What to do in Interlaken? There is more than enough to do in beautiful Interlaken in Switzerland. Are you looking for action, adventure, for nature, mountains, the most beautiful train rides, boats and lakes? Then Interlaken is the place to be. Precisely because Interlaken is located in a valley, you will enjoy all the more the beautiful Bernese Alps that surround this small town.
Interlaken is located in the region Bern between western Lake Thuner and eastern Lake Brienzer. The city is easily accessible by car, train and plane. Maybe Interlaken doesn't tell you much at this point, but trust us (and after reading our tips), this place is definitely a destination for your bucket list.
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There is plenty to do in Interlaken and you can indulge yourself if you love action. But also for those who really like to be in nature and enjoy the quiet side, there is a lot to see and enjoy here. We take you through our 10 tips on what to do and see in Interlaken in Switzerland.
Enjoy the views with the Harder Kulm cable car
If you are in Interlaken, then enjoying the spectacular views of the snow-capped Jungfrau mountain, Interlaken itself and the lakes is an absolute must do. This view is at 1322 metres and you get here in a special way: by the Harder Kulm cable car.
The cable car goes nice and steep over the Harder with a 64-degree incline and stops at the Panorama Restaurant. Here, have a drink, eat a snack and take in the view. At the Harder Kulm viewpoint, you'll take great photos.
You can descend again via the same cable car, but you can also choose to walk down along the forest paths. If you are almost down, the Harder Alpine Wildlife Park is a good destination to spend the rest of the day. This park was established to reintroduce the ibex, which is extinct here. Within a few years, they even released ibex back into the wild.
Visit Europe's highest train station
Taking one of the most extraordinary train journeys of your life? Then be sure to take the train ride on the more than 100-year-old track to Europe's highest train station: Jungfraujoch. The altitude naturally comes with amazing views, including snow-capped mountains. You get here by taking the train from Interlaken Ost to the terminus, which is at almost 3,500 metres above sea level.
Besides overwhelming views during the train ride, this train travels through a 7-kilometre tunnel through the mountains. After disembarking, you will be surrounded by snow-capped mountains. Here you will also visit Europe's tallest building, the Top of Europe, with the best view of the Aletsch Glacier , which is a Unesco World Heritage Site.
You have several restaurants here, hiking possibilities, an ice palace and you can take the lift to the Sphinx Observatory, where you have 360-degree views of the whole area. So there is plenty to do and see here at this high point near Interlaken.
Cost: a return ticket costs between €100 and €200 depending on the season, which is a hefty sum, but absolutely worth it. The train journey takes about two hours, but it flies by with viewing the changing landscapes.
See Interlaken from the air
Are you up for a great adventure? Want to discover Interlaken in a different way? Then a helicopter flight is definitely recommended. It's one of the most unique ways to see Interlaken and the surrounding area, and from the air you'll have completely different views and vistas than from the ground.
Go paragliding through the mountains
Do you like heights, flying, adrenaline and action, and want to discover Interlaken in a unique way? A step up from the helicopter flight is paragliding through the mountains. Interlaken and paragliding, they are two words that belong together. Wherever you are in Interlaken, if you look up, chances are you will see a paraglider. Together with an instructor, you will glide through the mountains of Interlaken and really see how overwhelming this beautiful environment is. Do you dare?
Relax on a boat in one of the lakes
Interlaken and the surrounding area are known for the many lakes that can be found here. Tourism capitalises on this by offering various boat trips. You can opt for a full-day trip to get to know the Interlaken area from the water.
You can also opt for a short boat trip, focusing on relaxation and being on the water. Or you can opt for a boat trip that takes you to the various surrounding towns. Whatever you choose, make sure you get to know Interlaken from the water anyway.
Are you in Interlaken in summer and love more action on the water? On Lake Thuner or Lake Brienzer there are plenty of water activities to do. You can supp, explore the lake in a canoe, hire a pedalo or a rowing boat.
Count the 72 (!) waterfalls in Lauterbrunnen
From Interlaken, you can easily travel by train to Lauterbrunnen, a small village in a green valley surrounded by cliffs. Go hiking here, the trails are good and often paved. The surroundings of this place alone are insanely beautiful, but what makes this place really special are the waterfalls.
