Places to Visit in Europe
Interlaken, Switzerland

Interlaken, Switzerland

Interlaken sits in a flat meadow between two glacier-fed lakes, Lake Thun to the west and Lake Brienz to the east, with the Bernese Oberland rising in a near-vertical wall of rock and snow directly above the town. The name literally means "between lakes," and the views from almost anywhere in town include at least one of the three iconic peaks: the Eiger (3,970 m), the Mönch (4,107 m), and the Jungfrau (4,158 m). Interlaken is the gateway to the Jungfrau region — the most-visited mountain area in Switzerland and one of the most-visited in the Alps.

The town itself is small, around 5,800 residents, but the wider Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district has roughly 47,000 people spread across the valley and the lower mountain villages. Tourists outnumber residents by a wide margin in summer — Interlaken-Oberhasli records well over a million overnight stays per year, more than half of them from foreign visitors. Most travellers use Interlaken as a base rather than a destination, taking the train up to Jungfraujoch, the cable car to Harder Kulm, or the funicular to Lauterbrunnen each day and returning to a comfortable hotel in the evening.

What makes Interlaken different from other Alpine resorts is the concentration of adventure sports. Within a 30-minute drive you can paraglide off a 2,000-metre cliff, raft the Lütschine river through a Class III gorge, canyoneer through the Saxetenbach, base-jump from the Lauterbrunnen valley walls (the same cliffs immortalised in the James Bond film Goldfinger), or hike above the tree line to a mountain hut for the night. The town earned its reputation as the adventure capital of Switzerland honestly, and the infrastructure to support these activities — guide companies, gear shops, a railway that runs every 30 minutes — is unmatched in the Alps.

Best Places to Stay

Interlaken is small enough that almost any hotel is within a 10-minute walk of the Interlaken Ost or Interlaken West train stations, and most are within walking distance of the main shopping street, Höheweg. The two most popular areas to stay are the Höheweg / Höheweg-Allmend corridor between the two stations (closest to the action, busiest in summer), and the quieter Wilderswil side to the south (more residential, slightly cheaper, one stop from Interlaken Ost on the BOB train).

Luxury (CHF 350-700/night summer): Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa on Höheweg (built 1864, the grandest hotel in town, with a 5,000 m² spa); Hotel Interlaken also on Höheweg (the original 1323-era inn rebuilt in 1326, more modest but still four-star); Royal St. Georges Interlaken (a member of MGallery, 1898 building, between the two stations).

Mid-range (CHF 200-400/night): Hotel Bellevue Palace on Höheweg (older four-star, lake and mountain views from upper floors); Hotel Alpenhof near Interlaken West (smaller, family-run, alpine chalet feel); Jungfrau Hotel St. Bernard in nearby Wilderswil (railway-station access to Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen); Hotel Krebs on Bahnhofstrasse (the Best Western Plus option, central, modern rooms); Hotel Carlton-Europe on Höheweg (older hotel, renovated rooms, balconies with Eiger views on request).

Budget (CHF 90-160/night): Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof (the best hostel in town, family atmosphere, free Interlaken walking tours); Hostelling International Interlaken (the HI hostel near Interlaken Ost, larger, busier); Alpine Lodge on Bernstrasse (small, quiet, free parking). Most "budget" hotels in Interlaken in summer run CHF 130-180; the genuine rock-bottom places are 20-30 minutes outside town by train.

Vacation apartments & chalets: Worth considering for stays of 4+ nights or for families. The Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau views from a south-facing balcony in Wilderswil or Matten are unbeatable, and prices drop sharply the further you are from Höheweg. Airbnb and Booking.com have the widest selection; Interhome and Booking.ch cover more traditional Swiss-managed chalets.

Best Places to Eat

Interlaken's restaurant scene is heavily oriented to international tourists, with fondue, rösti, and Älplermagronen on every menu. The good food is there, but you have to look past the Höheweg tourist traps. The Swiss food is honest mountain food — heavy on cheese, potatoes, cured meat, and cream — and the Italian and Asian options are better than they need to be because of the Italian guest-worker presence in the valley.

Swiss & Fondue: Restaurant Schönbühl on Marktgasse (the most authentic old-school Swiss restaurant in town, fondue moitié-moitié, raclette, berner platte); Restaurant Hirschen on Postgasse (a Wilderswil institution since 1602, regional Bernese Oberland dishes); Restaurant Spycher in the Hotel Interlaken (the fondue show is a bit touristy but the cheese is real, three varieties); La Terrasse at the Victoria-Jungfrau (the most refined Swiss food in town, lake views, jacket-required).

