Interlaken, Switzerland

Interlaken lies in the Bernese Oberland on an alluvial plain, between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. The vacation destination, which is presided over by the three mighty mountains, Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, is the starting point for numerous activities.

By the beginning of the 19th century Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland had already become renowned for its impressive mountain scenery. Famous contemporaries such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Felix Mendelssohn traveled in these mountains. Interlaken’s success as a tourist destination was further enhanced by the completion of the Bernese Oberland Railway in 1890 and the Jungfrau Railway in 1912.

Interlaken has two railway stations, Interlaken Ost and Interlaken West, which are both served by the BLS AG’s Thunersee line that provides direct services to Spiez, Thun, Bern and beyond, with onward connections at Bern to the rest of Switzerland. Through international services are provided by TGV to Paris and ICE to Frankfurt and Berlin.

Besides being the terminal of the Thunersee line, Interlaken Ost is also the terminus of the Zentralbahn’s Brunig line to Brienz, Meiringen and Luzern, with onward connections to north-eastern Switzerland. The Berner Oberland railway also operates from Ost station, providing the first stage of several mountain railway routes into the Jungfrau region and, most notably, to Europe’s highest station at the Jungfraujoch.

Rail Travel Times:

Zurich to Interlaken: 1 hr 56 mins

Bern to Interlaken: 53 mins

Plan and Book:

Interlaken: See and Do

The town is principally a base from which to explore the surrounding areas. Among the main attractions are the mountains of the Jungfrau region, including the Jungfrau, (4,158 m), the Monch (4,107 m) and the Eiger (3,970 m). Whilst the peaks of these mountains are accessible only to mountaineers, a sequence of connecting mountain railways gives access to the Jungfraujoch, a saddle (3,454 m) between the Jungfrau and the Monch, but correctly tanslated as a yoke (German: Joch), which is the highest point in Europe reachable by train.


Harderkulm Restaurant terrace

Closer to Interlaken, the Harderkulm (1,321 m), just to the north of the town, and the Schynige Platte (1,967 m), just to the south, provide extensive views of the higher mountains. A cableway takes passengers up to Interlaken’s ‘house mountain’ which affords a view of the health resort and the whole Jungfrau region. The Alpine wild animal park near the valley station is an experience for children. Lake Thun and Lake Brienz are both close to the town, and the Aare flows east to west through the town. Boat trips operate on both lakes, serving various lakeside towns. One of these, Brienz, is the starting point for one of Switzerland’s last remaining steam operated mountain railway, the Brienz-Rothorn railway.

As a vacation destination and convention location of international importance, Interlaken is an ideal starting point for countless excursions. Over 45 mountain railways, cable cars, chair lifts and ski lifts lead to 200 kilometers of pistes and a dense network of hiking trails. Excursion ships, including historic paddle steamers, ply the waters of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz.


Sphinx observatory, Jungfrau

Interlaken in Winter

In winter visitors benefit from the central location of Interlaken and the associated opportunity to every day pick their favourite among the ski regions of the Jungfrau Top Ski Region (Mürren/Schilthorn, Kleine Scheidegg/Männlichen and First) or the family-oriented ski region of Beatenberg or Axalp-Brienz. Over 45 mountain railways, aerial cableways, chair and ski lifts take athletes to 200 kilometres of pistes.

Cross-country skiers and toboggan riders also are well catered for in the vicinity. And there are over 220 kilometres of winter walking trails in Interlaken, Beatenberg, Axalp-Brienz, Habkern, Wilderswil and the Jungfrau region. Guests staying in the holiday region of Interlaken may take advantage of the daily ski bus transfer connecting Interlaken with the ski-region Mürren/Schilthorn, Kleine Scheidegg/Männlichen und First.


