Overview
ICE 12 is the kind of train that makes a nonsense of flying: one seat, one journey, and a complete change of scenery from the flat brick sprawl of Berlin to the glacier-fed blue of the Bernese Oberland. It runs from Berlin Ostbahnhof all the way through to Interlaken Ost, which means no station-hopping across three countries with a suitcase and a prayer.
This is a train that earns its keep on the second half of the journey. The German and Swiss plains do their job efficiently enough, but it's the run into Switzerland, and the final approach to Interlaken, where the ICE 12 stops being mere transport and starts being the reason you booked the ticket.
DB Fernverkehr operates the service as part of its long-distance InterCityExpress network, and it should be treated as a proper cross-border journey rather than a quick regional hop — booked in advance, timetable checked properly, and ideally with a window seat reserved on the right side of the carriage.
Key facts
| From | Berlin Ostbahnhof |
|---|---|
| To | Interlaken Ost |
| Operator | DB Fernverkehr |
The route: Berlin to the Alps in one train
The journey begins at Berlin Ostbahnhof, on the eastern side of the German capital, and heads south-west through Germany before crossing into Switzerland. The early stretch is classic north European lowland: wide skies, farmland, and the unhurried rhythm of a train settling into its stride.
The character of the trip changes markedly as it pushes further south. Germany's landscape becomes gentler and more folded, and by the time the train is deep into Switzerland the terrain has turned properly mountainous. The final approach to Interlaken Ost is the payoff — the town sits between two lakes with the high peaks of the Bernese Oberland rising directly behind it, and the train delivers you right into the middle of that scenery rather than leaving you to find your own way there.
As a journey, it feels less like a single continuous experience and more like two trains in one: a long, businesslike cruise through Germany, followed by a final act through Switzerland that turns increasingly cinematic the closer you get to the Alps.
Timetable & how to book
Services on this route vary by season, and DB Fernverkehr adjusts timings across the year, so there is no substitute for checking directly with the operator before you plan around it. Do not assume a winter schedule matches a summer one, or that a departure time you saw once will still apply next time you travel.
Booking through DB Fernverkehr is the sensible route, and doing so ahead of time is worth it not just for peace of mind but because a long cross-border journey like this benefits from a confirmed seat reservation rather than turning up and hoping. If you're combining this with other legs of a wider trip, check connection times carefully rather than assuming a tight turnaround will hold.
Fares & classes
As with other ICE services, there are generally two classes on board, and the difference is really about space, quiet and comfort rather than anything gimmicky. The higher class typically means a roomier seating layout, more personal space, and a calmer atmosphere for a journey of this length — useful when you're on board for the best part of a day.
The standard class is perfectly comfortable and entirely usable for the whole route, including the scenic final stretch — you're not sacrificing the view by travelling in the more affordable class, just some elbow room and a slightly quieter carriage. Catering arrangements (see below) are generally accessible across the train rather than locked to one class.
For exact fares, always check with DB Fernverkehr directly — pricing structures and any advance-purchase savings are the operator's territory, not something to guess at.
Which side to sit / best views
On a journey that spends its first half crossing flat German countryside, the choice of side matters far less than it does later on. Save your attention for the Swiss portion of the trip, where the landscape becomes properly mountainous and the train begins working its way toward Interlaken.
As the train nears Interlaken Ost, the surrounding high peaks and the lakes either side of the town become the main event, so it's worth being alert and by the window rather than buried in a book for that final stretch. Because the exact orientation of the line can vary with routing, the simplest strategy is to stay flexible: keep a window seat, and be ready to appreciate whichever side the mountains present themselves on as you approach the Bernese Oberland.
Onboard experience
This is a long-distance InterCityExpress service, so expect the standard ICE formula: comfortable seating, panoramic windows suited to a scenic run like this one, and a catering service on board for food and drink during the journey. It's designed for people settling in for hours, not commuters standing for twenty minutes.
The atmosphere shifts noticeably over the course of the trip. Through Germany it has the calm, slightly anonymous feel of any efficient long-distance train; by the time you're deep into Switzerland and the mountains start closing in, there's a natural lift in mood on board as passengers gravitate to the windows.
Because it's a single-train journey between two major stations rather than a multi-change trip, you get the rare luxury of unpacking once, settling in, and letting several hundred kilometres of changing landscape happen outside the window while you stay put.
Best season to travel
The Bernese Oberland is a genuine four-season destination, and the character of this journey changes considerably depending on when you travel. Winter brings snow-covered peaks around Interlaken and a crisp, dramatic finish to the trip, while summer offers greener valleys, clearer long-distance views, and generally easier travelling conditions.
Spring and autumn have their own appeal — quieter trains, transitional light on the mountains, and the lakes around Interlaken often at their most photogenic as the seasons turn. There isn't a wrong time to do this journey; it's more a question of what kind of Alpine scenery you'd rather have waiting for you at the end of it.
Alternatives & onward connections from Interlaken Ost
Interlaken Ost is very much a hub rather than a dead end, sitting at the meeting point of routes heading further into the Bernese Oberland's mountains, lakes and valleys. Treat it as the start of the next stage of a trip rather than simply the final stop of this one.
If the ICE 12 doesn't suit your dates or you'd rather build your own route with more stops, it's entirely possible to construct a similar Berlin-to-Interlaken journey using separate long-distance legs and a connection within Switzerland — though the appeal of the ICE 12 is precisely that it removes that need to change trains and manage transfers yourself.
A short history note
The ICE network itself grew out of Germany's push to build a genuine high-speed, long-distance rail identity, linking major cities with a consistent standard of train rather than a patchwork of regional services. Extending that network's reach across the border into Switzerland reflects a broader European ambition: making a single seat, single journey trip between major cities and Alpine destinations a realistic alternative to flying or multi-leg travel.
A service like ICE 12, connecting a capital city directly with a classic Alpine resort town, sits at the more romantic end of that mission — proof that the InterCityExpress idea was never only about speed between business hubs, but also about opening up scenery-rich destinations to travellers willing to let the train do the work.
Common questions
- Do I need to book ICE 12 in advance?
- It's strongly advisable. This is a long cross-border journey, and booking ahead with DB Fernverkehr gives you a confirmed seat rather than leaving things to chance. Always check current timetables directly with the operator, as services vary by season.
- Which class should I choose for the scenery?
- Both classes give you access to the same views through the panoramic windows — the difference is comfort and space, not visibility. Standard class is entirely reasonable for enjoying the Swiss mountain scenery; the higher class simply adds room and quiet.
- Where does the journey get scenic?
- The German stretch is pleasant but low-key. The dramatic scenery builds through Switzerland and peaks on the final approach into Interlaken Ost, where the lakes and mountains of the Bernese Oberland come into view.
- Is there food available on board?
- Yes, there's a catering service on board, in keeping with standard ICE long-distance service. Specific offerings can vary, so check with DB Fernverkehr if you have particular requirements.
- What's the best time of year to take this journey?
- It depends on what you want from the Bernese Oberland — snowy peaks in winter, green valleys in summer, or the quieter transitional light of spring and autumn. All are valid; the journey itself changes character with the season.
On the map
Sources & method
- OpenStreetMap route=train (ODbL) — route
See our methodology for how Head Your Way sources and reviews travel data.