30 Incredible Things to See and Activities to Do in Interlaken, Switzerland

March 9, 2023 Mustafa Natalwala 3258 Views

Interlaken is a town in the Bern canton in Switzerland. It sits in the Bernese Alps with Lake Thun and Brienz on its east and west. This unique positioning opens possibilities for a variety of fun things to do in Interlaken, Switzerland. It is well known as a resort town in the Swiss Alps. Most people come here to stay and then make day trips to explore the mountains, and enjoy adventure sports and winter activities to do in Interlaken.

It is a beautiful Swiss Mountain town with several beautiful attractions. Interlaken sightseeing includes historical buildings, nature sightseeing spots, cultural centers, and parks. You can also explore Swiss culture, traditions, music, and cuisine while exploring the town. Do not forget to try out the famed fondue and Swiss chocolates when you visit Interlaken. You can also make your own Swiss chocolate while you are there (more on that in the next section).

But, the best places to visit in Interlaken, Switzerland are beyond the town’s limits. There are gorgeous blue lakes on either side of the city and mountain valleys all around it. You can check these beautiful things to see in Interlaken, Switzerland from elevated viewpoints in the mountains or embark on nature trails to experience nature up close. You can also go for boat cruises, kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding in lakes.

And that’s not all, you can go further in the Alps all the way to the summits of ice-clad mountains when you during Interlaken travel. There are quite a few interesting modes of transportation for this including trains, funiculars, cable cars, and good old driving along scenic routes. If you so desire, you can also trek to some of the Interlaken tourist attractions in the mountains. Along the routes, you will see Swiss mountain villages, farms, green valleys, rivers, gorges, caves, waterfalls, and wildlife. Even the places to go in Interlaken for adventure sports sit amidst the mountains. You can enjoy hiking trails, mountain carts, skydiving, paragliding, bungee jumping, and more. You can also cruise over the Alps in an airplane or helicopter.

The mountains also have amazing viewpoints that offer unique experiences such as exploring ice tunnels through glaciers, crystal formations in caves, walking through an ice palace, enjoying brunch in a revolving restaurant with 350 views of the mountains, and more. Although these high-altitude sites are more popular for some of the best things to do in Interlaken in winter such as skiing, snowboarding, sledging, snow-mobile rides, and so on.

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Table of Contents

Top 30 Tourist Places to Visit in Interlaken

1. Harder Kulm

Harder Kulm is a 1,116-meter-high restaurant and viewpoint in Harder Alpine Wildlife Park. The view from this platform is one of the most beautiful things to see in Interlaken, Switzerland. The mountains extend as far as you can see on the horizon while the town sits enveloped in nature with beautiful lakes around it. You can take a funicular ride to get here or explore nature trails to reach its base. It is one of the top things to do in Interlaken, Switzerland for nature lovers. You will need 2 hours to enjoy this place.

I suggest you should book a Round-Trip Funicular Ride from Interlaken to Harder Klum in advance.

2. Höheweg Street & Hohematte Park

Hoheweg is one of the popular streets for Interlaken sightseeing. It has popular shopping venues, luxury hotels, casino, nightlife venues, restaurants, cafes, and more. On this street you will find Hohematte Park, which is known for its colourful Flowerbeds. Just outside the park, you will find horse-drawn carriages that can take you on a tour of Interlaken tourist attractions. You will need an hour to explore the street and the park.

3. Schynige Platte

Schynige Platte is a ridge over Schawrzhorn Mountain, which overlooks the immensely mesmerizing Bernese Alps. This is one of the best places to visit in Interlaken that you can reach by train. You can have pretty amazing views of the mountain during the train ride in 115 years old wooden carriages. Once you reach the ridge, you can enjoy the views around and explore the Alpine Garden which has 600 species of flowers. Or you can go for some fun things to do in Interlaken. The ridge is the starting point for many hike trails including the Daube Viewpoint trail, Oberburghorn trail, and Loucherhorn trail. You need 2 to 3 hours for this excursion when you visit Interlaken.

