Places in Interlaken
Interlaken sits between Lakes Thun and Brienz, with railway routes reaching deep into the Jungfrau region. A clear day can take you from the town’s broad Höheweg to glaciers and high mountain viewpoints; another might be spent on a lake boat or among Unterseen’s old streets. Nearby Spiez, Merligen and Giessbach offer quieter waterside bases. Summer brings gardens, walking trails and more boat connections, while winter requires closer attention to mountain railway and restaurant opening dates.
Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa
Interlaken, Switzerland
Facing the Höheweg, Victoria-Jungfrau combines nineteenth-century grandeur with a modern spa and a broad choice of restaurants. Rooms favour polished comfort over rustic chalet styling, while Spa Nescens gives a wet-weather afternoon a purpose of its own. The central position works well for exploring Interlaken on foot before heading into the mountains. Choose it for a full-service stay with enough dining and wellness options to spend a whole day at the hotel.
A grand hotel with a substantial spa
Radius by Stefan Beer
Interlaken, Switzerland
Radius takes its name seriously: the visible ingredients used by Stefan Beer’s team come from within 50 kilometres. That restriction produces an unusually local tasting menu in the polished setting of Victoria-Jungfrau, with regional wines adding another layer to the meal. A vegan menu is offered alongside the main experience. This is an evening to reserve for the cooking itself, with time for several courses and the staff’s explanations of what has come from the surrounding landscape.
A tasting menu rooted in the surrounding region
Jungfraujoch
Jungfrau region, Switzerland
The railway journey to Jungfraujoch ends at 3,454 metres, where snow, rock and the Aletsch Glacier replace the green valleys below. The Sphinx Terrace offers the great panorama, while the Ice Palace adds a very different close-up encounter with ice. Travel from Interlaken via the mountain rail network, choosing the route that suits your day. Clear weather makes a substantial difference to the experience, so check conditions before committing to this high-altitude excursion.
High Alpine scenery by railway
Harder Kulm
Interlaken, Switzerland
Harder Kulm gives a quick introduction to Interlaken’s setting between two lakes. The funicular climbs to the viewpoint above town, where the Two-Lakes platform looks towards the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau as well as Lakes Thun and Brienz. It is an easy excursion to combine with time in the town rather than a full day in the high mountains. Choose clear conditions and allow time to pause at the top instead of treating it only as a photograph stop.
A short ascent to a broad mountain panorama
Alpenblick Gourmetstübli
Wilderswil, Switzerland
The Gourmetstübli is the intimate, ambitious dining room at Alpenblick, a historic inn in Wilderswil. Richard and Yvonne Stöckli’s restaurant builds its seasonal cooking around carefully sourced produce, with the garden and the family’s mountain pasture contributing to its sense of place. Multi-course menus and a substantial wine selection make this a destination dinner. The setting remains rooted in the village inn, giving the meal a different character from Interlaken’s larger grand-hotel restaurants.
Seasonal fine dining in a historic inn
BEATUS Wellness- & Spa-Hotel
Merligen, Lake Thun, Switzerland
BEATUS sits directly beside Lake Thun in Merligen, with a large park and private beach extending the hotel outdoors. The warm outdoor saltwater pool and extensive sauna facilities make water the focus of a stay, even when swimming in the lake is less appealing. This is a resort base for unhurried days, with restaurants and wellness close at hand. Interlaken excursions require a transfer along the lake rather than a walk from the lobby.
Lakeside wellness
Centric Dining
Thun, Lake Thun, Switzerland
At Seepark in Thun, Centric Dining brings a contemporary tasting-menu experience to the lakeside. Sascha Spring’s cooking combines French technique with Asian accents and seasonal ingredients, served in five or seven courses. The team’s explanations help give the meal a personal feel, while the water outside supplies a quieter backdrop than a city dining room. Plan it as part of a day around the western end of Lake Thun, allowing time for the full dinner.
Contemporary tasting menus with lake views
Hotel Eden Spiez
Spiez, Lake Thun, Switzerland
Eden occupies a garden setting above Spiez, with views that take in the castle, lake or village depending on the room. Its 45 rooms and junior suites have balconies, real wood floors and air conditioning. The spa combines an indoor pool with an outdoor saltwater bath, saunas and quiet resting areas. Dinner at Belle Epoque completes the appeal for travellers who want a restful hotel base with the lake and railway connections within reach.
A compact spa retreat above the bay
Lake Thun and Lake Brienz Cruises
Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, Switzerland
A lake cruise changes the pace after the mountain railways. Boats pass villages, wooded shores and changing views of the Bernese Alps, with Lake Thun adding castles and Lake Brienz its striking blue-green water. Choose one lake and a stop that interests you rather than trying to cover every landing in a day. Interlaken West serves Lake Thun departures, while Interlaken Ost connects with Lake Brienz, so check the pier as carefully as the sailing time.
Seeing the region from the water
SALZANO Restaurant
Unterseen, Switzerland
SALZANO’s restaurant has two distinct moods: familiar classics and a more exploratory natural Alpine menu. The latter takes inspiration from the surrounding landscape, with regional produce and foraged ingredients shaping the cooking and presentation. The warm hotel setting keeps the experience approachable, and the terrace offers mountain views when the weather suits. Come for the tasting menu if you want the clearest expression of the kitchen, or choose the classic menu for a less structured meal.