Italian: Toscana near Interlaken Ost (proper Tuscan cooking, generous pasta portions, the locals' choice for Italian); Ristorante Pizzeria Capri on Bahnhofstrasse (the classic pizzeria, wood-fired oven, kids love it); La Locanda in Unterseen (the Italian side of town, smaller, fresher).

Asian: Restaurant India near Interlaken Ost (the long-standing Indian restaurant, North Indian curries, lunch buffet); Spice India in Matten (more recent, more upscale, dosa on the menu); China Restaurant Peking on Höheweg (a Swiss-style Chinese restaurant, the locals' Chinese choice); Restaurant Fuji (the Japanese option, sushi train, modest).

Cafés & bakeries: Bäckerei Konditorei Café Steinmann on Höheweg (the original Interlaken bakery since 1892, perfect croissants, brunch); Café & Confiserie Schuh near Interlaken West (the chocolate shop, hot chocolate, cakes); Café Atelier in Unterseen (small, espresso-focused, art on the walls). Swiss bakeries open at 6 AM for fresh bread; arrive early to avoid the queue.

Quick eats: Migros Take-Away at the Interlaken Ost shopping centre (the supermarket meal deal, the cheapest hot food in town); Coop Pronto on Bahnhofstrasse (the 24-hour option, sandwiches and ready meals); Brasserie 17 on Höheweg (the upscale quick-bite, gourmet burgers and salads).

Best Sites to Visit

Jungfraujoch — Top of Europe (3,454 m) The classic Interlaken day trip. Take the train from Interlaken Ost to Kleine Scheidegg (2,061 m, 1h 45min) and change to the Jungfraubahn, the highest railway in Europe, which tunnels through the Eiger and Mönch to reach Jungfraujoch station at 3,454 m. From the station, walk out to the Sphinx Observatory for views of the Aletsch Glacier (Europe's longest glacier, 23 km), the Ice Palace (a series of tunnels carved into the glacier ice), and on a clear day the Vosges in France. The full round trip costs around CHF 220 and takes 5-6 hours; book online for a discount and to skip the queues.

Harder Kulm (1,322 m) The funicular from the edge of Interlaken Ost climbs 800 metres in 10 minutes to the Harder Kulm viewpoint, with a panoramic terrace overlooking Interlaken, both lakes, and the Jungfrau massif. Sunset from Harder Kulm is one of the best in Switzerland. The funicular costs around CHF 36 round trip and runs May-October and again for the Christmas/New Year period.

Höhematte The large green park in the centre of Interlaken, the only flat green space in town. Originally a landing field for the early Jungfrau railway experiments, now a public park with a paragliding landing zone (you can watch pilots come down from Beatenberg directly into the park), a children's playground, and the Casino Interlaken on the edge. Free, open 24/7.

Lake Thun & Lake Brienz Two distinct lakes with different personalities. Lake Thun is the western lake, warmer, with the castle of Oberhofen and the Spiez vineyards visible from the shore. Lake Brienz is the eastern lake, deep turquoise, surrounded by steep cliffs, traditionally the home of the Swiss wood-carving industry. Boat cruises on both lakes leave from Interlaken Ost and Interlaken West piers; the combined day pass is around CHF 80. The BLS Lake Thun cruise to Spiez and back takes 3 hours and is one of the best values in Switzerland.

Lauterbrunnen Valley (and Staubbach Falls) 12 km south of Interlaken, the Lauterbrunnen valley is a 1,000-metre-deep U-shaped glacial valley with 72 waterfalls cascading down the cliffs. The most famous is the Staubbach Falls, a 297-metre free-fall visible from the village of Lauterbrunnen itself. The valley is also the base-jumping capital of the world (a famous cliff is visible from the train); the James Bond 007 location Goldfinger was filmed here. Take the train from Interlaken Ost (20 min, CHF 6).

Grindelwald First (1,068 m) & the Cliff Walk The First cable car climbs from Grindelwald to a 2,168 m cliff-edge viewing platform with a metal walkway bolted to the cliff face — not for the faint of heart. From First, the gondola continues to Schreckfeld and then to the Oberjoch, both starting points for the famous Grindelwald-First to Schynige Platte ridge walk. The cable car round trip from Grindelwald costs around CHF 80.

Schynige Platte (1,967 m) The historic cog railway from Wilderswil climbs 7 km through alpine meadows to Schynige Platte, with views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau that match Jungfraujoch for a fraction of the cost (CHF 65 round trip). The Schynige Platte Alpine Garden is the most extensive in Switzerland, with 600+ species of mountain plants in bloom July-August.

Trümmelbach Falls (inside the mountain) A series of 10 glacier waterfalls inside the mountain itself, accessible by a series of tunnels and platforms carved into the rock. The falls are the runoff from the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau glaciers and have carved out a 3.5-km cave system behind the Lauterbrunnen wall. CHF 14 entry, May-November only, well worth the visit.

