Interlaken Travel Guide: What to Do, Where to Stay & Getting There
A complete Interlaken guide: the best things to do, where to stay, how to get there by train, and the day trips into the Jungfrau region worth taking.
Interlaken sits on a flat strip of land between two vivid blue lakes — Thun and Brienz — with the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau rising behind it. It’s not a big place, and its real value is as the gateway to the Jungfrau region: almost every great excursion in this part of the Alps starts with a train from Interlaken.
Why come to Interlaken
Think of Interlaken as basecamp. You sleep here, eat here, and each morning ride out to something spectacular — a glacier, a cliff walk, a car-free mountain village. It’s also Switzerland’s adventure-sports capital: paragliding off the surrounding hills, canyoning, and skydiving all launch from here.
Best things to do
- Harder Kulm — the funicular to Interlaken’s “top,” with the classic view down over both lakes and the Jungfrau massif. Do this first to get your bearings.
- Paragliding — tandem flights land right in town; on a clear day it’s the highlight of many trips.
- Lake Brienz boat — the turquoise water genuinely looks unreal; boats are free with the Swiss Travel Pass.
- St. Beatus Caves — waterfalls and caverns above Lake Thun, an easy half-day.
- Höheweg — the central promenade, good for an evening stroll with paragliders drifting overhead.
Day trips into the Jungfrau region
This is why you’re really here:
- Grindelwald (35 min) — hiking, the First cliff walk, and the gateway to the Eiger. See our Grindelwald guide.
- Lauterbrunnen (20 min) — the waterfall valley that inspired Tolkien, and the cable car up to car-free Mürren and the Schilthorn.
- Jungfraujoch — the “Top of Europe” at 3,454m; read our honest verdict first, because it’s a big spend.
Where to stay
- Interlaken West vs Ost: West is closer to shops and Lake Thun; Ost (East) is where trains to the mountains depart, so it’s handier for early excursion starts.
- Budget: the town has a strong hostel and guesthouse scene aimed at the adventure crowd.
- Mid-range and up: grand hotels line the Höheweg with Jungfrau views; book ahead in July–August.
- Alternative: sleeping up in Grindelwald, Wengen or Lauterbrunnen trades convenience for waking up in the mountains — a lovely option for a second visit.
Getting there
Direct trains from Zurich (~2h) and Lucerne (~2h on the scenic Luzern–Interlaken Express) run roughly hourly. From Geneva it’s about 2h45 via Bern. All of it is covered by the Swiss Travel Pass.
How Interlaken fits your trip
Interlaken anchors the mountain portion of most first-time routes. See exactly how it slots in on our 7-day Switzerland itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
How many days should I spend in Interlaken?
Two to three days is ideal. That gives you one day for Interlaken itself and the lakes, and one or two for day trips into the Jungfrau region — Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, or a big excursion like Jungfraujoch or the Schilthorn.
Is Interlaken worth visiting?
Yes. Interlaken is the best base for the Jungfrau region, with easy train access to Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and the high Alpine excursions, plus lakes, paragliding and hiking on its doorstep. It is more of a hub than a destination in itself, which is exactly why it works.
How do I get from Zurich to Interlaken?
Direct trains run from Zurich to Interlaken Ost roughly hourly and take about 2 hours. From Zurich Airport it is the same journey with a change at Zurich main station. The route is covered by the Swiss Travel Pass.
Written by Christoph Burgdorfer
Swiss-based traveler writing first-hand, up-to-date guides to getting the most out of Switzerland — trains, mountains, and real prices in Swiss francs.
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