By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 12th September 2024 | Updated: 13th September 2024
Interlaken is often high on people’s list of places to visit whilst in Switzerland, but is Interlaken worth visiting? With the bluest river you have ever seen, beautiful gardens, cafes galore and its own mountain peak to explore, as well as numerous day trip options into the nearby mountains of the Bernese Oberland and out on the two lakes that surround Interlaken, in our view Interlaken is most definitely worth visiting.
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Is Interlaken Worth visiting?
Interlaken is worth visiting, at any time of the year, (although it can be a little busy during the summer months). It is also a great location to take numerous day trips from, including to Grindelwald and to Lauterbrunnen, which are within half an hour of Interlaken. There are also lots of mountain day trips nearby including Schynige Platte, Harder Kulm and Brienzer Rothorn.
Is Interlaken Worth Visiting Map
Best things to do in Interlaken
There are of course many other things to do in Interlaken and to see in the surrounding area, but these are our top five things that you simply can’t miss:
We have a separate post going into more detail on day trips from Interlaken and a post for a 1 to 5 day Interlaken itinerary, so be sure to check them out too.
Before setting out on any hikes in this region, or elsewhere in Switzerland, be sure to check the weather and hiking trail status as you don’t want to be caught out in a storm up a mountain. Plus, the routes may be closed for various reasons, such as rock fall, snowfall or just for renovation. You can find the hiking trail status for the Jungfrau region here.
1. Walk along the River Aare from Interlaken West to Interlaken Ost
Interlaken town centre is beautiful, and obviously worth a wander through, but the walk alongside the River Aare is another place within Interlaken that is unbelievably picturesque. It takes roughly half an hour to walk from Interlaken West to Interlaken Ost and you will not believe the colour of the water in the river along here! It is the perfect place to dip your feet in the hot days of the summer, or just to sit and watch the world go by from one of the many benches along the route throughout the rest of the year.
If you walk along the river on the northern side from west to east, (which is the way we would recommend), then be sure to keep your eyes out for some rather large creatures on the other bank around halfway along… And no they’re not cows!
2. Get foodie in Interlaken
Interlaken may be well known for being the adventure sports hot spot of the Alps, but it is also a great place to get your foodie fix, with unique cafes, traditional restaurants, BBQ joints and a restaurant with the best view in all of Interlaken. These are the places you have to stop by for food or drinks when visiting Interlaken:
🍴 Velo Café – a bicycle-themed café, with to-die for breakfast and brunch options as well as great coffee – open from 09:00 to 17:00 every day.
🍴 Café de Paris – French / Swiss cuisine in a cute square in the heart of Interlaken – open every day from 07:30
🍴 Restaurant Bären – traditional Swiss food in a beautiful setting – open from 16:30 Wednesday to Friday and 10:00 Saturday / Sunday.
🍴 Pasta Store – Italian restaurant with the best pasta in Interlaken, right alongside the Interlaken West Station – open from 10:00 every day.
🍴 Huesi Bierhaus – fancying something that isn’t such a local cuisine, then head here for burgers/sausages/ribs – open from 1:30 Monday / Wednesday / Thursday and from 12:30 Friday to Sunday.
3. Visit Harder Kulm
You can’t visit Interlaken and not visit its local mountain, Harder Kulm. It can be viewed from pretty much anywhere in Interlaken, and the views from its mountain restaurant and summit are simply incredible, especially when you get the chance to go up there for dinner with the sun setting over the surrounding Alps. The mountain railway is open from 9:10 am to 9 pm but we would recommend going here for either lunch or evening drinks/dinner, just be sure to be able to catch the last train down or you will have a long steep walk!
📍 Tickets for a return to Harder Kulm cost from 44 CHF per adult or 22 CHF with a Half FAR Card / Swiss Travel Pass / GA Card and 20 CHF per child.
Book your Harder Kulm tickets here.
4. Take to the skies paragliding
Interlaken is not only a great place to visit for the local hikes, day trips and food, but also a great place to get involved in some adrenalin sports! If you have a taste for the high life or paragliding has been on your bucket list, then be sure to do it in Interlaken and you will get some of the best views in all of the Alps. There are various companies that do these trips, normally with most take-offs from Beatenberg and landing in Interlaken, and there are either in the early morning or in the evening flights weather depending.
We personally haven’t done a guided flight as Matt is a trained paraglider pilot, but this is one of the best tandem paragliding flights in Interlaken – you will see these guys’ wings everywhere in the sky on a good day!
5. Take a boat ride on Thunersee or Brienzersee
From Interlaken you can easily hop on a boat and explore either Thunersee, (Lake Thun), or Brienzersee, (Lake Brienz), the lakes that surround Interlaken. There are numerous places that you can stop at on both lakes including Spiez, Niederhorn and Thun on Thunsersee and Brienz, Giessbach and Iseltwald on Brienzersee, so if you have the time then have a trip on each.
A round trip on Thunersee from Interlaken West takes around 5 hours, and a round trip on Brienzersee from Interlaken Ost takes around 3 hours, so although we wouldn’t suggest that you have to do a round trip, if you did want to then there are various food and drink options available throughout the day on all of the boats too. On one of the paddle steamers that runs on Thunersee, you can even sit out on the top deck in deck chairs with a drink in hand!