St. Beatus Caves (Beatushöhle) On the eastern shore of Lake Thun, the St. Beatus Caves are a 14-km cave system with public access to the first kilometre. The caves have been visited since the 12th century and are named for the Irish monk Beatus who supposedly lived here as a hermit in the 8th century. The caves are 30 minutes by boat or car from Interlaken; CHF 18 entry.

Heimwehfluh (670 m) The older, smaller funicular from the western edge of Interlaken climbs to a lower viewpoint that locals prefer over Harder Kulm for sunrise and for its restaurant. The funicular dates to 1906 and the wooden cars are charming. CHF 30 round trip.

Interlaken Casino The Casino Interlaken on the edge of Höhematte has a gambling floor open from 12:00 daily (the Swiss casino regulation is more permissive than most of Europe), plus a restaurant and bar. Visitors do not need to gamble; the building is also a concert venue.

Sample 3-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Jungfraujoch day trip. Take the 7:30 AM train from Interlaken Ost to Kleine Scheidegg (change at Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen depending on the season), then the Jungfraubahn up to Jungfraujoch (arriving around 9:30 AM). Spend 2-3 hours on the Jungfraujoch: Sphinx Observatory viewing platform, Ice Palace walk-through, the Aletsch Glacier view, the Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven shop. Take the train back to Interlaken Ost (arriving around 4 PM), dinner at Restaurant Schönbühl for fondue. If you have energy, walk to Höhematte for the evening paraglider landings (most arrive 30 minutes before sunset).

Day 2: Lauterbrunnen and the cliff-side trails. Morning train to Lauterbrunnen (20 min from Interlaken Ost), walk the trail from the village to the Staubbach Falls viewpoint (15 min), then continue by postbus or on foot up to the Trümmelbach Falls (CHF 14 entry, allow 1.5 hours). Lunch in Lauterbrunnen village, then the cable car from Stechelberg up to the Schilthorn (2,970 m, the Piz Gloria revolving restaurant made famous by the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service, round trip CHF 110). Return to Interlaken for dinner at Restaurant Toscana.

Day 3: Lake cruise + Harder Kulm sunset. Take the BLS Lake Thun boat from Interlaken West to Spiez (1h 30 min, included in the BLS day pass, with the Spiez Castle tour as an option). Walk around Spiez old town, take the boat back to Interlaken West, then the Harder Kulm funicular from Interlaken Ost for sunset (the last descent is around 9 PM in summer). Dinner at La Terrasse at the Victoria-Jungfrau if your budget allows, or Brasserie 17 for a more casual last night.

Note: The Bernese Oberland Regional Pass (CHF 130/day, CHF 250/3 days, free with the Swiss Travel Pass) covers all boats, trains, cable cars in the region except the Jungfraujoch itself (a CHF 25 discount on the Jungfraujoch rail leg). If you plan to take the Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn, Harder Kulm, and any boat trips, the regional pass usually pays for itself by Day 2. The Swiss Travel Pass covers everything except the Jungfraujoch at full price.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many days do I need in Interlaken? Three full days is the minimum to see the three iconic Interlaken day trips (Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn or First, and the lake cruise) at a comfortable pace. Five days lets you add the Schynige Platte cog railway, the Aare gorge near Meiringen, and a quieter hike in the Lauterbrunnen valley. A week lets you combine Interlaken with Bern (1h), Lucerne (2h), and Grindelwald (45 min) as a base for a longer Oberland trip.

What is the best area to stay in Interlaken? For first-time visitors, the Höheweg corridor between Interlaken Ost and West is the most convenient (10-minute walk to everything). For quieter, more local-feeling stays, look at Wilderswil (1 stop south by train, around 30% cheaper, direct trains to Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen). For ski season, Mürren and Wengen (both above the valley) are car-free villages with ski-in/ski-out access but fewer dinner options.

Is Interlaken expensive? Yes, comparable to Zurich and Geneva — among the more expensive places in Europe. Budget CHF 200-280 per day per person for a mid-range hotel, a couple of cable car tickets, and two restaurant meals; CHF 350-500 per day for a luxury hotel and a Jungfraujoch day trip. The Jungfraujoch round trip alone is around CHF 220, more than half of a budget day's spend. Hostels and self-catering apartments drop the floor to around CHF 100-130 per day.

When is the best time for the Jungfraujoch? The Jungfraujoch is open year-round, but the best months for clear views are September-October and February-March (winter is colder but the visibility is often better than summer's afternoon haze). Avoid June and July if possible — afternoon clouds frequently obscure the Sphinx Observatory by 11 AM. The cheapest weeks are mid-November and mid-April when most European school holidays are over; the most expensive weeks are around Christmas, New Year, and the February half-term.