Oberhofen Castle, Lakes Thun

Interlaken in Summer

Trains to the Jungfrau region in the direction of Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen with connections to the railways to Mürren and from there to the Schilthorn as well as via the Kleine Scheidegg to the Jungfraujoch depart from the Interlaken Ost railway station. A fleet of ships, including one historic paddle-steamer on each lake, cruises on Lakes Thun and Brienz. Interlaken is located on the Golden Pass panorama route from Montreux on Lake Geneva past the luxury holiday resort of Gstaad to Interlaken and from there across the Brunig Pass to Lucerne.

Boat services across Lake Brienz to Brienz and across Lake Thun to Spiez and Thun are operated by the BLS AG. The boats on Lake Thun operate from a quay adjacent to the West station, connected to Lake Thun by the Interlaken ship canal. The boats on Lake Brienz operate from a quay on the Aare by the Ost station. The remainder of the Aare between the two lakes is controlled by several weirs and is not navigable.

Just ten kilometres away from Interlaken, on a sunny south-facing slope, lies Beatenberg-Niederhorn, a paradise for paragliders. For hikers there is an extensive network of hiking routes. The Niederhorn also provides a habitat for ibexes, chamois and marmots.


Schynige Platte

Highlights

Schynige Platte near Wilderswil – nostalgic rack-railway, fascinating view of Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau, Alpine garden with about 500 plant species and a lot of hiking possibilities. Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn – the rides by rack-railway to the highest railway station in Europe and the cableway to the Piz Gloria revolving restaurant: two top mountain experiences in the Bernese Oberland. The restaurant has an interactive James Bond exhibition detailing how the site became a shoot location for the 007 film ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ in 1969.


Piz Gloria revolving restaurant

Heimwehfluh – a nostalgia funicular provides transport to the vantage terrace with a restaurant. Heimwehfluh offers magnificent views of Switzerland. It has a panoramic restaurant and historic lookout tower with views of the Bernese Oberland mountains and the lakes of Interlaken. There is also an all-seasons summer toboggan run, a large scale model railway display and a large children’s playground. The bob run is 400m long and there are no brakes … which means it’s a great experience for those who love fast rides and an adrenalin rush.

The funicular is only about a 7 minute walk from Interlaken West station or you can take the local bus, line 4, to Heimwehfluh station. It only takes 3-4 minutes to reach the top of the mountain at 669m. If you are arriving by car there is plenty of parking at the station. Alternatively you can walk to the top along the hiking trail, and you will be rewarded with beautiful scenery.

Jungfrau Tourism Museum in Unterseen – the regional tourism museum shows 200 years of tourism in the Jungfrau region.

St. Beatus Caves – one kilometre of lit limestone caves with stalagmites, impressive halls and waterfalls accessible by boat, car, bus or on foot on the historic pilgrims way. A prehistoric settlement as well as the cell of St. Beatus can also be viewed in the caves. Visitors should plan on having enough time to visit the cave museum at the entrance to the St. Beatus Grotto. The cave museum informs visitors about cave research and surveying. There is a restaurant at the entrance to the caves.

JungfrauPark – an amusement park, is situated just to the south of Interlaken. It was originally opened as a Mystery Park, a paranormal-based theme park owned by author Erich von Daniken, but was closed in 2006 after three years because of financial difficulties. It re-opened in its current guise in 2009.

Events

Jungfrau Music Festival – international brass ensembles (January).


Interlaken Classics

Interlaken Classics – classical music festival: platform for young artists to perform with world-class orchestras and soloists of the younger generation (before Easter each year).

Greenfield-Festival – over 40 international and Swiss bands play at this festive outdoor event on Interlaken’s airfield (June).

Open-Air Tell Festival – for almost 100 years, amateurs have presented “William Tell”, Friedrich Schiller’s heroic drama, on a natural stage near Interlaken (June-September).

International Trucker & Country Festival – impressive Mile of Trucks, awesome bikes, superb music, unique ambience (end of July).

International Jungfrau Marathon – some 3500 runners climb 1823 m to conquer the 42-km route (September).

Top of Europe Ice Magic – unique ice-skating show (December-February). From mid-December to late February the centre of Interlaken transforms into a winter wonderland.