The entrance to the ticket office at Interlaken Ost

Interlaken Ost (Interlaken)

This guide to Interlaken Ost station includes details of the connections into the network of independent railways that give access to the likes of Brienz, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Jungfraujoch and Wengen

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At a Glance

Services

Left Luggage
Local Tourism Information
Accessibility

Step Free
Onward Travel

Taxi Rank
The access to the trains is between the ticket office and the Tourist Info office The access to the trains is between the ticket office and the Tourist Info office
An IC train departs on the left behind a Luzern - Interlaken Express An IC train departs on the left behind a Luzern - Interlaken Express

Changing Trains at Interlaken Ost

A BOB train on the left and a Swiss IC train on the right A BOB train on the left and a Swiss IC train on the right

If you’re making a connection between a SBB train and a ZB train at Interlaken Ost, then you may simply have to walk across the platform/gleis from one train to another (if you already have a ticket/pass that is valid on the ZB train).
Or depending on which platform/track/gleis your train arrives at, you may have to use the subway beneath the platforms to make the connection.

You will definitely need to use the subway to make connections between SBB or ZB trains and the BOB trains.
The BOB trains depart from a separate part of the station directly beside the main entrance hall.
There are steps, slopes and lifts that connect the subway to the platforms/gleis and to the entrance hall.

Buying Train Tickets at Interlaken Ost

If you need to buy a ticket for the ZB or BOB train, allow for the fact that queues can build up at the ticket desk at busy times.
The 'Rail Ticket Office' at Interlaken Ost sells tickets for the SBB, ZB trains and all the routes and onward connections from the BOB train; including tickets to Kleine Scheidegg, Jungfraujoch and Wengen.
You need to take a ticket from the machine in the ticket hall and then wait for your number to appear.

The primary purpose of Interlaken Ost train station is to be an interchange station between mainline trains and two independent railways.

(1) The Zentralbahn Railway (ZB)
(2) the Bernese Oberland Railway/the Berner Oberland Bahn (BOB)

Something to be aware of is that the left luggage facility at Interlaken Ost closes at 18:30.

Accessing Interlaken Ost from other cities in Switzerland:

The only long distance express trains operated by SBB that provide a direct service to Interlaken Ost are those on the Basel – Olten – Bern – Thun – Spiez – Interlaken route*.

If you’re heading to Interlaken from Geneve or Lausanne you need to connect into these trains at Bern.

If your journey to Interlaken Ost commences in Visp or Brig you need to change trains in Spiez.

If you will be travelling to Interlaken Ost from Zurich you have two options;
(1) travel by SBB trains throughout and make a connection in Bern, or
(2) take a SBB train from Zurich to Luzern and connect there into a Luzern-Interlaken Express (ZB train).

*Some of the trains on this route are German ICE trains which travel to Interlaken from Berlin, via Frankfurt (Main) and Karlsruhe.

Interlaken West Station:

If you’re heading to Interlaken town centre, leave the train when it arrives at Interlaken West station, it's the station before Interlaken Ost.

Accessing the Harderbahn:

The base station of the Harderbahn funicular is a 5 minute walk north from Interlaken Ost station.
There are fantastic views of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz from its summit station, Harder-Kulm.

Connecting to the ZB trains at Interlaken Ost

An IC train departs on the left behind a Luzern - Interlaken Express An IC train departs on the left behind a Luzern - Interlaken Express

The primary ZB (Zentralbahn) service from Interlaken Ost is the Luzern - Interlaken Express trains (what can cause confusion is that the direct trains from Interlaken TO Luzern are also branded ‘Luzern – Interlaken Express).

The ZB line between Interlaken and Luzern is the easternmost section of The Golden Pass route between Montreux and Luzern.
If you want to make the spectacular journey along these routes, then Interlaken Ost is where you make the straightforward connections between the Luzern - Interlaken Express trains and trains to/from Speiz or Zweisimmen.

From Interlaken to Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen by train:

The BOB train awaits departure at Interlaken Ost The BOB train awaits departure at Interlaken Ost

Both Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen are connected to Interlaken Ost by direct trains.

Trains operated by the Bernese Oberland Railway/Berner Oberland Bahn) (BOB) operate on two routes from/to Interlaken Ost station.
1: Interlaken Ost – Wilderswill – Grindelwald
2: Interlaken Ost – Wilderswill – Lauterbrunnen

Between Interlaken Ost and Wilderswill the BOB trains heading to Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen are usually joined together.
They’re actually separated at a station beyond Wilderswill.

From Interlaken to Schyinge Platte by train:

1: Take the BOB train from Interlaken Ost to Wilderswill

2: At Wilderswill station connections are available to the spectacular Schyinge Platte Bahn railway, from which there are views of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau mountains

From Interlaken to Mürren by train:

1: Take the BOB train from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen (not Grindelwald, so take care you're in the part of the train heading to Lauterbrunnen when you board at Interlaken Ost)

2: Connect at Lauterbrunnen into the BLM cable car to Grütschalp

3: Take the BML train from Grütschalp to Mürren

From Interlaken to Wengen by train:

1: Take the BOB train from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen (not Grindelwald, so take care you're in the part of the train heading to Lauterbrunnen when you board at Interlaken Ost).

2: Connect at Lauterbrunnen into the WAB trains to Wengen

From Interlaken to Jungfraujoch by Train

The simple connection between BOB and WAB trains in Grindelwald The simple connection between BOB and WAB trains in Grindelwald

1: Take the BOB train from Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald OR Lauterbrunnen*

2: Connect at to Grindelwald OR Lauterbrunnen into the WAB trains to Kleine Scheidegg

3: From Kleine Scheidegg take the JB trains to Jungfaujoch

*= A good option is to travel to Kleine Scheidegg via Grindelwald and return via Lauterbrunnen (or vice versa)

Tickets and details of journeys between Interlaken Ost and Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Kleine Scheidegg, Jungfraujoch, Mürren, Schyinge Platte and Wengen are available on the ‘Jungfrau Top Of Europe’ website.

Convenient Hotels/Hostels

Interlaken Ost station is located at the eastern edge of the town, and unless you’re happy to pay for a touch of luxury, there are relatively few places to stay within easy walking distance.

Therefore a better option can be to stay somewhere with easy access to Interlaken West station, particularly if budget is your primary criteria.

Quality accommodation within a 10 minute walk of Interlaken Ost station:

Luxury:
Grand Hotel Beau Rivage

Hotel Interlaken

Hotel Royal St Georges Interlaken MGallery by Sofitel

Hotel Du Nord Interlaken

Budget:
Youth Hostel Interlaken

Quality accommodation within a 10 minute walk of Interlaken WEST station:

Luxury:
Hotel Krebs

Hotel Bellevue

Hotel Stella Interlaken

Mid-Range:
Minotel Toscana

Hotel Beausite

Budget:
Happy Inn Lodge/Hostel

Hotel Blume Interlaken

Alplodge Hotel/Hostel

Hotel Rossli

St Christopher's Inn Balmers Hostel Interlaken

Journeys

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Journeys to Interlaken Ost
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Köln / Cologne / Koeln to Interlaken by train
Zürich / Zurich to Interlaken by train
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