Things to do · Interlaken · Switzerland
18 best things to do in Interlaken
18 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Giles Laurent, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The essential sights in Interlaken are Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe, Harder Kulm and Lauterbrunnen and Staubbach Falls. Of the 18 picks below, 4 are free, 2 work on a rainy day and 8 suit children. Allow about 4 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe
- Free sights
- 4
- Good on a rainy day
- Trümmelbach Falls
- Time to see the highlights
- 4 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe | Jungfrau region | Full day | Expensive |
| Harder Kulm | Interlaken Ost | 1.5–2 hours | Mid-priced |
| Lauterbrunnen and Staubbach Falls | Lauterbrunnen | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Schilthorn and Piz Gloria | Mürren | Half a day | Expensive |
| Höhematte | Town centre | 30–60 minutes | Free |
| Trümmelbach Falls | Lauterbrunnen | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Grindelwald First | Grindelwald | Half a day to a full day | Expensive |
| Schynige Platte | Wilderswil | Half a day | Expensive |
| Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg trail | Wengen | Half a day | Mid-priced |
| Lake Brienz and Lake Thun boats | Lakes | 1–4 hours | Mid-priced |
| Giessbach Falls | Lake Brienz | 2 hours | Low cost |
| Iseltwald | Lake Brienz | 1–2 hours | Free |
| St. Beatus Caves | Lake Thun | 1.5 hours | Mid-priced |
| Unterseen old town | Unterseen | 1 hour | Free |
| Oberhofen Castle | Lake Thun | 1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Brienz Rothorn Railway | Brienz | Half a day | Expensive |
| Ballenberg Open-Air Museum | Brienz | 4–6 hours | Mid-priced |
| Tandem paragliding | Town centre | 2 hours including transfer | Expensive |
The 18 best things to do
Viewpoint · Jungfrau region
1.Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe
The Jungfrau Railway tunnels through the Eiger and Mönch to a saddle at 3,454 metres, the highest railway station in Europe. At the top are the Sphinx observation terrace over the Aletsch Glacier, an ice palace carved into the glacier and a snow plateau. The trip from Interlaken Ost runs via Grindelwald and the Eiger Express or via Lauterbrunnen and Kleine Scheidegg.
Check the summit webcam before you go; on cloudy days you may see nothing, and the ticket is costly.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Book ahead
- Seat reservations on the Jungfrau Railway are needed at busy times; book a day or two ahead in summer.
- Iconic
- Views
- Nature
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Interlaken Ost
2.Harder Kulm
A funicular from beside Interlaken Ost climbs to about 1,320 metres, where a viewing platform hangs over the slope with both lakes below and the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau ahead. A turreted restaurant sits on the summit, and the funicular runs from spring to late autumn.
Go up for sunset; the funicular runs into the evening in summer, and the town lights come on below.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Couples
- Iconic
- Photo spot
Nature · Lauterbrunnen
3.Lauterbrunnen and Staubbach Falls
Lauterbrunnen's valley floor is enclosed by limestone walls hundreds of metres high, with waterfalls pouring off the rim. The Staubbach Falls drops close to 300 metres beside the village and dissolves into spray; a path climbs to a gallery behind the falling water in summer.
Walk the flat valley path south towards Trümmelbach and Stechelberg for the best views of the falls.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Mürren
4.Schilthorn and Piz Gloria
Cable cars from Stechelberg via Mürren climb to the Schilthorn at about 2,970 metres, where the revolving Piz Gloria restaurant featured in the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service. The intermediate station at Birg has a cliff-edge Thrill Walk.
Stop in Mürren on the way down for a walk along the cliff-top village.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Views
- Iconic
- Photo spot
Park · Town centre
5.Höhematte
The open meadow in the centre of town, protected from building since the 19th century, frames a direct view of the Jungfrau between the hills. Tandem paragliders land here throughout the day, and in winter part of it becomes an outdoor ice rink.
Sit on the benches at the eastern end in the late afternoon to watch paragliders spiral down.
- Time needed
- 30–60 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- Kids
Nature · Lauterbrunnen
6.Trümmelbach Falls
Ten glacier-fed waterfalls thunder down inside the mountain, carrying meltwater from the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. A tunnel lift and lit stairways lead through the spray-filled gorge, which is open only in the warmer months.
Bring a waterproof layer and sturdy shoes; paths are wet and steep.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
Experience · Grindelwald
7.Grindelwald First
A gondola climbs from Grindelwald to First at about 2,170 metres, where a cliff walkway clings to the rock face. In summer you can come down by zip line, mountain cart or scooter, or hike about an hour to the Bachalpsee lake, which reflects the Schreckhorn and Wetterhorn.
Hike to Bachalpsee in the morning before clouds build around the peaks.
- Time needed
- Half a day to a full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Active
- Views
- Outdoors
Nature · Wilderswil
8.Schynige Platte
A cogwheel railway from 1893 climbs from Wilderswil in vintage carriages to a ridge at about 2,000 metres, with an alpine botanical garden of several hundred plant species and views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. It runs from early summer to October.
