My first morning in Interlaken I watched a man eat a croissant in the Hohematte meadow while three paragliders spiralled down behind him onto the same grass, and a bright-red mountain train rattled past, and the Jungfrau just sat there in the background being absurd. Nobody else looked up. That's the thing about this place: the most ridiculous alpine scenery on earth is treated as completely ordinary by everyone who lives here. Give it two days and you'll start to agree, which is its own kind of madness.
The Perfect Interlaken Itinerary (2, 3, 4 & 7 Days)
Two days is the highlight reel: the twin lakes and town to find your feet, then the Lauterbrunnen valley and a ride up to Mürren or Grindelwald for the view that sells a thousand calendars. A sprint, but a jaw-dropping one.
Get a Berner Oberland Pass or Half Fare Card. The trains and lifts are gorgeous and brutal on the wallet.
72 Hours: Add the Top of Europe
Three days buys the big one — Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe at 3,454 metres, with glaciers, an ice palace, and snow in July. It's expensive and busy and entirely worth it on a clear day. Check the webcams before you commit.
4 Days: Cliffs, Cogwheels, and a Quieter Lake
Four days adds the things the day-trippers miss — the First cliff walk and mountain coaster above Grindelwald, and a boat across the turquoise Lake Brienz to the storybook village of Iseltwald. Adrenaline optional, scenery compulsory.
7 Days: Live in the Jungfrau Region
A week lets you slow down and treat the whole Jungfrau region as home base — Schilthorn, the car-free villages of Mürren and Wengen, the long valley hikes, and lake swims on hot afternoons. You'll stop checking the time and start checking the weather, which is the correct alpine mindset.
Estimated budget:CHF 320-480 est. (1 hotel night, regional transport, Harder Kulm)
Estimated budget:CHF 560-820 est. (2 nights, Jungfraujoch railway, meals)
Estimated budget:CHF 800-1,180 est. (First activities, 3 nights, boat, dining)
Estimated budget:CHF 1,500-2,400 est. (full week, mid-range lodging, Schilthorn, passes)
[ THE DISPATCH · FIELD MAP ]
A tilted, hand-drawn dispatch of Interlaken. Click a quarter to explode it open.
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Legend · tap to highlight
[ INTERLAKEN TOWN ]
Grand squares and big ideas.
Hohematte + HöhewegThe big green meadow where paragliders land and the Jungfrau photobombs everything.
Harder Kulm — Two Lakes BridgeA funicular to the viewing platform that holds both lakes and the big peaks in one frame.
[ LAUTERBRUNNEN VALLEY ]
Green breathing room.
Lauterbrunnen + Staubbach FallsA glacier valley so vertical it inspired Tolkien's Rivendell. The falls just drift off the cliff.
Trümmelbach FallsTen glacial waterfalls thundering inside the mountain, reached by a tunnel lift.
[ JUNGFRAUJOCH ]
Green breathing room.
Jungfraubahn cog railwayA century-old cog railway burrows through the Eiger to 3,454 metres. Pure engineering theatre.
Sphinx Observatory + Aletsch viewA glass-and-steel deck at 3,571 metres looking down the longest glacier in the Alps.
[ GRINDELWALD & FIRST ]
Green breathing room.
First Cliff Walk + activitiesA walkway bolted to the cliff, plus a zipline and mountain coaster for the brave.
Bachalpsee hikeAn hour's gentle walk to a mirror lake reflecting the Wetterhorn. The Alps' best easy hike.
[ LAKE BRIENZ ]
Boats, bridges and reflections.
Lake Brienz boat cruiseA vintage paddle steamer across water so turquoise it looks photoshopped.
Iseltwald + Giessbach FallsA tiny lakeside village (yes, the K-drama one) and a multi-tier waterfall across the water.
[ SCHILTHORN & MÜRREN ]
Green breathing room.
Schilthorn — Piz GloriaA revolving restaurant at 2,970 metres, famous from a Bond film, with 200 peaks in view.
