Interlaken

Three Days of Adventure in Interlaken and the Bernese Oberland Region

Interlaken, Switzerland is a popular basecamp for those seeking adventures throughout the Bernese Oberland Region. As its name suggests, it is situated between two lakes, Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, and is a transportation gateway to the surrounding mountains, especially those to the south.

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Rather than have to move from hotel-to-hotel exploring the mountain towns, we wanted to unpack just once and plan out day trips over the course of about three days. In this post, I will share all of the amazing things we found to do in Interlaken and the surrounding area, as well as how we structured our itinerary. I will also share a few extra ideas from a previous trip, in case you have a longer visit planned or want to explore additional options.

• Where to stay in Interlaken
• Things to see & do in Interlaken
• Where to eat in Interlaken
• Day trips from Interlaken
• Itinerary and more information

Where to stay in Interlaken

The first consideration when selecting accommodations in Interlaken is proximity to the train station (unless you have a car). There are two stations in the area, Interlaken Ost (East) and Interlaken West. If you will be taking day trips to Grinderwald or Lauterbrunnen, I would recommend staying closer to Interlaken Ost. If you will just be hanging out in Interlaken and/or taking day trips to Thun, Kandersteg, or any of the towns along the southern shore of Lake Thun, you could go either way because most of the trains departing from Interlaken Ost will have a stop at Interlaken West before continuing on.

Hotels in Interlaken, and most parts of Switzerland for that matter, are not cheap. Get ready to adjust your budget or your standards. Most importantly, book early because prices tend to be higher for last-minute bookings, if you can even find a room.

We stayed at the Hotel Royal St Georges. This was my second stay at this property and the experience was pretty consistent. The hotel is perfectly located in central Interlaken, about a 6 – 8 minute walk from the Interlaken Ost train station.

Above photos: Hotel Royal St Georges, Interlaken, Switzerland

The lobby and accommodations are nice. However, both times I’ve stayed there, the room has been located in the adjacent building, which requires carrying luggage up and down stairs. It’s a fair call out, especially if you have mobility issues, are traveling with children, or have a lot of luggage.

Above photos: Hotel Royal St Georges, Interlaken, Switzerland

The crème de la crème hotel property in Interlaken is the 5-star Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa. Although I haven’t personally stayed here, I did go inside to have a look around and was thoroughly impressed.

Above photos: Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel, Interlaken, Switzerland

Things to see & do in Interlaken

Harder Kulm

Probably the most popular attraction in Interlaken is the Harderbahn inclined railway up to the Harder Kulm scenic overlook. The viewing platform offers an incredible view of Interlaken and the lakes on either side.

Above photos: Harderbahn base station (left); Harderbahn top station (right)

The queue for the incline (in both directions) and the crowds at the top can be intense. But, don’t let this dissuade you because the views are not to be missed when visiting Interlaken. Just plan some extra time for this activity. The lines are shortest in the morning, as one might expect. The downside might be low hanging clouds though. Another way to save time and skip the queue for your ascent is to purchase tickets online in advance.

Above photos: Views of Interlaken from the Harder Kulm

Alpine Wildlife Park

Adjacent to the Harderbahn base station, there is a small animal refuge for the majestic ibex mountain goats and a colony of marmots. It is completely free to visit and a great way to get up close to these once-endangered animals.

Above photo: Alpine Wildlife Park

Feet Relaxing Water Deck

That is actually the official name of a small stretch of river-front parkland across the bridge from the Harderbahn base station. You will most likely pass by it while walking to-and-from the Interlaken Ost station.

The Feet Relaxing Water Deck is a rather scenic spot to rest your feet, hence appropriately named, and enjoy the views of the Aare River. A few park benches line the gravel walking path. After, check out the nearby memorial to Denkmal Adolf Guyer-Zeller, who was the man responsible for the construction of the Jungfrau Railway (making your vacay to Interlaken possible).

Above photo: Feet Relaxing Water Deck

Kirche Interlaken

Kirche Interlaken is a Roman Catholic Church located behind Hotel Nord. It’s tremendous stonework bell tower is hard to miss. It is a very pretty church with modern stained glass windows and a peaceful ambiance. It was built in the early 1900’s and has been well-maintained. Regular masses can be attended by all, but at the very least be sure admire its Romanesque exterior as you pass through the city center.

Above photo: Kirche Interlaken

Interlaken Castle & Reformed Castle Church

The Castle Church is located next to Kirche Interlaken. Recognizable by its white facade and medieval clock tower, it is one of the oldest buildings in Interlaken dating to 1133. The church and other buildings in this complex were originally part of an Augustinian monastery. Today, the Reformed Castle Church is used as a convent and is a Swiss heritage site of national significance. The surrounding gardens are perfectly manicured and lovely to walk through.

Above photo: Interlaken Reformed Castle Church

Above photo: Schlosspark (Interlaken Castle grounds)

Höhematte Park

Höhematte is a surprisingly large grassy field in the middle of Interlaken. This is a nice little spot to hang out with the family, take a picnic, or sip on a coffee. It is also where you can watch the paragliders land from sun-up to sun-down. Better yet, go paragliding yourself and make an epic landing.

