Looking for the best things to do in Interlaken Switzerland? We got you covered! This beautiful city is set in between two Swiss lakes and acts as the jumping-off point for some of the most amazing mountains in the country. Here’s a look at the best hikes, our favorite restaurants, and even some fun day trips from Interlaken Switzerland.
Our Trip to Interlaken Switzerland
Interlaken was a destination that was on our travel bucket list for years! After a quick Zurich layover in the spring, we decided to head back to Switzerland at the end of August.
We started in Zurich again and had two fun days to see the city. If you plan to visit yourself, make sure to take a look at our favorite things to do in Zurich!
From here, it was just a 2 hour drive to Interlaken Switzerland. Our time was spent with a mix of camping and spa hotels on the lakes, which were both unique ways to see Interlaken.
Consider renting a car to get around (check the prices) to all the picturesque hikes and villages. While it’s not completely necessary, you’ll definitely miss out on some of the best things to do in Interlaken Switzerland if you don’t have one.
You can also utilize the trains, ferries, and gondolas by buying the Jungfrau Travel Pass. It gave us access to so many mountains and all the public transportation from Interlaken. Read more of our best Switzerland travel tips while you’re planning your trip.
16 Top Things to do in Interlaken Switzerland
1. Explore Interlaken Town Center
We highly recommend using Interlaken as your home base in this part of Switzerland. However, know that most of our favorite activities are actually right outside of town.
During our time in Interlaken, we spent a lot of time simply wandering through the streets along the Aare River. It’s located right in the middle of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, making it easy to get out on the water.
You’ll find endless restaurants and cafes to check out around town. Some of our favorites include Restaurant Bären, Stadthaus, and Restaurant Laterne. Interlaken has a very diverse population, so you’ll also find great Middle Eastern and Indian food as well.
Accommodations can be expensive in Switzerland depending on your travel style. We’ve included a few of the most popular hotels below to check out before your visit.
Luxury: Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa
Modern: Hotel Bernerhof
Apartment Style: SAVOY 26
Budget: Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof – Hostel Interlaken
2. Harder Kulm Viewpoint
One of the first things to do in Interlaken is to get a view above the town. The Harder Railway has been in operation for over 100 years and will transport you 1,300 meters above sea level!
From the top, you’ll have epic views of both lakes, the surrounding mountains, and Interlaken below. In addition to the lookout, Harder Kulm restaurant is a scenic place to grab a drink or bite to eat.
On the day we went it was a bit cloudy, which can be a common occurrence no matter what time of year you visit. We still decided to take the panoramic loop through the forest on top of the mountain.
Harder Kulm is also a fun place to visit during the sunset hours. Luckily, you can book your tickets in advance here.
3. Ferry Around Lake Thun and Lake Brienz
Ready to get out on the water? As we mentioned, Interlaken is the middle point between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. The main ferry company is BLS Schiff that has routes to several small towns on both sides.
Our Jungfrau Pass (buy it here) gave us access to all the boats, and we definitely made the most of it. It was so fun to be able to stop in small villages like Iseltwald, spend some time exploring, and then head off to the next one.
The ferries are fast and efficient, but keep a close eye on the schedules! There were a couple of times we had to take the bus back to our hotel at the end of the day, as the boats didn’t line up exactly with our routes.
Check the schedule beforehand and get an early start to the day to avoid any issues.
4. Go Inside the St. Beatus Caves
One of our favorite places we visited from Interlaken was the St. Beatus Caves. They’re located right on Lake Thun and have an incredible history we didn’t expect to find in the area.
If you can believe it, there’s evidence that humans have been living inside these caves since 750 B.C.! They’re named after a Celtic Saint who took refuge here almost 2,000 years ago.
Today, you can enter the caves on a self-guided tour (get your tickets in advance) and walk through them yourself. They extend a staggering 14km into the mountain and the first 1km of tunnels is open to the public.
We were surprised to see so many families with young kids in the wildly enclosed passageways. It took us just over one hour to complete the stretch of tunnels.
We did drive our own car to St. Beatus, but we actually wouldn’t recommend it. Parking was very difficult in August, and the big lot down the street was completely full!