4. Sigriswil Panorama Bridge

This 330-meter suspension footbridge stands 182 meters above Lake Thun and is part of the Lake Thun Panoramic Circular Trail. It is among the most fun Interlaken attractions on the trail and is quite a popular spot for landscape photography. You can see the Gummischulcht Gorge below and ice-clad mountains all around you. You need about 30 to 45 minutes from Interlaken for this bridge. Although the entire trail needs at least 18 hours to complete.

5. St. Beatus Cave

This cave is one of the most wonderful structures among places to see in Interlaken. This cave system is named after the 6th-century monk Beatus. Legend tells us that a dragon once took shelter here to evade being hunted. It is a beautiful sight, the castle-like structure sits atop the rocks at the mouth of a waterfall. You get to explore the cave network, ancient structures, mirror lakes, stalactites, stalagmites, and underground waterfalls. This mystical journey is among the best things to do in Interlaken and you will need about 2 hours for it.

6. Unterseen

Unterseen is a quaint little hamlet that sits at the foot of Mt. Harder. The little town has small wooden houses and chalets with shops, cafes, bars, and restaurants. It is one of the best places to go in Interlaken to try authentic Swiss cuisine and buy local handicraft items. The town is also home to a parish church that dates back to 1471. You will need about an hour to tour this hamlet.

7. Swiss Open Air Museum Ballenberg

Spread over 124 acres, this living museum is one of the finest in Europe. The museum includes a series of villages that represent various regions in Switzerland and their traditions. It is one of the top attractions in Interlaken to learn about history, culture, religion, arts, music, lifestyle, and more. The museum has different types of houses, barns, farms, craft shops, and more. You will need 2 to 3 hours from Interlaken travel to tour this museum.

I suggest you should get a Skip-the-Line Entry Ticket to the Swiss Open-Air Museum Ballenberg in advance.

8. Lake Thun Boat Cruise

Lake Thun is one of the most beautiful sights to see in the Alps. The boat cruise is one of the top activities to do in Interlaken as you get to explore the lake and several attractions on the shore. You will see a medieval town, a lakeside castle, a romanesque church, and more. You will also get to see beautiful natural scenery during this boat cruise. The best time to visit Interlaken to enjoy this cruise is during summer. You will need an hour for this experience.

I suggest you should get a Day Pass for Boat Trip to Lake Thun and Lake Brienz in advance.

9. Lake Brienz

This lake sits on the eastern side of the town in the valley of river Aare. It is one of the top sights for outdoor activities to do in Interlaken. People come here for boat rides, peddle boating, and kayaking. You can also tour the hiking trails around this lake in the Brienzar Grat and Faulhorn Mountain. You can also cruise the lake in classic wooden boats and steamers, the oldest among these dates back to 1914. You will need about 2 hours for this lake.

If you are an adventure lover, then I suggest you should go for a Kayak Tour on Lake Brienz.

10. Giessbach Waterfalls

This is one of the tallest and most beautiful waterfalls around the town. It sits in the laps of forested hills and falls from a height of 500 meters. The waterfall cascades over 14 levels of successive rock ridges. It is one of the most beautiful things to see in Interlaken, Switzerland. You will need to boat through Lake Brienz and take a funicular ride to get to this waterfall. Else you can hike through forested hills to climb to the waterfall’s base. Either way, you need about an hour from Interlaken travel for this place.

11. Niederhorn

This place is known for two things: the viewpoint and wildlife. The viewpoint is attached to a restaurant and you get a great view of Lake Thun and the Alps. You can use a cable car and a funicular ride to get there. But, Niederhorn is also one of the best places to visit in Interlaken, Switzerland to see a variety of wild animals. You might come across deers, golden eagles, ibex, mountain goats, and more. You can take guided wildlife tours along forest trails or explore the wilderness on motored bicycles. It is one of the best things to do in Interlaken, Switzerland for nature lovers. You will need 3 to 4 hours to explore Niederhorn.

12. Historic Brienz Rothorn Railway

This is the oldest steam rack railway in Switzerland. The train starts its journey from the lakeside town of Brienz and goes to the summit of Brienzer Rothorn mountain. It is one of the best Interlaken tourist attractions for a day trip. Along the way, you can see various mountain terrains including meadows, valleys, rocky plains, and forests. At the destination, you get a view of various Alpine regions including Berne, Valais, Uri, and Engelberg. You will need about an entire day for this trip.

