Bernese Oberland Pass: Is It Worth It? We Did the Maths with Our Real Trip
+5Is the Bernese Oberland Pass worth it? For our own week in July 2026 by car, no: the pass would have cost us CHF 174 more than the single tickets we bought. For exactly the same route without a car, yes: it would have saved about CHF 140 per adult. The deciding factor is not how many mountains you do, but whether you also use the trains, buses and boats. One more thing many blogs still get wrong: since January 2026 the pass is no longer valid on the Oeschinensee gondola. Below you find our real calculation with every ride and entrance of our week, 2026 prices for the pass, and the comparison with the Swiss Travel Pass and the Half Fare Card. The trip itself is part of our Bernese Oberland guide.
The Bernese Oberland Pass makes the Schilthorn, the Brienzer Rothorn and more than 25 other mountain railways free, plus trains, buses and boats in the region. 2026: 3 days from CHF 240, 6 days CHF 350 (2nd class).
Check Bernese Oberland Pass pricesOur trip: single tickets vs. Bernese Oberland Pass
| What we did (July 2026) | Single ticket, adult | With the pass | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schilthorn, Stechelberg return | CHF 115.00 | free | CHF 115.00 |
| Brienzer Rothorn, cable car from Sörenberg return | CHF 59.00 | free | CHF 59.00 |
| Oeschinensee gondola return | CHF 40.00 | CHF 40.00 (not valid since 2026) | 0 |
| Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge | CHF 12.00 | CHF 10.00 | CHF 2.00 |
| Trümmelbach Falls | CHF 18.00 | CHF 18.00 | 0 |
| Aare Gorge | CHF 13.00 | discount, amount not published | small |
| Total by car | CHF 257 | CHF 431 incl. pass (6 days, CHF 350) | minus CHF 174 |
| Same route without a car | CHF 579.40 | CHF 439.00 incl. pass | plus CHF 140.40 |
Prices 2026 from berneseoberlandpass.ch and the operators; train and bus fares from the SBB online timetable (full fare, 2nd class), checked in October 2026. US dollars at 1 CHF = 1.21 USD.
The plain cable car ticket, booked online from the Swiss ticket shop
Check prices & availability
Ticket via Viator. Check which sections are included before you book: the official round trip from Stechelberg is CHF 115.
Check prices & availability
For travellers based in Lucerne who want the Bernese Oberland in one day.
Check prices & availability- What is the Bernese Oberland Pass?
- Bernese Oberland Pass prices 2026
- What is included and what is not
- Oeschinensee: no longer included since 2026
- Our calculation: the week by car
- The same week without a car
- Swiss Travel Pass, Half Fare Card or Bernese Oberland Pass?
- When the pass pays off with a car
- The pass with a dog
- Is it cheaper to buy in advance?
- Our verdict in five questions
- FAQ
What is the Bernese Oberland Pass?
The Bernese Oberland Pass (Berner Oberland Pass in German) is a regional travel pass for 3, 4, 6, 8 or 10 consecutive days. On those days it includes most trains and buses in the Bernese Oberland, the boats on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz and more than 25 mountain railways, and it gives discounts at around 40 partners.
The pass is valid from Bern, Lucerne, Brig and Montreux into the region, so you can use it for the journey to Interlaken or Brienz if you start in one of those cities. You buy it for a fixed start date, not a start time, and it is valid all day on every day of its validity. The days must follow each other; there is no flexible version where you pick single days. Since 2026 you can extend a pass by two more days, but only at a train ticket counter and at most twice.
It is not the same as the Swiss Travel Pass, which covers all of Switzerland and gives only 50 percent off most mountain railways, and not the same as the Jungfrau Travel Pass, which concentrates on the Jungfrau region. For a week based in Brienz, Interlaken or Lauterbrunnen, the Bernese Oberland Pass is the one to compare first.
