Basel / Bâle to Wengen by train

How to take the fantastic journey by train from Basel to delightful Wengen

Yes the journey from Basel to Wengen requires taking three different trains, but the two connections are as simple as can be, and the second half of the end-to-end trip is astonishingly beautiful.

If you will be heading to Wengen on a combination of plane + train, the fact you will need to make the transfer by bus from Basel/Mulhouse airport to Basel SBB station, is offset in terms of convenience by the fact that Basel is the only key entry point into Switzerland, which has direct trains to Interlaken.
The next stage of the ride to Wengen involves taking a train on from Interlaken Ost station.

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Routes

From Basel SBB/Bâle CFF to Wengen

Journey Summary

Travel Time
2hr 52min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Information

Interlaken is where the network of mountain railways in the Bernese-Oberland connects with SBB's national rail network.
You will have around 8 mins to make the connection into the train on to Lauterbrunnen at Interlaken Ost station, but the connection is virtually guaranteed, in terms of the arrival and departure times of the trains.
So you can be sure of making this connection, if you book tickets that are valid for the end-to-end journey.

Eight minutes may not be enough time to buy a ticket for the journey on to Wengen (via Lauterbrunnen) from the ticket desks at Interlaken Ost station.
Though if you will be travelling with any type of rail pass, including Swiss Day Passes, you'll need to go into the ticket office, to buy a discounted ticket for the journey on from Interlaken to Wengen.

Then the connection at Lauterbrunen into the train on Wengen is a simple as can be.

1 x connection per hour

Change trains in: Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen

Tickets

Booking Tickets:

Tickets can be purchased online for end-to-end journeys which involve taking a SBB train + the BernerOberlandBahn train on to Lauterbrunnen + the WAB train on to Wengen

‘Individual tickets’ can be used on any train(s) on your travel date, but they tend to be comparatively expensive.

'Supersaver' tickets are cheaper, as the portion of the journey by the SBB train can be discounted by up to 50%, but these tickets are train departure specific.
So if you book a Supersaver ticket and a flight delay etc, causes you to miss a train you are booked on to, you will have to book another full-price ‘Individual Ticket(s).
You can then apply for a refund of the Supersaver ticket, but the application costs CHF 10.

Hence it’s worth comparing the ticket price of a journey with the price(s) e of Saver Day Passes (see below) they might save you money and can also allow for a less stressful journey.

Using Saver Day Passes:

Now that the Swiss Transfer tickets have been discontinued a Saver Day Pass may save you money, if you can book at least a couple of weeks ahead (usually), so that you can obtain the pass at a discounted price.

They can be cheaper than tickets for the end-to-end journey, though they are more likely to be a money saver if you will be making a day return trip.
But this journey to Wengen can be an exception.

They can be used for free travel on the trains between Basel and Interlaken Ost
But between Interlaken Ost and Wengen they only provide for a 25% discount and the balance for the journey from Interlaken Ost and Grindelwald, needs to be paid prior to boarding the trains, in the ticket office at Interlaken Ost station.

Though a plus of the Saver Day Pass is that they are not train specific, so can still be used in the event of a journey to Switzerland being delayed.
As they’re only valid for one day’s travel, the clue is the name, you’ll need to purchase another Saver Day Pass for your return journey at the end of your stay

Though if you will be making a day return trip from Basel to Wengen it is likely that that a Saver Day Pass will be cheaper than booking tickets for the outward and return journeys.

Additional Information:

More general info is available on our GUIDE to taking the train to Swiss Ski Resorts.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
SBB *

SBB Guide

SBB is the main national rail operator in Switzerland, but tickets for journeys by the other significant operators including BLS and SOB can be be booked on the SBB website.

SBB also sells tickets for journeys to many destinations which involve a combination of SBB trains and services provided by the many independent operators who serve the Alpine resort towns.
However, if you will be making a long-distance return day trip, look out for he possibility of SaverDay passes being cheaper than tickets.

Though if you download the SBB app, booking tickets on SBB's mobile services can be simper than using the website.
Also watch out for the fact that booking international tickets can be comparatively quirky.

Trainline *

Trainline Guide

Happyrail *

Happyrail Guide

Happy Rail is a Netherlands rail ticket agency which sells tickets for both national and international journeys within a range of countries including Belgium France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland.