Above photo: Paragliding over Interlaken destined for Höhematte Park

Aare Dam (Grosse Staatsschleuse) & Viewpoint

The Grosse Staatsschleuse (also known as the Great State Lock or Aare Dam), is a charming wooden bridge and lock that regulates the water flow from Lake Brienz. It was built in 1854 and has been regularly renovated and modernized since then.

The bridge sits on the border of the municipalities of Interlaken and Unterseen. Although, if you aren’t looking at a map, you’d never know where one ends and the other begins except that there are a few more historic buildings that start to grab your eye. The whole area is incredibly picturesque and worth a detour, if you aren’t already headed in that direction.

The Aare Dam Viewpoint is just one bridge down river on Spielmatte Street. From here you can enjoy a great view of the dam spanning over the gorgeous turquoise water of the Aare River. It is operational at all times, so you’ll get to see the roaring water whenever you go!

Above photo: Grosse Staatsschleuse (Aare Dam)

Above photo: Spielmatten district between Interlaken and Unterseen

Schaalbrücke

As you continue walking on Spielmatte Street and through the island-like Spielmatten district, the next bridge is Schaalbrücke. From this bridge there are more scenic views of the Aare River to be had, along with views of the Mühleschleuse (also known as the Small State Lock or Mill Lock).

Above photos: Mühleschleuse (Mill Lock)

Above photo: View of the Aare River from Schaalbrücke

Above photo: View of Unterseen from the Schaalbrücke

Unterseen

Once you have crossed over the Aare River and Spielmatten district, the small town of Unterseen awaits. Although it is overshadowed by Interlaken, it is arguably more charming. A must for a visit here is the the Stedtli (also known as the Old Town), comprised of colorful row houses, church tower and castle, and Stadthaus (town hall).

Above photos: Unterseen Old Town in autumn

Paragliding

The most exhilarating thing you can do in Interlaken is tadem paraglide with Paragliding Interlaken. This completely safe and low-risk sport involves taking a shuttle from the meeting point up to the take-off location about 1400 meters above Interlaken. Once there, your pilot will help you get into your harness and provide you with safety information.

Above photos: Paragliding pre-flight

The flight down to Interlaken is unbelievably scenic and peaceful. You will literally have a bird’s eye view of the trees and nature below, as well as views out to Lake Thun and Lake Brienz.

Since I had previously paraglided in Interlaken when I visited with my kids, my husband and I decided to paraglide while in Mürren for a slightly different view on this trip. There are many places in Switzerland where you can paraglide, but I thought Interlaken was a great place to try it for the first time.

Above photos: Paragliding in Interlaken

St. Beatus Caves

St Beatus Caves is one of the largest caves in Switzerland that is open to the public. It is located on the northern shore of Lake Thun and is accessible by Bus #21 or by ferry from Interlaken. Alternatively, you can also drive your own car, bike, or walk.

The bus ride is about 20 minutes from Interlaken Ost, but you can hop on at any of the stops along the route. The closest ferry terminal to the caves is Beatushöhlen-Sundlauenen, which is about a 25 minute walk to the entrance. It is a nice option if you would like to experience the nature and views along the lake.

Above photos: St Beatus Caves entrance (left); View of Lake Thun from St Beatus Caves (right)

Tickets to St Beatus Caves can be purchased online in advance. Tours are self-guided, and information kiosks are available along the pathways in both German and English.

The caves are truly magical. We saw limestone formations, stalagmites and stalactites, waterfalls, and grottos. More than 14 km of the extensive cave system have been mapped. However, only about 1 km of this is accessible for visitors.

Above photo: St Beatus Caves entrance

Where to eat in Interlaken

Stadthaus Restaurant

We ate at Stadthaus Restaurant our first night in Interlaken. Stadthaus is actually located in Unterseen, but it is very walkable from anywhere in Interlaken. As its name gives away, Stadthaus is located in the historic City Hall of Unterseen. The most famous guest in the Stadthaus was the poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who stopped in during his first visit to Switzerland in 1779, It was also frequented by composer Felix Mendelssohn.

The kitchen offers a wide variety of International dishes, including the best traditional Alpine cuisine and a Hunter’s Menu with venison, lamb, and locally sourced ingredients. It was delicious! If you want to eat here, you must call for reservations, as they don’t have online booking.

Above photos: Stadthaus Restaurant

Little Thai

After one of our long day trips, we returned to Interlaken and did not feel like any form of fine dining. So, we walked over to Little Thai, located on Hauptstrasse Street, roughly a 15 minute walk from our hotel. They were quite busy, but were able to seat us outside on their patio. The menu (which is both dine-in and take-away) includes stir-fries, curries, noodles & dumplings. We left full and happy:)

La Terrasse Brasserie at Victoria-Jungfrau

On our last night in Interlaken, we had reservations at La Terrasse Brasserie located inside the Victoria-Jungfrau Hotel. The restaurant is gorgeous! It is a wonderful place for a special occasion or night out. We thought we deserved the treat after our several long days of hiking and adventuring. Everything we ate was delicious! Reservations can be made online here.

