Best Time to Visit
June to September for hiking and adventure sports; December to March for skiing
Language
German (Swiss German dialect), French, English widely understood
Currency
Swiss Franc (CHF)
Time Zone
CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2) in summer
Airport
Nearest: Bern Airport (BRN) 50 km, or Zurich Airport (ZRH) 130 km with direct train
Population
5,800 (town proper)
Climate
Alpine, avg -2 to 23°C, cool summers, snowy winters, weather changes rapidly in mountains
Safety Rating
Extremely Safe — virtually no crime; biggest risks are altitude sickness and mountain weather
Getting Around
Compact walkable town. Swiss rail connects to Jungfrau region. Boats cross both lakes. Swiss Travel Pass covers most transport.
The highest railway station in Europe at 3,454m, with panoramic views of the Aletsch Glacier. Train from Interlaken Ost: ~CHF 220 return (half-price with Swiss Travel Pass). Departs early morning, full journey takes 2 hours each way. Book the first train for clearest views. Allow 4-5 hours total.
Tandem paragliding from Beatenberg or Amisbuehl with views of both lakes and the Jungfrau massif. Flights last 15-25 minutes, costing CHF 170-200 per person. No experience needed. Operators: Skywings, Paragliding Interlaken. Book 1-2 days ahead. Runs year-round weather permitting.
The best viewpoint in Interlaken, accessible by funicular (CHF 16 return, 10 min ride). The glass-floored Two Lakes Bridge offers views of Lake Thun, Lake Brienz, and the Jungfrau trio. Open May-October. Go for sunset — the restaurant at the top serves Swiss food with panoramic views.
A scenic boat cruise on the turquoise Lake Brienz, one of Switzerland's most beautiful lakes. Round trip: ~CHF 50 (free with Swiss Travel Pass). Stop at Giessbach Falls — a dramatic 14-tier waterfall with a historic hotel. Cruises run May-October. Allow 3 hours for a round trip with a stop.
A jaw-dropping glacial valley with 72 waterfalls, said to have inspired Tolkien's Rivendell. Free to walk through. Staubbach Falls (297m, free) is visible from the village. Trummelbach Falls (inside the mountain, CHF 15) are the most impressive. 20 min by train from Interlaken. Allow half a day.
Hidden gem: rotating restaurant at 2,970m featured in the James Bond film 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service.' Cable car from Stechelberg: ~CHF 105 return (50% off with Swiss Travel Pass). The 360-degree panorama includes Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau. Less crowded and cheaper than Jungfraujoch.
Hidden gem for adventure seekers: rappelling, jumping, and sliding down natural gorges and waterfalls. Half-day tours from CHF 120-170 per person. Operators: Outdoor Interlaken, Alpin Raft. Suitable for beginners (no experience needed). Available May-September. Minimum age usually 14.
Arrive in Interlaken by train from Zurich Airport (2 hours, CHF 70) or Bern (50 min, CHF 30). Check in and head straight for the best viewpoint in town.
Train from Zurich Airport to Interlaken Ost(2 hours)
CHF 70 second class. Scenic route via Bern. Buy on the SBB app. Swiss trains run to the minute
Walk the Hoheweg promenade between lakes(45 minutes)
Free. Interlaken's main avenue with views of the Jungfrau on clear days. Paragliders landing on the Hohematte green
Harder Kulm funicular for sunset(2 hours)
CHF 16 return (50% off with Swiss Travel Pass). 10-min ride to the top. The Two Lakes Bridge offers views of Lake Thun, Lake Brienz, and the Jungfrau trio. Restaurant at the top serves Swiss classics. Open May-October
The highlight of any Swiss trip — the highest railway station in Europe at 3,454m. Check the webcam on jungfrau.ch before buying tickets to ensure clear skies.
Check Jungfraujoch webcam for weather(15 minutes)
Go to jungfrau.ch and check the live cam. If it's cloudy, postpone. The Good Morning Ticket (first train) is cheaper and has the best chance of clear views
Train from Interlaken Ost to Jungfraujoch(2 hours)
CHF 220 return (50% off with Swiss Travel Pass). Change at Kleine Scheidegg. The train climbs through the Eiger and has a stop inside the mountain with a window view
Jungfraujoch summit — Aletsch Glacier, Ice Palace, Sphinx Observatory(2.5 hours)
Walk the glacier viewing platform (bring sunglasses — the reflection is blinding), explore the Ice Palace carved inside the glacier, and visit the Sphinx observation tower. It can be -10°C even in summer — dress warmly
Return via Grindelwald for a different view(2 hours)
Take the Eiger Express gondola down to Grindelwald for a different perspective of the Eiger North Face
Dinner at Restaurant Baren in Interlaken(1.5 hours)
Traditional Swiss — rosti, fondue, and raclette. CHF 25-40 per person. A classic wooden Swiss restaurant
Explore the jaw-dropping glacial valley with 72 waterfalls — said to have inspired Tolkien's Rivendell. A more relaxed day after yesterday's high-altitude adventure.
Train from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen(20 minutes)
CHF 7 each way (free with Swiss Travel Pass)
Staubbach Falls(30 minutes)
Free. A 297m waterfall visible from the village. Walk behind it for a dramatic perspective
Trummelbach Falls(1.5 hours)
CHF 15. Glacial waterfalls inside the mountain — 20,000 liters per second crashing through spiral rock tunnels. Take the elevator up and walk down through 10 viewing galleries. Bring a rain jacket
Walk through Lauterbrunnen Valley floor(1.5 hours)
Free. The flat valley floor with waterfalls cascading from cliffs on both sides. One of the most beautiful walks in Switzerland
Lunch at Airtime Cafe in Lauterbrunnen(1 hour)
Burgers and wraps with valley views. CHF 18-25. Popular with adventure sports crowd
Fly over the Swiss Alps in the morning (the ultimate Interlaken experience), then cruise the turquoise Lake Brienz in the afternoon.
