Full of spectacular scenery and a mecca for those who enjoy the outdoors, Interlaken is one of Switzerland’s top destinations.
Why Interlaken is one of Switzerland’s top destinations
Nestled between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, Interlaken is situated in the Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss Alps. Because of its unique locations, it serves as the ideal base for exploring Lauterbrunnen, Jungfraujoch, and Grindelwald, as well as the towns and villages around both lakes.
Our drive from Lucerne to Interlaken
Sheer cliffs and the towering mountains of the Bernese Oberland surrounded us on the drive. We had driven through tunnels bored into hills to ascend the mountain.
The subsequent descent took us alongside sheer mountain drops interjected with a lush, scenic countryside where small hamlets were tucked into the mountainsides, finally arriving at Lake Brienz.
Truly spectacular!
Lake Brienz
The road towards Interlaken wound its way along Lake Brienz. The Lake, like Lake Thun on the other side of Interlaken, is one of Switzerland’s popular holiday spots. Holidaymakers come to the lakes for the tranquillity, to engage in water sports, and enjoy the mountain hiking trails.
The picturesque village of Brienz, at the other end of the lake from Interlaken, is favoured by local holidaymakers in the summer months. Pretty wooden chalets line the road on either side as you drive through.
Interlaken
Expect to find Interlaken township busy with tourists and holidaymakers. Plenty of hotel accommodation and easy access by train to hikes and day tours make Interlaken an attractive destination.
Stroll around the town
Relatively compact, the town is a delight to explore on foot. A major tourist destination, you’ll find plenty of stores selling souvenirs and Swiss-made products, including watches and chocolates. And, if you’re planning on hiking in the area, you’ll find stores catering to any last-minute items as well.
Walk along Hoheweg Promenade
Stretching from East to West Interlaken, Hoheweg is the city’s charming main promenade. Be prepared to be dazzled by the views of the Jungfrau mountains from the large flower garden lined around Hohematte Park halfway along Hoheweg. This was one of our highlights.
During the day, you can watch paragliders taking off from Harder Kulm and landing in the parklands.
Go up to the top of Harder Kulm
Take yourself up to the top of Interlaken’s local mountain, Harder Kulm.
A funicular will take you to the top of the mountain and its viewing platform within 10 minutes. Gaze at the spectacular scenery from the cable car windows and marvel further when you step onto the glass-floored platform.
For the not-so-faint-hearted, there is an initial steep trail which starts at the village station, which then takes you on forest paths to the top.
Relax in the Kursaal Gardens
In the city centre but away from the hustle and bustle is the Kursaal Gardens with its cultural centre. You can admire the alpine views while relaxing in the lush gardens, featuring a beautiful fountain.
Another feature in the park is the statue of the famed Indian film director Yash Chopra. He was given the title of “Ambassador of Interlaken” for increasing the city’s popularity through his films. Many were shot in the mountains in the area, which, in turn, led to Interlaken becoming a major destination for Indian tourists.
Wander along the river
The quieter riverside paths are another way to remove yourself from the centre of the main city area. Take yourself into the side streets and along the treelined waterways.
We walked along the paths, admiring the variety of homes along the riverbanks.
Follow the walking paths along Lake Brienz
Because we chose to stay in the small settlement of Ringgenberg on the banks of Lake Brienz, we took the opportunity to walk along the lakeside trail to Interlaken and back on our morning walks.
The trail offers excellent vantage points to take in the lake and the most stunning mountain views.
Things to do near Interlaken
As we mentioned earlier, Interlaken serves as the launch pad for hiking and visiting some of Switzerland’s most beautiful alpine villages and towns, located around Lakes Brienz and Thun.
Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is not far from Interlaken. We drove for 20 minutes along the road through lush green valleys, accompanied by incredible mountain scenery, to reach the village.
Along with the mountain scenery and access to the cogwheel trains that link to Jungfraujoch, Lauterbrunnen Valley’s biggest drawcard is the 72 waterfalls that cascade down the rock faces of the mountains surrounding the village. The Staubbach Fall, with a nearly 300 metre drop and located in the heart of the village, is the most well-known.
Trains run regularly from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen daily.
Grindelwald
At the foot of the Eiger mountain, Grindelwald is another pretty alpine village. The Eiger mountain towers over the village and is in sight everywhere you go,
For some serious hiking, the village provides access to the challenging Eiger Hiking Trail and its spectacular scenery via cable car.
Grindelwald is best known as the gateway to visiting the Eiger Glacier and Jungfraujoch (the highest train station in the world). Take the Eiger Express Cable Car from Grindelwald. The panorama as the cable car takes you to the glacier, followed by the cogwheel train up to Jungfraujoch, is said to be one of the best views of the Alps.
For information. We decided not to visit Jungfraujoch during our stay in Interlaken. While the views over the Alps and glaciers from Jungfraujoch are said to be truly spectacular, Jungfraujoch is also a major tourist destination with many tour groups and independent travellers ascending daily. We would not enjoy the experience amongst the crowds. We deferred the experience until our stay in Zermatt, where it’s less crowded.
Visit the towns and villages of Lake Thun
Leissigen
Leissigen is a picturesque small village nestled on the banks of Lake Thun. With small chalets overlooking the river, it’s ideal for a stay on the lake, perfect for water sports or a quiet getaway within easy access to the mountains.
Beatenberg
After visiting Leissigen, we drove up to Beatenberg. Beatenbeg is known for the St Beatus Caves and church. We think the main attraction is its location!
Perched above Lake Thun, a drive up the mountainside from Leissigen found us at the entrance of Hotel Meielisalp. A stroll to the back of the property after parking led us to a viewpoint offering spectacular views over Lake Thun and beyond.
Spiez
The small town of Spiez sits on a bay on the shores of Lake Thun, surrounded by vineyards. Its castle stands out prominently as you drive towards the town and the popular lakeside promenade.
Thun
Give yourself plenty of time to explore another of Switzerland’s most beautiful cities.
The city’s iconic landmark, the medieval castle, is perched protectively over the old town. Wander through the old town, over the bridges crossing the Aare River to reach the castle.
One of our favourite spots was Schadau Park on the edge of Lake Thun. Wander the shaded paths of the park until you reach the 19th-century Schadau Castle on the banks of the lake to take in the spectacular views of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau mountains.
Where we stayed
We chose to take advantage of being in the lake region by staying outside of Interlaken in the small village of Ringgenberg on the shores of Lake Brienz.
This little village is a 45-minute walk or a quick 5-minute train ride from Interlaken, but it feels like you’re a world away from the busy tourist trap. We thoroughly enjoyed walking the well-marked trail to and from Interlaken, taking in some amazing lake and mountain views along the way.
The village itself is made up of beautiful log chalets and gardens laden with flowering plants in the summer.
We stayed in an apartment at Chalet Diana Lakefront, from where we could enjoy our meals and a glass or two of wine from our little patio, enjoying stunning views of the lake.
In case you’re interested
Our travels have taken us to other towns and cities in Switzerland, which we believe are worth visiting. Please take a look at another of our recommendations below.
