Interlaken Travel Guide: Between Two Lakes and Under Big Peaks
I arrived in Interlaken on a train that slid through green valleys and past waterfalls, and by the time the carriage stopped I already understood why this town sits at the top of so many Swiss itineraries. It hangs between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, squeezed into a narrow strip that barely contains it, and the real mountains wait just behind the rooftops, enormous and close.
Why Interlaken Is the Perfect Base
The town itself is small, friendly and walkable, with a main street full of watch shops, chocolate shops and cheerful outdoor gear stores. But nobody comes for the town alone. Interlaken is the launch pad. From its two stations you can reach the Jungfrau, the Lauterbrunnen Valley and both lakes without driving, and that convenience is what makes it so popular. Planes even land on the nearby slopes, so a flight over the peaks is easy to arrange as a morning treat.
I stayed a few nights, which let me split my days between high peaks and quiet water. That mix, I found, is the real gift of the place. One morning I was standing on a glacier, the next I was paddling on a calm green lake, and neither felt rushed. The town works best as a home base where you return each evening to a warm meal and a comfortable bed after a day of adventure.
The seasonal rhythm matters here. In summer the valley fills with hikers and paragliders, and in winter it becomes a ski town, but the town center stays lively all year. I was struck by how many nationalities I heard on a single walk, Interlaken really does draw the whole world, and they all seem happy to be here.
Getting Between the Lakes
The trip up to the Jungfrau is the headline act, and it is genuinely spectacular. You change trains at Kleine Scheidegg, and the final stretch runs through the mountain itself to Europe’s highest railway station. The windows give you a rolling show of snowfields and sheer rock, and the moment the train emerges above the clouds, everything clicks into place. It costs a fair amount, so I budgeted for it as the day’s one splurge and felt it was worth every franc.
For a cheaper thrill, the boat rides on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz are wonderful. I drifted between picture postcard villages, watching the ferry dock at quiet piers where only a few passengers got off, and the crystal water of Brienz, which is a pale glacial turquoise, stayed with me long after I left. There are also easy beaches and promenades if you prefer to stay on dry land.
Adventure and Quiet Moments
Interlaken is famously an adventure town, and you can paraglide, bungee jump or skydive here on a whim. I went paragliding over the valley and the view of the peaks from the air is something I will not forget, the lake below, the snow above, the wind carrying me in silence. But the town also rewards stillness, whether that is a slow lunch on a terrace facing the Eiger or a sunset walk along the river where it drains between the lakes.
The archipelago of the Niederhorn behind the town offers quieter trails, and the nearby Sphinx Observatory provides a lookout that feels like standing on the roof of Europe. I recommend one big splashy activity and then a day of pure slowness, because the two together give you the full Interlaken.
Practical Bits I Learned
Bring layers even in summer because the altitude shifts everything, a sunny valley floor can turn cold and windy up high in an hour. A Swiss Travel Pass covered much of my rail and boat travel and saved me money, so it is worth doing the math before you go. Book the Jungfrau ticket ahead in high season, and pack snacks because mountain top cafeterias are pricey. Most of all, give yourself more than one day, Interlaken rewards the traveler who stays put for a while rather than racing between snapshots.
A Little Planning Goes a Long Way
The one thing I would tell any first timer is to plan the high peaks in the morning, because afternoon clouds love to build over the Jungfrau by early afternoon. I also learned to keep a power bank charged, because the cold saps phone batteries fast at altitude, and to carry a water bottle, because the mountain air dries you out without you noticing. Small habits like these turned what could have been a frantic week into a smooth one.
My Verdict
Interlaken is touristy, no question, but it earns the attention. As a base for the Jungfrau region there is no better one, and the town has a warm energy that softens the crowds. It is easy to roll your eyes at the chocolate and watch shops and then be won over by the views and the easy access to the Alps. I would go back in a heartbeat, and I would tell anyone with a few spare days in Switzerland to carve out time here.