Nature-inspired Alpine cooking
Belvedere Strandhotel Spiez
Spiez, Lake Thun, Switzerland
Set on a hillside above Spiez Bay, the Belvedere brings together a historic hotel wing and more modern terraced accommodation. The infinity pool makes the most of the setting, with the castle and harbour below, while indoor wellness facilities provide a quieter alternative. Its private beach is a separate summer attraction downhill from the hotel. Choose this address for the outlook and generous leisure facilities, allowing time to enjoy Spiez as well as excursions from Interlaken.
Poolside views of Spiez Bay
Schynige Platte Railway and Alpine Garden
Wilderswil and Schynige Platte, Switzerland
The railway from Wilderswil climbs through wooded slopes to Schynige Platte, where the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau dominate the view. At the top, the Alpine Garden brings the landscape into closer focus with native plants arranged in their natural communities. Combine a garden visit with a manageable section of the panoramic paths, rather than rushing straight back to the train. This is a summer mountain outing whose pleasures depend as much on flowers and walking as on the railway itself.
Traditional railway travel and Alpine plants
Grandhotel Giessbach
Giessbach, near Brienz, Switzerland
Grandhotel Giessbach stands above Lake Brienz beside the waterfalls that gave it its name. Opened in 1875, it retains the atmosphere of a historic excursion hotel, with wooded grounds and water views providing much of the pleasure. Forest walks begin close by, and the seasonal funicular connects the lakeside landing with the hotel. It suits travellers who value the setting and heritage over a central Interlaken address, especially when there is time to linger by the falls.
Historic rooms beside the waterfalls
St. Beatus Caves
Sundlauenen, Lake Thun, Switzerland
St. Beatus Caves lead into the limestone of the Niederhorn massif above Lake Thun. The visitor route extends about a kilometre through illuminated passages, grottos and underground waterfalls, with information explaining the geology along the way. Outside, the cliffside setting and water flowing towards the lake provide a striking contrast to the enclosed chambers. Allow around an hour for the cave walk itself and wear warm clothing and shoes suited to damp steps.
An underground walk above the lake
Eden Belle Epoque
Spiez, Lake Thun, Switzerland
Belle Epoque is the elegant dining room at Hotel Eden, above Spiez Bay. Its appeal is the combination of classically grounded seasonal cooking and an outlook towards the castle, lake and mountains. Herbs, fruit and berries from the hotel’s own garden help connect the menu to its setting. Choose it for an unhurried dinner after exploring Spiez, with Swiss and European wines available to accompany either individual dishes or a multi-course meal.
Seasonal dining above Spiez Bay
Giessbach Falls
Giessbach, near Brienz, Switzerland
Giessbach Falls tumble down the wooded slope above Lake Brienz in a sequence of fourteen tiers. Paths around the historic hotel and nature park bring different parts of the cascade into view, including a dramatic passage behind falling water. It is a place to explore on foot at a measured pace, with the lake appearing between the trees. Combine the visit with a seasonal boat arrival or a meal at the hotel, checking the connections before setting out.
Woodland walks beside cascading water
Schloss Schadau
Thun, Lake Thun, Switzerland
Schloss Schadau offers just nine rooms in a nineteenth-century castle beside Lake Thun. Restored decorative details, parquet floors and individual room shapes preserve the character of the building, while modern bathrooms make it a comfortable place to stay. The surrounding park and lakeside terrace are central to its appeal. This is the western end of the lake, so choose it for Thun and the water as much as for excursions towards Interlaken and the Jungfrau region.
An intimate lakeside castle stay
Elisa - Bistro & Terrasse
Giessbach, near Brienz, Switzerland
Elisa pairs the historic atmosphere of Grandhotel Giessbach with a terrace above Lake Brienz. The cooking draws on regional ingredients, including produce from the estate’s garden, and the menu gives vegetables a place alongside fish and meat. The lake and nearby waterfalls make this especially appealing as part of a summer outing, rather than a meal squeezed between transfers. Arrive with time to explore the grounds before settling at the table and enjoying the setting.
Summer dining above Lake Brienz
SALZANO Hotel - Spa - Restaurant
Unterseen, Switzerland
SALZANO is a family-run retreat in Unterseen, with chalet-style architecture, warm wood interiors and mountain views. Its spa includes saunas, a steam room and an outdoor whirlpool, giving the hotel an appeal beyond a night between excursions. The restaurant adds a second reason to stay, particularly for its nature-inspired Alpine menus. Choose it for a smaller, more personal setting outside Interlaken’s main promenade, with time for both the wellness facilities and dinner.
Alpine interiors and imaginative regional dining
Panorama
Aeschiried ob Spiez, Switzerland
Panorama sits above Lake Thun in Aeschiried, where a meal can be combined with time in the hills. The Rindisbacher family’s restaurant is known for traditional cooking, careful ingredients and its own pasta production, with wines chosen to match the food. Large windows keep the surrounding landscape part of the experience. Choose it when you want a substantial regional meal outside the resort towns, and leave time to browse the Panoteca’s house-made products before heading back.
