Category: Travel Tips

Switzerland is a country known for gorgeous scenery and stunning viewpoints. One spot popular with tourists for the perfect combination of lakes, rivers, mountains, gorgeous architecture and scenery is the central town of Interlaken. And one of the top things to do in the quaint town is to head up the mountain and check out the viewing platform at Harder Kulm.

Sitting comfortably at 1322m above sea level, you just know that the panoramic views from Harder Kulm will make it worth a visit. From charming lakeside views to jaw-dropping alpine panoramas, this spot offers the best of nature and adventure. But it’s not just a panoramic viewing platform, there’s also a restaurant, cafe and hiking routes on offer. Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your visit to Harder Kulm.

Where is Harder Kulm?

Switzerland, home of the stunning mountain views! Or, to be a little more precise, Harder Kulm sits on top of the Hardermatte mountain in the Bernese Alps, an area of the Swiss Alps. It’s easily accessible from the town of Interlaken, which itself has two train stations linking it to nearby towns like Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald, as well as larger cities like Bern.

Harder Kulm Highlights

Harder Kulm Viewpoint
Perched on the edge of Hardermatte in the Bernese Overland region of the Swiss Alps, Harder Kulm’s viewing platform, known as Two Lakes Bridge, is the perfect photo spot. In one direction you can see Lake Brienz, in another direction is Lake Thun, and surrounding everything are the famous Swiss Alps mountain range. In the distance you can even see the jagged, often snow-topped tip of Jungfrau.

This is one of the prettiest and breathtaking viewpoints in the area, if not the whole of Switzerland. And just to make it even more fun, there’s a glass section in the middle of the viewing platform. Jelly legs anyone?

Restaurant
Is there any place more special to enjoy a meal than in a restaurant on top of a mountain? How about on the restaurant terrace, in the gorgeous sunshine*, overlooking the Swiss Alps and a couple of aqua blue lakes?

*gorgeous sunshine is not promised, sorry!

Harder Kulm restaurant is spread out over two floors inside, with a spacious terrace outside. You’ll find typical Swiss dishes on the menu while you enjoy the panoramic views of the mountains in the distance.

Cafe
If you’re after a light snack or coffee but don’t want the formality or price of the restaurant, there’s a cafe just next to Harder Kulm restaurant. The cafe seating area is more relaxed, outside, with benches as well as tables and chairs. You’re free to sit where you like, and some of the tables have access to the amazing views as you sit. The coffee isn’t the best I’ve ever had, but with the views that come with it, you can be a little bit forgiving!

Unfortunately there are no picnics allowed, so you’re not able to take your own food to enjoy in the terrace area, but the cafe has you covered for budget friendly snacks.

Opening Times

Harder Kulm isn’t open during the winter months, but from mid-April to November you can enjoy a visit to soak up the views or enjoy the facilities there. If you’ve bought tickets for the funicular, be sure to check what time the last one leaves as it’s quite a walk down otherwise!

How to Get to Harder Kulm from Interlaken

Harder Kulm Funicular
Harder Kulm isn’t accessible by car. Instead, you can jump on the Harder Kulm funicular or enjoy the hike up.

The funicular leaves from Harderbahn, where the glass-fronted carriage shuttles visitors up and down the mountainside in under 10 minutes. Tickets are available from the funicular station at the bottom of the mountain, or from Interlaken Ost train station ticket office.

The views from the funicular are impressive, but just wait until you get to the top for the real jaw-dropping views. From the station at the top of Harder Kulm funicular, there’s a short walk with a gentle incline to the hotel, restaurant and cafe. Benches are dotted along the way to stop and take a breather if needed, or just to sit and soak up the gorgeous views.

Harder Kulm Hikes

For the more active visitors, there are two Harder Kulm hiking routes. The most popular starts from the funicular station and the start is clearly signposted. It’s a steep 4.1km hike to the top, climbing over 750m. You can expect it to take about 2:30hrs, but your efforts will be greatly rewarded with the panoramic views of Interlaken on the way.

Is Harder Kulm Worth Visiting?

Harder Kulm is hands down one of the the best things to do in Interlaken. How can anyone resist those stunning panoramic mountain and lake views when they’re in Switzerland?

If it’s raining or bad weather in Interlaken then it possibly might not be worth heading up to Harder Kulm as low cloud could hinder the view from the viewing platform. However, there’s still the cafe and restaurant to check out while you’re up there.

How Long Do I Need at Harder Kulm?

If you’re just visiting for the views, an hour is plenty of time to get the funicular up, admire the view and head back down to Interlaken town centre. If you want to stop for a coffee or a meal in the restaurant, then factor in extra time.

Harder Kulm as a Solo Traveller

As a solo traveller, Harder Kulm is still enjoyable and worth a visit. Although the funicular ticket price may feel steep as a solo or budget traveller, there are certain things in life that are worth the price tag. Plus, if you’re already in Switzerland, chances are you’ll know that life there isn’t cheap. In my opinion, the price of the funicular is worth the views that you’ll be treated to at the top.

