Interlaken, Switzerland: travel guide
Between two lakes, under the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau
On the flats between Lakes Thun and Brienz, under the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau — and the rail gateway to the Jungfraujoch at 3,454 m, the highest point in Europe reachable by train.
About Interlaken
Interlaken sits on a strip of flat land between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, with the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau rising to the south. It is the Bernese Oberland's main gateway, and a launch pad for adventures.
Take the train to the Jungfraujoch, ride up to Harder Kulm for a view over both lakes, visit the Trümmelbach Falls inside the mountain, or head to Wengen for a day of walking. Paragliding, boat cruises on Lake Thun and walks along the river fill the rest of the time.
Interlaken suits active travellers and families. Summer and early autumn are the best time to visit Interlaken for hiking, and winter brings skiing in nearby resorts.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
- Country
- Switzerland
- Currency
- CHF
- Time zone
- Europe/Zurich
- Nearest airport
- BRN
Last updated
Top places to visit in Interlaken
Jungfraujoch — Top of Europe
Alpine Peak · 4.9 rating · about 8 h · entry CHF 261 (≈ ₹29,890)
The highest railway station in Europe at 3,454m, accessible by cogwheel train through the Eiger and Mönch. The Sphinx Observatory offers a 360° view of the Aletsch Glacier (UNESCO) — the longest glacier in the Alps at 23km. An…
Harder Kulm Viewpoint
Mountain Viewpoint · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · entry CHF 38 (≈ ₹4,350)
The "Top of Interlaken" at 1,322m — a 10-minute funicular ride above Interlaken offering breathtaking 360° views of the Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau, Lake Thun, Lake Brienz, and the entire Bernese Oberland. The cantilevered viewing platform is…
Lake Thun Boat Cruise
Lake Cruise · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · entry CHF 38 (≈ ₹4,350)
A scenic boat journey on the turquoise Lake Thun (17km long) calling at the medieval Thun Castle, the lakeside village of Spiez, and the rose gardens of Oberhofen Castle — all with the Bernese Alps as a backdrop. Operated by BLS Lake Boats.
Interlaken Trümmelbach Falls
glacier-falls · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · entry CHF 18 (≈ ₹2,060)
The Trümmelbach Falls — the spectacular 10 glacial waterfalls inside the mountain (the world's only accessible glacier waterfalls), draining the Jungfrau glacier with 20,000 litres per second.
Interlaken Lauterbrunnen Valley
alpine-valley · 4.9 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate
The Lauterbrunnen Valley — the spectacular alpine valley with 72 waterfalls (inspiration for Tolkien's Rivendell), the famous Trümmelbach Falls, Staubbach Falls, and the iconic Swiss Alps heritage.
Schynige Platte Mountain Railway
mountain-rail · 4.8 rating · about 8 h · entry CHF 68 (≈ ₹7,780)
The Schynige Platte cogwheel railway — the historic 1893 mountain railway climbing to 2,076m with the spectacular panoramic views of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, and the famous alpine garden.
Interlaken First Cliff Walk
cliff-walk · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · entry CHF 100 (≈ ₹11,400)
The First Cliff Walk by Tissot — the spectacular suspended walkway on the cliff face of First mountain (2,168m) above Grindelwald, with the panoramic views over the Eiger.
Interlaken Riverside Walk
riverside-walk · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The Interlaken Aare riverside walk — the spectacular promenade along the turquoise Aare River between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, with the historic Höhematte park and the iconic mountain views.
Interlaken Schilthorn Piz Gloria
mountain-summit · 4.7 rating · about 8 h · entry CHF 115 (≈ ₹13,160)
Mt Schilthorn — the spectacular 2,970m peak with the rotating Piz Gloria restaurant (famous from James Bond On Her Majesty's Secret Service), accessed by a series of dramatic cable cars.
Interlaken Harder Kulm
funicular-viewpoint · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · entry CHF 44 (≈ ₹5,040)
The Harder Kulm — Interlaken's spectacular 1,322m viewpoint, with the famous Two Lakes Bridge platform, the funicular railway, and the iconic Eiger-Mönch-Jungfrau views.