Tandem paragliding from Beatenberg(2 hours)
CHF 170-200 per person. 15-25 min flight with views of both lakes and the Jungfrau massif. No experience needed. Book 1-2 days ahead with Skywings or Paragliding Interlaken. You land on the Hohematte green in the town center
Lunch at Goldener Anker near Interlaken Ost(1 hour)
Affordable by Swiss standards — Thai and international dishes, CHF 18-25
Lake Brienz cruise to Giessbach Falls(3 hours)
CHF 50 round trip (free with Swiss Travel Pass). The turquoise water is surreal. Stop at Giessbach Falls — a 14-tier waterfall with a historic hotel. Take the funicular (CHF 5) from the boat dock up to the falls
Dinner at Benacus in Interlaken(1.5 hours)
Italian-Swiss cuisine by the river. Pizza and pasta from CHF 20. Good wine list
Visit the James Bond mountain with its revolving restaurant, then walk through the car-free cliff village of Murren — quieter and cheaper than Jungfraujoch.
Train to Lauterbrunnen, then cable car via Gimmelwald to Schilthorn(1.5 hours)
CHF 105 return from Stechelberg (50% off with Swiss Travel Pass). Multiple cable car stages through increasingly dramatic scenery
Piz Gloria revolving restaurant at 2,970m(1.5 hours)
360-degree panorama of Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau. The restaurant from James Bond 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service.' The Bond exhibition is free with the cable car ticket. Have a coffee or lunch while the room rotates
Walk through Murren village(1.5 hours)
Car-free cliff village with traditional wooden chalets and jaw-dropping valley views. Walk the Allmendhubel flower trail (30 min) for wildflower meadows
Lunch at Hotel Edelweiss in Murren(1 hour)
Terrace with Jungfrau views. Rosti and bratwurst. CHF 20-30. One of the best lunch views in Switzerland
A well-earned slow day. Take a gentle cruise on Lake Thun, explore the medieval castles along its shores, or simply rest.
Lake Thun boat cruise(2 hours)
CHF 56 round trip (free with Swiss Travel Pass). The western lake with castle-dotted shores. Stop at Spiez or Oberhofen
Schloss Oberhofen(1 hour)
CHF 12. A fairy-tale lakeside castle with a Turkish smoking room, medieval tower, and beautiful gardens
Free afternoon — rest, swim in the lake, or last-minute shopping(3 hours)
Both lakes have free swimming spots. The water is cold (16-22°C) but incredibly refreshing. Buy Swiss chocolate, cheese, or a Swiss Army knife as souvenirs
Farewell fondue dinner at Bebbis in Interlaken(1.5 hours)
Classic cheese fondue for two: CHF 50. Use the bread to scrape the crusty bottom (called la religieuse) — it's the best part
A final morning surrounded by Alps before catching the train out of Interlaken.
Last walk along the Aare River between the lakes(45 minutes)
Free. The turquoise Aare connects the two lakes through the center of town
Train from Interlaken to Zurich Airport or Bern(2 hours)
CHF 70 to Zurich, CHF 30 to Bern. Trains every 30 min. Allow 2 hours at airport
Switzerland is in the Schengen Area (though not the EU). US citizens get 90 days visa-free. Indian citizens need a Schengen visa — apply at the Swiss embassy via VFS Global, 2-4 weeks processing. Switzerland shares Schengen day counts with other member states.
The Swiss Travel Pass (CHF 244 for 3 days, CHF 389 for 8 days) covers unlimited trains, buses, boats, and city transport plus free entry to 500+ museums. The Jungfraujoch train is 50% off, as are most mountain railways. It pays for itself in 2-3 days of travel.
A basic restaurant meal costs CHF 25-40 ($28-45), a beer is CHF 7-9, and mid-range hotels are CHF 150-300/night. Save by shopping at Migros or Coop supermarkets, staying in hostels (CHF 40-60/night), and cooking your own meals. Bring food from neighboring countries if driving in.
Direct trains from Zurich Airport take 2 hours (CHF 70 second class). From Bern: 50 minutes (CHF 30). From Geneva: 2.5 hours via Bern. Swiss trains run on time to the minute. Buy tickets on the SBB app. First class is rarely worth the premium — second class is clean and comfortable.
Conditions at 3,000m+ bear no resemblance to the valley. Bring layers, sunscreen (UV is intense at altitude), and sunglasses even in summer. Check MeteoSwiss before any mountain excursion. Jungfraujoch can be -10°C and cloudy when Interlaken is 25°C and sunny. Dress in layers.
The Jungfraujoch ticket costs CHF 220 — don't waste it on a cloudy day. Check the live webcams on jungfrau.ch before buying your ticket. If clouds are thick, postpone by a day. The Good Morning Ticket (first train, cheaper) increases your odds of clear skies.
Travel GuidesIs Jungfraujoch worth CHF 220? Can you survive Switzerland on a budget? Should you get the Swiss Travel Pass? Every Interlaken question, answered.
SeasonalSkiing at Grindelwald-First, fondue by the fire, and the Jungfraujoch wrapped in fresh powder. Here's why winter Interlaken is magic.
Travel GuidesYes, a beer costs $9. Yes, a basic meal is $35. But paragliding over two lakes with the Jungfrau massif behind you? That's worth every overpriced franc.
