Top Tourist Places in Interlaken: What's Actually Worth Your Time
Words by
Jonas Muller
You come to Interlaken for the mountains, but you stay because the town itself has a way of getting under your skin. After years of living here, hiking every trail, and eating my way through every bakery between the two lakes, I have put together this honest rundown of the top tourist places in Interlaken, the ones that actually deserve your time and the ones you can skip without guilt. This is not a list pulled from a brochure. It is what I would tell a friend flying in for the first time.
Höheweg: The Heart of Must See Interlaken
Höheweg is the long, tree-lined promenade that runs roughly 800 meters between the West and East train stations, and it is the single most walked stretch of pavement in the entire Jungfrau region. I walked it again last Tuesday morning around 7:30, before the tour buses arrived, and the view of the Jungfrau massif from the western end was so clear I could count the crevasses on the Eiger's north face. This is where Interlaken announces itself to you. The street is flanked by hotels, cafés, and souvenir shops, but the real draw is the open vista at the western terminus, where the promenade opens into a small park with benches facing directly toward the mountains.
What most tourists do not know is that the best photo spot is not at the main overlook but about 40 meters to the left, near the base of a linden tree where the angle captures both the Jungfrau and the rooftops of the old town in the same frame. I have seen professional photographers set up there at golden hour, and they are not wrong. The street itself dates back to the mid-19th century when Interlaken was being marketed as a luxury health resort for wealthy Europeans, and the grand hotels along its length, like the Victoria-Jungfrau and the Metropole, still carry that old-world weight.
The best time to walk Höheweg is early morning or after 7 PM in summer, when the light turns amber and the crowds thin out. Midday, especially between 11 AM and 3 PM, it becomes a river of selfie sticks and tour groups moving in slow, aimless clusters. If you want to actually feel something standing on this street, come when it is quiet.
Local Insider Tip: "Walk Höheweg from east to west, not the other way around. The mountain reveal hits you gradually as you move toward the western end, and the final view of the Jungfrau is dramatically better when you approach it from the station side rather than starting with it."
One honest complaint: the souvenir shops along the middle section sell the same overpriced cowbells and Swiss army knives you can find cheaper in Thun or Bern. Skip them entirely and spend that money on a coffee at one of the cafés with outdoor seating facing the mountains instead.
Harder Kulm: The Best Attractions Interlaken Has Above the Town
Harder Kulm sits at 1,321 meters above sea level, directly above Interlaken's northern edge, and the two-platform viewing terrace up there gives you what I consider the single most complete panorama in the region. You can see both Lake Thun and Lake Brienz simultaneously, the full sweep of the Bernese Oberland peaks, and on a clear day, the town of Interlaken laid out below like a model train set. I took the funicular up last Friday afternoon, and even after hundreds of trips, the view still made me stop and just stand there for a full minute.
The funicular departs from the Interlaken Ost station area, specifically from the Harderbahn platform just behind the main station building. The ride takes about 10 minutes and costs around 34 CHF for a round trip, though if you have a Swiss Travel Pass or a Jungfrau Travel Pass, you get a discount. The top station has a restaurant, the Two Lakes Bridge (a glass-floored observation platform that extends out over the cliff), and several short walking trails that most tourists never bother to explore.
What most visitors miss is the Harder Kulm Panorama Trail, a 1.2-kilometer loop that starts just behind the restaurant and circles the ridge. It takes about 25 minutes at a gentle pace, and the views from the far side, looking down toward Beatenberg and across the full length of Lake Thun, are arguably better than the main platform. I have done this loop in fog, in rain, and in blazing sun, and it has never disappointed.
Local Insider Tip: "Go up around 4 PM in summer. The afternoon light hits the lakes from the west and turns Lake Brienz an almost unreal turquoise. By 6 PM the restaurant terrace is less crowded, and you can sit with a Rivella and watch the shadow of the Niederhorn creep across the valley."