Depending on when you are visiting Interlaken it is worth knowing that the boats operate all year on Thunersee but stop during the winter months on Brienzersee.
📍 100% discount on the boat fare with a Swiss Travel Pass, Saver Day Pass or GA Travelcard, 50% discount with a Half Fare Card or for children aged 6-15.
Book your tickets for a Thunersee or Brienzersee cruise here.
Where To Stay In Interlaken
We would recommend staying at either Hotel Lötschberg Interlaken or Post Hardermannli during your time in Interlaken, not only are they both in great locations close to Interlaken West Station, but they are also both very affordable, (for Swiss prices!), making them perfect for those visiting Switzerland on a budget.
At Hotel Lötschberg there are numerous different room options with breakfast included, but the best thing is the rooftop terrace that overlooks the mountains, perfect for sundowners or watching the paragliders swooping past overhead. Meanwhile, at Post Hardermannli you get to stay in a stunning historic building, again with breakfast included and views out over the nearby mountains.
Is Interlaken Worth Visiting FAQs
How to get to Interlaken
With two train stations that connect to the rest of the country, (Interlaken West and Interlaken Ost), as well as a ferry stop after sailing on both Thunersee, (also called Interlaken West), or Brienzersee, (also called Interlaken Ost!), Interlaken is actually quite simple to get to via public transport.
🚐 Zurich to Interlaken via public transport – roughly 2 hours direct via train.
🚐 Lucerne to Interlaken via public transport – just under 2 hours direct via train.
🚐 Basel to Interlaken via public transport – roughly 2 hours direct via train.
To get to Interlaken via car takes a little longer as you have to take the long way around, but the views make up for this.
🚃 Zurich to Interlaken via car – anywhere from 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes, 118km up to 175km.
🚃 Lucerne to Interlaken via car – around 1 hour 15 minutes, 68km.
🚃 Basel to Interlaken via car – anywhere from 1 hour 40 minutes to 3 hours, 150km to 185km, depending on the route.
How to get around Interlaken
Interlaken is very easy to get around on foot or via bicycle. There are also plenty of bus routes that serve the town, but if you want to see the town and perhaps stumble upon a cafe or two, or even just wander along the riverside then just opt for getting around with your own two feet.
How many days should I spend in Interlaken?
We would recommend staying for at least three days in Interlaken, as this gives you plenty of time to explore the town itself, take a trip up Harder Kulm and a day trip to either Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald as well.
When is the best time to visit Interlaken?
We have visited Interlaken a few times and at different times of the year and would recommend visiting in either the late spring, or late summer into autumn. Both of these are great times of the year for visiting due to fewer tourists, warmer weather but not sweltering like it can get in the peak summer and hiking trails having just opened or are still open without too much snow.
What is Interlaken best known for?
Interlaken is best known as the home of adventure sports in Switzerland, which becomes instantly apparent on arrival in Interlaken, either via boat, train or car, due to the sheer number of paragliders you will more often than not see in the skies!
How do people spend a week in Interlaken?
We would struggle to spend a week in Interlaken and not take a day trip, or a few, out of the town. Interlaken itself is very easy to walk around, and you can walk from one end to the other in around half an hour, so if you spend a week in Interlaken then you simply have to take a few day trips. We would recommend trips to Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Schynige Platte, Spiez on Thunersee and Niederhorn.
Is Interlaken a good place to go?
Interlaken is a great place to go due to how easy it is to do day trips from. Even if just visiting as a day trip Interlaken is still a great place to visit, with cosy cafes, incredible views at Harder Kulm, great shopping and even a dinosaur park!
Is Interlaken safe? Are there any places to avoid in Interlaken?
Interlaken is very safe, as with pretty much everywhere in Switzerland. We have never felt unsafe whilst visiting, and have visited as a couple, with family and Gemma with Meryl. There also isn’t anywhere that we would actively avoid in Interlaken, in fact after watching the sunset up Harder Kulm we would recommend walking back along the river for some of the most peaceful and beautiful views.
Is Interlaken very touristy?
We’re not going to lie; Interlaken is very touristy. As the gateway to the Bernese Oberland, (home to Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald and Jungfraujoch), as well as with easy access to Thunersee and Brienzersee, Interlaken can indeed get very busy with tourists. It is also known as the home of adventure sports in Switzerland so that is a big draw for tourists as well.
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Conclusion: Is Interlaken Worth Visiting?
So, is Interlaken worth visiting? 100% yes! With cute cafes, bright blue waters and plenty of wonderful day trips you can take, Interlaken is a great place to visit. Plus, with views like the ones you get in Interlaken, why wouldn’t you want to visit?
All Our Switzerland Content
Here are a few other articles you may find useful for planning your trip:
📍 How To Visit Switzerland On A Budget
📍 Is Switzerland Worth Visiting & When
📍 The Perfect Lauterbrunnen Itinerary: 1 to 5 Days
📍 The Perfect Grindelwald Itinerary: 1 to 5 Days
📍 The Perfect Interlaken Itinerary: 1 to 5 Days
Gemma Tedaldi
Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.