Destination guide
Interlaken
Switzerland
Interlaken is a small city in the Bernese Highlands region of central Switzerland. Located between two alpine lakes (Lake Brienz (Brienzersee) and Lake Thun (Thunersee)), Interlaken is a popular base camp for outdoor sports and travel in the surrounding Bernese Oberland Alps.
AI insights
AI-written from the Wikivoyage listings, transport section and the video stats on this page
Prioritize your boat trips based on the lake: use Interlaken West for Lake Thun to visit historic castles and towns like Spiez, and Interlaken Ost for Lake Brienz to experience its signature turquoise waters.
Avoid restaurant fatigue by utilizing the grocery stores near the train stations for lunch supplies; the cost difference between assembling your own meals and dining out is significant enough to justify the effort.
Secure your hotel guest card upon check-in to receive discounts on regional attractions; while some specific accommodations like Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof include free local bus access, verify your specific hotel's inclusions upon arrival.
Book popular local eateries like My Little Thai well in advance for evening meals, as these smaller, high-value spots fill up quickly and often cannot accommodate walk-ins during peak hours.
When planning adventure activities, check if your accommodation provides booking services; many local hostels and lodges have staff who specialize in coordinating these excursions, saving you the logistical headache of individual research.
How we vet these picks
Every pick is drawn from real sources — YouTube creators, Wikivoyage, and Wikipedia. We only surface sources that actually exist and that we've checked for authenticity — no filler, no dead-end searches.Watch first
Ranked by views and how well each landed with the people who watched it, judged against the other coverage of this place — plus a local creator where we found one.
Schweiz - Interlaken Top 9 Aktivitäten - reisen-lifestyle.ch
Interlaken Travel Guide - 10 Experiences YOU MUST DO in 2025
INTERLAKEN Sehenswürdigkeiten: TOP 10 SEHENSWÜRDIGKEITEN, die DU sehen MUSST
Interlaken Switzerland Travel Guide: 15 BEST Things to Do in Interlaken
Interlaken Switzerland Travel Guide: Best Things To Do in Interlaken Vlog
Interlaken Switzerland 🇨🇭 The Most Beautiful Town Between Swiss Lakes Thun and Brienz 4K
Interlaken, Switzerland Travel Guide | Best Things to Do in Interlaken | 4K
Interlaken Switzerland | BEST Travel Guide & What To Do VLOG
Best time to go
Best window: September–October and April
No month to avoid, though the shoulder seasons are the pick.
Rated from ten years of daily temperature and rainfall recorded at this destination, via Open-Meteo's ERA5 reanalysis. Hover a month for its real numbers.
Getting around
Getting around
Interlaken is small enough to get around on foot or bike. Taxis are available from either train station and most hotels. With the guest card from your hotel, you can travel around Interlaken for free (it also gives discounts to local tourist attractions).
Transport notes from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0.
What to do
Places are listed from Wikivoyage and our own sourced research. Worth it means a second, independent source names the place too; “3 sources agree” means three or more do — and each card names them, so you can check.
Harder Kulm funicular
Worth itAlso recommended by Lonely Planet
A steep funicular climbs to a viewing platform overlooking the confluence of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz around Interlaken.
Vetted sources
Night sledding
There is a company that makes night sledding trips every night. The cost and includes a Swiss cheese fondue dinner in a restaurant at the end of the sled run. There are no "fitness requirements" and bookings are necessary in advance.
Vetted sources
Take a boat trip
Boats traveling the Thunersee leave from Interlaken West. If you go all the way to Thun, you will see many cute towns and beautiful buildings/small castles on your way (Spiez, Oberhofen). There is also a castle in Thun.
Vetted sources
What to eat
Salzano
Worth itAlso recommended by Michelin Guide Switzerland (Bib Gourmand)
A Michelin Bib Gourmand kitchen sourcing nearly all ingredients locally, some foraged by the chefs themselves, for a close-to-nature set menu.
Vetted sources
Bebbis Restaurant
Bahnhofstrasse
A popular but touristy place for traditional Swiss dishes including fondue and raclette. It´s right next to Interlaken West train station.
Vetted sources
El Azteca
An authentic Mexican food restaurant owned and operated by a gentleman who migrated from Mexico around 1984. Located on the street level of Hotel Blume in a street mall on the west side of town (Jungfraustr.), it is small, and very…
Vetted sources
Coop Supermarket
If you want to save some money on any meals, you can buy the ingredients for making, for example, sandwiches at Coop or Migros (Coop opposite Interlaken Ost station, or both Coop and Migros near Interlaken West).
Vetted sources
Kang Chon Central
near Interlaken West station
Kang Chon Central also serves a range of delicious Korean dishes at reasonable prices, including a range of traditional Korean accompaniments with your meal.
Vetted sources
My Little Thai
located next to Balmer's
Interlaken's best kept secret. Fantastic Thai food at very good prices keeps this little gem packed all day and night. Reservations are highly recommended for evening eating and take away is available.
Vetted sources
Where to stay
City Hotel Oberland
Worth itAlso recommended by Wikipedia
Postgasse 1
Three star hotel 0.2 km from the railway station. Single room double room (as of 2009).
Vetted sources
Swiss Inn
General-Guisan-Strasse 23
B&B bordering on family-operated hotel. Excellent location, very quiet part of west Interlaken, 5 minutes walk from anything touristy or otherwise, as well as grocery and Interlaken West train station.
Vetted sources
Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof
Alpenstrasse 16
Dorms and private rooms. Kitchen, laundry, including sheets, breakfast, free WLAN, free entry to public swimming pool and Minigolf, personal locker for each person, big garden with table tennis, soccer & billiards, free use of local…
Vetted sources
Balmer's Herberge youth hostel
Hauptstrasse 23 - 33, Matten bei Interlaken
Young friendly hostel. Seems to be the hostel of Interlaken. Offers any and every extreme sport. Dorms, privates, and tents are available. Guest kitchen, restaurant, gift shop, coin laundry, and nightly movies.
Vetted sources
AlpLodge/BackPackers Interlaken
Marktgasse 59
Reception open from Daily 08:00–01:00. Young friendly hostel. Staff can help suggest hikes and will book activities. Dorms and private rooms. Bar, internet, laundry.
Vetted sources
Bed & Bar No.8
From Interlaken West Cross the bridge, turn right, walk along the river, at the end of the road, look for the hotel.· Pricey
Freshly renovated dorm (2017) with a bar and shared kitchen.
Vetted sources
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Travel content from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Encyclopedic context from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Videos via the YouTube Data API.