The one downside is that the funicular runs on a fixed schedule, roughly every 30 minutes, and if you miss the last one down (usually around 6:30 PM in summer, earlier in winter), you are either hiking down a steep trail in the dark or calling a taxi that will cost you a small fortune. Check the timetable before you go up. I have seen more than a few panicked tourists at the top station realizing they have 10 minutes to decide.
Lake Brienz: Interlaken Sightseeing Guide to the Turquoise Shore
Lake Brienz sits on the eastern side of Interlaken, and its color is the thing that stops people in their tracks. It is not blue. It is not green. It is a milky, almost electric turquoise that looks digitally enhanced in photos but is entirely real. The color comes from fine glacial sediment, called rock flour, carried into the lake by the Lütschine River from the glaciers above the Jungfraujoch. I took the lakeside path from Bönigen, the small village at the lake's eastern end, all the way back toward Interlaken last Saturday, and the water shifted between shades of jade and sapphire depending on the depth and the angle of the sun.
The best way to experience the lake is from the water itself. BLS Schifffahrt runs boats from the Interlaken Ost dock (right next to the train station) to Brienz and Bönigen, and the trip to Brienz takes about one hour and 15 minutes. A one-way ticket costs around 36 CHF. The boats have open upper decks, and on a calm morning, the reflections of the mountains on the water are so sharp it is hard to tell which way is up in photographs. I always sit on the left side facing forward (port side) for the best views of the Giessbach Falls, which cascade down the southern shore about halfway along the route.
What most tourists do not realize is that the small harbor at Bönigen, where the boat docks, has a public swimming area that locals use all summer. The water is cold, shockingly cold even in August, but on a hot day there is nothing better than jumping in after a lakeside walk. There is no entry fee, no changing rooms to speak of, just a grassy bank and a ladder into the lake.
Local Insider Tip: "Take the 9 AM boat from Interlaken Ost to Brienz on a weekday. You will have the upper deck almost to yourself, and the morning light on the northern shore, the part with the small wooden boathouses, is the most photogenic stretch of the entire lake."
One thing to be aware of: the boat schedule is reduced significantly outside of the main summer season (roughly mid-June through mid-September). In October and April, you might only get two or three departures per day, and in winter the service stops entirely. Plan around the timetable, not the other way around.
Unterseen: The Old Town Most Tourists Walk Right Past
Unterseen is the older of Interlaken's two historic centers, sitting on the western bank of the Aare River, and it is where I tell every visitor to spend at least an hour before they head up to the mountains. The old town center, centered around the Hauptstrasse and the small square in front of the reformed church, dates back to the 13th century, and the covered wooden bridge (the Unterseen Covered Bridge) that crosses the Aare to connect it with Interlaken's main town is one of the oldest structures in the area. I walked through here last Sunday morning, and the only sounds were church bells and someone practicing trumpet in an upstairs window.
The main street, Hauptstrasse, has a handful of independent shops, a bakery called Bäckerei Konditorei Reinhard that has been here for decades, and a small museum, the Heimatmuseum, inside the old Rathaus (town hall). The museum costs about 5 CHF to enter and covers the history of the region from medieval times through the tourism boom of the 1800s. It is small, maybe 45 minutes of content, but the old photographs of Interlaken before the grand hotels were built are fascinating. You see a farming village, not a resort.
What most people do not know is that the small park along the Aare, just downstream from the covered bridge, is a local swimming spot in summer. The river is fast and cold, but there is a calm eddy behind a small stone wall where kids splash around and older residents sit on the grass reading newspapers. It is about as far from the tourist version of Interlaken as you can get while still being in the same postal code.
Local Insider Tip: "Go to Bäckerei Reinhard on a weekday morning around 8 AM and order a Gipfeli (croissant) and a Milchkaffee. Sit on the bench outside on Hauptstrasse. This is the real rhythm of this town, and you will not find it on Höheweg."
