* Disclosure: By clicking on our affiliate links, you may support TouringSwitzerland.com while incurring no additional costs. We appreciate your support!
Many tourists visit Interlaken, Switzerland because it is an excellent starting point for exploring the Bernese Oberland region. Because of its convenient location for hiking, adventure, and trips, tourists usually stay here for several days or even longer. This is an excellent choice.
Interlaken, which has a good infrastructure for tourists, can be reached easily by train from Geneva.
Inevitably, logistics are a concern. In particular, train travel in Switzerland has a few specifics for those who plan to use it. How can I get from Geneva to Interlaken? Do the trains offer scenic views? How much are the tickets?
On this page, you can find all the information you need regarding the train journey from Geneva to Interlaken.
You can start by visiting the SBB website: www.sbb.ch. Using the website, you can type in your departure and arrival destinations. It will then guide you to where and when you need to be. An app is also available for iOS and Android devices.
If you wish to pay half the fare for all your train rides in Switzerland, a Half Fare Discount Card (1-month validity) is available on www.sbb.ch. This allows you to travel for half the price on all SBB routes and most other railways during the duration of your discount card.
Using the Swiss Pass, you get unlimited travel by train, bus, and boat in Switzerland. Over 500 museums are also free or discounted, and there are free or discounted excursions to mountain summits.
>Getting tickets from RailEurope is a convenient option if you’re traveling within Europe and/or visiting multiple countries. Having been in operation since the 1930s, RailEurope‘s extensive history, user-friendly website and mobile apps, flexible currency payment options, commitment to customer satisfaction, and strategic partnerships with leading rail operators, collectively establish it as a reliable and trustworthy platform for booking European train travel.
You can obtain from RailEurope the following travel passes:
- Swiss Travel Pass – choose between continuous or flexible Swiss train passes for 3, 4, 8, or 15 days. The perks? unlimited use in over 90 Swiss cities, free admission to more than 500 museums, and discounts on mountain railways and cable cars. You also get discounts on high-speed Lyria trains between France and Switzerland as well as Nightjet trains that go through Switzerland. See RailEurope for more information.
- Eurail Global Pass – unlimited train travel to 40,000 destinations in 33 European countries for non-EU residents
- Interrail Global Pass – access to 40,000 destinations in 33 European countries for citizens and permanent residents of the EU
How to Get From Geneva to Interlaken
Geneva Train Station to Interlaken via Bern
The best way to go from Geneva to Interlaken is to do the following:
- Take the Intercity train or the Interregio train to Bern.
- In Bern, take the Intercity train to Interlaken West / Interlaken Ost.
Geneva Airport to Interlaken via Bern
From Geneva Airport, you can take the Intercity train all the way to Bern. If you want to find out which train platform you need to go to and what time, you can check the screens and boards inside Geneva Airport.
- Take the Intercity train or the Interregio train to Bern.
- In Bern, take the Intercity train to Interlaken West / Interlaken Ost.
Trains to Interlaken usually depart on Platform 4. If you are boarding this train, make sure you check the signage to ensure you are boarding the correct one.
Are There Direct Trains From Geneva to Interlaken?
As of the time of writing (April 2022), there are no direct trains from Geneva to Interlaken. You will have to go from Geneva to Lucerne via Bern.
How Long Is the Train Ride From Geneva to Interlaken?
The following table shows the train ride duration from Geneva to Interlaken:
| Route | Duration (Fastest Connection) |
|---|---|
| Geneva – Bern – Interlaken Ost | 2 hours 46 minutes |
| Geneva – Bern – Interlaken West | 2 hours 40 minutes |
| Geneva Airport – Bern – Interlaken Ost | 2 hours 56 minutes |
| Geneva Airport – Bern – Interlaken West | 2 hours 50 minutes |
Is the Train Route From Geneva to Interlaken Scenic?
Train Route: Geneva – Bern – Interlaken Ost
Intercity trains from Geneva to Bern are not scenic trains. There are fast trains that travel from one big city to another, whose main purpose is to transport passengers as quickly as possible.
During the ride from Geneva to Interlaken, you can still see the scenery, but it won’t be slow and steady like other scenic trains.
How Much Will the Train Ticket From Geneva to Interlaken Cost?
As of the time of writing (updated December 2022), here are the train ticket prices from Geneva to Interlaken:
| Route | Full Fare (CHF) | Half Fare (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| Geneva Airport – Bern – Interlaken West | 74.00 | 37.00 |
| Geneva Airport – Bern – Interlaken Ost | 74.00 | 37.00 |
| Geneva – Bern – Interlaken West | 70.00 | 35.00 |
| Geneva – Bern – Interlaken Ost | 72.00 | 36.00 |
As you can see, if you avail of the Half Fare Travel Card, you can definitely save on your fare for long train journeys. So this is definitely something to consider during your travel to Switzerland. You can do simple calculations and decide from there if it will be worth it for you.
Do You Need a Seat Reservation on the Train?
No, there is no need to reserve a spot on the train. But you can always add this option if that is your wish.
Related Posts
- Zurich to Interlaken Train: All You Need To Know
- Lucerne to Interlaken Train: All You Need To Know
- Interlaken, Switzerland: An Excellent Base in Bernese Oberland
- Interlaken: 8 Reasons Why You Should Visit
- Top 12 Stunning Places Near Interlaken
- 8 Beautiful Towns Near Interlaken, Switzerland
- Mountains Close to Interlaken Worth Visiting
- 10 Best Day Trips from Interlaken
- 8 Best Places on Lake Geneva
- 9 Beautiful Towns Near Geneva, Switzerland
- 8 Best Things to Do in Geneva on a Rainy Day
- Closest Mountains To Geneva in Switzerland
Darla Uhl is the owner of TouringSwitzerland.com. Her home is in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. Having lived almost 20 years in Switzerland, she's traveled extensively all over the country.
Darla's favorite regions to visit in Switzerland include Engadin, Lake Geneva, Bernese Oberland, Ticino, and Valais. She loves spending time with her family, hiking, visiting museums, and reading books.