Bernese Oberland Pass prices 2026
In 2026 the Bernese Oberland Pass costs CHF 240 for 3 days, CHF 350 for 6 days and CHF 435 for 10 days in second class (about US$290, US$424 and US$526). With a Half Fare Card, Swiss Travel Pass or GA, and for young people from 16 to 24, you pay the reduced fare. Children from 6 to 16 and dogs pay CHF 30 for the whole validity.
| Validity (2026) | 2nd class | 2nd class reduced | 1st class | 1st class reduced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | CHF 240 (≈ US$290) | CHF 168 | CHF 288 | CHF 202 |
| 4 days | CHF 280 (≈ US$339) | CHF 196 | CHF 336 | CHF 236 |
| 6 days | CHF 350 (≈ US$424) | CHF 254 | CHF 420 | CHF 305 |
| 8 days | CHF 395 (≈ US$478) | CHF 287 | CHF 474 | CHF 345 |
| 10 days | CHF 435 (≈ US$526) | CHF 316 | CHF 522 | CHF 380 |
| Extension, 2 days | CHF 72 | CHF 60 | CHF 85 | CHF 70 |
| Child 6 to 16, dog | CHF 30 for the whole validity, only together with a main pass | |||
The reduced fare applies to holders of a Swiss Half Fare Card, Half Fare travelcard, Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Travel Pass Flex or GA, and to everybody aged 16 to 24. Children under 16 travel free with the Swiss Family Card, Junior Travel Card or Children Co-Travel Card, so families with these cards do not need a child pass. Prices are valid until December 31, 2026; the operator states that they remained unchanged for 2026.
Seat reservations are not included. On the Brienz Rothorn steam railway the seat guarantee costs CHF 8 per person, on the Luzern-Interlaken Express CHF 12 to 16 per route.
What is included and what is not
The pass includes the big rides most visitors want: the Schilthorn cable car from Stechelberg, both ways up the Brienzer Rothorn, the Niesen, the Schynige Platte again since July 2025, the boats on both lakes and the PostBus lines such as the one to Rosenlaui. It does not include the Oeschinensee gondola, the Trümmelbach Falls or the Jungfraujoch, where you only get 25 percent off.
| Place we visited | Single ticket 2026 | With the pass |
|---|---|---|
| Schilthorn from Stechelberg, return | CHF 115 | free (Stechelberg to Mürren to Schilthorn) |
| Brienzer Rothorn, steam train from Brienz, return | CHF 98 | free, seat guarantee CHF 8 |
| Brienzer Rothorn, cable car from Sörenberg, return | CHF 59 | free |
| BLS boats on Lake Brienz and Lake Thun | e.g. Brienz to Iseltwald CHF 24 one way | free |
| PostBus Meiringen to Rosenlaui | CHF 26.80 one way | free |
| Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge | CHF 12 | CHF 10 |
| Aare Gorge | CHF 13 | discounted admission (amount not published) |
| Spiez Castle museum | CHF 12 | 20 percent off |
| Oeschinensee gondola, return | CHF 40 (June 15 to Sept 21) | not valid, no discount |
| Trümmelbach Falls | CHF 18 | no discount |
| Jungfraujoch from Grindelwald or Wengen | see jungfrau.ch | 25 percent off, reservation required in summer |
The Aare Gorge and the Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge are listed as discount partners. At Rosenlaui the reduced ticket is CHF 10 according to the gorge’s own price list. The Aare Gorge does not publish the amount, so we count the full price in our calculation. The Niesen funicular above Spiez, CHF 64 return, is free with the pass; we did not go up ourselves.
Oeschinensee: no longer included since January 2026
Since January 2026 the Bernese Oberland Pass is no longer accepted on the gondola from Kandersteg to the Oeschinensee, and it gives no discount there either. The pass operator lists “Kandersteg to Oeschinensee” among the lines removed in 2026, and the gondola operator confirms it on its fare page.
That matters, because the Oeschinensee is one of the most visited places in the region and many older blogs and forum posts still list it as included. In summer 2026 the return trip costs CHF 40 for adults from June 15 to September 21 and CHF 36 in spring and autumn. With a Half Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass you pay CHF 22.50 in high season. On top of that you need a time slot for every ascent until November 8, 2026. A dog costs CHF 8 per day.
We paid the full CHF 40 on July 7, 2026, with no pass. If the Oeschinensee is one of your main reasons to come, it actually speaks for the Half Fare Card or the Swiss Travel Pass rather than for the Bernese Oberland Pass. Our Oeschinensee guide explains the time slots and parking.
PDF · 18 pagesFree PDF guide
Planning the Bernese Oberland? Don't go without this.
Our free guide, made from our own week there: the 11 places really worth your time, a ready-made 3-day route, and the pass trick that cuts the Schilthorn from CHF 115 to CHF 45.70.