The one frustration with Unterseen is parking. If you arrive by car, the old town streets are narrow, mostly pedestrianized, and the public parking lots fill up fast from May through September. Take the train to Interlaken Ost and walk 10 minutes west across the river. It is easier and you will see more.
Jungfraujoch: The Heavy Hitter of Best Attractions Interlaken
I am going to be direct about the Jungfraujoch. It is expensive (a round-trip ticket from Interlaken Ost costs around 220 CHF in high season), it takes most of a day, and the altitude (3,454 meters) can hit you harder than you expect. It is also, without question, one of the most extraordinary places I have ever stood. The train ride itself, which climbs through the Eiger's interior via a tunnel completed in 1912, takes about two hours each way with a change at Kleine Scheidegg. The final stretch, inside the mountain, includes a stop at the Eiger North Face window, where you can look out through a glass pane cut into the rock face at 2,865 meters. I have done this trip maybe 15 times, and that window still gives me a small jolt of vertigo.
At the top, the Sphinx Observatory, the Ice Palace (a series of carved tunnels inside the glacier), and the Aletsch Glacier viewing platform are the main draws. The Aletsch Glacier is the longest in the Alps at roughly 23 kilometers, and from the platform you can see it stretching south like a frozen river. The Ice Palace is kitschy in places, but walking inside a glacier, with blue light filtering through the ice above you, is genuinely surreal.
What most tourists do not plan for is the altitude. At 3,454 meters, the air has about 60% of the oxygen available at sea level. I have seen people get dizzy, nauseous, or short of breath within minutes of stepping off the train. The Jungfrau Railway company recommends spending no more than one hour at the summit if you feel any symptoms, and there is a first-aid station inside the complex. Drink water before you go up, do not rush, and skip the alcohol the night before.
Local Insider Tip: "Book the earliest departure from Interlaken Ost, usually around 8:05 AM in summer. You will arrive at the summit by 10:30, well before the midday crowds, and the glacier viewing platform will be nearly empty. By noon, the line for the elevator to the Sphinx Observatory can be 30 minutes long."
The biggest complaint I hear, and I share it, is the price. 220 CHF is a lot of money for a day trip, and the food at the top is overpriced even by Swiss standards. Bring your own lunch and a reusable water bottle. There are water fountains inside the complex, and nobody will stop you from eating a sandwich on the viewing platform.
Beatenberg and the Niederhorn: A Must See Interlaken Alternative
If Harder Kulm is the easy viewpoint above Interlaken, the Niederhorn is the one that requires a bit more effort and rewards you with far fewer people. The village of Beatenberg sits on a terrace above the northern shore of Lake Thun, about 15 minutes by bus from Interlaken Ost (bus line 101 or 102, roughly 8 CHF). From Beatenberg, a gondola runs up to the Niederhorn summit at 1,963 meters. The round-trip gondola ticket costs about 42 CHF.
I went up last Wednesday, a day when Harder Kulm was packed with tour groups, and I counted maybe 20 other people on the entire Niederhorn summit. The panorama is wider than Harder Kulm's, stretching from the Schrattenfluh in the east to the Bernese Alps in the south, and in autumn the larch forests below the summit turn a deep gold that photographers travel specifically to capture. There is a short summit loop trail (about 40 minutes) and a restaurant that serves standard Swiss fare, Rösti and Älplermagronen, at prices that are slightly less punishing than the Jungfraujoch.
What most visitors do not know is that Beatenberg itself is worth a walk. The village has a small chapel, the Beatenberg Chapel, with views across Lake Thun that rival anything from the summit, and the path from the village down to the lake shore at Sundlauenen takes about 40 minutes through forest and meadow. It is one of my favorite short hikes in the region, and I have never seen more than a handful of people on it.
