This article was originally published on our sister title Active Traveller’s website by Roger Fulton at this URL.
Interlaken’s ace card can be summed up in three words: location, location, location. This pretty resort town in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland is the central tourist hub for enjoying so much of the natural beauty the country has to offer.
Sitting on a narrow strip of land between the beautiful twin lakes of turquoise Brienz and deep blue Thun, alongside the Aare river, which flows between the two and surrounded by mountains, including the majestic trio of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, it offers the best of all worlds. Interlaken is the perfect base for outdoor activities, including water sports on the lakes, hiking, biking, paragliding and simply seeing the sights in the surrounding Alps and the idyllic Diemtigtal Nature Park.
Interlaken’s reputation as a tourist hub is reinforced by the presence of its two linked rail stations – Interlaken West, which serves as the main gateway from the national Swiss network, and Interlaken Ost, which is the start point for the Bernese Oberland Railway, a narrow-gauge mountain line fanning out to the famous ski resort villages of Lauterbrunnen, Wengen and Grindelwald, and ultimately to the Jungfraujoch, Europe’s highest train station, known as the Top of Europe, perched between the Jungfrau and Mönch.
Closer to town, the viewpoint of Harder Kulm, just to the north, and the Schynige Platte, just to the south, are also accessible from Interlaken Ost station and provide wide-ranging views of the Interlaken region and the higher mountains. At lake level, boat trips operate on both lakes, serving various other lakeside towns.
Interlaken itself is an attractive town, with old timber houses and parkland on either side of the Aare River. It has many good restaurants such as the family-owned (fifth generation!) Bären Unterseen and Laterne, both specialising in Swiss cuisine, as well as international restaurants, including Little Thai, Layaly Beirut and Madras Jungle. One particularly Interlaken experience is to have lunch or dinner at the Pizzeria Sapori (within the 5-star Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, on the main street Höheweg) and watch the paragliders circle into land on the big field opposite.
Popular with backpackers and luxury travellers alike, Interlaken is also blessed with accommodation for every taste and budget, from campgrounds and hostels to 3-5 star hotels.
With so many choices when it comes to things to do and places to see, we’ve picked some of our favourites to make up your ideal Interlaken itinerary.
