General Information

The composer Felix Mendelssohn wrote: “If you haven’t seen the Interlaken contryside, you haven’t seen Switzerland.” Interlaken is a well-known tourist destination in Switzerland. Interlaken is located Bödeli which is the area between Lake Brienz to the east and Lake Thun to the west . The town takes its name from its geographical position, it means between the lakes. And at  the feet of the three famous peaks Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Interlaken is one of the most beautiful and oldest resorts in Switzerland, famed for its superb views towards the Jungfrau massif, which lies perfectly framed between two hills to the south of town. Interlaken is a British-style lakeside town, there are carriages, gardens, shopping streets, restaurants, casinos, lake cruises  , also other parks, convenient transportation to the mountain resorts, it has been s good choice for leisure and conference  . In the past, printing, textiles, and to a smaller extent watchmaking were also of importance, but today tourism is the most significant source of income.

Population 5,577
Language German 
Position 46°11’ north latitude, 7°51’ east longitude.
Time Zone GMT + 1 hr,  EST + 6 hrs. Daylight savings time (+ 1 hr) end of March until end of October.

Tour Service

Visitor's cards issued in Interlaken, Bönigen, Iseltwald, Ringgenberg-Goldswil and Wilderswil, the  holder to free travel on public transport within Zone 80 (formerly Zone 10) and to Iseltwald and Niederried. Each guest paying visitor’s tax in one of the above listed villages is entitled to obtaining a visitor’s card. The card is personal and only valid during their stay in issued region.

Holiday card  for 7 days (incl. 3 days of unlimited travel and 4 days at 50% reduction) or 15 days (incl. 5 days of unlimited travel and 10 days at 50% reduction). The regional pass is valid for travel by rail, bus, boat and mountain railways throughout the Bernese Oberland. Available May - October, tourists can purchase the card at local tourist office or railway stations.

Junior Card is a fabulous special deal for young tourists from 6 to 16 ages. One year of free train travel for all between 6 and 16 (accompanied by a parent holding a valid ticket) From the 3rd child, the Junior Card is free.

Jungfrau Rail Pass is six days' free unlimited travel to the most beautiful excursion and hiking destinations of the Jungfrau Region. Available from May to October, purchase at railway stations as well as local tourist offices.

 

Tourist Attractions

Interlaken is frequently visited by adventure-seeking backpackers throughout the year. The people is home to numerous backpacker-friendly hostels and companies that provide guided services in skydiving, canyoning, hang gliding, paragliding, and skiing.

Casino Kursaal: is located in Hoheweg Street. Casino Kursaal is not only a casino, but also a famous conference centre in Interlaken. There is an traditional restaurant which offer delicious food for visitors.

Jungfrau Tourism Museum in Unterseen :  the regional tourism museum shows 200 years of tourism in the Jungfrau region.

St Beatus Caves: Some 3km northwest of Interlaken, tucked into the cliffs on the shore of the Thunersee, are the ST BEATUS Caves , an impressive set of drippy subterranean chambers filled with stalactites and stalagmites that were formerly the residence of the early Christian ascetic St Beatus. It’s a walk of about 2hr from Interlaken to the caves, or travelers can take hourly bus (journey time 15min).

Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn: the rides by rack-railway to the highest railway station in Europe and the cableway to the Piz Glora revolving restaurant: two top mountain experiences in the Bernese Oberland.

Activities

At the heart of Switzerland’s adventure activity scene, Interlaken is crammed with companies offering all kinds of extreme sports, including river-rafting, canyoning, paragliding, abseiling, skydiving, bungee jumping and more.

Jungraujoh mountain activities: 100% Snow and ice   ! The Sphinx observation hall, impressive Ice Palace and hiking plateau - these are the year-round attractions up on the Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe. Summer attractions include a skilift, husky-drawn sledging and adventure activities.

Cycling tours: Interlaken  offers an excellent choice of well-marked cycling tours for all ages. Whether an  easy cycling trip with the whole family, a mountain-bike tour with friends or a serious training session. The scooter-bike run on the Niederhorn is a fun-filled attraction for the whole family.

Village tour: learn more about history, customs, building styles and life in general in the  town and village of Interlaken . Various guided village walks allow visitors an insight. On foot , with horse and carriage or culinary tour.

Winter hiking: in Interlaken, Beatenberg, Habkern, Wilderswil and the Jungfrau Region more than 220km of winter hiking trails are kept prepared for your walking pleasure!

Cross country skiing: nature habitat Alp Lombach is ideal for a day spent with cross-country skiing or sitting on the sunkissed terrace of the small lodge. The highland trail offers approximately 13 km of prepared tracks both for skating and for classic styles. During winter season a mini-van service is provided daily from the village of Habkern up to Alp Lombach.

Sledging : sledging for young and old travelers, more than 70 kilometers sledging runs for the whole family.  Offers racy downhill runs as well as easier rides for tiny tots.  The sledge runs on Niederhorn are famous far  beyond the region.

 

Shopping

 Hoheweg Street is the most important street and famous shopping centre in Interlaken. Due to the area of Interlaken is small, most of tourist attractions located along with the street. Various goods stores fell about a few hundred meters far, from the most advanced clothing or jewelry brands in Europe,to the Swiss local gift, on the Hoheweg Street can be to find. And much of what’s on offer is fairly basic, unadventurous fare.

 

Transportation

 Despite its small size, the town hasn’t much more to offer than its long main street, Hoheweg, with a train station at each end, two railway stations are named Interlaken Ost and Interlaken West . Mainline trains from Bern and Luzern terminate at Interlaken Ost station, 1km east of the centre, but those coming from the Bern direction pass first through Interlaken West station, a much more useful place to get off since it’s right beside the centre. There are also regular bus links to the neighbouring town of Thun. Ost and West stations are linked by trains and city buses, running roughly every ten minutes from one to the other.Boat services across Lake Brienz to Brienz and across Lake Thun to Spiez and Thun.



Map of Interlaken