Best Walking Paths and Streets in Interlaken to Explore on Foot

Finding the best walking paths in Interlaken means stepping away from the souvenir shops on Hoheweg and letting the town reveal itself at a slower pace. I have spent years wandering these streets, and the routes below are the ones I return to every season, each offering a different angle on the mountains, the rivers, and the quiet corners most visitors miss entirely. Whether you have an entire afternoon or just a couple of hours between trains, these walks will show you the Interlaken that exists beyond the postcard views.

Höheweg Promenade: The Beating Heart of Interlaken on Foot

Höheweg is the main promenade stretching between the West and East train stations, and it is where most people first set foot in Interlaken. I walked it last Tuesday morning before the tour buses arrived, and the difference was remarkable, almost like two different streets. The promenade is lined with hotels, cafés, and shops, but what most tourists overlook is the uninterrupted view of the Jungfrau massif at the western end, which is best seen in the first hour after sunrise when the light hits the snow directly.

Start your walk from Interlaken Ost station heading west. Along the way, you will pass the Tourismus Interlaken office, which has free printed maps that are more detailed than what you will find online. The street itself is flat and fully accessible, making it ideal for anyone with mobility concerns. About halfway down, there is a small garden area with benches that most people walk right past, but it is one of the few spots where you can sit without being solicited by tour operators.

The best time to walk Höheweg is on a weekday morning before 9 AM or after 6 PM in summer, when the light softens and the crowds thin out. On weekends between June and August, the street becomes nearly impassable with tour groups, so plan accordingly. I always tell visitors to use Höheweg as a connector rather than a destination, a way to move between the more interesting side streets that branch off it.

Local Insider Tip: "Turn left onto the small path just past the Hotel Interlaken (not the main road, but the narrow one behind the building) and you will find a quiet riverside bench that almost no tourists know about. I have been going there for fifteen years and I rarely see anyone else there before 10 AM."

The Aare River Path: Scenic Walks Interlaken Locals Actually Use

The Aare River path runs along the northern edge of the town center, and it is one of the most underrated scenic walks Interlaken has to offer. I walked the full stretch from the Bödeli bridge to the outskirts of Unterseen last spring, and the water was so clear you could see the riverbed stones even in the deeper sections. The path is mostly gravel and flat, with a few wooden footbridges that cross over small channels where the river splits.

What makes this path special is the contrast between the wildness of the river and the manicured hotels just a block away. You will pass a few small beaches where locals swim in summer, and there is a spot about 400 meters past the main bridge where the current slows into a wide, shallow pool that is perfect for wading. The water is cold even in August, fed by glacial melt, but on a hot afternoon it is irresistible.

The best time for this walk is late afternoon, between 4 and 6 PM, when the mountains cast long shadows across the water. In winter, parts of the path can be icy, so bring proper footwear. The path connects directly to the road leading into Unterseen, so you can easily extend your walk into that neighborhood if you have the energy.

One detail most tourists would not know: there is a small fish ladder built into the riverbank about halfway along the path, installed in the early 2000s to help trout navigate a weir. It is easy to miss, but if you look closely at the water near the concrete structure, you can sometimes see fish resting in the pools.

Local Insider Tip: "If you walk this path on a Sunday morning, you will almost certainly see a few locals doing stand-up paddleboarding in the wider section near the weir. It is not a tourist activity here, it is just what people do. If you want to try it, there is a rental spot near the Unterseen bridge that opens at 8 AM, earlier than most places in town."

Unterseen Old Town: Walking Tours Interlaken Often Skip This

Most walking tours Interlaken offers focus almost exclusively on the area between the two train stations, but the old town of Unterseen, just across the Aare River, is where the real character of the Bödeli region lives. I spent an entire Saturday morning wandering its narrow streets last month, and I was struck by how different the atmosphere is from Interlaken proper. The buildings here are older, many dating to the 17th and 18th centuries, and the streets are quieter, with small family-run shops and bakeries that have been operating for generations.

