Interlaken, Switzerland is an adventurer’s haven snuggled in a valley of the Alps, surrounded from all angles by towering mountains and turquoise water. In fact, that is literally what the name Interlaken means. Inter-laken… between-lakes. 

Interlaken is every postcard you have ever seen of the Alps. You expect the Von Trapp family to crest over the ridge decked out in their curtain frock to sing about their favorite things – One of which, in retrospect, definitely should have been cheese fondue.

(At this point, I am obligated to point out that, YES, I am well aware that the Sound of Music took place in Austria. I’m just trying to paint a picture). 

Below are a few of my recommendations to explore in Interlaken, as well as some tips for travel and accommodation in the city.

Interlaken Bucket List

1. Book an Adventure Activity

Interlaken is not short of ledges to jump off of while tethered to various forms of harnesses. If you are schlepping out to Interlaken, chances are, this is probably what you came for. A good rule of thumb for anyone aspiring for adventure: if they make you sign a waiver with the words “I assume all liability”, then you’re probably on the mark. 

My recommendation is hang gliding. When else will you have the opportunity to pretend you are Khalisi riding on the back of Drogon soaring above the villages below? (Are Game of Thrones references out of date now?) 

Check out my guide to hang gliding in Interlaken, Switzerland for more.

2. Take a day trip to Grindlewald

No. I am not talking about the Harry Potter villain here – although, admittedly (and somewhat shamefully), that is where my mind zoomed upon hearing the name. 

In addition to his time spent dabbling in dark wizardry, Grindlewald also happens to be an incredibly beautiful mountain town 20 kilometers from Interlaken. It is easily accessible by train from the Interlaken city center. Grindelwald is also much less populated than neighboring Voldemort Interlaken, so you have some opportunity to explore the area solo.

My friend and I heard rumblings of a summer toboggan run at the top of one of the many mountains. Five minutes into our Grindelwald debut, we weaseled the general directions out of a shop owner. Not wanting to spend $15 on the cable car to the top, we opted to hike instead. We walked for over 45 minutes before realizing that we had accidentally trespassed on, not one, but two private goat farms. How magical is that?

While you are in Grindelwald, enjoy some hot tea or coffee and breathe in the surrounding mountains. And absolutely search for that toboggan run.

3. Hike Harder Klum

Harder Klum is one of the main vantage points for a panoramic view of Interlaken. And it is, as the name suggests, hard. Mainly because no one has appeared to update the route signage since the 80s and, on a few occasions, I realized I veered off trail and was bushwhacking my way through the forest. (It is also probable that this was user-error, and had nothing to do with the signs).

There are a few routes to hike to the top of Harder Klum, but the main one begins just behind the Harder Klum station in Interlaken. The entire hike takes around 2.5 hours to get up to the lookout where you’ll encounter a 360 panoramic view of Lake Brienz, Lake Thun, and Interlaken nestled between. 

I would recommend starting your hike earlier in the day, say 10am, so you don’t end up hiking back down the trail in the pitch dark like I did. 

4. Picnic at Like Brienz or Lake Thun

It only takes accidentally ordering a $40 burrito at dinner once to realize that you probably need to “cool it” on the spending. For a low-budget, calm afternoon, I recommend visiting the two major lakes of Interlaken – Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. You could spend a whole day here relaxing near the turquoise waters. Bring a book and some local cheeses and enjoy an afternoon lazing about.

5. Grab a drink at the Jungfrau Hotel & Spa

Grabbing a drink at a luxury hotel is, in my opinion, the best way to feel luxurious without Chase Bank flagging your account for fraud. It’s luxury-adjacent, if you will. This hotel was even the backdrop for a 007 film. Hell, if it’s good enough for a Bond villain, it’s good enough for me.

Alternatively, Interlaken and the surrounding regions have a smattering of local breweries. If this is more your speed, consider concocting a beer tour and sample your way across the town.

