Interlaken: Switzerland's Gateway Between Two Lakes and the Jungfrau Peaks
Interlaken doesn't have blockbuster monuments — its draw is geography: a narrow strip of land squeezed between turquoise Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, with the snowy wall of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau rising directly behind it. It's less a sightseeing city than a basecamp, the place travelers pass through on their way up into the Bernese Oberland's cable cars, cog railways and hiking trails. Most visitors are here for a day or two before heading up the mountain, and the town itself is built around that rhythm.
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Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe
Europe's highest railway station at 3,454m, reached via a cogwheel train through a tunnel bored into the Eiger and Mönch; on clear days you see the Aletsch Glacier, the longest ice stream in the Alps.
Harder Kulm
A funicular from central Interlaken climbs to this panorama viewpoint, where a two-pronged platform juts out over the town with the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau lined up ahead.
Schynige Platte
A vintage rack railway rises from Wilderswil to a high alpine meadow and botanical garden, one of the classic panoramic viewpoints over both lakes and the peaks.
Lake Brienz (Brienzersee)
Strikingly turquoise-green, fed by glacial meltwater; a passenger boat trip along it stops at villages like Iseltwald, whose lakeside spot has become known from film.
Lake Thun (Thunersee)
The larger, calmer of the two lakes, ringed by vineyards and castles including Oberhofen and Schloss Thun, with regular steamer cruises departing from Interlaken.
Trümmelbach Falls
A series of ten glacier-fed waterfalls thundering inside the mountain near Lauterbrunnen, reached by a lift drilled into the rock — the only glacier waterfalls in Europe accessible from inside.
Lauterbrunnen Valley
A sheer-walled glacial valley a short train ride away, lined with 72 waterfalls including the famous free-falling Staubbach Falls, and the launch point for paragliding over the valley floor.
A Sample Day
Food & Drink
Food here leans hearty and alpine, built for refueling after a day on the trails or slopes.
Late June through September gives the longest daylight and the best odds of clear mountain views, though it's also peak season and busiest; December to March turns the region into a ski and winter-sports base, especially around Grindelwald and Wengen. Shoulder months like May and October are quieter with lower prices, but higher-altitude trails and viewpoints may still have snow or reduced cable car service.
Interlaken's own center is compact and easily walkable between its two train stations, Interlaken Ost and West. For the surrounding valleys and peaks, the region runs on an efficient network of trains, cogwheel railways, cable cars and postbuses, most of which connect through Interlaken Ost — a Jungfrau Travel Pass is worth it if you're doing multiple mountain trips in a few days.
Skip the priciest Jungfraujoch ticket if the forecast shows clouds up top — check the live webcam on the Jungfrau Railways site first, since a whiteout at 3,454m will cost you the view that justifies the fare; go instead on a confirmed clear day and take an early train to beat the crowds at the summit.
FAQ
Is Interlaken itself worth staying in, or just a stopover?+
It's mainly a basecamp — the town itself is pleasant but low-key, with its real value being easy access to Jungfraujoch, Lauterbrunnen and both lakes, so most visitors stay a night or two and spend their days out in the surrounding valleys.
How many days do you need in Interlaken?+
Two to three full days lets you cover Jungfraujoch, a lake cruise and the Lauterbrunnen valley without rushing, though a single day is enough if you're only doing the highlights.
Do I need a car in Interlaken?+
No — trains, postbuses and cable cars reach nearly every major sight in the region, and driving up narrow mountain roads is often slower and more stressful than the well-timed public transit connections.
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