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🇪🇺 This guide is part of our comprehensive Europe Travel Guide.
Interlaken sits between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, below the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks. It's Switzerland's adventure capital — but also one of the most spectacular places to simply sit and look at mountains. This guide covers the best things to do with 2026 prices and what to actually prioritise if you have 1–3 days.
Interlaken Activities — Quick Comparison
| Activity | Price (CHF, 2026) | Duration | Book Ahead? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jungfraujoch railway | ~240 return | Half-day | ✅ Yes — sells out |
| Harder Kulm funicular | 32 return | 2–3h | ❌ |
| Schynige Platte cogwheel | 72 return | Half-day | ❌ |
| Tandem paragliding | 180–220 | 20–30 min | ✅ Recommended |
| Aare river rafting | 90–120 | Half-day | ✅ Recommended |
| Bungee jumping (134m) | ~250 | 2–3h | ✅ Yes |
| Trümmelbach Falls | 16 adult | 1–1.5h | ❌ |
| St. Beatus Caves | 18 adult | 1–1.5h | ❌ |
| Lake Thun + Brienz day pass | 72 | Full day | ❌ |
| Adventure Park | 39–49 | Half-day | ❌ |
1. Jungfraujoch — Top of Europe (3,454m)
The Jungfraujoch is the highest railway station in Europe and Interlaken's signature experience. The cog railway climbs through the Eiger and Mönch to a plateau at 3,454m — ice palace, Sphinx Observatory, Aletsch Glacier views, and a proper alpine world even in July.
Getting there: Train from Interlaken Ost → Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald → change → Kleine Scheidegg → Jungfraujoch. Full journey ~2h each way.
Cost: ~CHF 240 return from Interlaken Ost (adult, 2026). Swiss Travel Pass holders get a 25% discount. Planning to visit several peaks? Our Top of Europe Pass guide explains how the bundled pass works and whether it saves you money. Check current prices at jungfrau.ch.
Practical tips:
- Go on a clear morning — book the first train of the day for best visibility
- Weather can change rapidly; check the live Jungfraujoch webcam before departing
- It's cold at the top (bring a jacket regardless of valley temperature)
- Book well in advance in July/August — this is the most popular railway excursion in Switzerland
🎟️ Jungfraujoch Top of Europe Tour from Interlaken | Jungfrau Train Ride from Interlaken Ost
2. Harder Kulm — Best Value Viewpoint
Harder Kulm is the local mountain above Interlaken — 1,322m, with a panoramic restaurant and the famous "Two Lakes Bridge" viewpoint where you can see both Lake Thun and Lake Brienz simultaneously.
Getting there: Funicular from Interlaken Ost (5 min walk from the station). Journey ~10 min.
Cost: CHF 32 return adult. Open year-round (closed for maintenance in November–December; check harderbahn.ch).
What to do: Walk to the Two Lakes Bridge (10 min from funicular top station), have lunch at the summit restaurant, and do the easy ridge walk east. Much less crowded than Jungfraujoch, and the views over both lakes are genuinely spectacular.
Best value in Interlaken — the Jungfraujoch is worth doing once, but Harder Kulm gives you the iconic Interlaken view at a fraction of the price.
3. Paragliding Over Interlaken
Tandem paragliding from Beatenberg or Grindelwald and landing in the Interlaken valley is one of the most accessible "big" adventures in Switzerland. No experience needed — you're clipped to an instructor.
Cost: CHF 180–220 for a tandem flight (20–30 min). Multiple operators based in Interlaken.
Book ahead: Several operators on the main high street (Höheweg) — look for AirTime, Paragliding Interlaken, or Skyglide. Summer weekends fill up fast.
Flight time: ~20 min for a "discovery" flight, up to 30+ min for a scenic flight. You launch from the hillside and land in a field near the town centre.
Season: May–October. Best conditions in the morning before afternoon thermals build.
4. Aare River Whitewater Rafting
The Aare River through the Bernese Oberland is one of Switzerland's best rafting rivers — clear glacial water, continuous Class III–IV rapids on the standard run. Open to beginners; no experience required.
Cost: ~CHF 90–120 per person for a half-day trip including wetsuit, helmet, and guide.
Season: May–September. Best water levels in May–June after snowmelt.
Book through: Outdoor Interlaken, Swissraft, or Alpin Raft — all operate from central Interlaken.
🎟️ 1-Day Boat Pass for Lake Thun & Lake Brienz (combine with a calmer day on the lakes)
5. Schynige Platte — Best Alpine Meadow Views
Schynige Platte is a high Alpine plateau at 1,967m reached by a historic cogwheel railway from Wilderswil (5 min by train from Interlaken Ost). It offers stunning views of the Jungfrau massif from a different angle, an Alpine botanical garden, and hiking trails.
Getting there: Train from Interlaken Ost → Wilderswil (5 min) → Schynige Platte cogwheel railway (~50 min up).