In terms of safety as a solo traveller, Switzerland feels very safe in general and as a solo female traveller I felt no concerns being in Interlaken or visiting Harder Kulm. I wouldn’t personally want to undertake the hikes in low light or at night, but that’s partly for fear of falling off a mountain…

If the weather isn’t great during your visit to Interlaken, then a trip to Harder Kulm may not be as worthwhile. Although there is a restaurant, hotel and cafe, plus routes to walk and enjoy the nature, the real winning factor is the panoramic view of Interlaken.

So many of us love to travel, see new sights, taste new food, experience new cultures. But sometimes our plans don’t match up with those of the people we’d usually travel with; either they don’t want to go to the same place you’ve got your eye on, they don’t have the money, they can’t get time off work, they just read in their horoscope that they shouldn’t visit any new places in the next couple of months, the list can be endless. But should these reasons mean that we miss out?

And welcome the recent boom of solo travellers. A refreshing, liberating, life changing, nerve wracking and scary experience. The first time is the hardest, but also the most rewarding. Once you realise that you can totally do this, you’ll wonder how you’ll ever travel with someone again.

But it’s so easy to say ‘you’ll be fine‘, and for some it’ll be beyond easy to make the transition into travelling alone. For others, like me, it was a daunting experience that I eased into. And here are some ways you can jump into solo travel.

Go on holiday with friends

Wait, what? Yep, that’s right…go on a city break with friends, but when they head home, go to another city alone. It’ll feel weird once they’ve left and the realisation hits that you’re now in a country that isn’t home, all alone. But, because you’ve already been there a few days with friends, you know the lay of the land.

If you’re really nervous, stay in the same city for a couple of extra days, if you think you’ll be ok, move on to a new city. This is an excellent tip for first time female solo travellers who might feel nervous!

Visit a country you can speak the language

(or at least understand a few key words)
Removing one of the barriers of travel from what may already be a nerve wracking experience will ease the nerves a little. And who doesn’t like having one less thing to worry about? If you don’t speak any other languages, stick to the bigger cities or try learning a few key phrases. Being able to speak to people, even just the cashier, helps stop the feeling of being so alone in another city.

Choose your accommodation well

Solo travel doesn’t have to mean hostels. Sure, it’s a great way to keep costs down and meet people, but if you choose well you can find a number of other places to stay that don’t cost much more than a hostel. I always use booking.com (other accommodation providers are available…) and filter down to my price range. It shows you hotels, apartments, b&bs and hostels, so you can pick what’s best for you.

When I’m travelling solo I like to mix it up, staying in a mix of apartments and hostels. There are some days where I’m happy to end the day by myself, tucked up in bed with Netflix and sampling the snacks I’ll have no doubt picked up through the day. Other times I need to be around people. And regardless of whether I book a quiet or lively hostel, sometimes it’s nice to just be around people and have a chat.

Check the location

Sure, the apartment or hostel is dirt cheap, looks nice and has a snazzy kitchen to cook in, but what about the location? We always need to be aware of our surroundings but even more so when travelling alone. You don’t want to feel like you have to return to your accommodation before dark because the area isn’t so great, or be laying in bed wondering what that noise was. I have stayed in some lovely apartments in super dodgy areas and had to plan my day around getting back before a certain time to make sure that it was early enough that I still felt safe. Lesson learnt!

Tell people your plans

This is a twofold point – not only does it make you feel better that someone knows where you are if something goes wrong, but also if you tell people you’re off to Barcelona for a few days traveling solo, it’ll make sure you don’t back out. Maybe that’s just me…

Have an emergency fund available

Most of us are not made of money, and wasting money when travelling is particularly difficult. But, it’s reassuring to know that if you need it, you’ve got money there to help you out of a tight spot. This was particularly helpful for me before I went away the first time, knowing that if I really hated being on my own and didn’t want to carry on, I could use that money to book an earlier flight home.

Spoiler: I didn’t…I loved it!

Know that there will be lonely times

This is an obvious point, but it’s essential to know before you go that it’s likely you’ll have a moment where you miss being around people you can have a good ol’ natter with, or who know you well enough to know that you like the ketchup to not touch the rest of your food.

But, these moments pass and all it really takes is a quick phone call home for a catch up with someone or a step back to see that you’re doing something totally amazing. And if it lingers, then a change of scenery helps. And the best part of solo travel, if you really and truly hate it, you can go home and not ruin anyone else’s plans.

There are many things I love about travelling with someone, but now I’ve experienced solo travel, I don’t know how I’ll adjust back to travelling with a friend or partner. The freedom of travelling alone is 100% my favourite thing, and knowing that I’m free to do absolutely whatever I want is amazing. Want to get up at 11am and have a lazy day? Go ahead! Last minute change of plans to visit a place you can see in the distance but aren’t sure if it’s worth it? No worries, it’s only your time you’re wasting!

If you’re considering taking a solo trip, I would 100% recommend giving it a go. Whatever happens, at least you’ll know whether solo travel is for you. And if you’re a fellow solo travel fan, let me know if you have any tips for conquering the transition into solo travel.