- The 11 best places on one hand-drawn map, all within an hour of Interlaken
- A 3-day route that puts the Schilthorn on your clearest morning
- The ticket mistake that costs many visitors over CHF 100
- When to reach the famous Iseltwald pier before the crowds
- Every link with a QR code: use it on your phone or print it
Your free Bernese Oberland Guide
100% free · PDF straight to your inbox · Unsubscribe in one click
Our calculation: the week by car
We drove every day from our holiday flat in Brienz and used no train, bus or boat. Our six excursion days had six tickets: CHF 257 per adult in total. The six-day pass would have cost CHF 350 and covered only CHF 174 of that, so it would have been CHF 174 more expensive than paying as we went.
| Day (2026) | Ticket | Single | Bernese Oberland Pass | Half Fare Card | Swiss Travel Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, July 5 | Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge | 12.00 | 10.00 | 12.00 | 12.00 |
| Mon, July 6 | Trümmelbach Falls | 18.00 | 18.00 | 18.00 | 18.00 |
| Tue, July 7 | Oeschinensee gondola | 40.00 | 40.00 | 22.50 | 22.50 |
| Wed, July 8 | Rothorn cable car from Sörenberg | 59.00 | 0 | 29.50 | 29.50 |
| Thu, July 9 | Schilthorn from Stechelberg | 115.00 | 0 | 57.50 | 45.70 |
| Fri, July 10 | Aare Gorge | 13.00 | 13.00 | 13.00 | 13.00 |
| Price of the pass or card | 0 | 350.00 | 150.00 | 399.00 | |
| Total per adult, CHF | 257.00 | 431.00 | 302.50 | 539.70 | |
| In US dollars | about US$311 | about US$522 | about US$366 | about US$653 | |
Even the Half Fare Card, the cheapest option after single tickets, would have cost us CHF 45.50 more than single tickets on this route. It halves the three mountain railways, but CHF 150 is a lot to recover on three rides. What we paid in parking, CHF 5 to 18 per day at most valley stations, is the same in every column, and the pass does not help with it.
So for a typical road trip with one big summit every other day and the car parked at the valley station, buy single tickets. You find the full route day by day in our Bernese Oberland itinerary.
The same week without a car
Without a car the result turns around. If you do our exact route by train, bus and boat from Brienz, the single tickets add up to CHF 579.40 per adult. With the six-day Bernese Oberland Pass you pay CHF 439.00, a saving of CHF 140.40 (about US$170).
For this version we replaced the car with public transport, including the bus through the Lauterbrunnen Valley, and the Rothorn cable car from Sörenberg with the steam train from Brienz, because Sörenberg is awkward to reach from Brienz without a car. All train and bus fares are full fares in second class from the SBB online timetable in October 2026.
| Day | Journeys and tickets | Single, CHF | With the pass, CHF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosenlaui | Train Brienz to Meiringen (5.40) and PostBus to Rosenlaui (26.80), return; gorge | 64.40 + 12.00 | 0 + 10.00 |
| Lauterbrunnen Valley | Brienz to Trümmelbachfälle (20.20), Lauterbrunnen to Brienz (16.40); Trümmelbach Falls | 36.60 + 18.00 | 0 + 18.00 |
| Oeschinensee and Spiez | Brienz to Kandersteg (33.00), return; gondola | 66.00 + 40.00 | 0 + 40.00 |
| Brienzer Rothorn | Steam train from Brienz, return, with seat guarantee | 98.00 + 8.00 | 0 + 8.00 |
| Schilthorn | Brienz to Stechelberg (21.00), return; Schilthorn | 42.00 + 115.00 | 0 + 0 |
| Aare Gorge and Iseltwald | Brienz to Aareschlucht West (9.20), return; gorge; boat Brienz to Iseltwald (24.00), return | 18.40 + 13.00 + 48.00 | 0 + 13.00 + 0 |
| Price of the 6-day pass | 0 | 350.00 | |
| Total per adult | 579.40 | 439.00 | |
Two notes on these numbers. First, the SBB app sometimes offers saver tickets (Sparbillette) on fixed trains, which can lower the single-ticket column a little; with a pass you stay flexible. Second, the pass would also cover your trip from Bern or Lucerne to the region and back, which we did not count. Both effects roughly cancel each other out, and the pass stays clearly ahead.
Travelling without a car? The Swiss Travel Pass covers trains, buses and boats across the country and gives discounts on many mountain railways. Our pass guide shows when it pays off. Tip: Klook often shows discount codes at checkout (in October 2026 for example 5% off orders over US$300); whether one applies to the pass you see in the cart.