HappyRail doesn't charge booking fees in the conventional sense, but if you're not Dutch you can expect to pay additional transaction fees, which will be added to the total cost.
That's because the most common form of online payment used in The Netherlands is 'iDEAL' and HappyRail doesn't charge a transaction fee for 'iDEAL' payments, but only Dutch residents can sign up to 'iDEAL'.
Other forms of payment include Visa debit cards will incur a fee.

Journey Features

Scenic - YesLake views

Good to Know

This is now route IC 61
The single deck IC trains are used for these journeys - but three late afternoon/evening departures are by ICE trains, which will have commenced their journeys in Germany.

Final Destination: Interlaken Ost

Optimum onward connections at Interlaken Ost:

The timetabling of the trains from Basel to Interlaken doesn't follow a set pattern.
Trains depart from Basel at either 31 or 59 mins past each hour; in some hours there are departures at both these times.
Typically it is the trains which depart Basel at 59 mins past each hour during the day have the optimum connections with the other trains on from Interlaken Ost.

So if you will be travelling on from Interlaken try to target the trains which leave Basel at 59 mins past the hour, particularly if you will be travelling with a ticket valid for the end-to-end journey.

Though if on arrival on in Interlaken, if you'll need to buy a ticket for your onward connection, you won't have to purchase it against the clock, if you can take the trains which depart Basel at 31 mins past the hour.

The view between Thun and Spiez is spectacular even on a grey day The view between Thun and Spiez is spectacular even on a grey day
Looking left between Thun and Spiez in better weather Looking left between Thun and Spiez in better weather
The spectacular sight of Faulensee village soon after leaving Spiez The spectacular sight of Faulensee village soon after leaving Spiez
The best views are from backwards facing seats The best views are from backwards facing seats
The trains will travel right by the shore The trains will travel right by the shore
Passing through a village on the lake Passing through a village on the lake
Even if the weather isn't perfect the views are breathtaking Even if the weather isn't perfect the views are breathtaking
Nearing the end of the journey Nearing the end of the journey

Switzerland doesn't have any high speed lines on which trains travel at more than 250 km/h, but south of Olten the train will race at 200 km/h for around 25mins on a fast railway until shortly before arrival in Bern

The train will reverse direction at Bern and then south of Thun there are some fabulous views to be enjoyed over on the left.

(This video was taking on a train travelling in the opposite direction, but it showcases how fine the views can be on a sunny day)

Then for the final 15 mins of the journey, after departure from Spiez, the train descends down to travel right by the shore of the Thunersee.

You need to be sat on the left in a backward facing seat to make the most of these views between Spiez and Interlaken; so because of the reversal at Bern, take a forward facing seat on the right hand side when boarding the train in Basel.

Train 2

Journey Features

Mountain viewsScenic - Yes

Good to Know

Final Destination: Lauterbrunnen

At Interlaken Ost station the train heading to Lauterbrunnen will be joined to another train heading to Grindelwald for the first part of the journey.
So take care to join the right part of the train; on the newer BOB trains, the destinations are on the outside of the coaches.

Don't be overly concerned about this as the conductor will pass through the train to check tickets and they will tell you if you need to move coaches.

All trains also call at: Wilderswill for connection into the SPB trains to Schynige Platte.

After Wilderswill station After Wilderswill station
Near Lauterbrunnen Near Lauterbrunnen

On this route the best views are on the right as the train passes through the valley after Wilderswill station, but this is a pleasant rather than particularly special journey.

Train 3

Between
Lauterbrunnen
Image coming soon...
Lauterbrunnen
And
Wengen
Image coming soon...
Wengen

Journey Features

Scenic - YesMountain views

Good to Know

The view of the waterfall as the train departs Lauterbrunnen The view of the waterfall as the train departs Lauterbrunnen
Looking down the valley towards Interlaken Looking down the valley towards Interlaken
Nearing Wengen Nearing Wengen

For most of the journey from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen the best of the views are on the left; the train runs along the side of a valley wall, so the views over the valley are on that side.

However, we were sat on the right as SMTJ was travelling down to Lauterbrunnen in the opposite dirction , so the images are from that side of the train; and as can be seen the views down the valley towards the beginning and end of the trip are rather fabulous, regardless of which side of the train your seated!

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