Interlaken Staubbach Falls
highest-falls · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The Staubbach Falls — Lauterbrunnen Valley's spectacular 297m waterfall, the highest unbroken waterfall in Switzerland, with the famous Mendelssohn and Byron viewpoints, and the iconic alpine valley views.
Interlaken Paragliding
paragliding · 4.9 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
Paragliding over Interlaken — the spectacular tandem paragliding flights from Beatenberg launch point, with the iconic views of Lake Thun, Lake Brienz, and the Bernese Alps.
Things to do
- Tandem Paragliding from Beatenberg Adventure · 0.5 h · from CHF 150 per person
- White-Water Rafting on Lütschine River Adventure · 2 h · from CHF 81 per person
Day trips and tours
- Schilthorn Piz Gloria (James Bond Mountain) from Interlaken 8 h · from CHF 130
- Lauterbrunnen Valley & Trümmelbach Falls 4 h · from CHF 49
Where to stay in Interlaken
- Interlaken West & Höheweg about CHF 280 per night
The central Höheweg avenue is the address in Interlaken — the Victoria-Jungfrau Hotel is here, with direct unobstructed Jungfrau views, the main tourist office, and easy access to both train stations (East and West).…
- Unterseen (Budget-Friendly) about CHF 85 per night
Interlaken's oldest settlement across the Aare river — quieter, more local, and significantly more affordable than Höheweg. Charming old village atmosphere with the best value hostels and guesthouses, 10-minute walk to…
Hotels
- Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa 5-star · CHF 500 to CHF 1,800 per night
- Mountain Hostel Gimmelwald 1-star · CHF 60 to CHF 130 per night
- Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof 2-star · CHF 40 to CHF 120 per night
- Lindner Grand Hotel Beau Rivage 5-star · CHF 360 to CHF 820 per night
- Hotel Eiger Mürren 4-star · CHF 290 to CHF 540 per night
- Hotel Lötschberg Interlaken 3-star · CHF 150 to CHF 260 per night
Where to eat
- El Azteca Interlaken Mexican, International · about CHF 30 per person
- Restaurant Schuh Interlaken Swiss, European · about CHF 60 per person
- Beatus Restaurant Unterseen Swiss, Regional · about CHF 55 per person
- Harder Kulm Panorama Restaurant Swiss, European · about CHF 55 per person
- Piz Gloria Schilthorn Swiss, International · about CHF 75 per person
- Top of Europe Restaurant Jungfraujoch Swiss, International · about CHF 45 per person
- Husi Bierhaus Swiss, German · about CHF 40 per person
- Spice India Interlaken Indian · about CHF 38 per person
Getting to Interlaken
Nearest airport: Bern (BRN), about 38 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.
Getting around
- Bus
- Train
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Adventure Activity Unlicensed Operators
Interlaken town centre and Höheweg
Individuals on Höheweg approach tourists offering cheaper paragliding, bungee jumping, or rafting than licensed operators. Some operate without proper insurance or safety equipment.
How to avoid it: Only book adventure activities through licensed Swiss operators with BAZL or SAC certification. Legitimate operators have proper offices and websites. Suspiciously cheap prices indicate unsafe corners cut.
More in Switzerland
Frequently asked questions about Interlaken
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Interlaken?
- The highest-rated places in our Interlaken guide are Jungfraujoch — Top of Europe, Interlaken Lauterbrunnen Valley, Interlaken Paragliding, Harder Kulm Viewpoint, Interlaken Trümmelbach Falls.
- Where should I stay in Interlaken?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Interlaken: Interlaken West & Höheweg, Unterseen (Budget-Friendly).
- How do I get around Interlaken?
- Ways to get around Interlaken covered in our guide: City bus, Train, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Interlaken?
- Scams reported to us for Interlaken include Adventure Activity Unlicensed Operators. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- Which airport is nearest to Interlaken?
- The nearest airport to Interlaken has the code BRN.