10 Incredible Things To Do In Interlaken, Switzerland (2023)

FAQs

What is Interlaken Switzerland known for? ›

Interlaken is where those seeking a thrill go. It's known as the adventure capital of Switzerland and adrenaline junkies are sure to love it. Whether you're into river rafting or canyoning, skydiving or bungee jumping, you'll find your particular rush here.

However, as a minimum, try to plan 3 days in the area: 1 day for Interlaken town and one of the lakes, 1 day for a trip to Jungfraujoch in combination with Wengen and Lauterbrunnen, and 1 day for visiting Grindelwald and the Grindelwald-First area. What is the best time to visit Interlaken?

Interlaken is one of the best travel destinations in Switzerland, with its high peaks offering some of the best winter activities, beautiful scenery, cruising opportunities on Lakes Thun and Brienz, and many other outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, and biking.

Both Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen are a great choice for your stay, and both are safe. Which one you prefer, is a matter of personal preference. Interlaken is located very centrally and offers great connections to all destinations you have in mind. Lauterbrunnen is smaller and situated in a beautiful village.

If you're looking for a charming alpine town with plenty of outdoor activities, Grindelwald is a great choice. If you're after a more cosmopolitan town with a wider range of amenities, Interlaken is the better option. Grindelwald has more activities and nightlife, while Interlaken is more relaxed and charming.

Two days in Interlaken gives you time to explore the lakeside town, enjoy outdoor activities, and take a day trip to the Swiss Alps.

Sitting comfortably at 1322m above sea level, you just know that the panoramic views from Harder Kulm will make it worth a visit. But it's not just a panoramic viewing platform, there's also a restaurant, cafe and hiking routes on offer.

Peak Season

June to August: The best time to visit Interlaken is during the summer, from June to September. The temperature lingers around a pleasant 18°C to 20°C. It is the perfect time for aimless walks, trekking, mountaineering and adventure activities.

Which is nicer Lucerne or Interlaken? ›

Lucerne is a small, picturesque town with a waterfront, shops, and mountains nearby. Interlaken, on the other hand, is less charming but is a better location or transport hub for most trips to the mountains. Lucerne will be a better base if you want to visit Central Switzerland and the Lake Lucerne Region.

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Interlaken and Bern. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Interlaken than Bern. The ideal length of time for a trip to Interlaken is 2-5 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to Bern is 1-3 days.

No, there are no direct train services from Interlaken Ost to Zurich Hb. Travelling from Interlaken Ost to Zurich Hb by train will require a minimum of 1 change.

Interlaken is the best place to base in Switzerland as it is central to many key areas. I based here for over a month while exploring Switzerland. Staying in Interlaken is also cheaper than in popular towns like Grindelwald, Murren, Zermatt, or even Zurich.

yes, totally possible to visit Lauterbrunnen, Wengen and Grindelwald in one day. The order depends on where you are staying before. If you are staying in Interlaken for example, I would go like Lauterbrunnen, Wengen then back to Lauterbrunnen and go to Grindelwald by funicular.

Hiking around Lauterbrunnen is one of the best ways to experience more of the landscape, although finding the right route is not always easy. To help, here are the top 20 hikes and walks around Lauterbrunnen — so you can just get out and go.

Journey time from Interlaken Ost via the Eiger Express: 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Lucerne is top on our list. We would also like to visit the villages in the Jungfrau region, in particular Wegen, Lautenbrunnen, Grindelwald. We are also interested in Zermatt and Montreux. We would use Montreux as a base to visit Gruyere.

What makes the water so blue in Switzerland? ›

Blue and turquoise lakes

It's due to the tiny glacier particles, which sink only slowly to the bottom. The purity of the lake's waters allow these particles to come into their own. The colours are particularly beautiful in spring, when the glaciers begin to melt.

Treatment of Lake Water

Thanks to strict guidelines for water protection, lake water is very clean even without treatment and would usually already be safe to drink.

Lucerne is a beautiful city that's perfect for a short getaway. It has stunning mountain views, lovely old town streets, and plenty of things to do if you're into outdoors and hiking. However, it is a bit expensive, and there's not much nightlife.

Renting a car will not be the most practical way to travel in Interlaken, since it's not a big town and the popular locations around it are easily reachable by public transportation (train, cog rail, funicular). Nevertheless, Switzerland's road network is excellent and will at least get you into the mountains.