13. Touristik Museum

This museum is established in a 17th-century house made from timber wood. It is a wonderful piece of traditional architecture. This museum focuses on the history of tourism in the Jungfrau region. It is a great place to learn about all the fun things to do in Interlaken, Switzerland. It shows different modes of transport, hotels, travel clothing, adventure sports, Interlaken attractions, and more. You will see pictures of remote villages, natural landscapes, wildlife, plants, and so on in the mountains. You will need about an hour to tour this museum when you visit Interlaken.

14. Unspunnen Castle

The history of this castle goes back to the 13th century when it used to be part of a baronial fief. The castle now lies in ruins but still looks majestic with the backdrop of mountains. It is one of the few historical structures to explore during Interlaken sightseeing. You will need a little more than an hour to tour these ruins.

15. Interlaken Castle and Monastery

This monastery is another one of the few historical places to see in Interlaken. The central structure dates back to the 12th century while the bell tower hails from the 14th. It is known for its Gothic Romanesque architecture. This Augustinian monastery is part of Interlaken castle grounds. You can also visit the Gothic Cloister Gallery in the castle courtyard. You will need about 2 hours from Interlaken travel to tour the castle and the monastery.

16. Outdoor Activities to do in Interlaken

Sitting between two lakes and surrounded by mountains, Interlaken is a hotspot for a variety of adventurous activities. In the lakes, top things to do in Interlaken include kayaking, paddle boarding, canoe ride, sailing, windsurfing, waterskiing, river rafting, and wakeboarding. On land, you can enjoy nature trails, hiking, wildlife spotting tours, bird-watching, mountain climbing, mountain biking, bird watching, treasure hunts, and more. But you will experience the most excitement with fun activities to do in Interlaken while in the air. These include paragliding, bungee jumping, flying fox, skydiving, helicopter tours, parasailing, canyon swing, and more. Spots for all of these adventure sports are easily accessible from Interlaken and you need at least an hour for any of these activities.

As there are so many outdoor activities to do, so here I have mentioned some of the Top-Rated Outdoor Activities to do in Interlaken.

Tandem Paragliding Experience
3-Hour Guided E-Bike Tour
Lütschine River White-Water Rafting Experience
Half-day Canyoning Trip to Grimsel
Ropes Park in Interlaken
Helicopter Tour from Interlaken

17. Jungfraujoch Sphinx Observatory & Train Ride

Jungfraujoch is the highest railway station in all of Europe. This peak is also known as the top of Europe. The train ride takes you to the Sphinx observatory which sits 3,571 meters high on a rocky ridge. It is an especially wonderful place to go in Interlaken if you are interested in astronomy. The area is surrounded by snow and you get really nice view of the Bernese Alps from the observation deck. While you are here, you should also check out the magnificent Ice Palace. The entire structure is carved in ice and has ice tunnels, sculptures, and furniture. The best time to visit Interlaken to explore this place is between June and August. You will need at least a day from Interlaken travel for this excursion.

I suggest you should book a Full Day Tour to Jungfraujoch with a Train Ride.

18. The Chocolate Club

You can experience the famed Swiss chocolates in a variety of ways at this place. That’s why the chocolate club is one of the top attraction in Interlaken town. You can enjoy several treats made from chocolate and even learn to make a few dishes by yourself. It is also one of the best places to visit in Interlaken to shop or make great souvenirs. You will need about 2 hours to enjoy this place.

19. Interlaken Town Tour

While there are many places to see around Interlaken, the town itself is worth exploring. You can explore the town with guided walking tours and bicycle tours. These Interlaken sightseeing tours include historical sights, cultural venues, shopping streets, nature spots, parks, and authentic Swiss cuisine (especially cheese & chocolate). You can also embark on these tours yourself exploring the colorful streets, shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, and clubs. You will need at least 2 hours for any of these tours.

