Interlaken centre
First-timersBetween the West and East stations: the Höhematte, restaurants, tour offices and most beds.
Interlaken city guide
Interlaken Travel Guide
Between two turquoise lakes under the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau: the adventure sports capital of the Alps, with paragliders landing in the middle of town and the Top of Europe station above.
7
Hostels in the city
9.2
Average, from 29,466 reviews
2
Lakes, Thun and Brienz, either side of town
3,454 m
Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe
~1 hour
From Bern by train
The base for the Bernese Oberland, and for jumping off things
Interlaken sits on a strip of flat land between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz — the name means between the lakes — with the peaks of the Jungfrau region rising to the south.
The town itself is small and mostly a base. Its central meadow, the Höhematte, is where paragliders land all day in summer, and the town has built itself around adventure sports: paragliding, skydiving, canyoning, bungee, rafting.
From here, mountain railways climb to Grindelwald, Wengen, Mürren and Lauterbrunnen, and to the Jungfraujoch, at 3,454 metres the highest railway station in Europe, marketed as the Top of Europe.
The lakes are an extraordinary milky turquoise, coloured by glacial silt, and boats run on both.
It is expensive, and the Jungfraujoch in particular is one of the most expensive excursions in Europe.
Two or three days, as a base.
Where to stay
A small town between two railway stations, with villages in the valleys beyond.
Near Interlaken Ost
Mountain accessBy the East station, where the mountain railways leave.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 6 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Interlaken
Paraglide. Tandem flights from the slopes above town land on the Höhematte in the middle of Interlaken, and it is the thing the town is known for. Expect around CHF 170 to 220 (about €180–233).
Go up Harder Kulm, the viewpoint above town, by funicular, for the view of both lakes and the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
The Jungfraujoch, at 3,454 metres, is the highest railway station in Europe, with a glacier, an ice palace and the Sphinx observatory. It is very expensive — a return costs well over CHF 200 at full price, reduced with passes — and the view depends entirely on the weather. Check the webcam that morning before you pay.
Take a boat on Lake Brienz or Lake Thun, covered by the Swiss Travel Pass. Brienz, at the far end, is a pretty village known for woodcarving.
Canyoning, rafting and bungee are all available. Choose operators carefully — see the safety section.
More on things to do in Interlaken
Free things
Free things to do in Interlaken
Watching the paragliders land on the Höhematte is free and entertaining all day in summer.
The lakeshores and the walk along the Aare between the lakes are free.
Walking up to Harder Kulm on foot, rather than taking the funicular, is free and takes around two hours.
The hiking trails throughout the Jungfrau region are free — it is the mountain transport that costs.
Local buses are often free for overnight guests with a guest card.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Interlaken
Expensive and aimed at visitors. A main is CHF 28 to 42 (about €30–45).
Fondue, raclette and rösti are the standards.
Coop and Migros are the budget answer, and self-catering is common among backpackers.
A beer is CHF 7 to 10 (about €7.50–10.50).
More on food and drink in Interlaken
Nightlife
Going out in Interlaken
Backpacker-driven. The hostels and a few bars around the centre carry a lively international crowd, many of them fresh off a skydive or paraglide.
A beer is CHF 7 to 10.
Nights are shorter than you might expect, because the mountain trips start early.
Getting around
Getting around Interlaken
Interlaken has two stations: West, in the town, and Ost, the East station, where the mountain railways to Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and the Jungfrau leave.
The town is walkable between them.
Bern is about an hour away by train and Zurich about two. Lucerne is about two hours on the scenic Luzern–Interlaken Express.
The Swiss Travel Pass covers the trains to Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen and the lake boats, and gives a discount on the Jungfraujoch. The regional Jungfrau Travel Pass is another option.
Costs
What Interlaken costs
Expensive, and activities drive it. Dorms are CHF 40 to 65 (about €42–69), a main CHF 28 to 42, and a beer CHF 7 to 10.
A day is €90 to €150 before activities.
Activities set the budget: paragliding CHF 170 to 220, skydiving much more, and the Jungfraujoch well over CHF 200 at full price.
The trails, the lakeshore and watching the paragliders are free.
Safety
Staying safe in Interlaken
The town is very safe. The risks are in the activities and the mountains.
Adventure sports carry real risk. In 1999, twenty-one people died in a canyoning accident in the Saxetenbach gorge near Interlaken when a flash flood hit a commercial group. Safety standards were tightened afterwards. Choose licensed operators that carry the Swiss Safety in Adventures label, ask about their weather policy, and do not do canyoning or rafting in unsettled weather.
Altitude at the Jungfraujoch, 3,454 metres, reached quickly by train, can cause headaches and dizziness. Move slowly at the top.
