Best Things to Do in Interlaken for First Timers (and Repeat Visitors)

I have lived in Interlaken for over a decade now, and I still find new corners of this town that surprise me. If you are looking for the best things to do in Interlaken, you need to understand that this place is not just a postcard backdrop for the Jungfrau region. It is a working town with a pulse, a place where paragliders land on the same fields where cows graze, and where the Aare River runs cold and fast enough to remind you that nature here is not decorative. This Interlaken travel guide is written from the perspective of someone who has walked every street mentioned below, eaten at every restaurant, and made every mistake so you do not have to.

Höheweg and the Heart of Interlaken

Höheweg is the main promenade that runs through the center of Interlaken, stretching roughly 800 meters from the West station to the East station. It is lined with hotels, cafés, souvenir shops, and some of the most dramatic mountain views you will find in any European town. On a clear morning, the Jungfrau, Mönch, and Eiger line up in a row that looks almost too perfect to be real. I walked this street last Tuesday at 7:30 AM, and I was nearly alone except for a few joggers and a woman walking a Bernese Mountain Dog. By 10 AM, the same stretch is packed with tour groups and the noise level doubles.

The Hotel Victoria Jungfrau sits on the western end of Höheweg, and its grand facade dates back to the late 19th century when Interlaken was becoming one of Europe's premier resort destinations. The building itself tells the story of how this town was essentially invented for tourism. The casino at the eastern end of Höheweg, the Kursaal, has been hosting visitors since 1859, and its gardens are free to walk through. Most tourists snap a photo and keep moving, but the garden paths behind the Kursaal lead down to the Aare River, where you can sit on a bench and watch the water rush toward Lake Thun.

One detail most visitors miss is the small memorial plaque near the middle of Höheweg commemorating the 1798 French invasion of Switzerland. It is easy to overlook because it is mounted low on a building wall, but it connects Interlaken to a much broader Swiss history that most people never learn about. The town was not always about adventure sports and scenic train rides. It was a strategic point in a country that was fighting for its survival.

Local Insider Tip: "Walk Höheweg at sunrise, not sunset. Everyone clusters here in the evening for the mountain views, but the morning light hits the Jungfrau face directly and turns it gold. You will have the promenade almost to yourself, and the coffee shops on the north side open by 6:30 AM."

If you only have one morning in Interlaken, spend it here. Grab a coffee from the Café de Paris on Höheweg, sit outside if the weather allows, and just watch the mountains. It costs almost nothing and sets the tone for everything else you will do in this town.

Harder Kulm: The Local's Viewpoint

Harder Kulm is the mountain viewpoint that sits directly above Interlaken on the north side, and it is one of the most underrated activities Interlaken has to offer. The funicular departs from the Interlaken Ost station area and takes about 8 minutes to reach the top station at 1,321 meters. The Two Lakes Bridge observation platform at the summit gives you a view of both Lake Thun and Lake Brienz simultaneously, with the town of Interlaken sitting in the narrow strip of land between them. I went up last Thursday afternoon, and the light was shifting every ten minutes as clouds moved across the valley.

The round-trip ticket costs 34 Swiss francs for adults, and the funicular runs roughly every 30 minutes. The restaurant at the top serves decent food, but I would recommend eating before you go up or bringing a picnic. The prices are what you would expect for a mountain-top venue, and the portions are not generous. What makes Harder Kulm special is not the food or even the platform itself. It is the fact that you can see the entire layout of the Jungfrau region from above, and suddenly the geography of your entire trip makes sense. You understand why Interlaken exists where it does, why the two lakes are different colors, and why the trains run the way they do.

Most tourists rush past Harder Kulm on their way to Jungfraujoch, and that is a mistake. The hike down from the upper station takes about 90 minutes on a well-marked trail, and it passes through forest and meadow sections that feel completely removed from the tourist town below. I did the descent on a Saturday morning and passed maybe four other people the entire way. The trail ends near the Interlaken Ost station, so you can loop back into town without needing a bus.

