With kids · Interlaken · Switzerland
Interlaken with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Alps, Public domain
Quick answer
The Jungfrau region is excellent for families: trains and cable cars are an attraction in themselves, there are easy pram-friendly trails, mountain playgrounds and lakes for paddling. Altitude is the main caution for babies and toddlers on the highest peaks. Top picks: Grindelwald First, Trümmelbach Falls and St. Beatus Caves. Families usually base themselves in Matten and Wilderswil.
Key facts
- Family picks
- 8
- Best area for families
- Matten and Wilderswil
- Rainy-day options
- 2
- Busiest months
- July–August
Best things to do with kids
Experience · Grindelwald
1.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 · Lauterbrunnen
2.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
Nature · Lake Thun
3.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
Historic site · Brienz
4.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 · Brienz
5.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
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Experience · Lakes
6.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 · Wengen
7.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
Park · Town centre
8.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
Rainy-day ideas
- Trümmelbach Falls — Bring a waterproof layer and sturdy shoes; paths are wet and steep.
- St. Beatus Caves — Combine it with a Lake Thun boat trip, getting off at the Beatushöhlen pier.
Where families should stay
$$ · 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
Family travel tips
- Children under 16 travel free with a parent on most Swiss public transport if you hold a Swiss Family Card; check the conditions of your pass.
- Jungfraujoch and the Schilthorn are high altitude; for very young children, lower peaks such as First, Männlichen and Harder Kulm are gentler.
- The gentle Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg trail suits walkers of school age, with trains back down from Kleine Scheidegg if legs tire.
- Book apartments with kitchens in Matten, Wilderswil or Lauterbrunnen to save on meals.
- Bring rain gear for waterfalls and caves, which are wet even on sunny days.
Day trips for families
- Thun (About 25 minutes by train or 2 hours by boat) — A lakeside town with a white-towered castle above the old town and a high pavement along the Obere Hauptgasse.
- Kandersteg and Oeschinensee (About 1 hour by train, plus gondola) — A gondola and an easy downhill walk lead from Kandersteg to Oeschinensee, a turquoise lake ringed by cliffs and waterfalls.
- Meiringen and the Aare Gorge (About 30 minutes by train) — Walkways run for about 1.4 km through the narrow Aare Gorge outside Meiringen.
When to go with children
The best months overall are June–September. July–August are the busiest, so book the big sights early. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Interlaken good for kids?
The Jungfrau region is excellent for families: trains and cable cars are an attraction in themselves, there are easy pram-friendly trails, mountain playgrounds and lakes for paddling. Altitude is the main caution for babies and toddlers on the highest peaks.
+What can kids do in Interlaken?
Grindelwald First, Trümmelbach Falls, St. Beatus Caves, Ballenberg Open-Air Museum and Brienz Rothorn Railway.
+Where should families stay in Interlaken?
Matten and Wilderswil: Village streets on the valley floor towards the mountains, on the BOB rail line.