What Gurtenbahn Bern Ag does

Gurtenbahn Bern AG operates the Gurten funicular and the Gurten – Park im Grünen, a recreational park on the 316-meter hill above Bern, Switzerland. The original funicular company was founded in 1898, while the current park operation is conducted through the Gurten – Park im Grünen Foundation established in 1995, with Migros Aare as the contracted operator; the foundation's founders are Migros, the City of Bern, and the Municipality of Köniz. Core infrastructure includes a fourth-generation funicular (in service since May 16, 2024) carrying roughly 100 passengers per cabin in approximately five minutes between the valley station in Wabern and the Gurten-Kulm summit, and approximately 100,000 square meters of parkland.

The company runs a diversified hospitality and leisure portfolio: two à la carte and self-service restaurants (Restaurant Gurtners and the renovated Huusbüffe), a takeaway stand, two hotel rooms (ieu and äuä) in the historic Kulm building, five event venues (Pavillon up to 800 guests, Schüür up to 240, Ussicht & Wytsicht up to 170, Gewölbekeller up to 80, and exclusive restaurant rentals), eight seminar rooms, a 285-space paid parking garage with five EV chargers, and outdoor recreation including a playground, summer toboggan run, mountain bike trail, disc golf, miniature railway, Ferris wheel, and an astronomical observatory.

Revenue is generated through direct-to-consumer ticket sales, restaurant and brunch service, recurring parking subscriptions, hotel and event venue rentals, and corporate seminars. GTM is hybrid: a public-facing e-commerce ticketing shop and on-site valley station sales serve families and leisure visitors, while a dedicated corporate sales function handles seminars, team events, and large venue bookings. The site holds Swisstainable certification (since 2023), sources all electricity from Swiss hydropower, uses wood-chip heating, and has reduced food waste by 47%; the operator employs approximately 120 people.

Name

Gurtenbahn Bern Ag

Legal name

Gurten – Park im Grünen

Website

https://www.gurtenpark.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1898

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Gurtenbahn Bern AG operates the Gurten funicular and the Gurten – Park im Grünen recreation park on Bern's local mountain, serving families, corporate event clients, and visitors via funicular tickets, restaurants, hotel rooms, event venues, seminars, and leisure activities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mountain Recreation Park and Hospitality Services

NAICS

All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (713990), Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Mountain & Alpine Lodges (THAGAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mountain & Adventure All-Inclusive Resorts (THAGAKAH)

Keywords

• Funicular transportation services
• Recreational park operations
• Event venue rental
• Mountain hospitality services
• Leisure destination management

Headquarters

HQ city

Wabern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Funicular Tickets: Revenue from ticket sales for the Gurtenbahn funicular transport up and down the mountain.
2. Restaurant Dining: Revenue from Restaurant Gurtners (à la carte), Restaurant Huusbüffe (self-service buffet), and takeaway stand. Includes brunch offerings and table reservations.
3. Hotel Accommodation: Revenue from two hotel rooms named 'ieu' and 'äuä' offering overnight stays in the renovated Kulm building with spa atmosphere.
4. Event Venue Rentals: Revenue from renting event venues including Pavillon (up to 800), Schüür (up to 240), Ussicht & Wytsicht (up to 170), Gewölbekeller (up to 80), and exclusive restaurant rentals.
5. Seminar & Workshop Spaces: Revenue from booking eight seminar rooms with balconies and views, suitable for corporate meetings and workshops.
6. Leisure Activities: Revenue from activities including toboggan run, mountain bike trail, disc golf, miniature railway, and ferris wheel.
7. Parking: Revenue from parking garage with 285 paid parking spaces, 5 EV charging stations, and 200 free bike/motorcycle spots. Monthly rental options available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Gurtenbahn Bern AG operates the Gurten funicular and the surrounding Gurten – Park im Grünen, a recreational park on Bern's local mountain offering transport, dining, event venues, hotel accommodation, and outdoor leisure activities. Core offerings include funicular tickets for the 5-minute ride to the summit, two restaurants (à la carte Gurtners and self-service Huusbüffe), a takeaway stand, event venues for 10-800 guests, eight seminar rooms with scenic views, two overnight hotel rooms, and recreational activities (playground, toboggan run, mountain bike trail, disc golf, observatory, and Ferris wheel).

Product overview

Gurten – Park im Grünen is a recreational park operated as a foundation by Migros Aare, offering a diverse portfolio of leisure, dining, event, and hospitality services. The core offerings include: the Gurtenbahn funicular railway for transport to the 316-meter summit; two restaurants (Restaurant Gurtners à la carte and self-service Huusbüffe buffet); event venues (Pavillon glass building for up to 800 guests, Schüür barn venue for 240, Ussicht & Wytsicht banquet rooms for 170, and Gewölbekeller vaulted cellar for 80); two hotel rooms for overnight stays; and extensive outdoor recreation including a playground, summer toboggan run, mountain bike trail, disc golf, and an astronomical observatory. The park spans approximately 100,000 square meters and can accommodate large events with up to 3,500 people. All services are supported by Migros Culture Percentage funding, emphasizing accessibility to the public.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Restaurant Gurtners: À la carte restaurant serving traditional Swiss cuisine reinterpreted under the motto 'Good food made with love'.
• Restaurant Huusbüffe
• Bahnhöfli
• Hotel Rooms (ieu and äuä)

