HOW TO SPEND FOUR DAYS IN INTERLAKEN

You could spend months on end in Interlaken without tiring of the beauty and endless outdoor activities, but many people don’t get that luxury! So with four days, you can absolutely hit the highlights without having to move a mile a minute, as is the American way. Situated below the mountains in between two alpine lakes, Interlaken is a perfect base for exploration of the Swiss Alps and some good small town charm.

On our way from Florence to Paris last summer, we wanted to stop in Switzerland and with a glowing recommendation from Jarod’s mom, I picked Interlaken on a whim. Knowing almost nothing about the region before stepping foot off the train, we were immediately blown away.

One thing I want to get out of the way is that Switzerland is expensive. Like really pricey. It’s commonly ranked as the second most expensive country in the world and our wallets felt that. But the beauty was well worth the splurge for us!

Getting There

Interlaken is located in the Bernese Highlands region of central Switzerland, and easily accessed by train from any major Swiss city. We were coming up from Florence so our route took six hours and brought us through Milan, then Thun, before transferring to Interlaken West.

The closest international airport is Bern (BRN) at 32 miles away, about a 45 minute drive or 1.5 hours by train. Depending on your travel dates, you may find better fares flying into Zurich or Geneva, so make sure to check all your options.

On Lake Thun

Getting Around

The town of Interlaken is pretty compact, but if you want to do any outdoor activities, you’ll need  to explore the area by transport.

To get around the city itself, you can either walk or take the bus. If you stay at any hotel or AirBnb in the city, your host will provide you with a transit card that allows you to take regional buses for free.

For travel to nearby Grindelwald, Thun, or any of the surrounding towns, you can take the train. There are two train stations in Interlaken, on the east and west sides of the city. Both stations connect around the region. The train stations also house ferries that will take you to various points around both Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. If you have a Eurail pass, ferry rides are included on any days you’ve activated your pass. This came in quite handy for us!

Where to Stay

There are a great variety of accommodation options, ranging from budget hostels to luxury hotel chains and boutique stays. We chose to stay at a lovely AirBnB about four minutes from Interlaken West. Our host Adam was so kind and gracious and the space was clean and cozy. The location was superb and we were only 20 minutes by foot from the Interlaken Ost station, from which we started most of our adventures. I couldn’t recommend it enough.

Interlaken is home to many boutique hotels and you’ll be hard pressed to find large chains. If you’re a budget traveler, the Balmers Hostel is a popular option. We ate dinner here one night and it was clean and full of solo travelers and small groups. A boutique mid-range hotel would be De la Paix Hotel, and if you’re looking for luxury, there’s nothing better than the Hotel Bellevue Interlaken.

What to Eat

In trying to maintain our budget in Switzerland, we only ate out a few times and supplemented with a trip to the Lidl (Aldi’s counterpart) for bread, cheese, eggs, chocolate, fruit, and sandwiches. The quality of the food was amazing and we try to make our own meals as much as we can, so we made sure to book an AirBnB with kitchen access. All I can say is, if the grocery store food was that good, I’m sure the nicer restaurant meals were incredible!

Day One

Arrive in Interlaken, drop your bags off at the hotel, and get to exploring! There is so much to do and see, so you’ll want to hit the ground running. I would recommend starting off on the water, to get a feel for the town.

Lake Thun Cruise

There are many ways to experience the beautiful turquoise water, but my favorite has to be a ferry cruise. Ferries run along the length of both Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, stopping at towns along banks. A one-way ticket across Lake Brienz will run you ₣22.50 per person, but you can ride for free with a Eurail pass. These ferries are a means of transportation, but they’re also an experience. With a full dining room and snacks and beverages available for purchase, the two hour journey across the scenic lake is a must-do if you’ve got the time.

Harder Kulm

Another great way to see the town is from a birds-eye view. At 4,337 feet above Interlaken, the overhang at the top of Harder Kulm is a great way to look out over the town, surrounding lakes, and the mountain peaks. While you can make the 2.8 mile hike to the top, most people choose to ride the funicular for ₣17 per person. Unfortunately, we chose to skip this excursion as we didn’t want to spend the cash. Though not extremely pricey, we were traveling in Europe for two months on a budget and had to pick and choose our paid activities. With a restaurant at the summit, you can time this activity to watch the sun go down as you enjoy fondue or poutine.

