Niesen
2,362 m, near Interlaken
The pyramid above Lake Thun, with the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau across the water
Go-day alerts
Get Niesen's clear days in your calendar or feed reader. No sign-up.
Wait
Low cloud near the summit, best chance 11:00–14:00.
Running today, per the timetable.
Go
Sunny 10:00–13:00.
Should run: no closure announced. Estimate
Wait
Mixed sky with some views, best chance 09:00–12:00.
Should run: no closure announced. Estimate
Skip
Summit in cloud most of the day.
Should run: no closure announced. Estimate
Go
Sunny 13:00–16:00.
Should run: no closure announced. Estimate
· , Swiss time. Forecast: MeteoSwiss ICON-CH models. Check Niesen's official webcams before you buy, conditions can change fast.
What to expect
One of Europe's longest funiculars climbs the perfect pyramid above Lake Thun in about 30 minutes. From the top you look across Lake Thun and Lake Brienz to the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, and it often stays clear when the lakes lie under fog. Open from April to mid-November.
- A ride worth taking
- Lake views
- Sea-of-fog spot
Tickets and tours
Buy direct from the operatorSwiss Travel Pass -50%
Before you go
- Summit
- 2,362 m
- Getting up
- Funicular from Mülenen via Schwandegg to Niesen Kulm, about 30 minutes
- Season
- Apr to Nov
- Swiss Travel Pass
- 50% off
- At the top
- Niesen Kulm hotel and restaurant, Niesentreppe, the world's longest stairway
- Panorama
- 4/5 on our scale. Lake Thun, Lake Brienz and the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau
- Nearest town
- Mülenen, 693 m
Prices, skiing and highlights from the operator's website, checked 18 October 2026. Prices change; confirm before you buy.
We're still double-checking these details with the operator. Confirm opening times on the official site.
Why go
- One of Europe's longest funiculars
- Lake Thun and Lake Brienz from the top
- Stays clear when the lakes lie under fog
Worth knowing
- Open only from April to mid-November
Getting there
| From | Public transport | By car | By bike |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zürich | 2 h 56 to Niesen Kulm, 2 changes | 2 h 26 1 h 56 drive to Mülenen + 30 min up, 163 km | – |
| Zurich Airport | 3 h 11 to Niesen Kulm, 3 changes | 2 h 26 1 h 56 drive to Mülenen + 30 min up, 166 km | – |
| Bern | 1 h 21 to Niesen Kulm, 1 change | 1 h 08 38 min drive to Mülenen + 30 min up, 45 km | 3 h 30 3 h ride + 30 min up, 46 km |
| Basel | 2 h 56 to Niesen Kulm, 3 changes | 2 h 06 1 h 36 drive to Mülenen + 30 min up, 136 km | – |
| Geneva | 3 h 25 to Niesen Kulm, 2 changes | 2 h 50 2 h 20 drive to Mülenen + 30 min up, 203 km | – |
| Lausanne | 2 h 43 to Niesen Kulm, 2 changes | 2 h 17 1 h 47 drive to Mülenen + 30 min up, 151 km | – |
| Lucerne | 2 h 48 to Niesen Kulm, 3 changes | 1 h 56 1 h 26 drive to Mülenen + 30 min up, 86 km | – |
| St. Gallen | 4 h 02 to Niesen Kulm, 3 changes | 3 h 17 2 h 47 drive to Mülenen + 30 min up, 243 km | – |
| Lugano | 4 h 58 to Niesen Kulm, 3 changes | 3 h 28 2 h 58 drive to Mülenen + 30 min up, 203 km | – |
| Interlaken | 1 h 25 to Niesen Kulm, 3 changes | 55 min 25 min drive to Mülenen + 30 min up, 19 km | 1 h 39 1 h 09 ride + 30 min up, 18 km |
| Winterthur | 3 h 27 to Niesen Kulm, 3 changes | 2 h 41 2 h 11 drive to Mülenen + 30 min up, 185 km | – |
| Zug | 3 h 27 to Niesen Kulm, 4 changes | 2 h 18 1 h 48 drive to Mülenen + 30 min up, 115 km | – |
| Thun | 59 min to Niesen Kulm, 1 change | 47 min 17 min drive to Mülenen + 30 min up, 18 km | 1 h 35 1 h 05 ride + 30 min up, 16 km |
| Grindelwald | 2 h 13 to Niesen Kulm, 4 changes | 1 h 12 42 min drive to Mülenen + 30 min up, 36 km | 2 h 47 2 h 17 ride + 30 min up, 36 km |
| Zermatt | 2 h 57 to Niesen Kulm, 4 changes | – | – |
| Chur | 4 h 22 to Niesen Kulm, 3 changes | 3 h 36 3 h 06 drive to Mülenen + 30 min up, 227 km | – |
| Montreux | 2 h 50 to Niesen Kulm, 3 changes | 2 h 05 1 h 35 drive to Mülenen + 30 min up, 135 km | – |
| Sion | 2 h 03 to Niesen Kulm, 3 changes | 2 h 46 2 h 16 drive to Mülenen + 30 min up, 201 km | – |
Public transport: fastest connection after 08:00 on a Saturday, from the Swiss timetable, door to the top station. Car: door to the top, driving time without traffic to where you park plus the fastest timetabled ride up from there. Bike: riding time to the same place at a steady pace, climbs not included, plus the same ride up; rides over 5 hours are left out. Refreshed weekly. Sources: transport.opendata.ch, OSRM and FOSSGIS with map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Other good options today
Go 2
- Go First · Best 10:00–13:0090% clearUncertainPanorama 4/5 From CHF 38 Swiss Travel Pass -50% Tickets
- Go Männlichen · Best 09:00–12:0080% clearAbove the fogUncertainPanorama 4/5 Return CHF 68 Swiss Travel Pass -50% Tickets
Wait 1
- Wait Schilthorn · Best 09:00–12:0060% clearAbove the fogPanorama 5/5 Return CHF 115 Swiss Travel Pass -50% Tickets
No summits match. Try a longer trip or fewer filters.
Quick answers
Is it worth going up Niesen today?
Wait on Sunday 18 October 2026 (49 out of 100): Partial views, worth it only with flexibility. Low cloud near the summit, best chance 11:00–14:00.
What's the weather on Niesen tomorrow?
Go on Monday 19 October 2026 (100 out of 100): Good chance of a clear view. Sunny 10:00–13:00.
Is Niesen above the fog today?
Not today: the forecast shows no sea of fog below a sunny summit. None in the next 5 days either.
Which day looks best for Niesen in the next 5 days?
Go on Monday 19 October 2026 (100 out of 100): Good chance of a clear view. Sunny 10:00–13:00.
How do you get up Niesen?
Funicular from Mülenen via Schwandegg to Niesen Kulm, about 30 minutes. Season: Apr to Nov. Nearest town: Mülenen. Swiss Travel Pass: 50% off.
Where does this forecast come from?
From the MeteoSwiss ICON-CH weather models, via Open-Meteo. Peakobello scores sunshine and cloud at the summit for every hour from 09:00 to 17:00 and updates the verdicts every three hours, last on 18 October 2026, 15:51 (Swiss time).