Located over 1950 meters above sea level, Niederhorn is a marvelous peak of the foothills of the Alps in the Bernese Oberland. The peak provides you with a 360-degree panorama of the surroundings. You can see the eye-catching blue waters of Lake Thun as well as the entire Bernese Alps (including the infamous trio Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau) from the Niederhorn summit.
The Niederhorn is the perfect place to escape your everyday life. Especially on foggy winter days, the chances are high that you can secure your front line above the clouds at the heights of the Niederhorn peak. Enjoy the unforgettable action on a scooter bike descent from the summit, or dive into one of the countless hiking experiences through the magical scenery of Niederhorn.
A Day Trip to Niederhorn
It is an excellent plan to allocate a whole day to visiting Beatenberg and the Niederhorn. Families, children, and people of all various ages can enjoy the innumerable hiking and walking opportunities with ease. Not only can you immerse yourself in the fantastic views of the area, but you may also have the chance to meet alpine animals including marmots, deer, and ibex.
You can find an adorable buffet restaurant at Beatenbucht roughly next to the boat station, offering captivating views over the lakes. The restaurant is open throughout the summer and offers mixed hot and cold drinks and foods. The summit is equipped with plenty of benches on the way, making the area a perfect place to relax. That is why you can easily find your specific spot and viewpoint as there is so much room, as opposed to other crowded summits.
Niederhorn is also a perfect mountain for paragliders and hang-gliders. Then, it is normal to see them taking off and flying over Lake Thun or through the valley. There are several other activities on Niederhorn, including long ridge hikes, Alpine orienteering, downhill scooter rides, etc.
If you prefer not to climb the mountain on foot, you can use a glass-sided funicular railway to get to Beatenbucht and then get the cable car to reach the top, all the while you enjoy the marvelous scenes around you. The ascent takes almost 20 minutes and provides you with a great amount of pleasure and relaxation. With the best possible angle, you will be able to see the glorious Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau which are immaculate backgrounds to take photos of your trip.
Trotti bikes
If you fancy a little adrenaline rush, it is an exciting idea to hire scooter bikes in Vorsass during the summer. Use the cable car to go straight to Vorsass. Once you hire a scooter bike, you are provided with safety equipment including a helmet. You can even hire special scooter bikes for your children. The experience is too remarkable to miss.
Niederhorn in Winter
If you are a fan of winter fun experiences, you should get to Beatenberg’s nearest mountain. Numerous winter sports and activities are offered there, including hikes, snowshoeing tours, panoramic sledding runs, and neat ski pistes. Those who truly love nature will find Niederhorn a delightful destination for winter amusements.
Hiking with a 360 Panorama
Immediately after the Niederhorn mountain cable car, you can initiate your hiking journey. Over 120 kilometers of hiking and mountain trails are ahead to discover. You may choose different hiking routes with different durations according to your preferences. The suggested hikes can include these:
Niederhorn – Flösch Vorsass – Bodenalp – Riedboden – Beatenberg
- Hiking Duration: 2 hours
- Distance: 4.9 kilometers
Niederhorn – Burgfeldstand – Gemmenalphorn – Seefeld Oberberg Justistal – Grön – Beatenberg
- Hiking Duration: 5 hours and 30 minutes
- Distance: 4.2 kilometers
Niederhorn – Haberelegi – Beatenberg
- Hiking Duration: 2 hours
- Distance: 4.2 kilometers
Regardless of the hike you choose, you are going to enjoy the exquisite natural scenery of the area, the constantly-changing alpine panorama with snow-covered peaks throughout the year, and the glistening waters of Lake Thun. Also, if the weather allows you, the well-known Three Peaks (Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau) may appear close enough to make you feel like you can touch them.
As you hike through the area, you can dive into the astonishing panoramic viewpoints along the way. Just gaze down into the idyllic Justis valley and enjoy the breathtaking vastness of the area and the mountains on the horizon. On the boards along the trail, you can find useful information about the uncommon flora and fauna of the alpine area.
Getting there
Interlaken to Niederhorn
Starting from Thun, Spiez, or Interlaken West, you can use a boat or STI bus to reach Beatenbucht. Then, it is possible to take the funicular up to Beatenberg. Once you arrive there, you can take the cable car up to Niederhorn. There will only be a short walk there to reach the summit (wheelchairs accessible). The funicular and the cable car move every 20 minutes.
For the very sporty, it is of course also possible to hike either from Seehöhe at Beatenbucht or from Beatenberg to the Niederhorn.
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Parking lot prices
| Multi storey car park at Beatenbucht | CHF |
| 1 to 2 hours | 3.00 |
| from 2 to 24 hours | 7.00 |
| Car park Beatenberg station | CHF |
| 1 to 2 hours | 3.00 |
| from 2 to 24 hours | 7.00 |
Niederhorn Cable Car Price
| Beatenbucht – Niederhorn | Single Journey | Round Trip |
| Adult | 38.00 | 56.00 |
| Half Fare Travelcard | 19.00 | 28.00 |
| Child (under 16 years) | 19.00 | 28.00 |
| Guestcard Beatenberg, Interlaken, Jungfrau-Region, Thunersee-PanoramaCard | 31.80 | 47.60 |
| Beatenberg – Niederhorn | Single Journey | Round Trip |
| Adult | 31.00 | 42.00 |
| Half Fare Travelcard | 15.50 | 21.00 |
| Child (under 16 years) | 15.50 | 21.00 |
| Guestcard Beatenberg, Interlaken, Jungfrau-Region, Thunersee-PanoramaCard | 24.80 | 33.60 |
Summary
Niederhorn is a magical peak in the Alps mountains in the Bernese Oberland, offering a panoramic view of the surrounding and Lake Thun, along with numerous other unforgettable hiking experiences.
Some examples of memorable experiences in the area include seeing alpine animals, watching paragliders and hang-gliders, enjoying scooter rides, using a funicular and cable car, enjoying winter activities, and hiking with 360-degree viewpoints, etc.