In fact, you will find 72 waterfalls here... unbelievably many. And if you walk towards the village of Stechelberg, don't forget to visit the Staubbach waterfall. You can practically stand behind this when you walk through the tunnel.
Take the cable car to Lake Oeschinensee
There is also plenty to see and do near Interlaken. For instance, take a nice day trip to mountain lake Oeschinensee, near village of Kandersteg. This lake is blue like you've probably never seen a blue lake before.
You get here from Kandersteg with a cable car that takes you up. Then take a little train further to the lake or walk here in 20 minutes. The super blue lake is completely enclosed between snow-capped mountains, which makes for great views.
Picture yourself in the James Bond film on the Schilthorn
Do you love James Bond? Then you probably remember the 1969 film On Her Majesty's Secret Service with George Lazenby. In this film, they use the Schilthorn, the viewpoint on the mountain rock, as the headquarters of Spectre, Bond's big enemy. This viewpoint is one of the highlights of what there is to do in Interlaken. You'll also find the restaurant from the film here, which rotates so everyone at the table can see the full view. Website: www.schilthorn.ch
Are you lucky and are you there on a cloudless day? Then you can enjoy the mountains Jungfrau, Titlis, Mönch and Eiger. And sometimes even Jura mountains, the Vosges and the Black Forest can be seen. On the mountain itself, of course, there is also much to discover about the James Bond film. You can visit an exhibition with film footage, photos taken during the filming, props from the film and much more.
The best way to get here is by cable car, which will get you to the top in 32 minutes. You leave from Stechelberg in the valley and have to transfer three times at the intermediate stations Gimmelwald, Mürren and Birg. Go early in the morning to stay ahead of most tourists.
Visit the medieval town of Unterseen
To the west of Interlaken is the beautiful medieval town of Unterseen. You'll have fewer tourists here, it's quieter and you'll find quaint craft shops. Unterseen is an ideal base to spend a day relaxing, looking around, strolling, eating bread from the real baker, drinking coffee and getting to know the locals.
Winter sports in Interlaken
Interlaken is not the most well-known place to go on winter sports, but if you go to Interlaken in winter, you can easily spend a few days skiing or snowboarding here. Precisely because there is so much to see and do in and around Interlaken, one or two days of winter sports in between is a nice change.
You have the Jungfrau ski area, which is well suited to more experienced skiers. Are you a beginner or with your family? Then Beatenberg-Niederhorn north of Interlaken is a good choice. You also have beautiful trails through nature and along the lakes here.
What to do and see in Interlaken: practical tips
Due to its impressive nature, Interlaken is a special city and environment where there is a lot to do and see. Here are some more practical tips for visiting Interlaken.
Travelling to Interlaken
Most people drive to Interlaken by car or they take the train. By car, it takes about 9 hours and by train it takes more than 8 hours from Utrecht Central Station. You will have to change trains in the Swiss city of Basel.
If you prefer to fly, Bern airport is the closest (about 45 minutes' drive to Interlaken). However, there are no direct flights to Bern from the Netherlands. However, you can fly from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to Basel and take a train to Interlaken from there.
Sleeping in Interlaken
You have several options in terms of places to sleep in Interlaken. If you want to be central and have a good base, the hotels in Interlaken itself are a good option. You have plenty of choice here in terms of budget, with most hotels paying between €70 and €300 per night.
One of the most famous places in the centre is Hotel Bellevue, a historic art nouveau hotel that has been welcoming guests since 1801. The 4-star hotel is located on the River Aare, just a 5-minute walk from Interlaken-West train station. All rooms have a balcony and stunning views of the river and surrounding mountains. ► Book a night at the Hotel Bellevue from €290
Are you more into tranquillity? Then choose a beautiful destination in nature, for example at Lake Brienzer.
Eating and drinking in Interlaken
Interlaken is not the city you go to for the food. But precisely because of the many activities and full days, the food and drinks here are always delicious. For a three-course meal, you'll pay an average of €40 and a large beer is around €5.
Other tips for your trip to Interlaken
In Interlaken, they speak German and you pay with the Swiss franc (CHF). You can also pay with euros, but you'll often have a less favourable exchange rate.
The best travel time for Interlaken Switzerland is between June and September. The mild temperatures are nice for exploring the area. Do you also want to do winter sports? Then, of course, the winter period is a better time.
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