20. Winter Activities to do in Interlaken

The snow breathes new life into Interlaken travel. You can enjoy skiing, ice-skating, snowboarding, snowmobile rides, cross-country skiing, sledding, Heliskiing, snowshoeing, winter kayaking, tobogganing, and winter hiking. The best time to visit Interlaken for winter activities is between January and March. Some of the activities might require a day trip, so you should dedicate at least a day to these adventures.

Here below I am mentioning some of the Top-Rated Activities to Do in Interlaken during winter.

21. Grindelwald First

Grindelwald First is a mountain with an eponymous village in its laps. Aside from its natural beauty, the mountain is one of the top day trips from Interlaken for adventure sports including mountain cart, zipline, flying fox, and winter activities. You can also explore Grindelwald village, viewpoints, hiking trails, and beautiful farms around it. You will need to reserve an entire day to explore Grindelwald First.

I suggest you should book a Round-Trip Cable Car to Mount First in Grindelwald in advance.

22. Lauterbrunnen

This is yet another beautiful Swiss mountain village known for its exceptional scenic beauty. It is one of the most picturesque things to see in Interlaken. The village sits in a lush green valley with ice-clad mountains surrounding it. You will see wooden houses and historical buildings. But, the most striking feature of this village are waterfalls at its flanks. You will need 2 to 3 hours from Interlaken travel to explore this village and its surroundings.

I suggest you should book a Tour to Lauterbrunnen Valley and Mürren Alpine Village in advance.

23. The Schilthorn

This mountain summit was famously featured in the James Bond’s movie “On Her majesty’s Secret Service”. You can enjoy a meal at the 360-degree revolving restaurant with views of snow-clad mountains and beautiful green valleys, appropriately titled James Bond Brunch. The summit is also popular for winter activities to do in Interlaken such as skiing and sledding. You can need to plan a day trip from Interlaken to visit Schilthorn by cable car ride.

I suggest you should book your Ticket to The Schithorn with a Gondola Ride and Entry to the Piz Gloria in advance.

24. Mt. Niesen

This mountain is known for its beautiful green valley and views of the Bernese Alps and Lake Thun. It is also home to several Interlaken tourist attractions such as a transparent glass pavilion and the world’s longest stairway (11,674 steps). The pavilion is one of the best places to go in Interlaken for landscape photography as you get an uninterrupted view of layer after layer of mountain peaks and valleys. This excursion also needs an entire day.

25. The Great Aletsch Glacier

This retreating glacier is spread over an area of 72 square km, making it the largest glacial landscape in all of Europe. It is one of the most magnificent Interlaken attractions. People come here for a variety of adventure activities and winter sports such as winter hiking, snowshoeing, and skiing. The glacier is also home to unique plants and animals which you can see in the Aletsch Forest. You can also see wonderful caves, rock formations, and crystal formations while exploring this region. If you want an aerial view, you can take a helicopter ride and fly over the glacier. This is also one of the top attractions in Interlaken for nature, landscape, and wildlife photography. You will need an entire day, maybe more, to enjoy this place.

I suggest you should get a Round-Trip Cable Car Ticket to The Great Aletsch Glacier in advance.

26. Mt. Matterhorn

Rising to 4,478 meters, this Mountain of Mountains is one of the highest peaks in Europe. It is best known for its pyramid-like summit and is one of the most popular places to see in Interlaken. This is the mountain that famously features in the logo of Toblerone chocolates. There are several places in Interlaken such as Grindelwald, Rhone, and Lauterbrunnen to catch a glimpse of this spectacular mountain. You can also take a helicopter ride to enjoy a view of the behemoth. Although Zermatt is the more appropriate town in Switzerland to get close to this mountain. You can easily spend a few minutes enjoying the view when you visit Interlaken.

27. Grimsel Pass

This pass links the cantons of Bern and Valais and is popular for scenic driving routes, hiking trails, and adventure activities to do in Interlaken. You will come across grass plains, forests, rivers, gorges, streams, flower valleys, canyons, and waterfalls while exploring Grimsel Pass. People also come here for fun things to do in Interlaken, Switzerland such as grappling, swimming in canyons, and rock climbing. You will need an entire day for this excursion.

