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How to Get From Interlaken to Engelberg

(Last Updated On: November 1, 2023)

From Interlaken, many people go to Engelberg. Engelberg is a famous alpine town in Central Switzerland located in the canton of Obwalden. It’s known for Mount Titlis, a tall mountain in the area. The town has an old monastery from the 12th century and used to be a popular spa town in the 19th century. Some tourists who visit Interlaken also go to Engelberg. In this article, we will cover how to travel from Interlaken to Engelberg.

Image of the Luzern-Engelberg Express Train in Engelberg by TouringSwitzerland.com

How to Get From Interlaken to Engelberg

Image of Engelberg Town by TouringSwitzerland.com

Engelberg has lots of cool spots to explore, and the biggest favorite is Mount Titlis. From Titlis, the views of the Rhaetian, Bernese, and Valais Alps are absolutely beautiful. When you’re up there, you’ll get to see amazing sights like other tall mountains, pretty alpine lakes, a glacier, rocky ridges, and more.

And don’t forget about Brunni, another great mountain for families, plus the neat Alps called Fürenalp and Gerschnialp.

Panorama from Mount Titlis by TouringSwitzerland.com

It is possible to go from Interlaken to Engelberg in one day. Based on the travel time we have already experienced, I estimate close to three hours each way.

If you would like to have an easier time reaching Engelberg, I recommend you stay in Lucerne. From there, it is easier to reach the alpine town.

On this page, you can find all the information you need regarding the train journey from Interlaken to Engelberg.


Overview: Navigating Swiss Trains

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.

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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 Interlaken to Engelberg

How to Get From Interlaken Ost to Engelberg

Image of Interlaken Ost by TouringSwitzerland.com

To get from Interlaken Ost to Engelberg, you will have to take the following connections:

  1. Take the Lucerne-Interlaken Express or Interregio from Interlaken Ost to Lucerne.
  2. In Lucerne, change to the connecting train that goes to Engelberg. It is called Lucerne-Engelberg Express train.

The Lucerne-Engelberg Express leaves Lucerne at these times (as of August 2023):

5:04 AM11:10 AM5:10 PM
6:10 AM12:10 PM6:10 PM
7:10 AM1:10 PM7:10 PM
8:10 AM2:10 PM8:10 PM
9:10 AM3:10 PM9:10 PM
10:10 AM4:10 PM10:10 PM
Departure Times of the Lucerne-Engelberg Express from Lucerne. Source: sbb.ch

How to Get From Interlaken West to Engelberg

Image of Interlaken West by TouringSwitzerland.com

To get from Interlaken West to Engelberg, it will be faster to go via Bern. You will have to take the following connections:

  1. Take the Intercity or Eurocity train to Bern.
  2. In Bern, take the Interregio train to Lucerne.
  3. In Lucerne, change to the connecting train that goes to Engelberg. It is called Lucerne-Engelberg Express train.

Are There Direct Trains From Interlaken to Engelberg?

As of the time of writing (updated September 2023), there are no direct trains from Interlaken to Engelberg.

Engelberg can be reached via Lucerne from Interlaken. Most tourists, however, choose to stay in Lucerne and then travel to Engelberg from there.


How Long Does It Take From Interlaken to Engelberg?

The following table shows the travel duration from Interlaken to Engelberg (updated September 2023):

RouteTravel Duration (Fastest)
Interlaken Ost – Lucerne – Engelberg2 hours 38 minutes
Interlaken West – Bern – Lucerne – Engelberg2 hours 48 minutes

Is the Train Route From Interlaken to Engelberg Scenic?

Image of Lake Lungern from the Lucerne-Interlaken Express Train by TouringSwitzerland.com

The train route from Interlaken Ost to Lucerne with the Lucerne-Interlaken Express train is quite scenic. It passes by five lakes and many scenic landscapes.

On the other hand, the train route from Interlaken West to Lucerne via Bern is not as scenic. These are fast Intercity or Eurocity trains that travel from one big city to another and transport passengers as quickly as possible. These trains can reach high speeds.  During the ride, you can still see the scenery, but it won’t be slow and steady like other scenic trains.

Other Scenic Trains

In case you would like to check out other scenic trains, then there are three recommended below. These are the Golden Pass Linethe Glacier Expressand the Bernina Express.

Image of Bernina Express by TouringSwitzerland.com
Image of Bernina Express by TouringSwitzerland.com

Your other options in detail are the following:

  • Glacier Express – Glacier Express is a long journey that starts from Zermatt, home of Matterhorn. It then traverses 291 bridges and 91 tunnels before stopping in St. Moritz. Both Zermatt and St. Moritz are beautiful mountain resorts worthy of a longer stay. The Glacier Express passes by several idyllic mountain villages.
  • Bernina Express – Bernina Express is another train route that begins in Chur. Chur is the oldest alpine city in Switzerland and worth visiting. This train route spans 196 bridges. It goes through 55 tunnels and passes 20 beautiful villages in Switzerland. 
  • Historical Train Davos to Filisur – May through October, vintage carriages are pulled by the century-old crocodile locomotive from Davos Platz to Filisur. The train line covers a total length of 4,200 meters through 14 tunnels and 28 bridges. Its scenic highlights include the Wiesen Viaduct and the Zügen Gorge.

How Much Will the Train Ticket From Interlaken to Engelberg Cost?

As of the time of writing (updated October 2023), here are the ticket prices from Interlaken to Engelberg for a single journey:

RouteFull Fare (CHF)Half Fare (CHF)
Interlaken Ost – Lucerne – Engelberg46.0023.00
Interlaken West – Bern – Lucerne – Engelberg72.0036.00

As you can see, if you avail of the Half Fare Travel Card, you can save on your fare for long train journeys. So this is 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: Engelberg

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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.

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