Local Insider Tip: "In September and October, take the gondola up to the Niederhorn around 5 PM. The sunset from the western viewing platform, looking across Lake Thun toward the Niesen pyramid, is the best low-angle light in the entire Interlaken area. Bring a jacket, it gets cold fast at that elevation after the sun drops."
The practical downside is the bus connection. The buses from Interlaken to Beatenberg run roughly hourly, and the last bus back down from Beatenberg is usually around 7 PM in summer. Miss it and you are looking at a long walk or an expensive taxi ride. I always set an alarm on my phone for the last bus.
Höhematte Park and the Paragliding Landing Field
Höhematte is the large open meadow in the center of Interlaken, bordered by Höheweg on one side and the Aare River on the other, and it is one of the few genuinely free, open spaces in the town center. In summer, the grass is manicured and people spread out with blankets and picnics. But the real reason Höhematte stands out is that it is the landing field for the paragliders who launch from Beatenberg and the surrounding peaks. I was sitting on the grass last Thursday afternoon, eating a takeaway kebab from a stand near the West station, and watched three paragliders come in one after another, their canopies folding and refolding in the thermals before they touched down with surprising gentleness on the grass.
You can book a tandem paragliding flight from Interlaken, and several operators run from offices along Höheweg. Prices are typically around 180 to 200 CHF for a 15 to 20 minute flight, and the launch point is usually from Beatenberg. I did a tandem flight about six years ago, and the silence once the engine cuts (they use a small motorized harness for the climb) is something I still think about. You are just floating above the town with the Jungfrau in front of you and the lakes on either side.
What most people do not realize is that Höhematte is also a popular spot for local events. In summer, there are occasional open-air concerts, and in winter the meadow sometimes hosts a small Christmas market. The park has been public land since the 19th century, when the town council set it aside specifically as a recreation area, and it remains one of the few places in central Interlaken where you can sit on the ground without buying anything.
Local Insider Tip: "Sit on the eastern edge of Höhematte, near the river, around 4 PM on a clear summer afternoon. This is where most paragliders aim to land, and watching them come in, sometimes two or three at once, is better than any paid attraction in town. Bring a coffee and just watch."
The one thing I will say is that the meadow gets muddy after rain, and the grass can be slippery. Wear decent shoes if you plan to walk across it, not just for the mud but because you do not want to step in the middle of a paraglider's landing path. The pilots are skilled, but they need a clear field.
Giessbach Falls: The Day Trip That Completes Any Interlaken Sightseeing Guide
The Giessbach Falls are not technically in Interlaken. They are on the southern shore of Lake Brienz, about a 20-minute boat ride from Interlaken Ost, and they are one of the few attractions in the region that exceeded my expectations the first time I saw them. The falls drop about 500 meters in a series of cascades down a steep forested gorge, and at the base there is the Grandhotel Giessbach, a beautifully restored 19th-century hotel that looks like it was dropped into the landscape from a Romantic painting. I visited last Monday, taking the boat from Interlaken Ost and then walking the path from the dock up to the hotel and the upper falls viewpoint.
The path from the lake dock to the upper falls takes about 20 minutes and is well maintained but steep in places. There are several viewpoints along the way, and the best one is the platform behind the Grandhotel, where you can see the full height of the main cascade framed by the forest. The hotel itself has a terrace restaurant, and a coffee and a slice of cake cost around 15 CHF, which is reasonable for the setting. The historic Giessbach Funicular, one of the oldest in Switzerland (opened in 1879), runs from the hotel down to the lake and is included in the boat ticket price if you arrive by BLS ferry.
What most tourists do not know is that there is a trail that continues above the upper falls, climbing through the forest to a small mountain lake called the Wilersee. The full loop takes about two hours and is moderately challenging, but the forest section, with old-growth trees and almost no other hikers, is one of the most peaceful walks I have found in the region. I did it on a weekday in late September and did not see another person for the entire upper section.
