Comparison · Innsbruck vs Interlaken · Austria / Switzerland
Innsbruck vs Interlaken
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Choose Innsbruck for Golden Roof, Nordkette cable cars and lower day-to-day costs; choose Interlaken for Jungfraujoch and Lauterbrunnen valley. Innsbruck is generally less expensive, and the two are about 276 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 276 km
- Less expensive
- Innsbruck
- Best time for Innsbruck
- June–September and December–January
- Best time for Interlaken
- June–September
Side by side
| Innsbruck | Interlaken | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Austria | Switzerland |
| Known for | Golden Roof, Nordkette cable cars and Bergisel ski jump | Jungfraujoch, Lauterbrunnen valley and Paragliding |
| Best time to visit | June–September and December–January | June–September |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $170–$300 | $260–$450 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Very expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 26°C (79°F) | July, 23°C (73°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 3°C (37°F) | January, 2°C (36°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 6 | 4 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | INN, MUC | ZRH, GVA, BSL |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Innsbruck for…
Golden Roof, Nordkette cable cars and lower day-to-day costs. Innsbruck, capital of the Austrian Tyrol, packs a late-medieval old town around the Golden Roof, Habsburg palaces and Baroque churches into a valley floor beneath the Nordkette range. A funicular and two cable cars climb from the city centre to Hafelekar at…
Choose Interlaken for…
Jungfraujoch and Lauterbrunnen valley. Interlaken is a small resort town on the flat strip of land between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, with the Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger rising directly to the south. Most visitors use it as a base: mountain railways from Interlaken Ost reach Grindelwald and…
Top sights compared
| # | Innsbruck | Interlaken |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Golden Roof | Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe |
| 2 | Hofburg Innsbruck | Harder Kulm |
| 3 | Hofkirche | Höhematte |
| 4 | Tyrolean Folk Art Museum | Lauterbrunnen and Staubbach Falls |
| 5 | Nordkette cable cars | Trümmelbach Falls |
Food compared
| Innsbruck | Interlaken |
|---|---|
| Tiroler Gröstl | Rösti |
| Kaspressknödel | Cheese fondue |
| Speckknödel | Cheese toast |
| Tiroler Speck | Bernese platter |
Which is cheaper?
Innsbruck is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $170–$300 per person there, against $260–$450 in Interlaken (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Innsbruck on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Innsbruck and Interlaken are about 276 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Innsbruck and 4 in Interlaken.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Innsbruck or Interlaken cheaper?
Innsbruck is usually less expensive: about $170–$300 a day mid-range against $260–$450 (estimates).
+Is Innsbruck or Interlaken better for a first trip?
Pick Innsbruck for Golden Roof, Nordkette cable cars and lower day-to-day costs, or Interlaken for Jungfraujoch and Lauterbrunnen valley.
+How far is Innsbruck from Interlaken?
About 276 km in a straight line.