28. Rhone Glacier

This glacier is the source of river Rhone and is home to several places to see in Interlaken travel. The biggest attractions include Gries Dam, Furka Pass, Ulrichen ice Field, and crystal caves. People can also enjoy beautiful trails and ride steam-powered train to explore this glacier. Although the top thing to do in Interlaken is the ice grotto. These drilled caves take you inside the glacier. You will be surrounded by whitish-grey ice as you walk a 100 mt tunnel to an ice chamber that glows in the shades of blue. It is a magical experience and you will need to plan a day trip to enjoy it.

29. Weissenau Nature Reserve

This wetland forest sits on the east shore of Lake Thun. It is home to a variety of flora and fauna. You can trail the forest with guided pathways and a wooden walkway. This trail is especially popular for birdwatching. If you are looking for leisurely nature trails, this nature reserve is perfect for you. You will need about 2 hours to explore this place.

30. Interlaken Alpine Wildlife Park

This zoo is one of the best things to do in Interlaken town. You will get to see Alpine wild animals including deers, ibexes, marmots, beavers, and mountain goats. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to tour this zoo.

If you are looking for more things to do and places to visit in Interlaken, check out the sections below. We have compiled an exhaustive list of all the attractions and activities that you can enjoy in and around this Alpine town.

Things to do in Interlaken

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Interlaken

Tourist Museum
Ballenberg Swiss Open Air Museum
Interlaken Castle & Monastery
St. Beatus Cave
Unspunnen Castle
Weissenau Castle
Kunsthaus Interlaken
Burg Unspunnen
Gallerie Wydi
Rothenfluh Ruins
Castello di Iseltwald
Woodcarving Museum
Thun Panorama Circular Artwork
Collection of Historical Material of the Swiss Armed Forces
Habkern Village Museum
Interlaken Art Museum
Thun Castle
Old Mill Village Museum
Hodler Studio and Art Gallery
Museum of Local history and Viticulture
Swiss Woodcarving Museum Brienz
Alte Pinte Village Museum
Spiez Castle
Hunegg Castle
Oberhofen Castle
Museum of Clocks and Mechanical Musical Instruments
The Show Mill
St. Beatus Cave Museum
Spiez Toy Museum
Thun Art Museum
Basket Weaving Museum
Schlossweid Village Museum
Bernatone Alphornbau

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Interlaken

Schynige Platte
Lake Thun
Lake Breinz
Jungfraujoch Glacier
Weissenau Nature Reserve
Mount Grindelwald First
Mount Wannichnubel
Lake Burgseeli
Jungfrau Summit
Neiderhron Summit
Saxetenbach Gorge
Mount Oberberghorn
Mount Chuematte
Mount Matterhorn
Mount Gemmenalphorn
Barenpfad
Loucherhorn Summit
Mount Ballehochst
Mount Morgenberghorn
Rengglipass
Mount Bergfeldstand
Mount Guggisgrat
Sieben Hengste
Suggiture
Grunnenberg Pass
Sigriswiler Rothorn
Sichle Pass
Lake Sagistal
Schafloch Cave
Schnaggeninseli Island
Mount Roteflue
Tropfloch Cave

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Interlaken

Hohematte
Choco Chalet AG
Ice Magic
Japanischer Garten
Interlaken Alpine Wildlife Park
Interlaken Casino
Naturstrandbad Burgseeli
Golden Pass Railway
Sporthalle Bodelibad
Omega Next Level Minigolf
Jungfrau Park
Skilift Hohwald Beatenberg Resort
Heimwehfluh Bahn Funicular Ride
Schynige Platte Railway Ride
Niederhornbahn AG Beatenucht Ski Resort
Skilift Habkern Sattelegg AG Ski Resort
Beatenberg Niederhorn Ski Resort
Skilift Aeschiallmend
Star Vegas Casino

Shopping in Interlaken

Heimatwerk
Swiss Mountain Market
Hoheweg Street
Bahnhofstrasse
Top of Europe Flagship Store
Oberland Shopping