Check Swiss Travel Pass pricesThe Bernese Oberland Pass makes the Schilthorn, the Brienzer Rothorn and more than 25 other mountain railways free, plus trains, buses and boats in the region. 2026: 3 days from CHF 240, 6 days CHF 350 (2nd class).
Check Bernese Oberland Pass pricesSwiss Travel Pass, Half Fare Card or Bernese Oberland Pass?
For a week that stays in the Bernese Oberland, the Bernese Oberland Pass beats the Swiss Travel Pass, because it makes the Schilthorn and the Rothorn free instead of half price. The Swiss Travel Pass only wins if you also travel across Switzerland by train, for example from Zurich Airport or to Lucerne and Zermatt. The Half Fare Card is the flexible middle ground.
| Our week without a car (per adult) | Total CHF | Saving vs. single tickets |
|---|---|---|
| Single tickets | 579.40 (≈ US$701) | 0 |
| Bernese Oberland Pass, 6 days | 439.00 (≈ US$531) | 140.40 |
| Swiss Half Fare Card (CHF 150, one month) | 467.70 (≈ US$566) | 111.70 |
| Half Fare Card plus reduced Bernese Oberland Pass | 475.50 (≈ US$575) | 103.90 |
| Swiss Travel Pass, 6 days (CHF 399) | 567.20 (≈ US$686) | 12.20 |
- Swiss Travel Pass 2026: CHF 254 for 3 days, CHF 399 for 6 days, CHF 439 for 8 days in second class. All trains, buses and boats free, many mountain railways 50 percent off, the Schilthorn for CHF 45.70 instead of CHF 115, plus free entry to many museums including Spiez Castle.
- Swiss Half Fare Card: CHF 150 for one month for visitors living outside Switzerland. Half price on trains, buses, boats and most mountain railways, including the Oeschinensee gondola. Children from 6 to 15 travel free with a parent who holds one, with the free Swiss Family Card.
- Half Fare Card plus pass: only worth it if you already need the Half Fare Card for other parts of a longer Swiss trip. For one week in the Bernese Oberland alone, the full-price pass is cheaper than both together.
If you fly into Zurich or Geneva and travel on to Lucerne or Zermatt by train, recalculate with those journeys included; that is where the Swiss Travel Pass catches up. How the whole trip budget looks, from cable cars to dinner, is in our guide how expensive is Switzerland.
Swiss Activities sells the Swiss Half Fare Card as a mobile ticket for CHF 150 (Oct 2026), with the free Family Card and free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check Half Fare Card pricesWhen the pass pays off with a car
With a car, the six-day pass pays off once the mountain railways and boats it covers add up to more than CHF 350 per adult. In practice that means at least four big covered excursions, for example the Schilthorn, the Rothorn steam train, the Niesen and a boat day on Lake Brienz.
- Schilthorn from Stechelberg: CHF 115
- Brienzer Rothorn steam train: CHF 98
- Niesen funicular: CHF 64
- Lake Brienz boat day pass: CHF 75
- Total: CHF 352, just above the CHF 350 of the pass.
With only two big summits, as on our trip, single tickets are always cheaper. Swap the Oeschinensee or the Trümmelbach Falls for covered rides and the picture changes, but then you plan your holiday around a pass, which we would not do. Take the places you want to see, add up the prices and compare.
The pass with a dog
A dog pass costs CHF 30 for the whole validity of your Bernese Oberland Pass, and it must be bought together with a main pass. Without it, a larger dog needs its own ticket on trains and buses; the SBB dog day pass costs CHF 25, rising to CHF 27 from December 13, 2026.
For Miley, our trip by car meant CHF 8 at the Oeschinensee gondola and CHF 12 return on the Rothorn cable car, while the Schilthorn cable cars and both gorges were free. A dog pass would have saved nothing. Without a car it is different: five days of trains and buses with SBB dog day passes would cost more than four times the dog pass. Dogs must be on a lead on all public transport; a muzzle is not required. More tips are in our guide to the Bernese Oberland with a dog.
Is it cheaper to buy in advance?
No, the pass costs the same whether you buy it six months ahead or the day before; it is sold online up to six months before the first day. There is also no early-bird price on the Schilthorn in 2026. What you should book ahead are the time slot at the Oeschinensee and the seat guarantee on the Rothorn steam train.