Strong hikers can take the panorama trail towards the Faulhorn and on to First, one of the classic ridge walks of the region.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Views
- Nature
- History
- Outdoors
Nature · Wengen
1.Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg trail
From the Männlichen cable-car station, a gentle trail of about 1.5 hours contours across the hillside to Kleine Scheidegg, facing the Eiger north face the whole way. A short climb from Männlichen station leads to the Royal Walk viewpoint over both valleys.
Go up from Grindelwald by gondola and return via Wengen and Lauterbrunnen by train to make a loop.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Outdoors
- Active
- Views
- Kids
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Experience · Lakes
2.Lake Brienz and Lake Thun boats
BLS boats sail from Interlaken Ost across turquoise Lake Brienz to Iseltwald, Giessbach and Brienz, and from Interlaken West across Lake Thun to Spiez, Oberhofen and Thun. Lake Thun also has a historic paddle steamer in summer.
Most Swiss rail passes cover the scheduled boats; check before buying a separate ticket.
- Time needed
- 1–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Couples
- Kids
- Views
- Outdoors
Nature · Lake Brienz
3.Giessbach Falls
Fourteen cascades tumble through forest to Lake Brienz, with paths that pass behind one of the falls. A historic funicular links the boat pier with the grand hotel above, and the trail continues up the side of the falls.
Arrive by boat from Interlaken Ost and walk up beside the falls rather than taking the funicular both ways.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Photo spot
Waterfront · Lake Brienz
4.Iseltwald
A small fishing village on a peninsula on the south shore of Lake Brienz, with wooden houses, a little castle on the point and clear turquoise water. A jetty here became famous through a Korean TV drama and now charges a small access fee.
Walk the lakeside path towards the Giessbach Falls for quieter views than the jetty.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Nature · Lake Thun
5.St. Beatus Caves
Above the north shore of Lake Thun, about a kilometre of lit passages leads past stalactites, underground pools and waterfalls into the mountain. Legend says the hermit Beatus drove a dragon from the cave; a small museum explains the cave formation.
Combine it with a Lake Thun boat trip, getting off at the Beatushöhlen pier.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
- History
Neighbourhood · Unterseen
6.Unterseen old town
A short walk across the Aare from Interlaken West, Unterseen's square is lined with 17th-century houses and a church tower, the oldest part of the Bödeli. The Touristik-Museum here tells the story of how the region became a tourist destination.
Walk back to the centre along the Aare quays rather than the main road.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
Castle · Lake Thun
7.Oberhofen Castle
A castle with a tower standing in the water of Lake Thun, a lakeside park and period rooms furnished as a 19th-century aristocratic home. The museum is open in the warmer months, while the gardens are an easy stop between boat departures.
Arrive by boat for the classic view of the tower from the water.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Experience · Brienz
8.Brienz Rothorn Railway
Steam and diesel rack trains climb from Brienz to the Rothorn summit at about 2,350 metres, a line that has run since 1892. The top looks down on Lake Brienz and across to dozens of Alpine peaks. It operates from early summer to autumn.
Sit on the lake side going up, and book a steam-hauled train if you want the full experience.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Views
- History
Historic site · Brienz
9.Ballenberg Open-Air Museum
More than 100 historic farmhouses and workshops from all over Switzerland have been rebuilt in fields and woods above Brienz, with farm animals, gardens and craft demonstrations. It is open from spring to autumn and needs most of a day to see properly.
Enter at one end and leave by the other, catching the bus back to Brienz station.
- Time needed
- 4–6 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- History
- Outdoors
- Architecture
Experience · Town centre
10.Tandem paragliding
Several licensed operators take passengers up to launch sites above town and fly tandem with an experienced pilot for about 10–20 minutes over the lakes, landing on the Höhematte. Flights depend on wind and weather and are often moved at short notice.
Book for early in your stay so you have spare days if the weather cancels your flight.
- Time needed
- 2 hours including transfer
- Cost
- Expensive
- Active
- Views
- Outdoors
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| History | Schynige Platte, St. Beatus Caves, Unterseen old town and Oberhofen Castle |
| Views | Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe, Harder Kulm, Höhematte and Grindelwald First |
| Outdoors and nature | Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe, Lauterbrunnen and Staubbach Falls, Höhematte and Trümmelbach Falls |
| With children | Höhematte, Trümmelbach Falls, Grindelwald First and Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg trail |
| On a rainy day | Trümmelbach Falls and St. Beatus Caves |
What to book ahead
- Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe: Seat reservations on the Jungfrau Railway are needed at busy times; book a day or two ahead in summer.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Interlaken?
Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe. The Jungfrau Railway tunnels through the Eiger and Mönch to a saddle at 3,454 metres, the highest railway station in Europe.
+What can you do for free in Interlaken?
Lauterbrunnen and Staubbach Falls, Höhematte, Iseltwald and Unterseen old town. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Interlaken when it rains?
Head indoors to Trümmelbach Falls and St. Beatus Caves.