Transport
Gurtenbahn Tickets & Timetable
Prices, hours, and the easiest “Alps view” escape from Bern
Gurten is Bern's house mountain: close enough to feel effortless, high enough to reset the mood. The Gurtenbahn—a funicular running up from Wabern, on the southern edge of the city—lifts you out of the streets in a few minutes and opens up wide views over the red rooftops, the turquoise loop of the Aare, and, when the air is clear, the long Alpine horizon from the Eiger to the Stockhorn. Bernese families have ridden it up for picnics and sledging for well over a century, which is part of why it feels less like a tourist attraction and more like the city's shared back garden.
The best news for visitors: if you're staying overnight in Bern, the funicular is free with the Bern Ticket you receive at hotel check-in—so the price below mainly matters for day-trippers. It's also covered by a GA travelcard, the Half-Fare Card, the Swiss Travel Pass and Libero zones 100/101.
Tickets and timetable
Fares (Wabern ↔ Gurten Kulm)
- Adults: CHF 7.00 single / CHF 12.60 return
- Children 6–15: CHF 3.50 single / CHF 6.30 return
- Free with the Bern Ticket, GA, Half-Fare, Swiss Travel Pass and Libero 100/101
Payment is cashless at the valley station.
Operating pattern
- First ascents from around 07:00, then roughly every 15 minutes
- Mon–Sat: last ascent 23:30
- Sun & holidays: last ascent 20:00
Late-night running can shift for events on the Gurten, so a quick look at the timetable before a sunset trip never hurts.
Getting there from the centre
From the city centre take tram 9 heading toward Wabern and ride to the Gurtenbahn stop (the line ends near Wabern); the trip takes roughly 15 minutes, and the valley station of the funicular is a short signposted walk from the tram. If you hold a Bern Ticket, the tram and the funicular are both covered, so the whole excursion costs you nothing extra.
At the top, the Kulm station opens onto broad meadows with marked paths, a playground and toboggan run, a couple of restaurants, and viewpoints that sweep from the Old Town below to the Alps in the distance. It's pram- and family-friendly, and gentle enough that you don't need hiking gear to enjoy the best of it.
What to Do on Gurten
Easy Plan (2 Hours)
- Ride up and walk the viewpoint loop
- Coffee or a drink with a view
- Ride down in time for Old Town dinner
Longer Plan (Half Day)
- Add a gentle hike segment
- Lunch on the mountain
- Golden hour viewpoint before descending
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Gurten funicular?
A return is CHF 12.60 for adults and CHF 6.30 for children 6–15; a single is CHF 7 / CHF 3.50. But if you're staying overnight in Bern, it's free with the Bern Ticket, so check whether you even need to buy a ticket first.
Is it really free with the Bern Ticket?
Yes—the free Bern Ticket given to hotel guests at check-in covers the Gurten funicular as well as city trams and buses. It's also included with a GA travelcard, the Half-Fare Card, the Swiss Travel Pass and Libero zones 100/101.
How do I get to the funicular?
Take tram 9 from the centre toward Wabern and get off at the Gurtenbahn stop; the valley station is a short walk from there. Allow about 15 minutes for the tram, plus the few-minute funicular ride to the top.
What time does it stop running?
Last ascent is around 23:30 Monday to Saturday and around 20:00 on Sundays and holidays, with first rides from about 07:00. Event nights on the mountain can change the evening schedule, so confirm if you're going up late.
Is there anything to do at the top, or just the view?
Plenty beyond the panorama: meadow paths and easy walks, a big playground and toboggan run for kids, restaurants and picnic spots, and seasonal events. It's an easy half-day, but a quick up-and-down for sunset works just as well.
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