Day Two

The Bernese Oberland region is rich with views, but you have to get out of town to really experience the view. Start the day early and take the train from Interlaken Ost up to Grindelwald (about 30 minutes). From here, you can either go to the Top of Europe at Jungfraujoch, or Mount First (pronounced Feerst).

Grindelwald & Mount First

We chose to go to First and splurge on the Adventure Package. Similar to a small amusement park of sorts, Grindelwald First is equipped with two different types of ziplines, as well as go-carts and scooters that glide down the mountainside. For ₣89 each, we got unlimited gondola rides and our choice of two activities. 

If you don’t want to splurge for the activities, you can ride the gondola up for ₣32 each way. At the top, you can eat lunch at Berggasthaus First, climb out on the First Cliff Walk, a suspension bridge wrapping around the small restaurant and hotel. 

From the restaurant, you can hike the one hour route to Bachalpsee, which offers the most stunning views of the mountains. On the way there, I didn’t really see the hype, but once we turned around to view the mountains beyond the lake, I understood! 

Whatever your budget is, I would highly recommend making it up to First. If you’re extremely fit or on a huge budget, you can make the hike to First from Grindelwald, but it’s such a beating and the fairytale gondola ride is worth every penny.

After a full day of adventuring, stroll around Grindelwald and grab dinner at Ristorante-Pizzeria da Salvi. This is definitely a full-day activity so start early and plan to be back in Interlaken no earlier than mid evening. Catch the train back to Interlaken and head in for the night.

Day Three

On your last full day in town, get back out on the lake.

Lake Brienz

Take the bus from the center of town out to Lake Brienz and get on the water. If it’s warm enough, you can swim right in the lake! But even in the summer, the water is chilly and only technically suitable for swimming in August. We wanted to play it a little safer, but cool down after a HOT month in Florence and a big day up on Grindelwald-First, so we spent the day soaking up the sun at The Beach - Strandbad Bönigen. With a sectioned off portion of lake, water inflatables, a small cafe, bathing facilities, and most importantly, a heated pool, it was well worth the ₣6 entrance fee. You can also rent kayaks and paddleboards from the facility.

Outdoor Sports

But Interlaken isn’t known for relaxing, so if you want to do some thrill-seeking, try bungee jumping, paragliding, skydiving, canyoning, or skiing (the list goes on), depending on the time of year. There are no shortage of adventure sports!

Paragliding is Interlaken’s #1 activity and there wasn’t a time we didn’t see these parachutes dotting the sky. They land on a large greenbelt in the middle of town, providing a perfect vantage point to view the fun. Starting at ₣175 a ticket, we didn’t have the budget (or the stomach) to try gliding, but if that’s your thing, it could be well worth it!

End the day with dinner in town at a local Swiss eatery. On the hunt for reasonably priced fondue, we went to Balmers Backyard restaurant at the hostel, but as it was July, we were promptly laughed at and opted for poutine and burgers instead.

Day 4

On your last day in Interlaken, visit the Giessbach Falls. Stop in at a grocery store for some pre-made sandwiches (the pretzel sandwiches are to die for) for a mid-hike picnic.

Giessbach Waterfall Hike

Take the morning ferry from Interlaken Ost (See) to Giessbach (See) for ₣22.50 (or free with your Eurail pass). The ferry brings you to the bottom of the waterfall, where it meets the lake and from here, you can start your hike to the top. About midway up the mountainside, sits the Wes-Anderson style GrandHotel Giessbach. There’s a funicular from the dock to the hotel, and you can take this if you’re short on time, but it’s cash only and the hike is an easy incline! With trails twisting around and through the waterfall, you could spend a couple hours here, or all day, depending on when you have to leave town.

Ride the ferry or take a bus back to town to end your stay and if you have a little bit of time, stop in at the shops along the main row for some Swiss chocolate!

Our Thoughts

Even though I say this about almost every place we visit, Interlaken has truly become my favorite place. The beautiful green hills, majestic snow capped alps, and crystal clear lakes make it the perfect setting, and the people were so kind! I can’t wait to plan our next trip back.

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