Overview
Interlaken lies between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun in the Bernese Highlands. It serves as a base for outdoor adventures in the surrounding Alps.
Lake · Mountains · Day Trips · Trekking
Did you know?
- St. Beatus Caves contain lit underground passages and a museum.
- The Höhematte opens onto a view of the Jungfrau.
- Lake Brienz and Lake Thun frame the town on opposite sides.
Why Go
Interlaken sits between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun in the Bernese Highlands, serving as the main base camp for outdoor adventures in the surrounding Alps. The town itself is walkable and relaxed, with the famous Jungfrau mountain visible from the Höheweg promenade, offering a slower pace than Swiss cities while providing access to world-class hiking, paragliding, and skiing. It's a prime destination for adventure seekers and nature lovers who want mountain experiences without camping in the wild.
Getting In
Interlaken has two train stations: Interlaken West in the town centre and Interlaken Ost where you change for the Berner-Oberland Bahn (BOB) mountain railway. The BOB runs every 30 minutes to Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald, the gateways for Jungfraujoch and Mürren. Eurail passes are valid beyond Interlaken to all BOB stations including Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, and Mürren. The nearest major airport is Zurich, about 2 hours away by train.
Getting Around
Interlaken is compact enough to explore on foot or by bike. Taxis are available from both stations and most hotels. The Interlaken guest card, provided by hotels, gives free access to all public transit in the city zone plus discounts at local tourist attractions. Local buses connect to Thun and surrounding areas.
See
The Höheweg is Interlaken's main promenade running between the two train stations, lined with souvenir shops and featuring the 150-year-old Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel and the Höhematte green area with panoramic Jungfrau mountain views. The Japanese Garden offers a quiet retreat. Just across the bridge from Interlaken West, Unterseen is a quieter old town with shops, bakeries, and a large Coop supermarket. Above the town, the Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site encompasses glaciers and alpine peaks.
When to Go
Summer (June-September) is peak season for hiking, paragliding, and lake activities. Winter (December-March) brings skiing, particularly from Mürren and Grindelwald. Spring and autumn offer fewer crowds and lower prices, though some mountain attractions may have reduced hours. Weather in the valleys can be warm and sunny while the peaks remain snow-capped year-round.
Where to Stay
Budget hostels cluster near Interlaken West in Matten, with Balmer's Herberge being the social hub featuring dorms, privates, tent camping, a kitchen, and the Metro Bar underground club. Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof on Alpenstrasse offers free breakfast, WLAN, and entry to the swimming pool. Dorm beds start around Fr. 24-35 per night, while private rooms at hotels like Swiss Inn on General-Guisan-Strasse range Fr. 90-160. Summer reservations are essential.
Food and Drink
Interlaken's dining scene includes Korean restaurant Star in a hot basement opposite Interlaken West serving affordable hot pots and dumplings below average prices. Thai food lovers should seek out My Little Thai near Balmer's in Matten for excellent value (reservations recommended). For savings, buy sandwich ingredients at Coop near Interlaken Ost or both Coop and Migros near Interlaken West — four sandwiches cost about Fr. 25 versus Fr. 20-25 for a single restaurant entrée. The local Rugenbrau lager is highly regarded thanks to the area's exceptionally clean water. Balmer's hostel and Funny Farm (both on Hauptstrasse, Matten) are the main nightlife spots with happy hour specials.
Things to Do
Boat trips depart from Interlaken West for Thunersee and from Interlaken Ost for Brienzersee — both lakes are free with a Swiss rail pass. The turquoise waters of Brienzersee are particularly striking. St. Beatus Caves in Sundlauenen offer lit underground passages and a museum. Night sledding trips cost €74 including a Swiss cheese fondue dinner, with bookings required. Adventure sports companies at hostels can arrange paragliding, skydiving, and river rafting.
Buy
Interlaken has Switzerland's highest concentration of souvenir shops. Swiss Army knives are best purchased at the Swiss Knife Center (Höheweg 125) which stocks the full Victorinox and Wenger range and offers free engraving — remember to pack knives in hold luggage when flying. Watch shops Bucherer and Kirchhofer stock premium brands like Tag Heuer, Omega, and Rolex, while souvenir shops carry more affordable Swiss Military and Swatch watches. Buy chocolate at Coop supermarkets (near Interlaken Ost or in Unterseen) for much better prices than souvenir shops, with good Lindt, Cailler, and Toblerone selections. For woodcarvings, take the 30-minute train to Brienz, the Swiss woodcarving centre.