Local Insider Tip: "Take the funicular up but hike down. The trail is marked as 'Harder Kulm Panoramaweg' and it is well maintained. Bring water and wear proper shoes because the last section near the bottom gets rocky. You will save the cost of a second ticket and get a completely different perspective of the mountain."

Harder Kulm is the single best way to orient yourself when you first arrive in Interlaken. Do it on your first day, and every other activity you plan afterward will make more sense because you will have seen the whole region from above.

Lake Brienz and the Giessbach Falls

Lake Brienz sits on the eastern side of Interlaken, and its water is a turquoise color that looks almost artificial in photographs. It is not. The color comes from fine glacial particles suspended in the water, and it changes depending on the time of year and the weather. I took the BLS boat from the Interlaken Ost dock to Giessbach last month, and the 90-minute ride along the northern shore of the lake was one of the most peaceful experiences I have had in Switzerland. The boat runs from roughly May to October, and a one-way ticket to Giessbach costs around 30 Swiss francs.

Giessbach Falls is a waterfall that drops about 500 meters in a series of cascades down the hillside above the lake. The historic Giessbach Grand Hotel sits at the top, and a funicular connects the hotel to the lakeshore landing stage. The falls themselves are free to view from the base, and there are walking paths that take you behind and alongside the cascades. The mist from the falls keeps the surrounding forest cool and damp, which supports a moss and fern ecosystem that feels ancient. I spent about two hours walking the trails around the falls, and I was struck by how few other people were there despite it being a Saturday in July.

The connection between Giessbach and Interlaken's history is direct. The Giessbach Grand Hotel was one of the first luxury hotels in the Bernese Oberland when it opened in 1879, and it helped establish the region's reputation as a destination for wealthy European travelers. Mark Twain visited. Brahms composed there. The hotel has been restored in recent years, and the restaurant serves a lunch menu that is surprisingly reasonable for the quality. I had the rösti with local cheese and a side salad for about 22 francs, which is a fair price for a sit-down meal with a view of the falls.

Local Insider Tip: "Take the 9 AM boat from Interlaken Ost to Giessbach. You will arrive before the midday crowds, and the morning light on the lake is extraordinary. Buy a return ticket for the 3:30 PM boat so you have plenty of time to explore the falls without rushing. The last boat back is usually around 5:30 PM in summer."

Lake Brienz and Giessbach Falls represent the quieter, older side of the Interlaken experience. This is the Switzerland that existed before paragliding and canyoning, and it is worth making time for even if your itinerary is packed with adrenaline activities.

Paragliding from Beatenberg

Paragliding is one of the most popular activities Interlaken, and for good reason. The launch site above Beatenberg, on the northern ridge above Lake Thun, gives you a flight path that takes you over the entire Interlaken valley with views of both lakes and the major peaks. I did a tandem flight two weeks ago with a pilot who has been flying this route for 12 years, and he told me that the thermals in the morning are more stable, which makes for a smoother flight. The cost for a tandem flight ranges from 170 to 200 Swiss francs depending on the season and the operator, and flights typically last between 10 and 20 minutes.

The meeting point for most paragliding operators is in central Interlaken, and they drive you up to the launch site above Beatenberg, which sits at about 1,300 meters. The drive itself takes about 15 minutes and gives you a view of the northern shore of Lake Thun that most tourists never see because they stick to the southern side. The launch is from a grassy slope, and the takeoff is straightforward. You run a few steps with your pilot, and then you are flying. There is no cliff jump, no sudden drop. It is gentle, and the silence once the wind noise settles is something I have never experienced anywhere else.

One thing most tourists do not know is that the Beatenberg ridge is also a popular launch site for hang gliders, and on a good day you can see dozens of aircraft circling above the valley. The ridge faces south, which means it catches the thermal updrafts that rise from the valley floor, and this is what makes sustained flight possible. The pilots here know the air currents intimately, and the safety record for paragliding in the Interlaken area is excellent.