Is Interlaken safe for solo travellers? Interlaken is among the safer small towns in Europe. The main station, Höheweg, and the Höhematte park are well-lit and busy late into the evening. The paragliding and adventure sports operators are well-regulated and have excellent safety records. The main risk is the altitude on Jungfraujoch (lightheadedness, mild altitude sickness) and the mountain hiking in general — stick to marked trails, take the proper boots, and check the weather forecast before any high-alpine walk.

Do I need a visa for Switzerland? Switzerland is Schengen. EU, UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan passport holders do not need a visa for stays under 90 days. The Swiss border with Italy, France, Germany, Austria, and Liechtenstein is open with no controls. The Swiss Travel Pass (and the Bernese Oberland Regional Pass) is available at any Swiss train station or airport on arrival.

Can I do the Jungfraujoch as a day trip from Interlaken? Yes, that is the standard pattern. The round trip from Interlaken Ost takes around 5-6 hours including 2-3 hours on Jungfraujoch itself. The first train up is 6:35 AM in summer; the last train down is around 6 PM. The Jungfraubahn has reserved-seat options for the early trains in summer to skip the queues — book these online at least a week in advance.

Is the tap water in Interlaken safe? Yes — and exceptional. The Interlaken tap water comes directly from alpine springs, is tested daily, and is among the purest municipal water in Europe. Refillable water bottles are encouraged; every hotel provides a glass bottle for the room and most mountain huts will refill for free.

Travel Tips

When to Visit: Late May to early October for the hiking, cable cars, and lake boats (some close in winter). July and August are the busiest — book hotels 6-12 months ahead for the Jungfraujoch-side weeks. December to March for the snow sports and the Top of Europe winter scenery, with quieter hotel prices outside the Christmas/New Year week. Shoulder months (April-May, October-November) are cheaper but some cable cars are closed.

Currency: Swiss franc (CHF). Around CHF 0.95 to EUR 1, CHF 1.10 to USD 1, CHF 0.50 to GBP 1 (mid-2026). Cards accepted almost everywhere; CHF 50-100 in cash is enough for small village purchases and the small mountain huts that may not have terminals.

Language: German (Bernese dialect in the valley), French, Italian, Romansh are all official Swiss languages. English is universally spoken in tourist areas, especially hotels and restaurants; the cable car operators usually speak at least three languages. The local dialect (Bärndütsch) is very different from standard German — you will not understand signs even if your German is good.

Free Things: Höhematte park and the paraglider landings; the Höheweg shopping street and the lakeside promenade; the Unterseen old town (a 10-minute walk east, beautiful medieval streets); the Interlaken Ost and West station architecture (small but well-restored); the open-air concerts at the Music Festival; the Christmas market is mostly free to enter.

Tipping: Not customary in Switzerland. Service is included in the price; round up the bill only for exceptional service (CHF 5-10 on a CHF 80 dinner is generous). Don't leave coins on the table — servers won't pick them up.

Day Trips: Interlaken's location makes it the base for: Jungfraujoch (1h 30 min each way); the Schilthorn (1h each way); the Lake Thun cruise to Spiez and Thun (3h round trip); the Brienz Rothorn rack railway (2h each way); Bern (1h by train, the Swiss capital, Zytglogge clock tower, Einstein House, Old Town UNESCO); Lucerne (2h by train via the Brünig Pass, Chapel Bridge, the Transport Museum). Most day trips are covered by the Swiss Travel Pass.

Connectivity: Excellent 4G/LTE throughout the valley and most mountain stations; Swisscom, Sunrise, and Salt all cover the area. Free public Wi-Fi at both Interlaken train stations, the Höheweg shopping street, and most hotel lobbies.

Sustainable Travel: The Bernese Oberland is one of the cleanest Alpine regions in Europe. Use the trains and boats instead of driving wherever possible — the Jungfrau railways run on Swiss hydroelectric power. Mountain trails are well-marked and well-maintained; stick to marked paths to protect the alpine meadows (they take 30+ years to recover from foot damage). Don't fly drones above the cable car areas or wildlife zones (the Alpine ibex is protected and easily disturbed).

Driving Notes: A vignette (CHF 40) is required to drive on Swiss motorways. The mountain roads are well-maintained but narrow — expect slow driving times (Wilderswil to Grindelwald takes 25 minutes for 14 km). In winter, winter tyres are mandatory in alpine areas; carry snow chains in the boot from November to April.

Nearby destinations

Grindelwald, Switzerland Switzerland · 45 min by train Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland Switzerland · 20 min by train Wengen, Switzerland Switzerland · 50 min by train Thun, Switzerland Switzerland · 30 min by train Bern, Switzerland Switzerland · 1 hour by train