The main street, Hauptstrasse, runs parallel to the river and is lined with traditional Bernese-style buildings. There is a small church, the reformed Kirche Unterseen, that dates to the 13th century, and its cemetery is one of the most peaceful spots in the entire area. I sat on a bench there for twenty minutes and not a single person walked past. The church tower is visible from several points along the Aare path, and it serves as a useful landmark for orientation.

The best time to visit Unterseen is on a weekday morning, when the bakery on the corner of Hauptstrasse and Mühlegasse opens and the smell of fresh Zopf bread fills the street. The bakery does not have a sign in English, and the owner speaks mostly Swiss German, but she has been making the same recipes for over thirty years. Try the Nusstorte, a caramelized walnut tart that is far better here than anything you will find on Höheweg.

One thing most visitors do not realize is that Unterseen was originally a separate municipality from Interlaken and only merged administratively in the 19th century. The rivalry between the two towns still lingers in small ways, and locals in Unterseen will sometimes refer to Interlaken as "the tourist town" with a slight smirk.

Local Insider Tip: "Walk down the alley behind the church and you will find a tiny courtyard with a fountain that dates to 1742. It is not on any map, but it is one of the oldest surviving water sources in the area. I discovered it by accident five years ago and now I stop by every time I am in Unterseen."

The Harder Kulm Panorama Trail: Best Walking Paths in Interlaken for Views

The trail up to Harder Kulm, the local mountain overlooking Interlaken, is one of the best walking paths in Interlaken for anyone who wants a serious uphill challenge with a reward at the top. I hiked it last October, and the autumn colors along the lower section were extraordinary, layers of gold and red against the dark evergreens. The trail starts near the Interlaken Ost station and climbs about 700 meters over roughly 3.5 kilometers, so it is not a casual stroll, but it is well-marked and does not require technical skills.

The first section winds through a forest with occasional clearings that offer glimpses of Lake Thun below. About two-thirds of the way up, the trail opens into a meadow where you can see the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau in a single frame. I stopped there for lunch and spent just watching the clouds move across the peaks. The final stretch is steeper and rockier, but there are iron railings in the exposed sections, so it feels secure even in wet conditions.

The best time to attempt this hike is between May and October, with June and September being the most reliable months for clear skies. Start early, by 7 AM, to avoid afternoon thunderstorms, which are common in July and August. The Harderbahn funicular runs from the base to the top, so if you are tired on the way down, you can take it for about 15 CHF one way.

One detail most tourists do not know: there is a small alpine garden near the summit station that is maintained by a local botanical group. It features over 200 species of mountain plants, and there is a free guidebook in a wooden box at the entrance. I have visited it three times and noticed something new each time.

Local Insider Tip: "If you want to avoid the crowds at the Harder Kulm restaurant at the top, walk about 200 meters past the station along the ridge trail to a small wooden platform. It is not marked on the main tourist map, but the view is actually better because you can see both Lake Thun and Lake Brienz at the same time. I go there every time and I am usually alone."

Lake Brienz Shoreline Path: Interlaken on Foot by the Water

The shoreline path along Lake Brienz, starting from the Interlaken Ost station and heading east toward the village of Iseltwald, is one of the most beautiful walks in the entire region. I walked the first five kilometers of it last July, and the color of the water shifted from deep turquoise to pale jade depending on the depth and the angle of the sun. The path is mostly flat and paved, with a few sections that run directly along the water's edge.

What makes this walk special is the sense of isolation you get just a few kilometers from the town center. After about two kilometers, the hotels and restaurants disappear, and you are left with the lake, the mountains, and the occasional cyclist passing by. There are several small beaches along the way, and on a warm day, you will see locals swimming in water that is surprisingly cold even in midsummer.

The best time for this walk is early morning or late evening, when the light on the lake is at its most dramatic. In summer, the path can get busy with cyclists between 10 AM and 4 PM, so if you want solitude, go before 9 AM or after 6 PM. The path is accessible year-round, but in winter the eastern sections can be snow-covered and slippery.

One thing most tourists do not know is that the water in Lake Brienz is so clean that it is used as drinking water for several nearby communities. There are signs along the path reminding visitors not to swim within 200 meters of the water intake points, but beyond those zones, swimming is perfectly fine and quite popular with locals.

