Things to do in Interlaken

Interlaken sits on a strip of flat ground between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, and its main draw is what surrounds it rather than the town itself: the Höhematte, a wide open meadow in the centre where paragliders land all day long, often 50 or more by mid-afternoon. Harder Kulm, reached by funicular from near Interlaken Ost, sits at 1,322 m and costs around CHF 38 return for the ride alone.

Two train stations serve the town: Interlaken West is closer to the lake steamers and Lake Thun, Interlaken Ost is the interchange for Jungfrau region trains, Lake Brienz boats and the Golden Pass line. From Lucerne, the journey via Brunig takes roughly 1 h 50.

Most visitors use Interlaken as a base for a day or two before heading up to Grindelwald or Wengen rather than as a destination in its own right.