6. Visit Jungfrau

Jungfraujoch is the tallest railway station in Europe nestled between two of the tallest peaks in the region: Jungfrau and Monch. This is a place where all of my “it’s not too far, we can walk!” folks are sorely mistaken. The train is a must. 

A trip up to the station costs around $220USD. It goes without saying, but here you can experience some of the best views here. Leave early in the morning to ensure you have time to hike around and visit the observatory.

8. Eat some fondue

Although Maria neglected to include it, fondue is certainly on the list of my favorite things. At the end of a long day of hiking, there are few things that slap quite like a steaming vat of melted cheese or chocolate. 

Truth be told, we swung for the chocolate fondue because it was cheaper. Now that I am employed, I might spring for the cheese next time.

Getting to Interlaken

How I did it – Travel by Bus

Ah yes. The good ole’ bus.

I traveled from Rome, Italy to Interlaken, Switzerland with a company called Bus2Alps (not sponsored). Bus2Alps provides round-trip transportation to Interlaken and three nights of accommodation from select European cities. Travel and accommodation knocked out with the same ticket? Sold. Definitely worth the 12 hours that all 6 feet of me were tucked into an upright fetal position – knees to chin. 

Travel by bus remains one of the best budget-friendly ways to explore Europe. Wanderu and Flixbus will get you to Interlaken inexpensively (even as low as $20USD!). Just make sure you read the fine print on those tickets!

Pro Tip: Book a red-eye. Sleeping on the bus is not the most comfortable, by any means, but you don’t kill an entire day with transportation.

Other travel options: planes, trains, and automobiles

• Traveling by plane – The closest airport to Interlaken, Switzerland is Bern Airport (BRN), which is roughly one hour away.
• Traveling by train – Europe truly kicks the United States a** when it comes to their rail system. Rail Europe has some great deals for delivering you from city to city within Switzerland. A roundtrip from Zurich or Geneva to Interlaken costs right around $100 USD.
• Traveling by automobile – Renting a car is pretty straight forward. The average car rental price in Switzerland is just under $100 USD per day, and might make logistics a bit easier if you are planning on driving out of Interlaken on day trips to do some exploring.

Pro tip: most of the adventure excursions that you can book in Interlaken include round-trip transportation to and from your accommodation. While a car is handy, it is certainly not required.

Booking Accommodations

Where I stayed

During my trip to Interlaken, I stayed in Balmers Hostel. Balmers is one of the most popular accommodation spots in Interlaken, equipped with a full kitchen, free breakfast, and an attached night club for evening shenanigans. This is one of the cheaper, yet still highly rated, hostels in the area. 

Balmers felt a bit like an eclectic log cabin – from the family memorabilia hanging about right down to the red and white checkered curtains and drapes. The shared dorms were clean and safe – hey – what more can you ask from a hostel?

Balmers includes 24 hour access to a kitchen space, which was a HUGE win. Food in Switzerland can rack up the bills quickly (you only have to feel the sucker punch of paying $60 for a burrito dinner once to know you’re not doing it again!), so having the ability to cook a majority of my meals on site allowed me to save a significant amount of money. 

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Other places to stay

If Balmers isn’t for you , consider these additional options:

• Budget – BackPackers Villa. This option is similar in cost to Balmers, but has slightly less of a party vibe. If you are looking for something clean, quaint, and cost effective, this is a great spot for you!
• Luxury – Victoria Jungfrau Resort and Spa. Hold onto your hats – this one is a bit pricey. Coming in at over $700USD per night, Victoria Jungfrau has maintained its luxury status for well over 100 years. If you want to spend a few days living your best life as a Bond villain on vacation, look no further.

That’s all, folks!

Hopefully this travel guide helps kickstart your itinerary for Interlaken, Switzerland! It is truly such a beautiful town, with surprises around every corner. And remember: some of the best hidden travel gems appear when you least expect it! So keep your mind and eyes open, and you’ll surely have a time to remember.

Have any questions about your upcoming trip? Drop a comment below!