Local Insider Tip: "About three kilometers along the path, there is a small wooden dock on the left side that is easy to miss if you are not looking for it. It is used by local fishermen, but it is also the best spot to jump into the lake because the water is deeper there and the entry is clean. I have been swimming off that dock for years and it is one of my favorite spots in the whole area."

The Jungfrau Park and Surrounding Trails: Scenic Walks Interlaken Families Enjoy

Jungfrau Park, located on the western edge of Interlaken near the Matten district, is often dismissed as a children's amusement park, but the walking trails that surround it are some of the most pleasant in the area. I walked the loop trail behind the park last August, and the combination of open meadows, forest edges, and mountain views was genuinely impressive. The trail is about 4 kilometers long and is suitable for all fitness levels.

The park itself is built on land that was once a traditional Swiss farm, and some of the original stone walls are still visible along the upper trail section. The meadows are maintained by a local agricultural cooperative, and in late summer they are full of wildflowers. I saw at least a dozen species of butterfly during my walk, and the sound of cowbells from the nearby pastures added to the atmosphere.

The best time to walk these trails is in the late afternoon, between 3 and 5 PM, when the light is warm and the park crowds have thinned. The trails are open year-round, but the park itself operates seasonally from roughly April to October. There is no charge to access the trails, even when the park is closed.

One detail most tourists would not know is that the upper trail connects to a small chapel, the Kapelle Matten, that dates to the 15th century. It is usually locked, but the exterior is worth seeing, and the view from the chapel yard stretches across the entire Lauterbrunnen Valley. I found it by following a faint path that branches off the main trail about halfway through the loop.

Local Insider Tip: "If you walk the loop counterclockwise instead of the way most people go, you will hit the best viewpoint about two-thirds of the way through, just when you are starting to feel tired. It makes the walk feel more rewarding. I always go counterclockwise and I think it makes a real difference."

The Interlaken Monastery Grounds: Walking Tours Interlaken History Buffs Love

The grounds of the former Augustinian monastery, located just south of the Höheweg promenade, are one of the most historically significant sites in Interlaken and one of the least visited. I spent an hour walking the grounds last September, and the quiet was almost eerie given how close it is to the main tourist strip. The monastery was founded in 1133 and dissolved during the Reformation in 1528, and the current building serves as the district administration office.

The grounds include a small garden with medicinal herbs that were originally cultivated by the monks, and there is a stone well in the center that dates to the 13th century. The garden is open to the public during office hours, and there is a small informational plaque in German and English that explains the history of the site. I read the entire plaque and learned that the monastery once controlled most of the land in the Bödeli region, including what is now Unterseen.

The best time to visit is on a weekday morning, when the administration office is open but the grounds are nearly empty. On weekends, the area is completely deserted, which can actually be a nice experience if you want total solitude. The grounds are accessible year-round, though the garden is most interesting between May and September when the herbs are in bloom.

One thing most tourists do not know is that the monastery's original crypt is still intact beneath the current building, and it can be visited by appointment with the local historical society. I arranged a visit two years ago and it was one of the most memorable experiences I have had in Interlaken. The crypt contains stone carvings from the 12th century that are remarkably well preserved.

Local Insider Tip: "Walk around the back of the building and you will find a small door that leads to a courtyard almost no one uses. There is a bench there under a linden tree, and it is the quietest spot in central Interlaken. I go there to eat my lunch at least once a week during the summer."

The Gsteig Trail Above Interlaken: Best Walking Paths in Interlaken for Solitude

For those who want to escape the tourist areas entirely, the Gsteig trail above Interlaken offers some of the best walking paths in Interlaken for genuine solitude and raw mountain scenery. I hiked the lower section of this trail last June, starting from the village of Gsteig, which is accessible by a short bus ride from Interlaken West. The trail climbs through alpine meadows and passes several traditional chalets that are still used by local farmers during the summer grazing season.