You’re better off taking the bus from Interlaken to the STI stop, which lets you off right in front of the caves. The ferry is also an option from Interlaken city. Yet, know that you will have to walk 20 minutes to get to the caves from where it lets you off.
5. Paraglide Over Interlaken
The first thing we noticed after arriving in Interlaken Switzerland was the colorful paragliders coming down from the sky! This is one of the most popular activities for adrenaline enthusiasts, and you can find storefronts all around town promoting it.
Be sure to book your jump in advance here if you plan to visit during the busy summer season. You can expect to pay around 200 Swiss Francs ($230 USD) per person to go paragliding in Interlaken. You’re also able to do it without any prior experience, as a pro will take the jump with you.
6. Kayak on Lake Brienz
One of the most memorable days of our stay in Interlaken Switzerland was when we visited Hightide on Lake Brienz. We took an incredible 2 hour kayaking trip (this one) out on the massive glacier lake.
That morning, we were blessed with beautiful sunny skies and warm weather. It was interesting to find out that they run kayaking tours throughout the year, even in the colder winter months.
The scenery was spectacular, and a highlight was seeing the old Ringgenberg Castle from the water. Our guide was careful to watch out for the ferries that come zooming in and out at the entrance to the Aare River.
If you’re going on a tour with Hightide, be sure to check out there facilities after you’re done kayaking. There’s a beach, swimming pool, and bar & restaurant that you can hang out at during the warm summer days.
7. Top of Europe at Jungfraujoch
The most popular attraction to see from Interlaken is Jungfraujoch! This has become known as the “Top of Europe,” as it features the highest railway on the continent.
Yet, before you can get to this world-renowned train ride, you’ll need to head to Grindelwald village from Interlaken. This is a place we visited many times during our trip since. It serves as the gateway to so many great adventure activities.
The Eiger Express is the world’s most modern tricable gondola, which takes you up to the start of the Jungfraujoch railway. From here, a train will take you inside an insane tunnel through the mountain.
Here’s exactly how to take an Interlaken to Jungfraujoch day trip like we did. After a quick 5 minute stop at Eismeer Station, you’ll be transported to the Top of Europe.
We spent the entire day up at Jungfraujoch, as there is so much to see and do. Below you’ll find some of our favorite things we did at the Top of Europe!
- Take in the Views of the Aletsch Glacier
- Explore the Ice Palace
- Visit the World’s Highest Lindt Chocolate Store
- Hit the Zip Lines
- Enjoy the Snow Fun Park
- Have a Drink at the Outdoor Lounge
- Hike to the Mönchsjoch Mountain Hut
8. Try a Traditional Swiss Meal
One of the best things to do in Interlaken is to eat out at the local restaurants. You’ll find all the Swiss staples such as fondue, raclette, and rosti.
To be honest, these meals will cost you a pretty penny on your visit to Interlaken. Expect to pay anywhere from 30-50 euros per person to eat out at a decent restaurant.
If you’re not up for Swiss food, you can always try one of the international restaurants in town. We also made many stops at Lidl to stay on a budget while we were camping on Lake Brienz.
9. Visit Iseltwald Village
A major highlight of Interlaken is all the stunning Swiss villages that surround it. By using the ferries and buses, you can easily get around to so many lakeside towns.
Our absolute favorite was Iseltwald that sits on Lake Brienz. You may recognize it from photos, as it has become known as the most beautiful village in Switzerland!
Try and get here as early as possible in the morning before the crowds descend. We actually had the opportunity to stay overnight here with views of the famous Seeburg Castle.
There is a fun beach bar and restaurant (more on this soon) right on the water to stop by in the summertime. Read all about our experience in Iseltwald Switzerland for everything you need to know.
10. Hiking at Schynige Platte
As you may have guessed, there are endless hiking trails in this part of Switzerland. One you won’t want to miss is the Schynige Platte Panoramic Ridge Trail!
Our day started with a ride on another historic railway. This train has been in operation since 1893 and was ahead of its time switching to an electric locomotive in 1914.
The railway is incredible in itself, taking you high above Interlaken for scenic views. After arriving at the top, we decided to take a 3 hour hiking loop around the mountain.
We saw herds of cows, beautiful flora, and unbelievable views of Interlaken along the trail. The highlight was making the final trek to the peak, which sits over 2,000 meters above sea level.