Products and services

• Gurtenbahn Funicular Railway The fourth-generation funicular railway transports guests from the valley station to the Gurten mountain top in approximately 5 minutes, with a capacity of 100 passengers per cabin. Operational since May 16, 2024.
• Restaurant Gurtners À la carte restaurant serving traditional Bernese cuisine reinterpreted under the motto 'Good food made with love', continuing the legacy of the Gurtner family's hospitality. Also available for exclusive rental for private events up to 110 guests.
• Restaurant Huusbüffe Self-service buffet restaurant renovated in 2025, optimized for seminar participants and families. Also available for exclusive rental.
• Pavillon Event Venue A modern glass event venue with panoramic views and a large adjacent terrace, accommodating up to 800 guests for events, brunches, and celebrations.
• Schüür Event Venue A versatile event space in a former barn across two floors, accommodating up to 240 guests, suitable for various events and celebrations.
• Ussicht & Wytsicht Banquet Rooms Two former ballrooms in the Gurten Kulm main building with views over the entire city of Bern, accommodating up to 170 guests.
• Gewölbekeller (Vaulted Cellar) A rustic vaulted wine cellar with adjacent wine cellar and protected arcade, accommodating up to 80 guests for celebrations.
• Hotel Rooms (ieu & äuä) Two hotel rooms in the Gurten Kulm building offering an original spa atmosphere for overnight stays, allowing guests exclusive use of the mountain.
• Seminars & Workshops Eight seminar rooms with balconies and scenic views available for meetings, workshops, and corporate events, accommodating various group sizes.
• Spielpark (Playground) A large adventure playground including a marble run (one of the biggest attractions), climbing structures, and a toboggan, delighting both children and adults.
• Summer Toboggan Run (Rodelbahn) A summer toboggan run on the Gurten offering thrilling descents with views over Bern.
• Mountain Bike Trail A downhill mountain bike trail (Gurten Trail) descending from the mountain with views of Bern.
• Observatory (Sternwarte) An astronomical observatory offering stargazing sessions every Tuesday evening, including optional dinner beforehand.
• Ferris Wheel (Riesenrad) The tallest Ferris wheel in Bern offering panoramic views of the city and the Mittelland region.
• Disc Golf A disc golf course within the park for recreational visitors.
• Gurtengärtli (Garden) A garden area offering seasonal activities, workshops, and craft programs for families, particularly during holidays.
• Brunch Offerings Various brunch options including Sunday brunch at Gurtners, brunch at Schüür, and brunch to go on the Gurten meadow.
• Parking Garage Parking garage with 285 paid parking spaces, 5 EV charging stations, and 200 free bike/motorcycle spots. Hourly pricing from CHF 3 (1 hour) to CHF 18 (daily max), with monthly subscriptions at CHF 120 (Mon-Fri) or CHF 150 (Mon-Sun).

Quantifiable outcome

• Food waste reduced by 47% compared to previous year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Migros AarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Migros Aare commissioned to operate the Gurten park under the Gurten Foundation structure. Migros financed over 30 million CHF for the 1997-1999 renovation. Migros provides ongoing financial commitment through Migros Kulturprozent (Culture Percentage) funding.
• City of BerncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995The City of Bern is a founding member of the Gurten Foundation alongside Migros and Municipality of Köniz. City citizens voted in 1995 referendum (89.9% yes) to transfer the Gurten to foundation ownership.
• Municipality of KönizcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995The Municipality of Köniz is a founding member of the Gurten Foundation. The foundation aims to preserve and expand the generally accessible local recreation area and promote cultural events on the Gurten.
• Swiss Hydropower Energy ProvidersminorOthersAll electricity at Gurten Park comes from Swiss hydropower sources.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Schynige Platte Railway: Heritage cog railway operating in the Bernese Oberland with alpine garden, restaurant, and hiking activities. Comparable scale Swiss mountain leisure destination.
• Stanserhorn CabriO: Cable car company operating the Stanserhorn mountain near Lucerne with restaurants, observation deck, and recreational activities. Comparable mid-sized Swiss mountain leisure destination.
• Pilatus Bahnen AG: Operates the Mount Pilatus cog railway, cable cars, restaurants, hotels, event venues, and leisure activities (rope park, toboggan run) near Lucerne, Switzerland. Closest functional peer to Gurten with comparable mountain railway + multi-amenity leisure model.
• Rigi Bahnen AG: Operates Mount Rigi with cog railway/cable car access, multiple restaurants, hotels, event venues, and extensive hiking/recreation offerings in Central Switzerland. Highly comparable business model and amenity mix to Gurten.
• Glacier 3000: Swiss mountain destination with cable car access, restaurants, event venues, and year-round activities (Peak Walk, snow park). Comparable diversified mountain leisure business model.
• Säntis-Schwebebahn AG: Operates cable car access to Mount Säntis with restaurants, event venues, and visitor experiences in eastern Switzerland. Similar single-mountain leisure destination with multiple revenue streams.
• Uetliberg SZU: Operates the Uetliberg railway and mountain above Zurich with restaurant and leisure activities. Closest analog as an urban-proximate local mountain destination comparable to Gurten's Bern footprint.
• Rochers-de-Naye (MOB/Montreux): Cog railway access to Rochers-de-Naye mountain with restaurant, gardens, and alpine leisure activities. Similar scale and operational model to Gurten's funicular-based leisure operations.

Broad incumbents

• Jungfraubahnen Holding AG: Major Swiss mountain railway operator (Jungfraujoch, Wengen, Grindelwald) with extensive hotels, restaurants, and leisure offerings. Much larger scale but overlapping business model in mountain leisure destination operations.
• Titlis Bergbahnen: Operates Mount Titlis cable car with hotels, restaurants, event venues, and year-round activities (Cliff Walk, snow park). Larger and more tourism-heavy version of Gurten's business model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Gurtenpark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gurtenpark
• Instagraminstagram.com/gurtenpark

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gurtenbahn Bern Ag