Interlaken between two lakes

Interlaken lies on an alluvial plain between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. The River Aare flows through the town and connects the two lakes. When planning your trip, you’ll find waterways, culture and excursions into the mountains all coming together here. From Interlaken Ost station, train connections take you closer to the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau; depending on the route, you can continue to Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen. This lets you shape your stay around different interests without trying to fit every experience into a single day’s itinerary.

Getting around between the Aare, trains and mountains

From Interlaken Ost station, cross the Aare bridge to reach the Harderbahn valley station. The journey from there to the Harder Kulm mountain station takes ten minutes. A hiking route up to Harder Kulm first leads through dense forest, then opens up to views of Interlaken, the lakes and the mountains. Another ride takes you up to Heimwehfluh: the nostalgic funicular, which is more than 100 years old, takes four minutes from Interlaken. These times refer to different destinations and routes; check the funicular’s operating times before your trip. If you’d rather get to know the area on a round trip, you can take the Interlaken City Train. Its approximately 45-minute ride takes you past sights and through the town’s streets, with a multilingual audio guide.

There’s also a special connection with nature at the Harderbahn valley station: visitors can watch ibexes and marmots at the Alpine Wildlife Park. If you’re interested in heights and treetops, Ropes Park Interlaken has 14 courses. Obstacles and ziplines reach heights of up to 23 metres. Canyoning near Interlaken includes jumps, ziplines, abseiling sections and wild rapids. These are different kinds of experiences; choose according to the activities that interest you rather than assuming a particular level of suitability from a description.

Cultural history and walks

The Tourismuseum Interlaken is housed in a former rectory dating from 1630 in the old town of Unterseen. Across several exhibits, it presents 500 years of Swiss alpine tourism history. It is the only Swiss museum dedicated to the history and present-day realities of tourism. Another historic landmark is the former Augustinian monastery of Interlaken in the centre, first mentioned in a document in 1133. The former monastery complex includes a church tower dating from the early 14th century. The Kursaal also tells the story of the town’s visitors: it was founded in 1857 as a meeting and entertainment venue for wealthy spa guests.

The cultural trail on the Rugen connects several historic sites. Among other places, it passes the Unspunnen ruins, Interlaken’s former execution site and a historic drinking hall at a spa. Information panels also share details about the life and work of artist Clara von Rappard. For a different kind of cultural outing, Kunsthaus Interlaken presents exhibitions by artists of national and international standing. You can explore the exhibitions independently or as part of a guided tour; check the availability of tours and the current programme before your visit. The art museum also hosts concerts and theatre performances throughout the year; check the dates before your trip.

Another cultural spot is the Japanese Garden Interlaken, created in 1995 as a gift from its Japanese twin town of Ōtsu. The garden includes a pond and a pavilion. On the Höhematte, the Grand Tour of Switzerland photo point offers a view of the Jungfrau massif; the area has been designated a historic protected site since 1864. The combination of the garden, viewpoint and older buildings offers several ways to explore the area, without requiring you to follow a particular sightseeing itinerary.

Experiences, dates and seasonal offerings

If you enjoy combining culture with a hike, consider the Tüürli tasting hike. It starts at the Youth Hostel near Interlaken Ost station and follows the turquoise Aare to Lake Brienz. Regional beers or wines are served at five stops; for lunch, the hike takes you to the “Oberländerhof” restaurant in Bönigen. The tour brings together exercise, tastings and a specific destination. You can plan your day differently for this outing than for a short mountain railway ride or a museum visit.

Events also give the year different highlights. “Longest New Year’s Eve” takes place every year in Interlaken and begins on 31 December with a New Year’s Eve party. Harder-Potschete takes place on 2 January and has been celebrated in this form for almost 50 years. The Unspunnen Festival was first held in the Interlaken holiday region in 1805; it still takes place every twelve years. These events follow very different schedules: an annual New Year celebration, a date in early January and a festival held every twelve years can help you choose a travel period that suits your interests.

From December to March, the “Ufem Fluss” restaurant boat is moored at the Interlaken Ost landing stage and serves Swiss specialities on the Aare. As this is a seasonal offering, check the dates and availability before your trip. This way, you can choose a hotel around your own plans, without any one experience having to determine every trip.

Discover more destinations: Oberried am Brienzersee, Brienzwiler, Interlaken, Gundlischwand, Gsteigwiler, Iseltwald, Brienz, Lütschental, Hofstetten bei Brienz, Saxeten, Wengen, Wilderswil, Ringgenberg, Mürren, Leissigen, Lauterbrunnen, Habkern, Grindelwald, Därligen, Beatenberg, Axalp, Bönigen, Matten bei Interlaken, Schwanden bei Brienz, Unterseen, Niederried bei Interlaken, Isenfluh.

For the broader travel overview: Bern.