Cost: CHF 72 return adult. Swiss Travel Pass holders ride free.
Season: Late June–late October (snow closes it in winter).
What to do: Alpine Garden (free with railway ticket), panoramic path to Daub viewpoint (1.5h easy hike), or the longer Panoramaweg to First (4–5h, one-way descent to Grindelwald).
6. Bungee Jumping (134m)
Interlaken's bungee jump at Stockhorn is a 134m freefall above Lake Stockensee, with the Eiger visible as you drop. You ascend by gondola and are lowered into a waiting boat after the jump.
Cost: ~CHF 250. Minimum weight 45kg.
Book through: Outdoor Interlaken (outdoorinterlaken.ch) — they run the standard Stockhorn jump.
Season: May–September.
7. Trümmelbach Falls
Ten glacier-fed waterfalls inside a mountain, reached by lift and lit walkways carved into the rock. Drains the Jungfrau, Mönch, and Eiger glaciers — up to 20,000 litres per second in snowmelt season.
Location: Lauterbrunnen Valley, 12km from Interlaken (bus from Interlaken West or Lauterbrunnen village).
Cost: CHF 16 adult, CHF 7 child (6–15). Open April–November.
Best time: May–July when snowmelt makes the water volume most dramatic.
8. St. Beatus Caves
Limestone caverns on the shore of Lake Thun with stalactites, underground lakes, and waterfalls. The legend: a dragon lived here until expelled by the monk Beatus in the 6th century.
Location: Beatushöhlen, 6km from Interlaken on the north shore of Lake Thun. Reachable by boat from Interlaken (lake cruise) or by bus.
Cost: CHF 18 adult, CHF 9 child. Open April–October.
Visit time: 1–1.5 hours for the main cave circuit.
9. Grindelwald — Day Trip from Interlaken
Grindelwald is a mountain village 20km from Interlaken at the foot of the Eiger's north face, and one of the best bases for hiking in the region. The First gondola climbs to 2,168m where you can hike, do the First Flyer zip-line (CHF 38), or take the mountain cart back down.
Getting there: Train from Interlaken Ost → Grindelwald, ~35 min, runs every 30 min. Covered by Swiss Travel Pass.
Best activity: First gondola (CHF 70 return) + Bachalpsee lake hike (2h return, easy, stunning views).
10. Hot Air Balloon
Hot air balloon flights over the Alps operate early morning — you float above the Bernese Oberland at sunrise, with the Jungfrau massif lit up from the east.
Cost: ~CHF 395–500 per person for a 1h flight. Weather-dependent; flights are frequently rescheduled.
Operators: Ballon-Alpin Interlaken, Swisspeak Adventures.
How to Get to Interlaken
From Zürich: Train from Zürich HB → Interlaken Ost, ~2h, direct IC service. Runs hourly.
From Bern: Train from Bern → Interlaken Ost, ~50 min. Runs every 30 min.
From Geneva: Train via Bern, ~2.5h total.
Swiss Travel Pass covers all SBB trains including the Interlaken routes, and gives discounts (or free travel) on many mountain railways including Schynige Platte and Harder Kulm.
Best Time to Visit Interlaken
| Season | What's Open | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| June–September | Everything | Best weather, all activities, peak crowds |
| October | Hiking, Harder Kulm, Jungfraujoch | Autumn colours, fewer crowds, Schynige Platte closes late Oct |
| November–March | Jungfraujoch, skiing (Grindelwald/Wengen) | Many adventure operators closed; ski season in surrounding resorts |
| April–May | Gradual reopening | Waterfalls at peak; Schynige Platte and most summer activities open late May/early June |
FAQ: Things to Do in Interlaken
What is Interlaken Switzerland known for?
Interlaken is Switzerland's adventure capital — it's the main base for visiting the Jungfraujoch (Europe's highest railway station), for tandem paragliding and whitewater rafting, and for accessing the Lauterbrunnen Valley and Grindelwald. It sits between two glacial lakes (Thun and Brienz) below the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks.
How many days do you need in Interlaken?
2–3 days is ideal. Day 1: Jungfraujoch or Schynige Platte. Day 2: adventure activity (paragliding or rafting) + Harder Kulm for sunset. Day 3: Grindelwald or lake cruise, then onward.
Is the Jungfraujoch worth it?
Yes — if the weather is clear. Check the webcam before booking your specific departure time. At CHF 240, it's not cheap, but the experience of standing on a glacier in the middle of Europe with views of four countries is unlike anything else.
What is the best viewpoint in Interlaken?
Harder Kulm for the classic Two Lakes Bridge panorama (best value, CHF 32). Jungfraujoch for the high-alpine experience (most spectacular). Schynige Platte for the wildflower meadow views of the Jungfrau massif (best for hikers).
📍 Also see: Day trips from Zürich | Switzerland travel guide | Europe Travel Guide
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