Where to stay · Interlaken · Switzerland
Where to stay in Interlaken
8 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Rafael.corvalan, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Höheweg and the town centre. Grand hotels, watch shops and the open Höhematte meadow facing the Jungfrau. Best alternatives — families: Matten and Wilderswil; budget: Interlaken Ost.
Key facts
- First visit
- Höheweg and the town centre
- Families
- Matten and Wilderswil
- Budget
- Interlaken Ost
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Höheweg and the town centre | Grand hotels, watch shops and the open Höhematte meadow facing the Jungfrau |
| Families | Matten and Wilderswil | Village streets on the valley floor towards the mountains, on the BOB rail line |
| Couples | Höheweg and the town centre | Grand hotels, watch shops and the open Höhematte meadow facing the Jungfrau |
| Budget | Interlaken Ost | Station quarter for mountain trains, the Harder funicular and Lake Brienz boats |
| Luxury | Höheweg and the town centre | Grand hotels, watch shops and the open Höhematte meadow facing the Jungfrau |
| Solo travellers | Interlaken Ost | Station quarter for mountain trains, the Harder funicular and Lake Brienz boats |
| Shopping | Höheweg and the town centre | Grand hotels, watch shops and the open Höhematte meadow facing the Jungfrau |
| Quiet stays | Unterseen | Old wooden houses, a church square and the Aare river on the north side of town |
Interlaken neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, luxury, couples and shopping
Höheweg and the town centre
The Höheweg boulevard runs between Interlaken West and Interlaken Ost stations along the Höhematte, where paragliders land. It has the town's historic grand hotels, the Kursaal, most restaurants and plenty of mid-range options, all within 10–15 minutes' walk of both stations.
- Good
- Walk to both stations and lake piers; Widest choice of restaurants; Jungfrau views from the meadow
- Watch out
- Touristy, with many souvenir and watch shops; Higher prices along the Höheweg
- Nearby
- Höhematte, Kursaal, Interlaken West station, Interlaken Ost station
$$ · Best for first-timers, solo travellers and budget
Interlaken Ost
Around Interlaken Ost the Berner Oberland-Bahnen trains leave for Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen, boats depart for Lake Brienz and the Harderbahn funicular climbs to Harder Kulm. Staying here shaves time off early starts for Jungfraujoch.
- Good
- Fastest access to the Jungfrau railways; Supermarkets at the station; Short walk to the centre
- Watch out
- Less atmosphere than the old town or mountain villages; Busy with tour groups in the morning
- Nearby
- Harderkulm, Lake Brienz pier, Höheweg
$$ · Best for quiet stays, couples and budget
Unterseen
Across the Aare from Interlaken West, Unterseen is the older settlement, with a small square of 17th-century houses, a church tower and quieter streets. Guesthouses and apartments here are often better value than on the Höheweg, and the Lake Thun boat pier is a short walk away.
- Good
- Quiet and historic; Good-value guesthouses; Close to Interlaken West
- Watch out
- Fewer restaurants; Longer walk to Interlaken Ost
- Nearby
- Interlaken West station, Lake Thun pier, Höhematte
$$ · Best for families, budget and quiet stays
Matten and Wilderswil
South of the centre, Matten and Wilderswil are residential villages with farm-stay guesthouses, campsites and holiday apartments. Wilderswil is the starting point of the Schynige Platte railway and a stop on the line to Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald.
- Good
- Apartments and campsites for families; Quieter than the centre; Direct trains into the mountains
- Watch out
- Few evening options; Bus or train needed for the centre
- Nearby
- Schynige Platte, Interlaken centre, Lauterbrunnen
$$$ · Best for families, couples and first-timers
Grindelwald
Grindelwald is the largest resort in the Jungfrau region, about 35 minutes by train from Interlaken Ost, with gondolas to First and Männlichen and the Eiger Express towards Jungfraujoch. It has a lively main street of hotels, restaurants and outdoor shops and is a ski base in winter.
- Good
- Mountain views from the doorstep; Direct access to hiking and skiing; Good restaurant choice
- Watch out
- Busy with day visitors; Pricier than Interlaken
- Nearby
- First (Grindelwald), Männlichen, Eiger Express, Eiger
$$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and quiet stays
Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen lies 20 minutes by train from Interlaken Ost in a narrow U-shaped valley. It has campsites, hostels and simple hotels, and is the junction for the train up to Wengen and the cable car to Mürren and the Schilthorn.
- Good
- Spectacular valley setting; Good-value campsites and hostels; Hub for Wengen, Mürren and the Schilthorn
- Watch out
- Little sun in winter; Few restaurants in the evening
- Nearby
- Staubbach Falls, Trümmelbach Falls, Wengen, Mürren
$$$ · Best for couples, families, quiet stays and luxury
Wengen
Wengen sits on a sunny shelf above Lauterbrunnen on the rack railway to Kleine Scheidegg, with no through traffic and views straight across to the Jungfrau. It is quieter in the evenings than Grindelwald and a ski resort in winter, home to the Lauberhorn downhill race.
- Good
- Car-free and peaceful; On the classic rail route to Jungfraujoch; Walking trails from the village
- Watch out
- Relies on the train for every trip; Limited budget accommodation
- Nearby
- Kleine Scheidegg, Männlichen, Lauterbrunnen
$$$ · Best for quiet stays and couples
Mürren
Mürren perches about 800 metres above the Lauterbrunnen valley and faces the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau across the gorge. Reached by cable car from Stechelberg or via Grütschalp, it is the stop before the Schilthorn and a quiet base for hikers.
- Good
- Views from almost every room; Silent evenings; Direct access to Schilthorn
- Watch out
- Few shops and restaurants; Cable-car connections add travel time
- Nearby
- Schilthorn, Piz Gloria, Lauterbrunnen
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Höheweg and the town centre | $$$ | Höhematte, Kursaal, Interlaken West station, Interlaken Ost station |
| Interlaken Ost | $$ | Harderkulm, Lake Brienz pier, Höheweg |
| Unterseen | $$ | Interlaken West station, Lake Thun pier, Höhematte |
| Matten and Wilderswil | $$ | Schynige Platte, Interlaken centre, Lauterbrunnen |
| Grindelwald | $$$ | First (Grindelwald), Männlichen, Eiger Express, Eiger |
| Lauterbrunnen | $$ | Staubbach Falls, Trümmelbach Falls, Wengen, Mürren |
| Wengen | $$$ | Kleine Scheidegg, Männlichen, Lauterbrunnen |
| Mürren | $$$ | Schilthorn, Piz Gloria, Lauterbrunnen |
Getting to your hotel
Zurich Airport is about 2 hours by train, usually with one change in Bern; Geneva Airport is about 2.5–3 hours and Basel EuroAirport about 2–2.5 hours. Trains arrive at Interlaken West and Interlaken Ost.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Interlaken for first-time visitors?
Höheweg and the town centre. The Höheweg boulevard runs between Interlaken West and Interlaken Ost stations along the Höhematte, where paragliders land.
+Where should families stay in Interlaken?
Matten and Wilderswil: Apartments and campsites for families.
+Which area of Interlaken is best for a budget stay?
Interlaken Ost ($$): Station quarter for mountain trains, the Harder funicular and Lake Brienz boats.