Where to Stay in Interlaken

Interlaken sits, as the name says, between the lakes — on the flat plain along the River Aare that links Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, in the Bernese Oberland (canton of Bern). At around 567 m it's a low valley base surrounded by towering peaks, and it's the undisputed transport hub and gateway to the Jungfrau region — the home of Jungfraujoch, the "Top of Europe."

It's also Switzerland's adventure-sports capital. Here's what to know before booking: how to get there, when to go, and where to base yourself — with a live price comparison to find your room.

Getting to Interlaken

Interlaken has two stations: Interlaken West and Interlaken Ost (East). Both are on the Swiss intercity network, with trains roughly every half hour via Bern toward Basel and Zurich. Bern is about an hour away. Interlaken Ost is the key one for mountain trips — it's the departure point for the Bernese Oberland Railway toward Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald, and the narrow-gauge line over the Brünig Pass to Lucerne. The scenic GoldenPass Express panoramic train also runs from here to Montreux.

When to visit

• Summer (June–September): peak season — hiking, lake activities, paragliding, and the clearest shot at mountain views. Long daylight, but busiest and priciest.
• Winter (December–April): a base for the Jungfrau region's ski areas, reachable by train and ski bus.
• Spring & autumn: quieter and often better value; some high railways have maintenance windows, so check ahead.

The valley itself is mild — January averages around freezing, July around 18–19 °C — but it's always far colder at the high excursion points. Save Jungfraujoch for a clear day in the forecast.

What to do

Jungfraujoch — Top of Europe

The signature excursion. Jungfraujoch (3,454 m) is Europe's highest railway station, on the ridge between the Mönch (4,107 m) and the Jungfrau (4,158 m) — with the Eiger (3,967 m) nearby, together forming the Jungfrau massif. From Interlaken Ost the trip takes roughly two to three hours each way, either via Grindelwald and the Eiger Express cable car, or via Lauterbrunnen–Wengen–Kleine Scheidegg. The Jungfrau Railway opened in 1912. Up top: a viewing platform, ice palace, and views over the Aletsch Glacier.

Harder Kulm

Interlaken's own local mountain at 1,322 m, reached by funicular (or on foot). The viewing platform gives a bird's-eye look down over the town wedged between its two lakes.

Schynige Platte

A nostalgic ride: from Wilderswil near Interlaken, a vintage cog railway climbs to 2,076 m for panoramic ridge walks and an Alpine garden — classic 19th-century rolling stock and wooden benches.

Adventure sports & the lakes

Interlaken is a world-class adventure hub: paragliding, skydiving, canyoning, river rafting, bungee and kayaking. In town, the Höheweg promenade and the Höhematte park — where paragliders land with the Jungfrau behind them — are the place to watch it all. Boat cruises run on both lakes, with stops like the Giessbach Falls and the St. Beatus Caves.

Where in town to stay

Interlaken is a sizeable tourism town (around 65 hotels) and most of it is walkable. The main considerations:

• Höheweg / town centre: the promenade between the two stations, with the Höhematte park, shops and the grand hotels. Most central, Jungfrau views.
• Near Interlaken Ost: handiest if your days are built around mountain railways to Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and the Jungfrau.
• Unterseen & the lakesides (Bönigen, toward Lake Brienz): quieter, more local, often better value, short hop into the centre.

The range runs from hostels and campsites to the historic Hotel Interlaken (with roots back to 1323) and the landmark Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa. The comparison below pulls live rates for your dates.

Hotels in Interlaken — live map

Explore where hotels sit around Interlaken, with live prices for your dates. Drag, zoom and click a marker to book.

Nearby destinations

Interlaken is the launchpad for the whole Jungfrau region:

• Grindelwald — valley village under the Eiger, ~35 min by train
• Lauterbrunnen — the waterfall valley, ~20 min by train
• Bern — the Swiss capital, about an hour away

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