Shopping · Interlaken · Switzerland
Shopping in Interlaken
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Adrian Michael, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Interlaken's shopping is concentrated on the Höheweg, with Swiss watch and knife retailers, outdoor gear stores and chocolate shops. Brienz is the centre of Swiss woodcarving. Best souvenirs: Woodcarvings from Brienz, Swiss Army knives and Alpine cheese.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 0
- Top souvenir
- Woodcarvings from Brienz
Where to shop
Höheweg
Watch and jewellery stores, Swiss Army knife shops, chocolate and souvenir shops facing the Höhematte.
Grindelwald main street
Outdoor and ski equipment shops, rental stores and gift shops.
Brienz
Woodcarving workshops and galleries, with a woodcarving school in the village.
What to buy
Woodcarvings from Brienz
Carved animals, figures and music boxes made in the Brienz woodcarving tradition.
Swiss Army knives
Sold in every size, often with free engraving.
Alpine cheese
Vacuum-packed Berner Alpkäse or Hobelkäse from dairies and shops; check your home country's import rules.
Swiss chocolate
Bars and pralines from chocolate shops on the Höheweg.
Cowbells
Decorated bells with embroidered straps in all sizes.
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Bernese Alpine cheese, Meringues with cream, Braided Sunday bread and Local beer. Dairies and alp huts along hiking trails, village cheese shops and supermarkets. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Höheweg and the town centre | $$$ | Grand hotels, watch shops and the open Höhematte meadow facing the Jungfrau |
| Interlaken Ost | $$ | Station quarter for mountain trains, the Harder funicular and Lake Brienz boats |
| Unterseen | $$ | Old wooden houses, a church square and the Aare river on the north side of town |
| Matten and Wilderswil | $$ | Village streets on the valley floor towards the mountains, on the BOB rail line |
| Lauterbrunnen | $$ | Valley-floor village between sheer cliffs and the Staubbach Falls |
| Wengen | $$$ | Car-free terrace village facing the Jungfrau, reached only by rack railway |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in CHF. Service is included in Swiss prices. Rounding up or adding a few francs for good service is customary; larger tips are not expected.
- Say 'Grüezi' when entering shops and passing people on mountain trails.
- Work out your excursions first, then compare the Swiss Travel Pass, Jungfrau Travel Pass and Half Fare Card; the right pass can save hundreds of francs.
- Use your hotel's guest card for free local buses around Interlaken.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in November; the busiest months are July–August.
- June: Greenfield rock festival at the Interlaken airfield (usually June)
- December: Christmas market in Interlaken (usually December)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for first-timers, luxury, couples and shopping
Höheweg and the town centre
Grand hotels, watch shops and the open Höhematte meadow facing the Jungfrau
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Interlaken?
Woodcarvings from Brienz, Swiss Army knives, Alpine cheese and Swiss chocolate.
+Where is the best shopping in Interlaken?
Höheweg: Watch and jewellery stores, Swiss Army knife shops, chocolate and souvenir shops facing the Höhematte.