Above photos: La Terrasse Brasserie at Victoria-Jungfrau

Day trips from Interlaken

Most folks don’t come to Interlaken just for Interlaken. There is so much to see and do in the surrounding area, you will probably want to consider at least one day trip — or more as time permits. During our most recent visit to Interlaken, we ventured out to Lauterbrunnen, Mürren, and the Schilthorn Summit on one day trip, and Kandersteg and Oeschinen Lake on a second day trip. During a previous visit to Interlaken, I visited Grinderwald on one day trip and Thun on a second day trip.

Lauterbrunnen & Mürren

Lauterbrunnen and Mürren are picturesque towns located in the Bernese Highlands to the south of Interlaken that can easily both be combined into a single day trip. The train ride from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen is approximately 28 minutes. Here you can experience a quiet Alpine town against the stunning backdrop of Staubbach Falls, the highest free falling falls in Switzerland.

Above photos: Lauterbrunnen

Mürren is a car-free village that sits above Lauterbrunnen. It is accessible by a mountain tram and train (or on foot) from Lauterbrunnen. The big draws are winter spots and the cable car to the Schilthorn Summit where you can capture glorious photos of the snow covered peaks and views for miles.

Other places that you can combine with a trip to Lauterbrunnen include Stechelberg and Grimmelwald. They are all connected by the Schilthorn cable car and/or bus.

Above photos: Mürren

To read my complete post about our day trip to Lauterbrunnen & Mürren, click here.

Kandersteg and Oeschinen Lake

Kandersteg is another gorgeous Apline town. It is located to the southeast of Interlaken. Because of the mountains, you’ll need to first travel west along Thun Lake to Spietz and then turn south to Kandersteg. By train, the journey is about an hour.

Above photos: Kandersteg

Most people visit Kandersteg as a first-stop on the way to Oeschinen Lake, which is one of the most beautiful and bluest lakes in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland. There are all kinds of fun things to do around Oeschinen Lake including a summer toboggan run, hiking trails, and boating. We had an incredible day here and capped it off with a visit to Blausee, another crystal clear blue lake just down the road from Kandersteg.

Above photos: Oeschinen Lake

To read my complete post about our day trip to Kandersteg and Oeschinen Lake, click here.

Thun

The town of Thun (pronounced “toon”) is located at the far western end of Lake Thun opposite of Interlaken. I came here with my sons when they were teenagers because I thought they would enjoy the boat trip across the lake and visiting the turreted Thun Castle. They LOVED!

The boat (or ferry?) from Interlaken makes serval stops as it traverses Lake Thun, including St. Beatus Caves & Beatenbucht, Spiez, Gunten, Oberhofen, Hilterfingen, Hünibach and lastly, Thun. The entire trip from Interlaken to Thun takes a little more than two hours. To return to Interlaken, you can take the boat again or the train. We opted for the 30-minute train ride back along the south shore of the lake. Boat schedules for both Lake Thun and Lake Brienze can be found here.

It was a rainy day, so our tour of Thun Castle was a perfect way to escape the drizzle. The weather also made for super moody, fairytale-like photos from the windows in the turrets looking out to sweeping views of the Alps and Lake Thun.

Above photos: Thun Castle

After visiting the castle, we spent the rest of our time walking around the Old Town, relaxing at Schadaupark, and marveling at the panoramic lake views.

Above photo: View of Thun from a window in the turret (left); Old Towns views along the Aare River in Thun (right)

Grinderwald

The Eiger village of Grindelwald is a popular gateway to the Jungfrau Region. The town is bordered by the north face of the Eiger and Wetterhorn mountains. If you are not continuing on to Jungfraujoch, there is still plenty of reason to come to Grinderwald. It is an amazing winter destination for snow sport enthusiasts and an an equally amazing summer destination.

We ascended Mt. First via the Firstbahn Grindelwald cableway. This is a 3-part journey with options to hop off at mountain stations along the way. The entire trip to the top takes about 25 minutes, all the while being serenaded by the cows bells from the herds grazing in the fields below.

At the top, there is the First View Platform and other fun activities, such as hiking trails, paragliding, bikes, canyoning, the First Cliff Walk, and the First Flyer – a crazy, super fun zipline! We had absolutely no problem filling up our day — and ended up wishing we had more time. This is a great place to bring the whole family!

Above photos: Grinderwald

Itinerary & more information

There are endless ways to structure an itinerary for Interlaken. I thought I would share what we did during our early autumn visit in order to fit in the sights and day trips that were must-sees for us.

We arrived in Interlaken via the Goldenpass Express train from Montreux. This was an incredible prologue to the region as we passed through scenic areas, mountains, and Swiss villages. The Goldenpass Express runs daily and arrived in Interlaken just before 6 pm. Our late arrival meant that we were just settling in to our hotel, walking around for a bit, and having dinner.

Thank you for reading my post! Please feel free to add friendly comments or questions below!