🏔️ SwitzerlandInterlaken travel guide
Interlaken sits between two lakes under the giants of the Bernese Oberland — Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. It's the springboard for cogwheel trains, cliffside villages, paragliding, and some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in Europe.
Where to stay
Interlaken Ost & West
The twin town centers and rail hubs, with the famous Höhematte meadow and paragliding landings between them.
Lauterbrunnen
A valley of 72 waterfalls under sheer cliffs — the most jaw-dropping base in the region.
Grindelwald
A classic alpine village right under the Eiger, with gondolas to first-class hikes and viewpoints.
Wengen & Mürren
Car-free cliff-top villages reached by train or cable car, quiet and storybook-perfect.
Don't miss
Ride up to Jungfraujoch
The 'Top of Europe' — a railway to a glacier saddle at 3,454 m. Pricey, unforgettable, and best on a clear day.
Lauterbrunnen Valley walk
Stroll beneath cliffs and the Staubbach Falls; the whole valley feels unreal.
Paraglide over the lakes
Tandem flights launch from the heights above town and land in the meadow — the view defines the trip.
Schynige Platte hike
A vintage cog railway to a ridge trail facing the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau head-on.
Swim in Lake Brienz
Turquoise glacial water you can actually swim in on a warm day; Iseltwald is the prettiest spot.
Mürren and the Schilthorn
A cable car to the revolving Piz Gloria summit, with a 360° panorama and a Bond-film backstory.
How to get to Interlaken and around the Jungfrau region
Interlaken is on the Swiss rail network and needs no car. From Zurich it is roughly two hours by train with a change at Bern, and a little under an hour from Bern itself. From Geneva allow around three hours. The town has two stations, Interlaken Ost and Interlaken West, and the Ost station is the one for the mountain railways.
From Interlaken Ost, trains run up the valleys to Lauterbrunnen (about 20 minutes) and Grindelwald (about half an hour), and from there to the car-free villages and the high railways. Boats cross Lake Thun and Lake Brienz from the town's two harbors.
Passes, mountain railways and the Jungfraujoch
Switzerland's public transport and mountain railways are priced differently, and no single pass is right for everyone. A national pass, a half-fare card and the regional passes for the Bernese Oberland and the Jungfrau region cover different things. Make a list of the excursions you will really do, then compare the pass options against the individual tickets on the operators' own sites.
The Jungfraujoch is the largest single cost of most visits and the one most affected by weather, so go on a day with a clear forecast and keep the day flexible. The operators publish live webcams of the summit, which is the quickest way to see whether it is worth the ticket that morning. The Schilthorn above Mürren and Schynige Platte are shorter alternatives that face the same peaks.
At 3,454 meters, the Jungfraujoch can bring headaches and breathlessness. Go slowly, drink water and wear warm layers; it is cold at the top in any month.
Weather, seasons and what is open
Mountain railways and cable cars have maintenance closures in the shoulder periods, usually in spring and late autumn, and some attractions are strictly seasonal. Schynige Platte's railway runs only in the summer season, the Trümmelbach Falls open from spring to autumn, and the funicular to Harder Kulm and its viewpoint runs in the warmer part of the year. High trails can hold snow into early summer.
Clouds can hide the high peaks for days. Build slack into the plan and swap the big excursion with a valley walk or a lake day when the forecast turns.
A three-day shape for a first visit
One valley, one lake and one peak, in whatever order the weather suggests.
- Day 1: Interlaken itself, the funicular to Harder Kulm for the view over both lakes, and an evening walk by the Aare.
- Day 2: Lauterbrunnen Valley on foot, the Staubbach Falls, and Wengen or Mürren by train or cable car.
- Day 3: Grindelwald and the First area, or the Jungfraujoch if the forecast is clear and the budget allows.
Check before you go
These change by season and by year. Confirm each one with the official source before you book; this guide's planning notes were last reviewed on .
- Railway and cable car timetables, maintenance closures and opening dates change by year and season. Check each operator.
- Pass coverage and prices change every year. Compare on the operators' own sites against the trips you will really take.
- Weather: check the forecast and the live summit webcams the morning of any high excursion. Cloud can hide the peaks.
- Seasonal sights: Schynige Platte, the Trümmelbach Falls and the Harder Kulm funicular have seasonal opening dates.
- Paragliding and other weather-dependent activities are decided by the operator on the day.
When to go
June–September for hiking, green meadows, and open mountain railways. December–March for skiing. Late spring and autumn are quieter and beautiful.
Practical facts for Interlaken, with sources
Each fact comes from the organization named beside it and was checked on the date shown. Rules, seasons and fees change, so confirm with the source before you rely on one.
Interlaken is in the west of Switzerland, in the Bernese Oberland between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz.
Source: Switzerland Tourism · checked
Jungfrau Region Tourism describes Interlaken Ost railway station as the gateway to the Jungfrau Region, from which the Bernese Oberland Railway runs toward the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
Source: Jungfrau Region Tourism · checked
Jungfrau Railways describes reaching the Jungfraujoch from Interlaken Ost by taking the Bernese Oberland Railway to Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald, changing to the Wengernalp rack railway to Kleine Scheidegg, and connecting to the Jungfrau Railways.
Source: Jungfrau Railways · checked
Guests who pay the visitor's tax in Interlaken receive the Interlaken guest card from their host on arrival at their accommodation; it includes free public transport on local transport within its area of validity, plus discounts.
Source: Interlaken Tourism · checked
Switzerland Tourism states that tap water can be drunk from every tap without posing a health hazard, citing the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office.
Source: Switzerland Tourism · checked
Switzerland Tourism lists the emergency numbers as 117 for police, 118 for the fire service, 144 for an ambulance and 112 as the European emergency number.
Source: Switzerland Tourism · checked
Good to know
Is Interlaken expensive?
Switzerland is pricey, and mountain railways especially so. Save with a Swiss Travel Pass or regional pass, self-cater some meals, and pick one or two big excursions rather than all of them.
Should I stay in Interlaken or up in the valley?
Interlaken is convenient for transport; Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald put you right under the peaks. Many people split, or base in the valley and day-trip down.
Do I need a car?
No — the train, cogwheel, and cable-car network is superb and scenic. A car can be a hassle with the car-free villages and limited parking.
When is the best time to go?
Summer for hiking and the full railway network, winter for skiing. Aim for clear days, since clouds can hide the high peaks.
Where to next?
More around Western Europe
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