Switzerland is chock full of picturesque landscape, welcoming people and of course, tons of mountain peaks! Interlaken represents a great mix of traditional Switzerland.You will find Interlaken located towards the heart of Switzerland, nestled between Lakes Thun and Brienz. Several peaks stand tall above the city, the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, which make it that much more magical to visit!
Many visit Interlaken as a stepping stone into Switzerland, however, there is a quaint town atmosphere to be explored within Interlaken. Once you’ve seen it all, you can hop on a train and journey to many reachable destinations. With a Swiss Pass, alpine adventure is just a train ride away! Aside from a Swiss Rail Pass, look into our new Swiss scenic package, Peaks of the World. A great package for first-timers to Switzerland as well as returning travelers!
If you have never ventured to Switzerland then you may not know much about the Swiss rail system. Watches could be set by Swiss trains, they are the most punctual trains in all of Europe. Aside from their perfect timing, Swiss trains run quite frequently so if you should miss a train, usually there is another leaving shortly!
Travel in Switzerland by train is a great way to see everything. Not only are there trains that can take you from city center to city center between each of your destinations, but there are trains that will actually take you to the tops of mountains! For other mountain peaks, there are gondolas, cable cars and postal buses that take you where you want to go. It can be said, hands down, the Swiss transport system is top-notch and you will not be disappointed!
Interlaken has two rail stations, Interlaken Ost and Interlaken West. These stations are found at opposite ends of the town, you can walk between each (approximately a 30 minute walk depending on your pace and how often you stop to shop or snap some pictures!) or you can take a bus or cab to get from Ost to West and vice versa. On a nice day it is a very nice walk, relaxing and scenic!
As you wander through Interlaken, some places that you may want to pay a visit to are the Höhematte, Japanese Garden and the Kursaal.
The Höheweg is Interlaken’s promenade. Along this boulevard you will come across many little shops, boutiques and luxury hotels. The centerpiece of the Höheweg is the Höehematte. This is the place where the vista opens out over the green meadow towards the mountains, offering an exquisite, unique view of the Jungfrau.
The first Japanese garden in Switzerland is situated on the Höheweg next to the Hotel Interlaken. This garden is a symbol of friendship between the sister cities of Interlaken and Otsu in Japan. Designed in 1995 by a landscape gardener from Otsu, the garden was developed and constructed according to the rituals and practices of the Japanese horticultural society.
The garden offers a great backdrop for photos and you should definitely make it a point to visit.
The Kursaal is considered to be the cultural focal point in Interlaken. It has undergone some renovations several times since it was built in 1859. You can view its spectacular garden and the much admired flower clock. If you’re looking for evening entertainment, look no further! Music concerts and theatrical presentations are performed in the wonderful art nouveau halls. You can try your luck at a game of Boule or give the slot machines a pull. And there are also discos and restaurants offering musical entertainment which can be found all around the resort.
Visitors will find many cafés and restaurants around Interlaken offering a variety of traditional food. However, if you’re truly feeling like you need an all-American meal, you will find a Hooters restaurant and bar and other fast-food joints along the Höheweg! We highly recommend sticking with the traditional dining though!
Once you’ve seen all of the city, you can treat yourself to a scenic excursion. Interlaken is located on the Golden Pass route, you can take a trip on the Golden Pass to Montreux or in the other direction to Lucerne.
Let your adventurous side take over and take a trip to the Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in all of Europe at over 11,000 feet. Impressive views await you, have your camera ready! You can also visit the Schilthorn/Piz Gloria, filming location for the James Bond film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Here you can wine and dine in the world’s first revolving restaurant at an altitude of nearly 10,000 feet. On a clear day, amazing views embrace approximately 200 snow-capped peaks, ranging from the Bernese Alps to Mont Blanc in France and Germany’s Black Forest.
You can put together your very own itinerary for your trip to Interlaken using a Swiss pass and various excursions, or you can simply reserve the Peaks of the World package and have everything ready and waiting for your arrival!
Interlaken is a terrific destination to include in your travel plans. A great composer once wrote, “If you haven’t seen the Interlaken countryside, you haven’t seen Switzerland”. Don’t miss out on this remarkable city, you’ll regret it if you do!
Tags: interlaken, rail travel, Switzerland