To get to Schynige Platte, you can buy individual tickets or use the Jungfrau Pass like we did. Definitely hit this 5.6 trail on your own visit!
11. Camping on Lake Brienz
The best way to get out in nature is to go camping around Interlaken. For part of our trip, we stayed right on Lake Brienz at the Strandbad campsite.
This was such a fun experience, as we woke up every morning out of our tent to unreal views of the water and mountains. Much of our time was spent exploring and hiking from here.
However, the moments we did have at our campsite were fantastic. This is the Iseltwald beach bar we mentioned earlier!
Strandbad had restaurant, bar, multiple bathrooms & showers, and a large lawn on the water. There was even a diving board so you can jump right into Lake Brienz.
If you don’t plan on camping, they also have cool barrel rooms for rent. We loved cooking dinner over the open fire and watching the sunset here to end our day. Be sure to check out the Campy app and website to see hundreds options around Interlaken.
12. Luxury Stay at DeltaPark Vitalresort
While we thoroughly enjoyed our days camping around Interlaken, we were so excited to switch it up for a luxurious stay. We spent two nights at DeltaPark Vitalresort, which is located on the stunning shores of Lake Thun.
It’s complete with 4 floors of spa facilities, two salt water swimming pools, and a high-end restaurant. This was the perfect end to our time in the Jungfrau region to truly relax and enjoy the spa.
They even had kayaks and stand up paddle boards we could use on the property! Check out our full stay at Deltapark Vitalresort here.
13. Rent a Sauna Boat On Lake Thun
If there was one place you go swimming on your trip to Interlaken Switzerland, it should be Lake Thun! Don’t get us wrong… we loved our dips in Lake Brienz as well.
However, during our visit, Brienz was a light blue cloudy color, and freezing even in August. In comparison, Lake Thun was completely translucent, and seemed to be warmer than its counterpart.
One of our biggest regrets was not being able to rent a sauna boat on the water. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the right time of year, but we are totally doing this next time.
14. Flying High at Grindewald-First
The morning we spent at Grindelwald-First was definitely a highlight of our trip! First we took the train from Interlaken to Grindelwald, which was super easy.
It’s an easy cable car ride up high into the mountains from there, with multiple stops along the way. We recommend heading straight to the top and starting as early as possible. Get there as soon as the gondola opens if you can!
On the last stop of the gondola is where the First Flyer and First Glider take off from. We took an awesome zip line ride on the First Flyer overlooking the Swiss alps.
After that, we did the two hour long Lake Bachalpsee hike. This is one of the most popular hikes in Grindelwald, and for good reason! Here we ate lunch with a view, while we watched wild goats frolicking us.
Also, be sure to take the winding ramps around the mountainside of the First Walk. Last of all, the ultimate way to end your time at the Top of Adventure is to take the trottibikes or mountain carts back to town!
15. Brunch at the James Bond Restaurant
Up for one more mountain climb from Interlaken? You won’t want to miss this one!
Schilthorn is one of the highest peaks in the Bernese Alps. To get there, you’ll need to first go from Interlaken to Stechelberg where the gondola leaves from.
You can also make a pit stop in Lauterbrunnen on the way and see the 900+ foot waterfall. The cable car that goes to the top Stechelburg has several impressive places to check out along the way.
If you have time, get off at Mürren, Allmendhubel, and Birg for views and hiking trails en route to the top. However, the main attraction is the Piz Gloria restaurant at the peak!
We had a glorious Schilthorn brunch here with unbelievable views of the Swiss alps. This was also the filming location of the James Bond movie “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” in 1969.
16. Ballenberg Open-Air Museum
By now you can tell that most of the best things to do in Interlaken are outdoors. Yet, we still have one more activity for history lovers!
The Ballenberg Open-Air museum showcases traditional Swiss architecture from around the country. Over the 66 acres of farmland, they’ve relocated over 100 historic buildings.
It was amazing to walk around this area and learn about the rich history and farming techniques of Switzerland. Each building has its own story to be told, and it’s an interactive museum that’s great for families with kids. Buy your tickets here for a fun day at Ballenberg!
Have any questions about this article or want to share your own favorite things to do in Interlaken Switzerland? Leave us a comment below.
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