Years ago, when I was hitchhiking in the foothills of Mount Tibidabo…

Many of us who spent our youthful years watching episodes of Friends will be familiar with Joey’s famous chat up line, but many people don’t realise that Mount Tibidabo in Barcelona is actually a real place. It’s not a mountain in the sense that Mount Everest is, but is one of the hills that form the Serra de Collserola mountain range in Catalonia, Spain.

In fact, Tibidabo is really easy to reach from Barcelona city centre and this guide will help you find out how to get there, what there is to do at Tibidabo and whether it’s worth the effort to get there.

Where is Tibidabo?

Sitting at 512m, Tibidabo is the tallest hill in the Serra de Collserola range. It can be seen from many places in Barcelona city centre, and sits right next to the city.

Top things to do at Tibidabo

It’s a small area at the top of Tibidabo in Barcelona, but don’t let that make you think there’s nothing to do there. The top things you can do at Tibidabo are:

Have fun at Tibidabo Amusement Park. Did you know Barcelona has a compact and quirky amusement park tucked away in the hills? It’s been operating since 1905 and is Spain’s longest running theme park.

Visit the Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. From the outside, Sagrat Cor is visually stunning. Inside, you’ll find a compact, modest church that isn’t anything that would really make it a destination church. The real draw behind this church is the viewing platform.

There’s a lift most of the way, and stairs to the higher viewing platform, but the views here are really one of the best in Barcelona. On a clear day you can see for miles over the sprawling city and the bordering mountain range.

Soak up the best panoramic view of Barcelona. The viewing deck at Tibidabo offers panoramic views of Barcelona. It’s not quite as high as those from the top of the church at Tibidabo, so it might be better for those people who don’t love heights, but also it gives a different kind of view of the city than from the church. Plus, it’s free to check out the Tibidabo viewpoint, so you’ve got nothing to lose.

Visit Collserola Tower. Visible from a lot of Barcelona city centre, the tower was built in 1992 for the summer Olympics held in Barcelona. It’s primarily a communications tower, hence the height and location, but you can also visit the viewing deck for yet another chance at stunning panoramic views of Barcelona.

How long do you need at Tibidabo
The length of time you need to visit will vary depending on why you’re visiting. If the theme park is calling your name, you could easily spend a whole afternoon here, but note the theme park isn’t huge like nearby Port Aventura.

If you’re visiting Tibidabo to take in the stunning views and visit the church, you’ll just need an hour or two once you arrive at the top of the funicular. This is plenty of time to have a look around, check out the panoramic view from the Sky Walk and visit the church too. You can get even higher views of Barcelona and the surrounding natural park of Parc Natural de la Serra de Collserola from the top of the church at Tibidabo…definitely worth the climb!

How to get to Tibidabo from Barcelona

Tibidabo is easily accessible from the centre of Barcelona, and one of the most convenient ways to reach Tibidabo is by taking a combination of public transport options:

Metro and Bus: Start the journey by taking the L7 line of the Barcelona Metro to Avenida Tibidabo station. From there, hop onto the bus (line 196) to the base of Tibidabo, or walk up the hill if you’re ready to brave the incline.

Funicular: To ascend the mountain and reach Tibidabo Amusement park, jump on the Tibidabo Funicular at the tram’s final stop. The funicular ride itself is an experience, offering breathtaking glimpses of Barcelona as you climb towards the summit.

If you don’t fancy tackling the public transport route, you can opt for a taxi or ride-sharing service for a more direct and flexible journey. This is a convenient option if you’re traveling with family or prefer a quicker route to the top.

What else to do in the area

Hikers will rejoice because this is a popular area to get out and get your step count up in nature. There are a huge number of trails to check out in Parc Natural de la Serra de Collserola. In fact, pretty much the only other thing to do near Tibidabo is nature related unless you head back down the hill to Barcelona.

Near the funicular station at the bottom of Tibidabo, there’s a restaurant with a gorgeous view of Barcelona. It’s not in the main tourist area so you’d have to know it to go there, but Mirablau has seats lining along the window so you can enjoy a meal with a view. They’ll be reluctant to give you a window seat if you’re not eating there, but the view and pitstop on the way to Tibidabo is worth it anyway.

Where to stay when visiting Tibidabo

Tibidabo is an easy day trip from Barcelona, so to make the most of your time it would be recommended to stay somewhere central in the city. For easy access from Barcelona city centre to Tibidabo, and a central location in the city, stay somewhere close to Placa Catalunya, or with easy connections to there.

If you’re looking to stay outside of Barcelona city centre, somewhere a little more rural with stunning views and less of the hustle and bustle of city life, there are a few accommodation options in the area of Tibidabo. One of the breathtaking options in the hills that is quite a way out of the city is Gran Hotel La Florida G.L Monumento. If you’d prefer something a touch more affordable, with more neighbourhood vibes but still easy access to Tibidabo, check out the Sant Gervasi-la Bonanova or Gracia neighbourhoods.