Local Insider Tip: "Take the boat that arrives at Giessbach around 10:30 AM. Have coffee on the hotel terrace, walk up to the falls, and then take the 1 PM boat back. This gives you about two hours, which is enough for the main viewpoints without feeling rushed. If you want the full Wilersee loop, take the 9 AM boat and plan to return on the 3 PM departure."
The practical challenge is the boat schedule, which I mentioned earlier in the Lake Brienz section. The Giessbach stop is only served by certain departures, not every boat, so you need to check the timetable carefully. I have seen tourists arrive at the dock only to realize the next boat is in two hours. The BLS website has the current schedule, and it is worth printing it out or saving it offline.
When to Go and What to Know
Interlaken's high season runs from mid-June through mid-September, and this is when every attraction, restaurant, and trail is at its busiest. July and August are the peak months, and if you visit during this window, expect crowds at Harder Kulm, long lines for the Jungfraujoch train, and fully booked restaurants by 7 PM. The shoulder seasons, May and late September through mid-October, offer thinner crowds, lower accommodation prices, and often better weather than you might expect. October in particular, when the larch trees turn gold, is my favorite month in the region.
Winter (December through March) is a different Interlaken. Many of the high-altitude attractions, including the Jungfraujoch, remain open, but some boat services and mountain transport are reduced or suspended. The town itself is quieter, and the Christmas market on Höhematte and around the old town is small but pleasant. If you are coming for skiing or snowboarding, the nearby areas of Grindelwald, Mürren, and Schilthorn are where you will spend most of your time, and Interlaken becomes a base rather than a destination.
A few practical notes. The Swiss franc is the currency, and while credit cards are accepted almost everywhere, having 50 to 100 CHF in cash is useful for small purchases, parking meters, and the occasional market stall. Tipping is not expected in Switzerland, as service charges are included, but rounding up the bill by a franc or two is common and appreciated. The tap water in Interlaken is excellent and safe to drink, so bring a reusable bottle and fill it at any public fountain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the most popular attractions in Interlaken require advance ticket booking, especially during peak season?
The Jungfraujoch train should be booked at least 3 to 5 days in advance during July and August, as morning departures sell out regularly. Harder Kulm and the Lake Brienz boat services generally do not require advance booking, but arriving early in the day secures shorter wait times. Paragliding operators typically accept same-day bookings if weather permits, though reserving a day ahead is safer in peak season.
How many days are needed to see the major tourist attractions in Interlaken without feeling rushed?
A minimum of 3 full days is recommended to cover the main sights, including one day for the Jungfraujoch, one day for Lake Brienz and Giessbach Falls, and one day for Harder Kulm, Unterseen, and Höhematte. Adding a fourth day allows for the Niederhorn, Beatenberg, and a more relaxed pace overall.
What is the safest and most reliable way to get around Interlaken as a solo traveler?
The local bus network, operated by PostAuto and STI, covers Interlaken and the surrounding villages with frequent daytime service. The Swiss rail system connects Interlaken Ost and Interlaken West to major hubs like Bern, Thun, and Zurich. Walking is safe and practical within the town center, as most key locations are within a 15 minute walk of either train station.
Is it possible to walk between the main sightseeing spots in Interlaken, or is local transport necessary?
Most central attractions, including Höheweg, Höhematte, Unterseen, and the Harder Kulm funicular base, are within a 10 to 20 minute walk of Interlaken Ost. However, reaching Beatenberg, the Niederhorn gondola, or the Giessbach Falls dock requires either a bus or a boat, as these are 5 to 15 kilometers from the town center.
What are the best free or low-cost tourist places in Interlaken that are genuinely worth the visit?
Höheweg and its mountain viewpoints are completely free and offer some of the best panoramas in the region. Höhematte Park is free and provides front-row seats to paraglider landings. The old town of Unterseen, including the covered bridge and the riverside path along the Aare, costs nothing to explore. The Heimatmuseum in the Unterseen town hall charges approximately 5 CHF and provides a compact but informative look at local history.
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