Local Insider Tip: "Book your paragliding flight for a morning slot, ideally before 11 AM. The air is calmer, the light is better for photos, and your pilot will have more time to find thermals that extend the flight. Afternoon flights in summer can get bumpy because the valley heats up and creates turbulence. Also, wear closed-toe shoes with good grip. You will be running on grass for the takeoff."

Paragliding over Interlaken is not just an adrenaline activity. It is a way of seeing the landscape that connects you to the geography in a way that no train or cable car can replicate. You feel the air, you see the scale of the mountains, and you understand why this valley has drawn visitors for centuries.

Unterseen and the Old Town Streets

Unterseen is the old town of Interlaken, sitting on the western side of the Aare River, and it is where the actual history of this place lives. Most tourists never cross the river. They stay on the Höheweg side, visit the shops, and leave. That is a mistake. Unterseen has a medieval street layout, a 12th-century church, and a collection of small restaurants and bars that feel like they belong to a real town rather than a resort. I spent an entire afternoon last week walking the narrow streets between the Hauptstrasse and the river, and I found details I had never noticed before despite living here for years.

The church of Unterseen, the reformed church on the main square, dates to around 1150 and has been renovated multiple times. The current structure is mostly from the 15th century, and the interior is plain in the Protestant tradition but has a quiet dignity that I find more moving than the ornate Catholic churches elsewhere in Switzerland. The square in front of the church has a small fountain and a few benches, and on Wednesday mornings there is a local market where farmers from the surrounding area sell cheese, bread, and seasonal produce. I bought a wheel of Hobelkäse there for 18 francs that was better than anything I have tasted in a restaurant.

The restaurant Alpenrose on the Hauptstrasse in Unterseen serves traditional Bernese cuisine in a dining room that has not changed much in decades. I ordered the Berner Platte, which is a platter of various meats and sausages served with beans and sauerkraut, and it cost 32 francs. The portion was enormous, and the quality of the meat was excellent. The owner told me that they source their sausages from a butcher in Thun who has been making them the same way for three generations. This is the kind of detail that makes Unterseen worth visiting. The food here is not designed for tourists. It is designed for locals, and that makes all the difference.

Local Insider Tip: "Visit Unterseen on a Wednesday morning for the market, and then walk down to the Aare River path that runs along the northern edge of the old town. There is a small beach area where locals swim in summer, and the water is cold but incredibly clear. Most tourists do not know this spot exists because it is not signposted from the main streets."

Unterseen is the antidote to the tourist-heavy center of Interlaken. It is where you go to remember that this is a real Swiss town with a real history, and the experiences in Interlaken that stay with you longest often come from the places that were not designed for visitors.

The Jungfraujoch Railway Experience

The Jungfraujoch is the highest railway station in Europe at 3,454 meters, and it is the single most popular day trip from Interlaken. The train departs from Interlaken Ost and takes about two hours to reach the top, passing through Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, and Kleine Scheidegg along the way. A round-trip ticket costs around 215 Swiss francs in high season, which is expensive, but the engineering of the railway itself is part of the experience. The line was completed in 1912 after 16 years of construction, and much of it runs through tunnels inside the Eiger and Mönch mountains.

I took the train up last month on a day when the weather was clear at the top, which is not guaranteed. The Sphinx observation terrace at the summit gives you a 360-degree view of the Aletsch Glacier, which is the longest glacier in the Alps at about 23 kilometers. The glacier is retreating visibly, and the guides at the top will tell you that it has lost about 3 kilometers of length since measurements began. The Ice Palace, carved into the glacier interior, is a tourist attraction that feels slightly dated but is still worth seeing because walking inside a glacier is not something you can do just anywhere.

The biggest complaint I have about the Jungfraujoch is the crowding. The viewing platforms and the Ice Palace can feel packed between 11 AM and 3 PM, and the air at that altitude (even inside the buildings) can make you feel lightheaded if you are not acclimatized. I saw several people sitting down looking pale, and the staff at the top are trained to handle altitude sickness. Drink water before you go up, and do not rush around at the top. Take your time.

