Il Lucerne-Interlaken Express it is a train that, in less than two hours of travel, crosses some of the most enchanting landscapes in Switzerland.
It runs alongside some of the most picturesque mountain lakes; it rises to a thousand meters above sea level on the Brünig pass and arrives near some bucolic villages, such as Ballenberg, now transformed into an open-air museum.
The route aboard the Luzern-Interlaken train makes the journey from one city to another unique, the delightful Lucerne, and Interlaken, a well-known holiday resort in the mountainous region of the Bernese Oberland.
During the journey the rocky walls of the nearby mountains rise on the lake shore and create a magical backdrop.
Shortly before entering the Brünig Pass the train switches to mode rack to be able to face the climb.
Traveling from Lucerne to Interlaken, the train visits several places of interest and offers ideas for various excursions. The Lago di Sarnen, for example, can be discovered on foot. The excursion lasts about five hours and, along the way, you can visit the historic center of Sarnen and numerous churches. The Lungern lake it is a beautiful natural lake of glacial origin. The Lake Brienz it lies between the Emmental Alps and the Bernese Oberland and captivates visitors with its unique turquoise colour. The train runs along its steep banks on the route from Brienz to Interlaken East. The steamboat on which you can board carries out one of the most popular transport services on the lake in all the Alps. lake of Thunfinally, it extends between Thun and Interlaken and is the largest lake in Switzerland that is part of a single canton. A classic of this lake is the Blumlisalp paddle boat which dates back to 1906.
The train then passes the Brünig Pass which connects the Canton of Obwalden with the Bernese Oberland. Families go crazy for the safaris that can be done here: between Meiringen and Giswil you can meet 13 life-size animals of the region carved out of wood and can be seen while sitting comfortably in the train carriage, just like on a real safari.
Before reaching your destination you pass near Ballenberg, a peasant village which is home to around a hundred typical buildings from all over Switzerland and spread across 66 hectares of land. In this village, plants are still grown and over 250 native species of farm animals are raised. Ancient crafts are still practiced in the workshops and laboratories of the museum, such as basket making, forge work, spinning, weaving and wood carving. Visitors have the opportunity to observe the work of the farmers, but they can also lend them a hand.
The Luzern-Interlaken Express is part of the scenic GoldenPass Line route which continues from Interlaken to Montreux. For train passengers there is a LiveGuide app: on the map you can follow the train's route in real time and receive notifications as you get closer to places of interest.
