10 Best Things to Do
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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