Local Insider Tip: "Take the earliest train from Interlaken Ost, which usually departs around 7:25 AM in summer. You will arrive at the Jungfraujoch by 9:30 AM, well before the main tour groups. The light on the Aletsch Glacier in the early morning is spectacular, and you will have the Sphinx terrace almost to yourself for the first hour. Also, eat a full breakfast before you go. The food at the top is overpriced and mediocre."

The Jungfraujoch is a bucket-list experience, and it delivers on the spectacle. But it is also a reminder of how fragile the Alpine environment is, and the retreating glacier is a sight that carries weight beyond the postcard views.

Höhematte Park and the Local Life

Höhematte is the large open park that sits in the center of Interlaken, between Höheweg and the Kursaal. It is a flat, grassy field of about 14 hectares that was originally a flood plain of the Lütschine River, and it has been used as public open space since the 19th century. Today it is where locals come to walk dogs, play frisbee, and watch the paragliders land. I go there most evenings after work, and it is the place where I feel most connected to the rhythm of daily life in this town.

The park is also the landing zone for most paragliding flights, and watching the pilots come down is a spectacle in itself. The landings are precise, and the pilots often touch down within a few meters of their target. On a busy summer day, you might see a dozen flights land in the space of an hour. There is a small café at the southern edge of the park that serves coffee and cake, and sitting there with a view of the landing field and the mountains behind is one of the most relaxing things you can do in Interlaken without spending much money.

What most tourists do not realize is that Höhematte has been a gathering place for centuries. Before it was a park, it was common land where local farmers grazed their cattle. The name itself comes from the local dialect and refers to the high meadow that this area once was. The transformation from agricultural land to public park mirrors the broader transformation of Interlaken from a farming community to a tourism economy, and standing in the middle of the park with the mountains on all sides, you can feel both histories at once.

Local Insider Tip: "Go to Höhematte in the late afternoon, around 5 PM in summer, and sit on the grass near the western edge. This is where the paragliders land, and the light at that hour turns the mountains pink and gold. Bring a picnic from the Coop supermarket on Höheweg. A bottle of local wine, some bread and cheese, and a front-row seat to one of the best free shows in Switzerland."

Höhematte is the simplest entry on this list, and it might be the most important. It is where Interlaken lives when it is not performing for visitors, and spending time there will give you a feel for the town that no guided tour can provide.

Lake Thun and the Schadau Castle Shore

Lake Thun sits on the western side of Interlaken, and while it gets far less attention than Lake Brienz, it has its own character that is worth exploring. The water is deeper and darker, more blue than turquoise, and the northern shore is lined with villages and castles that feel like they belong to a different era. I rented a kayak from the Interlaken West lakeshore last weekend and paddled south along the shore toward Schadau Castle, which sits on a small peninsula about 3 kilometers from the center of town.

Schadau Castle was built in the 1850s in a neo-Gothic style, and its grounds are open to the public for free. The castle itself houses a restaurant and is sometimes used for events, but the surrounding park is the real draw. The trees in the park are mature and varied, including some species that were planted in the 19th century as part of an English garden design. I spent an hour walking through the park after kayaking, and I was the only person there on a Sunday afternoon. The view from the castle terrace across Lake Thun to the Niesen mountain is one of the best in the Interlaken area, and it is completely free.

The kayak rental from the Interlaken West shore costs about 25 Swiss francs per hour, and the water is calm enough for beginners on most days. The paddle to Schadau and back takes about 90 minutes at a leisurely pace, and you pass a few small beaches and private docks along the way. The northern shore of Lake Thun is more developed, with the towns of Spiez and Thun accessible by boat or train, but the southern shore near Interlaken is quieter and more natural.

Local Insider Tip: "Rent a kayak or paddleboard from the Interlaken West shore in the morning before 10 AM. The lake is calmer, the wind has not picked up yet, and you will have the water mostly to yourself. Paddle toward Schadau Castle and tie up at the small dock on the eastern side of the peninsula. Walk through the park and have lunch at the castle restaurant, which has a terrace with a view that rivals any expensive mountain-top venue."

