Riding to Brienzer Rothorn I recommend sitting on the left side of the train as you face up the mountain. Both sides are nice, but the left side has more open views. Looking back towards Brienzersee. The train is open air, but it does have glass windows that slide down in cold and inclement weather.

When riding the Brienz Rothorn Bahn (the historic steam-powered rack railway in Switzerland), the best side to sit on depends on whether you are ascending or descending. On the way up from Brienz to the summit, you should try to sit on the left-hand side of the train. This side offers the most dramatic, uninterrupted views of the deep turquoise waters of Lake Brienz as the train climbs the steep mountainside. As you move higher and pass through the tunnels, the scenery shifts to jagged alpine peaks and lush meadows filled with grazing cows. On the return journey down the mountain, the best views will be on the right-hand side to maintain that spectacular lake vista. Because the train uses vintage, open-sided carriages, you will have excellent photo opportunities regardless of where you sit, but the "lake-side" seats are highly coveted and fill up quickly. Pro tip: Arrive at the Brienz station at least 30 minutes before departure to secure a spot on the edge of the bench, as these trains do not have assigned seating and the "steam-engine enthusiasts" tend to be very punctual.