for travelers: if you hold a Berner Oberland Pass or a Tell-Pass, the journey is actually 100% free. Since the train is a popular steam-powered vintage experience with limited capacity, it is highly recommended to pay the small additional fee (approx. 8 CHF) for a seat guarantee in advance, especially during the peak summer months of July and August, as the vintage carriages can fill up quickly with tourists seeking that iconic panoramic view over Lake Brienz.

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Brienz Rothorn railway Your steam-train journey begins in Brienz. From there, the 7.6 km route takes you to the Rothorn Kulm summit station in just over an hour. The steam locomotive with its red carriages puffs its way up the mountain, passing through green forests and tunnels.

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Is the Swiss Travel Pass valid for boat cruises on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz? Yes, the Swiss Travel Pass is valid for boat cruises on Lake Brienz and Lake Thun.

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Yes, yes, yes, Lake Brienz is worth a trip! Lake Brienz is a stunning lake with a beautiful watercolors – but there is more to do than just admiring it. You can enjoy so many different activities and beautiful places to visit at Lake Brienz which makes it one of the best places to visit in Switzerland.

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Where is the Swiss Travel Pass valid? Trains and buses in Switzerland are included in the pass. However, seat reservations on panoramic trains are not included. Mountain railways (such as cable cars, funiculars, and rack-and-pinion trains) are discounted.

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With a Swiss Travel Pass you get unlimited travel on trains, buses and boats to reach popular cities such as Bern, Basel, Geneva, Interlaken, Lucerne, Innsbruck, Zurich and Lausanne as well as the country's greatest natural highlight, the Swiss Alps.

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Cruising on Lake Brienz is covered with the Swiss Pass (no cost). From Interlaken Ost to Brienz is 1 hour and 20 minutes.

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You sit anywhere you like. If you buy one of these full-price full-flex tickets at www.sbb.ch, www.thetrainline.com or www.omio.com, it is valid on any train between those stations by the route stated on the date you bought it for, even if you selected a specific train.

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One reason why most people prefer to sit facing the direction of movement when they travel on trains and buses is because it reduces motion sickness. When people face the direction of travel, their eyes can anticipate the movement and their body can adjust accordingly, reducing the feeling of nausea or dizziness.

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You can always take any seat that is not reserved and available, but if you want to sit together, I'd suggest you reserve seats. You can select a compartment during your reservation process. Compartments usually have 5-6 seats, depending on the train. 1st class has a few advantages, but it's not a huge difference.

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They're both very pretty lakes, but imo Brienz is the lovelier, especially if the weather is not so good. Brienz is a gprgeous green, and is even attractive in the rain; Thun is a vivid blue in the sunshine, but not so attractive in rain.

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The two lakes in the Bernese Oberland have each its own character. Lake Thun opens up to the northwest and has 3 castles on its shores. The other lake of Brienz with its emerald colour resembles a Norwegian fjord. It is located west of Interlaken and the larger one.

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The boat rides are fully covered by the Swiss Travel Pass (Flex) and GA travelcard.

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