Connectivity
As of March 2022, mobile coverage includes 4G from Salt and 5G from Sunrise and Swisscom. Free Wi-Fi is available in many public places. For internet and laundry, Internet Laundry on Marktgasse 45 (beside the post office) offers washing for €2 per load, 15 minutes free internet, and bicycle rental from €10/day.
Day Trips
The Lauterbrunnen valley with its cascading waterfalls inspired Tolkien's Rivendell. Gimmelwald is a tiny picturesque hamlet above the valley, while Mürren is the car-free resort above with skiing from the Schilthorn. Wengen sits on the opposite valley wall. Grindelwald in the adjoining valley is the starting point for Jungfraujoch excursions. Brienz (30 minutes by train from Interlaken Ost) is known for woodcarving. Thun and Spiez on the lake offer boat connections and historic castles.
Go Next
From Interlaken Ost, the Berner-Oberland Bahn connects to Lauterbrunnen (for Wengen, Gimmelwald, Mürren) and Grindelwald (for Jungfraujoch). Boat services on both lakes connect to Thun, Spiez, and Brienz. Direct train connections run to major Swiss cities including Bern, Zurich, and Lucerne. The Grindelwald terminal provides access to the First Cliff Walk and hiking trails like the Eiger Trail.
Guide text adapted from Wikivoyage contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to start
Sleep
AlpLodge/BackPackers Interlaken
Reception open from Daily 08:00–01:00. Young friendly hostel. Staff can help suggest hikes and will book activities. Dorms and private rooms. Bar, internet, laundry. Fr. 24-40
Sleep
Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof
Dorms and private rooms. Kitchen, laundry, including sheets, breakfast, free WLAN, free entry to public swimming pool and Minigolf, personal locker for each person, big garden with table tennis, soccer & billiards, free use of local busses, free parking facilities, movies available. Friendly staff who help you, answer your questions, give you advise for hiking or what to do, book for you adventure sports. No curfew.
Sleep
Balmer's Herberge youth hostel
Young friendly hostel. Seems to be the hostel of Interlaken. Offers any and every extreme sport. Dorms, privates, and tents are available. Guest kitchen, restaurant, gift shop, coin laundry, and nightly movies. Also has Metro Bar underground, the most popular bar in Interlaken. Adheres to the city-wide noise curfew. Right around the corner is a grocery store for all your cooking needs.
Sleep
Bed & Bar No.8
Freshly renovated dorm (2017) with a bar and shared kitchen.
Price when recorded: From Fr. 30 (dorm)
Sleep
City Hotel Oberland
Three star hotel 0.2 km from the railway station. Single room from Fr. 112, double room from Fr. 170 (as of 2009).
Sleep
Dorint Blüemlisalp Beatenberg/Interlaken
Located at 1,200 metres above sea level, the hotel offers 128 apartments and a large wellness area.
Price when recorded: from Fr. 134 per room/night
Sleep
Hotel Goldey
This is a hotel for the middle-aged traveller. It's rather expensive but offers tremendous service in a wonderful location, e.g. couples can spend a romantic and erotic night in the loveroom. The river-side rooms are the best.
Price when recorded: Fr. 130-390
Sleep
Hotel Toscana
Reception open daily from 06:00 until 22:00, but you can ask about rooms in the restaurant until midnight. This nice little family-run hotel features a restaurant which seems to be quite a local hangout. The rooms are clean and the staff is friendly and attentive. Fr. 170-240 (breakfast included).
Before you go
Accommodation
Summer reservations essential — hostels fill months ahead. Not all hotels are open year-round. Dorms from Fr. 24, mid-range hotels Fr. 90-160.
Connectivity
4G from Salt, 5G from Sunrise and Swisscom. Free public Wi-Fi available. SIM cards available from Swiss providers if needed.
Money
Switzerland uses Swiss Francs (CHF). ATMs are widely available. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels and restaurants but some smaller establishments prefer cash.
Safety
Interlaken is generally very safe. Standard urban precautions apply. Adventure sports operators are regulated; ensure your provider is licensed.
Transport
The Interlaken guest card from hotels provides free public transit in the city zone and discounts to attractions. Eurail and Swiss Travel Passes are valid on mountain railways beyond Interlaken.
Weather
Alpine weather changes rapidly. The valley floor can be warm and sunny while peaks have snow year-round. Pack layers and rain gear regardless of season.