Posted by Switzerland is one of the richest and most expensive countries in the world. This also applies to the tourist region of the Bernese Oberland. Many things cost 50 to 100% more than in Germany, for example. Prices in the Bernese Oberland region in Switzerland can vary greatly depending on the season, type of accommodation, activities and food. In this article you will find a rough overview of the price level in the Bernese Oberland.
Prices in the Bernese Oberland for accommodation
Accommodation is usually the most expensive single item on a vacation. This is also the case in Switzerland. Prices are very high, especially in winter during the ski season and in summer. Finding an acceptable room for under 150 euros is difficult. Switzerland is just so expensive and the Swiss franc is now worth more than 1 euro.
Hotels: In high season, prices range between CHF 100 and CHF 500 per night for a room, depending on the category and location. Breakfast often costs 15 to 30 euros extra.
Holiday apartments: Prices for apartments or chalets in the Bernese Alps start at around 100 CHF per night, but can rise considerably depending on size and amenities. Cheap holiday apartments are often the cheaper alternative for your vacation budget, at least if you cook yourself.
Hostels and B&Bs: There are many inexpensive offers in the Bernese Oberland, ranging between CHF 50 and CHF 150 per night. Due to the high prices in Switzerland, some tourists stay in a shared room in a hostel that they would otherwise hardly do anywhere else in the world. There are hostels, for example, in the central town of the Bernese Oberland, Interlaken.
Prices for food in the Bernese Oberland
Restaurants: A main course in a typical restaurant costs between CHF 20 and CHF 40. Drinks, etc. are also included. You will hardly be full in a restaurant in Switzerland for less than 100 euros for 2 people. Sometimes there are slightly cheaper offers at lunchtime during the week. Upscale cuisine can be significantly more expensive. Of course, you can switch to fast food restaurants and the like. But even a kebab usually costs well over 10 euros. McDonald’s etc. are also much more expensive in Switzerland. A simple pizza costs over 20 francs almost everywhere (1 franc is about 1 euro).
Food: Buying food and preparing your own meals can be inexpensive, but prices are generally higher in Switzerland than in many other countries. We often shopped at Lidl in Switzerland. Prices are only slightly higher than in Germany. Shopping at a discounter and cooking for yourself in a holiday home or similar with a kitchen is certainly the cheapest way to eat in Switzerland. You can of course also bring food from Germany. But be careful, there are limits on imports. Swiss customs checked how much meat we had with us. Only 1 kg was allowed
Prices for activities and sights in the Bernese Oberland
Skiing: A day pass costs between CHF 50 and CHF 80, depending on the ski area.
Hiking and cable cars: Hiking trails are generally free, but cable cars and lifts have a high fare. A trip to the Jungfraujoch, Europe’s highest train station, costs over 250 euros per person from the valley station in Interlaken. Other cable cars and mountain railways can easily cost 50 or 100 euros. Even a trip up the mountain on the short Harderbahn (under 10 minutes) from Interlaken costs over 40 euros per person there and back.
Tickets to the Jungfraujoch
Demand is high due to the limited capacity on the train, etc., so we recommend booking online in advance.
Only the tickets for trains and cable cars to the Jungfraujoch and back are available on this link: More info and booking
There are complete tours from Interlaken with a guide that are hardly more expensive than train tickets: More info and booking
Prices for public transport in the Bernese Oberland
The prices for trains and buses can be high, but regional passes such as the Swiss Travel Pass or the Bernese Oberland Pass offer discounts. For example, a return ticket from Interlaken to Bern (1 hour travel time) will cost over 50 euros in 2024. Parking can also cost a lot in Switzerland, and there are far fewer free parking spaces than in Germany.
These prices give you a rough idea, but it is advisable to check the current rates, especially when planning your trip. You will need a lot more money per day of vacation in Switzerland than in Germany or Austria. Only a few countries in Europe are similarly expensive, for example Norway.