The first two kilometers of the trail are moderately steep but well-maintained, with stone steps in the steeper sections. After that, the trail levels out and follows a ridge with views of both Lake Thun and the Lauterbrunnen Valley. I stopped at a small wooden shelter about four kilometers in and ate lunch while watching an eagle circle below me, which is not an exaggeration. The silence up there is profound.

The best time to hike the Gsteig trail is between June and September, when the snow has melted and the wildflowers are in bloom. Start early, by 7:30 AM, to avoid afternoon clouds that can obscure the views. The trail is not well-marked in some sections, so bring a detailed map or download the SwissMobility app, which has the route clearly marked.

One detail most tourists would not know is that the trail passes a small alpine cheese dairy that operates from June to August. The cheesemaker, a woman named Ruth, has been making Sbrinz-style cheese at this location for over twenty years, and she is happy to let hikers watch the process. There is no shop, but she sometimes sells small pieces directly. I bought a chunk from her last year and it was the best cheese I have ever tasted.

Local Insider Tip: "If you take the bus to Gsteig, get off at the second stop, not the first. The first stop is closer to the village, but the second stop puts you directly on the trailhead and saves you about twenty minutes of walking on the road. Almost everyone gets off at the first stop because the bus driver announces it, but the second stop is the one you want."

When to Go and What to Know

Interlaken is walkable year-round, but the experience varies dramatically by season. From May to September, the days are long, the trails are clear, and the weather is generally reliable, though afternoon thunderstorms are common in July and August. Winter walks are possible on the lower elevation paths, but snow and ice can make the mountain trails dangerous without proper gear. The town center is compact enough that you can reach most of the walks listed above within fifteen minutes of walking from either train station.

Footwear matters more than you might think. Even the paved paths can be slippery after rain, and the mountain trails require sturdy shoes with good grip. I have seen too many visitors attempt the Harder Kulm trail in sandals, and it is not a good idea. Bring layers, even in summer, because the temperature drops quickly once you gain elevation or the sun goes behind the mountains.

Public transportation connects most of the trailheads, and the Swiss Travel Pass covers buses and trains throughout the region. If you are planning to do several walks in a single day, consider buying a day pass for the local bus network, which costs around 10 CHF and is valid on all routes in the Bödeli area.

Frequently Asked Questions

How walkable is the main cultural and dining district of Interlaken?

The central area between Interlaken Ost and Interlaken West stations is approximately 1.5 kilometers long and almost entirely flat, making it very walkable for most people. The Höheweg promenade connects the two stations in about 18 minutes at a normal pace, and most restaurants, shops, and hotels are within a five-minute walk of this main strip. Sidewalks are wide and well-maintained throughout the town center.

Which local ride-hailing or transit apps should I download before arriving in Interlaken?

The SBB Mobile app is essential for train and bus schedules throughout Switzerland, including all local routes in Interlaken. The PostBus app covers regional bus connections, and the SwissMobility app provides detailed hiking and walking trail maps with real-time GPS tracking. Uber does not operate in Interlaken, and local taxi services must be booked by phone or at designated stands near the train stations.

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

Walking is the safest and most practical option within the town center, as the streets are well-lit and pedestrian traffic is steady from early morning until late evening. For longer distances, the local bus network runs every 15 to 30 minutes on main routes and is considered very safe, even late at night. Trains between Interlaken Ost and Interlaken West run approximately every 10 minutes during peak hours and are well-monitored.

What is the safest area to book an accommodation or boutique stay in Interlaken?

The area between the two train stations, particularly along Höheweg and the side streets immediately to the north and south, is the safest and most convenient area for visitors. This zone has the highest concentration of hotels, the best street lighting, and the most consistent foot traffic. Unterseen's old town is also safe and quiet, though it has fewer accommodation options and limited dining after 9 PM.

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

Three full days are sufficient to cover the main attractions at a comfortable pace, including the Höheweg promenade, Harder Kulm, the Aare River path, and a half-day excursion to either Lake Brienz or Lake Thun. Adding a fourth day allows for the Gsteig trail or a longer hike without time pressure. Visitors who want to include mountain excursions like Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn should add at least one additional day per excursion.