Mountain weather changes fast. Check forecasts and webcams.
Emergency number is 112, and Swiss mountain rescue, Rega, is 1414.
Day trips from Interlaken
Waterfall valleys, car-free villages and the Top of Europe.
Lauterbrunnen
A valley of 72 waterfalls under vertical cliffs.
Grindelwald
Under the Eiger north face, with the First cliff walk and gondolas.
Jungfraujoch
The highest railway station in Europe, at 3,454 m.
Brienz
A lakeside woodcarving village, and the Brienz Rothorn steam railway.
Thun
A castle town at the other end of Lake Thun.
What's on
What is on while you are there
A summer of paragliders and a mountain above the clouds.
18–20 December
Christmas Market
Set in the Kursaalgarten, this market brings together regional specialties and winter delicacies in a festive Alpine setting. The timing coincides with the opening…
14 November
Joe Haider
Joe Haider leads a tribute to Miles Davis, bringing the music of the legendary "Second Great Quintet" era to life at Kunsthaus Interlaken. The…
21 November
Swiss Ländler Gamblers
A band with over 25 years together, the Swiss Ländler Gamblers bring genuine enthusiasm to their mix of traditional folk music, Dixieland, and melodies…
9–13 December
Art7: The Sparkler
Art7 is a theater company founded about 15 years ago that performs at the Schlosskeller Interlaken, an intimate venue set within the vaulted cellar…
18 December
That's Life: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra
That's Life brings the sound of Frank Sinatra to the stage with two strong vocalists backed by a top-class small big band. Kent Stetler…
14 November
Rolf Marti & Lisa Catena
Lisa Catena and Rolf Marti come together to pay tribute through song and storytelling, performing both beloved favorites and hidden gems. The evening draws…
15 November
Walter & Christine Blatti
Walter and Christine Blatti perform Swiss folk music spanning all four of the country's language regions, alongside melodies from across Europe. The concert creates…
28 November
Pedro Lenz & Simon Ho
Pedro Lenz and Simon Ho bring the wild, contradictory life of Diego Maradona to the stage through spoken word and live piano in "Mit…
Hostels
Where to stay in Interlaken
A strong backpacker scene, among the best in Switzerland. Live from Hostelworld.
Balmers Hostel
Dorms from €50 a night
See dates and book
Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof (Hostel Interlaken)
Dorms from €36 a night
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Happy Inn Lodge
Dorms from €39 a night
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Lake Lodge Iseltwald
Rooms from €29 a night
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Adventure Hostel Interlaken
Dorms from €49 a night
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Sustainable
Interlaken Youth Hostel
Dorms from €47 a night
See dates and book
When to go
June to September for hiking and flying. December to April for skiing nearby.
Jan
Skiing in the valleys
Feb
Ski season
Mar
Late skiing
Apr
Between seasons
May
Trails at altitude still snowy
Jun
Excellent
Jul
Peak season
Aug
Busy
Sep
Superb, clear air
Oct
Autumn
Nov
Between seasons
Dec
Ski season opening
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average valley highs. The Jungfraujoch is far colder, and can be below freezing in August.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros — you will pay in Swiss francs, at roughly 1.06 euros to the franc.
Shown in euros for comparison; you pay in Swiss francs. Activities set the doing line — one paraglide is about €180 to €233 on its own.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Interlaken travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is the Jungfraujoch worth it?
On a clear day, for many people, yes — it is the highest railway station in Europe at 3,454 metres, with a glacier and an ice palace. But it is one of the most expensive excursions in Europe, well over CHF 200 return at full price, and the view depends entirely on the weather. Check the webcam that morning before you pay.
Is paragliding safe?
With a licensed operator, the risk is low. Choose one carrying the Swiss Safety in Adventures label, and accept cancellations for weather.
What happened at Saxetenbach?
In 1999, twenty-one people died when a flash flood swept through a commercial canyoning group in the Saxetenbach gorge near Interlaken. Safety standards across Swiss adventure sports were tightened afterwards. It is why weather policy matters when you book.
How expensive is it?
Expensive. Dorms CHF 40 to 65 (about €42–69), and a day around €90 to €150 before activities, which cost far more.
Which pass should I get?
The Swiss Travel Pass covers the trains to Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen and the lake boats, and discounts the Jungfraujoch. The regional Jungfrau Travel Pass is often better if you are staying in the region.
Why are the lakes that colour?
Glacial silt suspended in the water turns Lake Thun and Lake Brienz a milky turquoise.
How long do I need?
Two or three days as a base, adding a day for each major mountain excursion.
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