Lake Thun and Schadau Castle offer a slower, more contemplative version of the Interlaken experience. If you have been rushing between activities and need an afternoon to breathe, this is where you should go.

When to Go and What to Know

Interlaken is a year-round destination, but the character of the town changes dramatically with the seasons. Summer, from June to September, is peak season. The weather is warm, all the activities are running, and the town is full. This is also when prices are highest and crowds are thickest. Winter, from December to March, is quieter but still active, with skiing and snowboarding accessible via day trips to Grindelwald, Mürren, and the Jungfrau region. The Christmas markets in Interlaken and nearby towns run through most of December and are worth planning around.

The shoulder seasons of April to May and October to November are my favorite times to be here. The weather can be unpredictable, but the town is quieter, prices drop, and the light on the mountains is often at its best. October in particular brings autumn colors to the forests around the lakes, and the paragliding season often extends into the first weeks of the month.

One practical note: Interlaken is small. The town center is walkable in about 15 minutes from end to end, and most of the key locations in this guide are within a 30-minute walk of each other. Public transport is excellent if you want to go further, with trains and buses connecting to all the surrounding villages and trailheads. The Swiss Travel Pass is worth the investment if you plan to take multiple trains and boats during your stay.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the safest and most reliable way to get around Interlaken as a solo traveler?

Interlaken is extremely safe for solo travelers, with very low crime rates and well-maintained public infrastructure. The town center is compact and walkable, and the train stations at Interlaken Ost and Interlaken West connect to regional and national networks. Buses run frequently to surrounding villages, and the Swiss public transport system is punctual to the minute. Solo travelers can use the SBB Mobile app to plan routes and buy tickets, which works in English and covers all trains, buses, and boats in the region.

What are the best free or low-cost tourist places in Interlaken that are genuinely worth the visit?

Höhematte Park is free and offers mountain views and paragliding landings throughout the day. The Kursaal gardens on Höheweg are open to the public at no cost. The Aare River path along Unterseen is free and leads to a local swimming beach. Schadau Castle park on Lake Thun is free to enter. Harder Kulm can be hiked from the top station down to town for the cost of a one-way funicular ticket of about 17 francs. The reformed church in Unterseen and its square are free to visit and host a Wednesday morning market with affordable local produce.

Is it possible to walk between the main sightseeing spots in Interlaken, or is local transport necessary?

The main sights within Interlaken town are all walkable. Höheweg, Höhematte Park, Unterseen old town, and the lakeshores are within a 15 to 20 minute walk of each other. Harder Kulm requires a funicular ride from near Interlaken Ost. Lake Brienz boat trips and the Jungfraujoch railway require transport by design. For destinations outside the town center, such as Giessbach Falls or Beatenberg, local buses and boats are necessary and run regularly throughout the day.

How many days are needed to see the major tourist attractions in Interlaken without feeling rushed?

Three full days is the minimum for covering the major attractions at a comfortable pace. One day for Harder Kulm, Höhematte, and the town center. One day for a Lake Brienz boat trip to Giassbach Falls. One day for the Jungfraujoch railway. Adding a fourth or fifth day allows for paragliding, Lake Thun exploration, and day trips to Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald without rushing. Visitors who try to see everything in one or two days consistently report feeling exhausted and overwhelmed.

Do the most popular attractions in Interlaken require advance ticket booking, especially during peak season?

The Jungfraujoch railway strongly recommends advance booking from June to September, as same-day tickets often sell out by mid-morning. Paragliding flights should be booked at least two to three days ahead during peak season to secure preferred time slots. Lake Brienz boat trips do not require advance booking except for large groups. Harder Kulm funicular tickets can be purchased at the station on the day. Restaurant reservations at popular venues like the Giessbach Grand Hotel are advisable for dinner service in July and August.