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure in Interlaken

Hiking
Trekking
Mountain Climbing
Skiing
Cross Country Skiing
Snowboarding
Snowshoeing
Night Camping
River Rafting
Boat Cruise
Kayaking
Canoeing
Paddle Boarding
Tobogganing
Sledging
Skydiving
Bungee Jumping
Paragliding
Sailing
Windsurfing
Waterskiing
River Rafting
Nature Trails
Wildlife Tours
Birdwatching
Mountain Cart
Mountain Biking
Treasure Hunts
Flying Fox
Helicopter Tours
Aeroplane Tours
Canyon Swing
Hang Gliding
Train Ride
Funicular Ride
Cable Car Ride

Sightseeing in Interlaken

Harder Klum Observation Deck
Unterseen Town
Statue of Yash Chopra
Harderbahn Observation Deck
Hoheweg Street
Panaroma Brucke Leissigen Viewpoint
Iseltwald Dorf
Beatenberg Suspension Bridge
Schifflandte

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Interlaken

Aeschi Pizza
Stadthaus Restaurant
Gasthof Schutzen Steffisburg
Grandcafe Gunten
Wireihorn Zwischenflueh
Dorint Bluelisalp
Bergrestaurant Vorsass
Chemihuette Aeschiried
Bamboo China Restaurant
Panaroma Steffisberg
Salzano Unterseen
Migros Spiez
Bino’s Pizzeria
Funky Chocolate Club

Where to Stay in Interlaken?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range and Budget Hotels in Interlaken. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Interlaken.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Interlaken

How to Reach Interlaken?

By Air

Bern Airport is the closest one to reach Interlaken. You can also choose the airports of Lucerne, Zurich, Geneva, and Basel. All these airports have direct train connections to visit Interlaken. Collectively, these airports receive direct flights from several cities in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Oceania.

By Road

You can get direct trains for Interlaken travel from several cities in Switzerland including Bern, Zurich, Lucerne, Geneva, Basel, Olten, Zermatt, Visp, and several others. You can also get direct trains to reach Interlaken from Paris, Milan, Frankfurt, Berlin, Hamburg, and Vienna.

You can also get bus tours from several cities in Switzerland to reach Interlaken. Although, if you are planning to visit Interlaken by road, you should head for Swiss National Road route 6 or 8.

By Water

You can get ferries or a boat cruise to reach Interlaken from a few towns on the shore of Lakes Thun and Brienz.

Image Reference

Harder Klum – Solihin Kentjana / PixaBay
Höheweg Street & Hohematte Park – Robot8A / Wikimedia Commons
Schynige Platte – Erich Westendarp / PixaBay
Sigriswil Panorama Bridge – Rene Staempfli / PixaBay
St. Beatus Caves – Aaron Rüegg / PixaBay
Unterseen – xiquinhosilva / Flickr
Swiss Open Air Museum Ballenberg – Rob Wood / PixaBay
Lake Thun Boat Cruise – Michael Heck / PixaBay
Lake Brienz – Enrique / PixaBay
Giessbach Waterfalls – Fuzzy Lux / Flickr
Niederhorn – Rene Staempfli / PixaBay
Historic Brienz Rothorn Railway – Viola ‘ / PixaBay
Touristik Museum – Benutzer Monbijouwiki / Wikimedia Commons
Unspunnen Castle – Adrian Farwell / Wikimedia Commons
Interlaken Castle & Monastery – Dietrich Michael Weidmann / Wikimedia Commons
Outdoor Activities to do in Interlaken – Thomas Meier / Flickr
Jungfraujoch Sphinx Observatory & Train Ride – Schutz / Wikimedia Commons
Funky Chocolate Club –
Interlaken Town Tour – Erich Westendarp / PixaBay
Winter Activities to do in Interlaken – Simon / PixaBay
Grindelwald First – Andy Harbach / Flickr
Lauterbrunnen – Andrzej / PixaBay
The Schilthorn – Julius Silver / PixaBay
Mt. Niesen – SmnBtschr / Wikimedia Commons
The Great Aletsch Glacier – Robert J Heath / Flickr
Mt. Matterhorn – Piero Di Maria / PixaBay
Grimsel Pass – Erich Westendarp / PixaBay
Rhone Glacier – schiffelerafz / PixaBay
Weissenau Nature Reserve – Fanny88 und Sheepy86 / Wikimedia Commons
Interlaken Alpine Wildlife Park – Susanne Jutzeler / PixaBay