Mountain views and traditional cooking
Ballenberg Swiss Open-Air Museum
Hofstetten bei Brienz, Switzerland
Ballenberg gathers historic buildings from across Switzerland in a large open-air museum near Brienz. Farmhouses, workshops and rural structures make regional differences in architecture tangible, while craft demonstrations and farm animals add life beyond the buildings themselves. Give it a substantial part of the day and choose the areas that interest you most rather than trying to see everything. It makes a rewarding alternative to another summit excursion, particularly for visitors interested in how people lived and worked.
Swiss buildings and living crafts
Niederhorn
Beatenberg, Lake Thun, Switzerland
The Niederhorn rises above Lake Thun with open views towards the Bernese Alps. A funicular from Beatenbucht and onward gondola provide access, leaving energy for the paths across Alpine meadows and along the higher ground. Choose a walk that matches the conditions and your experience: routes vary considerably in distance and descent. The landscape includes moorland and limestone terrain as well as forest, making this a rewarding day for walkers who want more than a single viewpoint.
Walking above the lake
Grand Beau-Rivage
Interlaken, Switzerland
Grand Beau-Rivage occupies a grand riverside building near Interlaken Ost, a useful position for railway excursions into the Jungfrau region. The atmosphere is traditional, with formal public rooms and accommodation that favours classic hotel styling. La Vallée Spa offers an indoor pool, sauna, steam room and fitness facilities. The river setting is the main distinction: it provides a calmer outlook while keeping the town and transport connections close enough for a practical sightseeing base.
Traditional rooms beside the Aare
La Terrasse Brasserie
Interlaken, Switzerland
La Terrasse gives Victoria-Jungfrau a more flexible dining option than its tasting-menu restaurant. The room retains the hotel’s grand proportions, while the cooking combines Swiss ideas with a broader international outlook. It works well for an evening when you want an elegant setting without committing to a long sequence of courses. In suitable weather, the terrace connects the meal to Interlaken’s promenade and mountain backdrop, making the location as much a draw as the polished surroundings.
A relaxed dinner in grand surroundings
Lauterbrunnen and Staubbach Falls
Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Lauterbrunnen’s vertical cliffs make the valley feel quite different from Interlaken’s open plain. Staubbach Falls are its most recognisable landmark, dropping roughly 300 metres in a fine veil of water. Walk through the village and towards the foot of the falls to appreciate the scale, then continue along the valley if conditions suit. In the warmer months, the Staubbach Gallery offers a closer encounter with the spray, while the waterfall remains visible outside that season.
A valley walk beneath high cliffs
Hotel Jnterlaken
Interlaken, Switzerland
Hotel Jnterlaken stands on the Höheweg beside the Japanese Garden, with origins as a monastery guesthouse recorded in 1323. Today the Beutler family runs a four-star hotel with contemporary rooms in several sizes, including family accommodation. The old spelling with a J is part of its identity. Choose it for a central, characterful base and straightforward access to Interlaken Ost, leaving the grand resort facilities to other hotels and spending more of the day exploring.
A historic address near Interlaken Ost
Sapori Trattoria e Pizzeria
Interlaken, Switzerland
Sapori serves Italian cooking in one of Victoria-Jungfrau’s most memorable rooms, with a high painted ceiling and parquet floors bringing a sense of occasion to a straightforward meal. Homemade pasta and stone-oven pizza sit alongside fish and vegetarian choices. This is a useful address for lunch or dinner when you want something less formal than a tasting menu, particularly for a mixed group. The summer terrace adds a further reason to linger in good weather.
Italian food in a richly decorated dining room
Hotel Beausite
Unterseen, Switzerland
The family-run Beausite offers a smaller-scale alternative to the grand hotels, with a garden and easy access to Unterseen’s old town. Its 50 individually decorated rooms have garden or mountain outlooks, and the atmosphere is traditional and informal. The attraction is a settled local hotel with personal hospitality and a useful base for walking, railway outings and lake trips. Choose a room with the facilities and outlook you want rather than expecting every category to be identical.
Traditional hospitality near the old town
Alpenblick Swiss Bistro
Wilderswil, Switzerland
The Swiss Bistro is Alpenblick’s more informal restaurant, separate from the Gourmetstübli tasting-menu experience. Its appeal lies in well-made regional dishes such as rösti, veal and fondue, served in a cosy inn setting. It is a natural choice after a day around Wilderswil or the mountain railways, especially when you want Swiss cooking without a lengthy formal dinner. The connection to the same accomplished kitchen gives familiar dishes a welcome level of care.
Swiss classics in a village inn
Unterseen Old Town
Unterseen, Switzerland
Across the Aare from Interlaken, Unterseen offers a quieter walk around historic buildings and the Stadthausplatz. The old town’s scale is intimate, with the Stadthaus and church tower giving the centre its shape and riverside paths extending the visit. It works particularly well at the beginning or end of a trip, when there is time for a café stop and no mountain timetable to follow. Look beyond the square to the streets and water around it.
A gentle walk through the historic centre