- Bernese Oberland Pass: online or at Swiss train stations; the two-day extension only at a ticket counter.
- Oeschinensee: book the time slot online; on busy days slots at the machines sell out.
- Rothorn steam train: seat guarantee CHF 8; on sunny summer days trains fill up.
- Trains: saver tickets on fixed connections can be cheaper than full fares if you do not use a pass.
- Weather: a pass ties you to fixed days, and the Trümmelbach Falls or the gorges are no substitute for a summit you paid for. With single tickets you wait for the clear morning, which on the Schilthorn is worth more than any discount.
Our verdict in five questions
Answer five questions and you know which ticket you need. If you answer yes to the first two, buy the Bernese Oberland Pass.
- Do you travel without a car on most days? Then the pass covers your daily trains and buses, and that is where most of the saving comes from.
- Do you plan at least two of the Schilthorn, the Rothorn, the Niesen and the Schynige Platte? Each of them is free with the pass.
- Is the Oeschinensee or the Jungfraujoch your main goal? Then compare with the Half Fare Card; the pass is not valid at the Oeschinensee and gives only 25 percent at the Jungfraujoch.
- Do you travel around Switzerland as well? Then calculate the Swiss Travel Pass.
- Do you drive and do one or two summits? Buy single tickets, as we did.
For us, with the car outside the door and two big summits, single tickets were right. On our next trip without a car we would buy the pass for six days.
Tickets and tours
If you decide against a pass, buy the mountain railways at the valley stations or on the operators’ websites. Without a car and with little time, organised day trips from Interlaken bundle transport and tickets. These are the options we would look at:
The historic steam train from Brienz to the summit, seat reservation included (booking page in German)
Check prices & availability
The quick way up, 7 minutes each way, dogs allowed
Check prices & availability
Covers both the steam railway and the Sörenberg cable car
Check prices & availabilityPlanning your trip? Our good-to-know guides cover eSIM and mobile data in Switzerland, how to get from Zurich Airport to Interlaken, whether the Swiss Travel Pass is worth it and luggage storage, plus everything else in good to know before you go.
The Bernese Oberland Pass makes the Schilthorn, the Brienzer Rothorn and more than 25 other mountain railways free, plus trains, buses and boats in the region. 2026: 3 days from CHF 240, 6 days CHF 350 (2nd class).
Check Bernese Oberland Pass pricesFAQ: Bernese Oberland Pass
How much is the Bernese Oberland Pass in 2026?
CHF 240 for 3 days, CHF 280 for 4 days, CHF 350 for 6 days, CHF 395 for 8 days and CHF 435 for 10 days in second class. With a Half Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass and for ages 16 to 24, it costs CHF 168 to CHF 316. Children and dogs pay CHF 30.
Is the Schilthorn included in the Bernese Oberland Pass?
Yes. The cable car from Stechelberg via Mürren to the Schilthorn is free with the pass. A single return ticket from Stechelberg costs CHF 115 in 2026.
Is the Oeschinensee included in the Bernese Oberland Pass?
No, not since January 2026. The gondola from Kandersteg is no longer part of the pass, and there is no discount either. The Half Fare Card and the Swiss Travel Pass still give 50 percent off.
Is the Bernese Oberland Pass worth it with a car?
Usually not. On our week by car it would have cost CHF 174 more than single tickets. It only pays off if you take at least four big covered rides, such as the Schilthorn, the Rothorn steam train, the Niesen and a boat day.
Bernese Oberland Pass or Swiss Travel Pass?
If you stay in the Bernese Oberland, the regional pass is better, because it makes the Schilthorn and the Rothorn free. The Swiss Travel Pass makes sense if you also travel across Switzerland by train.
Is the Jungfraujoch included?
No. From Grindelwald or Wengen you get 25 percent off the Jungfraujoch with the pass, and a seat reservation is mandatory from May 1 to October 31 (2026 season, per jungfrau.ch).
Before you decide, put your own days into the calculation: our 7-day Bernese Oberland itinerary shows what a realistic week looks like, and our Bernese Oberland guide has every place with prices. For more Swiss trips, start on the Swiss Detours home page.
Your free Bernese Oberland Guide
Join the Swiss Detours newsletter and get our Bernese Oberland Guide as a free PDF. After that, we send you new travel tips for Switzerland from time to time. Unsubscribe anytime with one click.