If you don't have a pass, you can buy a ticket from the ticketing machine, at ticket offices in bus or train stations. In most cases, you will have to buy a ticket before you board the bus, however, some buses in rural areas don't have machines and ticket offices.

The official language of Interlaken is German, but the main spoken language is the local variant of the Alemannic Swiss German dialect, Bernese German.

The Holiday Region Interlaken is a real water paradise. Unless the signs say otherwise, bathing is permitted at all lakeside locations. Discover tranquil hidden bays, picturesque bathing spots and cosy coves right by the water.

You have a couple options for getting back down form Harder Kulm: Retrace your steps and hike back down to Unterseen the way you came. Take the 2.5 mile hike down the Harder Kulm Loop trail. The trailhead starts on the opposite side of the train station and ends near the Interlaken Ost train station.

Duration: You can expect to spend 2-6 hours at Harder Kulm, based on the activities you choose to do. Funicular: Cross the Aare bridge at Interlaken Ost train station to get to the Harderbahn valley station. A funicular will take you to the Harder Kulm from there. Travel time from the valley station is 10 minutes.

For spectacular scenery and amazing views, it's very hard to beat the Alps and the surrounding area, and Interlaken is one of the best places to visit in Switzerland, with so much to see and do in the local area and further afield for memories that will last a lifetime.

Is Interlaken too touristy? ›

It Is Touristy

Interlaken is a popular tourist destination, so it can be crowded. If you want a more authentic Swiss experience, you might consider visiting another city like Lucerne, which is less popular.

Interlaken, town, Bern canton, central Switzerland. It lies along the Aare River, in the Bernese Highlands. Its name is derived from its position on the flat plain (Bödeli), 1,864 feet (568 m) above sea level, between Lakes (inter lacus) Brienz to the east and Thun to the west.

The Interlaken area takes the spotlight in CLOY with extensive appearances of Iseltwald, Giessbach, lake Brienz, the Victoria Jungfrau Interlaken, Kleine Scheidegg, Eigergletscher and First in Grindelwald, Jungfraujoch, lake Lungern and the panorama bridge Sigriswil.

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Interlaken and Bern. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Interlaken than Bern. The ideal length of time for a trip to Interlaken is 2-5 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to Bern is 1-3 days.

Lucerne is a small, picturesque town with a waterfront, shops, and mountains nearby. Interlaken, on the other hand, is less charming but is a better location or transport hub for most trips to the mountains. Lucerne will be a better base if you want to visit Central Switzerland and the Lake Lucerne Region.

Best time to go to Interlaken

Weather across Switzerland can vary greatly, especially in the mountains and at high altitude. Generally, May and September are the cooler times to go, with temperatures around 8-15°C. July and August are known to be the hotter months, with temperatures around 18-28°C.

Interlaken has two rail stations. Interlaken Ost is the main one, Interlaken West is smaller. These stations offer frequent train, bus and boat services to all attractions. The street connecting both stations is the main shopping street.

Sitting comfortably at 1322m above sea level, you just know that the panoramic views from Harder Kulm will make it worth a visit. But it's not just a panoramic viewing platform, there's also a restaurant, cafe and hiking routes on offer.

Can you swim in Interlaken? ›

The Holiday Region Interlaken is a real water paradise. Unless the signs say otherwise, bathing is permitted at all lakeside locations. Discover tranquil hidden bays, picturesque bathing spots and cosy coves right by the water.

If you would like to travel back to Interlaken's past, visit Unterseen. The small town can be reached from Interlaken centre in a few minutes by foot, where you can see the impressive medieval buildings around the market place.

Switzerland is expensive. While there are more budget-friendly options for things like accommodation and meals, you will still pay more for these things in Switzerland than in other destinations.

Iseltwald is approximately 110 km from Zurich by road if you plan to travel in your own car, which is a drive of almost 1.5 hours. However, if you are in Interlaken, then it's an 11 km journey, which should not take more than 10 minutes. However, you have to pay the toll tax if you are using this option.

The Location: Sigriswil Panorama Bridge is a scenic pedestrian suspension bridge that spans 340 meters, stretching 180 meters over the Gummi Gorge. It offers a breathtaking view of the Thun Lake and the Bernese Alps. Travel hassle-free around Switzerland with the Swiss Pass!