An Overture
Interlaken sits on the flat isthmus between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz and is the adventure-capital gateway to the Jungfrau Region — the most popular transport hub and base for travellers exploring Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and the high Alps by public transport. It is busier, more commercial and more hotel-and-restaurant-rich than the mountain villages, which makes it the pragmatic base for first-timers and anyone wanting nightlife, gear shops and easy onward connections. Surrounding waters give it two turquoise lakes, paragliders overhead, and the Harder Kulm balcony view.
Top Things to Do
Harder Kulm
A glass viewing platform over both lakes and the Eiger–Mönch–Jungfrau skyline; the funicular runs until ~9 PM in summer for sunset.
Getting there: Funicular from Interlaken Ost, ~10 min to the 1,322 m viewpoint (~20 CHF one-way / ~38 CHF return; April–November).
Lake Brienz cruise
~2.5 hr round-trip boat (~66 CHF / 33 CHF with Half Fare; first-class upgrade ~16 CHF) past Iseltwald and Giessbach Falls; free with the Swiss Travel Pass.
Getting there: Boats depart the pier, a 3-min walk from Interlaken Ost.
Paragliding & adventure sports
Tandem paragliding, skydiving, canyoning and rafting — Interlaken's signature thrill menu.
Höhematte park & Yash Chopra statue
The central green with the Bollywood-recognition statue and constant paraglider landings.
Walks & Trails
Höheweg Promenade & Unterseen Old Town
The most atmospheric town stroll in Interlaken: from Interlaken Ost along the grand Höheweg promenade — Belle-Époque hotels on one side, the open Höhematte meadow framing a clean head-on view of the Jungfrau on the other — then across the Aare into the quiet, cobbled medieval core of Unterseen, ending at its riverside square and church beneath the castle. (For the overlook, the Harder Kulm funicular climbs to the "Top of Interlaken" balcony above town.)
Interlaken Ost → Höheweg promenade → Höhematte (Jungfrau view) → Unterseen old town → Schloss Unterseen
Oeschinensee Panorama Trail (Kandersteg)
A day-trip classic. From the Oeschinen gondola top station a balcony trail contours high above the bright-blue, cliff-and-waterfall-ringed Oeschinensee — the Panorama Trail (~8.5 km) before the lake circuit (~4 km) down to the shore for swimming and a summer toboggan run. A UNESCO setting; allow a full day.
Oeschinen top station → panorama balcony → Oeschinensee shore
Day Trips & Beyond
Oeschinensee (Kandersteg)
A bright-blue glacial lake ringed by cliffs and waterfalls. Train Interlaken→Spiez (24 min)→Kandersteg (28 min), 15-min walk to the gondola (~32 CHF return / 16 CHF with pass), then a short walk or hikes (Panorama Trail ~8.5 km; easy lake circuit ~4 km). Swimming, a summer toboggan run (~6 CHF) and a UNESCO setting; allow a full day.
Getting there: Train via Spiez to Kandersteg (~50 min), a 15-min walk to the gondola (~32 CHF return / 16 CHF with pass), then a short walk to the lake.
SearchIseltwald
Storybook Lake Brienz hamlet (Schloss Seeburg castle; "Crash Landing on You" filming spot).
Getting there: Bus 103 along Lake Brienz, ~20 min, or the lake boat.
SearchLake Thun, Spiez & Thun
Spiez Castle over vineyards and the lake (May–mid-Oct, ~10 CHF); 12th-century Thun Castle with 360° Alps views.
Getting there: Trains and boats from Interlaken West — Spiez ~15 min, Thun ~25 min; the northern-shore drive via Beatenberg/Sigriswil is the scenic route.
SearchBlausee
A tiny, intensely turquoise forest lake with a submerged statue (~11 CHF).
Getting there: Train via Spiez to Blausee-Mitholz, ~35 min, then a short walk/bus.
SearchSt. Beatus Caves
on Lake Thun's shore.
Getting there: Bus 21 or the lake boat toward Thun, ~20 min to St. Beatus-Höhlen.
SearchSchynige Platte
A historic Belle Époque cogwheel railway climbing above Interlaken's twin lakes to "one of the most beautiful views in Switzerland," with short ridge hikes and an alpine botanical garden at the top; covered by the Swiss Travel Pass.
Getting there: Train to Wilderswil, then the historic cogwheel railway to Schynige Platte (~50 min); summer only.
SearchHidden Gems
Giessbach Falls + Grandhotel Giessbach
A Belle Époque hotel with a waterfall view "from behind" overlooking Lake Brienz.
Getting there: Lake Brienz boat to Giessbach, then Switzerland's oldest funicular up; or 10–15 min on foot from parking (~10 CHF/24 hr).
SearchSunset on Harder Kulm
thanks to the late-running summer funicular — a quieter, golden-hour alternative to midday crowds.
Getting there: Ride the late Harder Kulm funicular from Interlaken Ost.
SearchFood & Dining
Local Flavours
A broad spread of international and Swiss restaurants (the most varied dining in the region); use Coop/Migros for trail food. Hotel Chalet du Lac (Iseltwald) serves lake-view fish and Swiss/European dishes on a day trip.
Restaurants & Cafés
Where to Stay
Two stations frame the town: Interlaken West (town centre) and Interlaken Ost (boats + Jungfrau trains) — pick your area based on whether you prioritise town or mountain access.
- Luxury
- Mid-range
- Budget
- Mid-range
- Budget
- Budget
Practical Notes
Getting There & Around
- Getting there (no car): Major rail hub; direct/easy connections from Lucerne, Bern, Zurich, Geneva and the Lauterbrunnen/Grindelwald lines. Luggage storage at both stations.
- Getting there (with car): ~10 min from Iseltwald, ~25 min from Grindelwald; central hotels charge for parking.
- Getting around: Walkable centre; trains, lake boats and PostBuses fan out to every Jungfrau sight. The Swiss Travel Pass covers the lake cruises and most local transit (mountain lifts at 50%).
- GoldenPass Line: Interlaken is a stop on the scenic GoldenPass route between Lucerne and Montreux.
Good to Know
- This is the best public-transport base for the Bernese Oberland — repeated across Bruised Passports, Roam with Pri and others — because every high-mountain trip threads back through here.
- Many surrounding sights (Trümmelbach, Harder Kulm, Spiez Castle, lake boats) are seasonal (roughly April–November); plan shoulder-season trips around closures.
- Allow 3–4 nights to do the region justice; a single night only scratches the surface.
Notable Insights
Consensus & Highlights
- Opinion splits on basing here vs. the mountain villages: amenity-and-logistics blogs favour Interlaken; scenery-purists prefer Lauterbrunnen/Mürren. Reconcile by sleeping in Interlaken if you value restaurants, transit and a single unpacking point, and day-tripping up the mountains.