Birg — Thrill Walk + Skyline ViewGlass walkways and a cliff-clinging via ferrata-lite for people who like their views vertical.
Day 1
Interlaken Town + Harder Kulm
Find your bearings between the two lakes
Hohematte + Höheweg
The big green meadow where paragliders land and the Jungfrau photobombs everything.
Start in the heart of town. The Hohematte is a protected meadow right on the main Höheweg promenade, with the Jungfrau framed perfectly behind it — and paragliders touching down all afternoon. Walk the Höheweg past the grand Victorian hotels, get oriented, and watch the canopies come in. It's free, it's central, and it sets the tone.
A funicular to the viewing platform that holds both lakes and the big peaks in one frame.
The Harder Kulm funicular climbs to 1,322 metres in about ten minutes to a panorama deck — the famous Two Lakes Bridge juts out over the drop with Lake Thun and Lake Brienz on either side and the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau dead ahead. It's the single best orientation view of the whole region. Go in late afternoon for the light and a drink at the restaurant.
Hearty Swiss fondue and rösti in a buzzy beer hall, no Alpine-kitsch surcharge.
For your first dinner go local and unfussy — Husi Bierhaus does proper fondue, raclette, and rösti in a lively, beer-hall setting that locals actually use. Interlaken's centre is full of overpriced tourist traps, so this is a relief. Pair the fondue with a regional white and don't plan on a light evening.
Day 2
Lauterbrunnen Valley + Mürren
The valley of 72 waterfalls
Lauterbrunnen + Staubbach Falls
A glacier valley so vertical it inspired Tolkien's Rivendell. The falls just drift off the cliff.
The Lauterbrunnen valley is the postcard — sheer 300-metre walls with the Staubbach Falls feathering off the top, mistier than they are forceful. Wander the village, walk to the base of the falls, and crane your neck a lot. It's a 20-minute train from Interlaken and genuinely one of the most beautiful valleys in the Alps. Tolkien based Rivendell on it; you'll see why.
Trümmelbach Falls
Ten glacial waterfalls thundering inside the mountain, reached by a tunnel lift.
A short walk or bus up the valley, these are the only glacier waterfalls in Europe you visit inside the mountain — a lift and walkways take you past ten cascades carved into the rock, draining the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau snowfields. It's loud, cold, and genuinely thrilling. Bring a rain jacket; the spray is constant.
Mürren — car-free cliff village
Take cable cars and a clifftop train to a village glued to a ledge at 1,650 metres.
Up the valley wall via cable car and a tiny clifftop railway sits Mürren, a car-free village perched at 1,650 metres with the Eiger-Mönch-Jungfrau trio filling the entire horizon. Walk the main lane, grab a coffee with a view that doesn't seem real, and soak in the quiet. It's the kind of place that makes you reconsider where you live.
A century-old cog railway burrows through the Eiger to 3,454 metres. Pure engineering theatre.
The journey is the spectacle: change at Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen, then board the Jungfraubahn, which tunnels straight through the Eiger and Mönch, with a viewing stop carved into the north face. Book a timed ticket in advance and travel early. Check the Jungfrau webcams before you commit — this is a clear-day-only outing, and it is not cheap.
Sphinx Observatory + Aletsch view
A glass-and-steel deck at 3,571 metres looking down the longest glacier in the Alps.
At the top, the Sphinx terrace at 3,571 metres looks straight down the Aletsch Glacier — the longest in the Alps, a 23-kilometre river of ice curling away into the distance. The altitude is real; move slowly. On a clear day you can see into Germany and France. This is the payoff for the whole expensive morning.
Ice Palace + Snow Plateau
Carved tunnels inside the glacier, plus snow you can play in mid-July.
Before heading down, walk through the Ice Palace — a network of tunnels and ice sculptures carved into the glacier itself — and step out onto the Snow Plateau, where you can stand in summer snow with the Jungfrau looming above. It's touristy and brilliant in equal measure. Grab lunch at the station restaurant before the afternoon trains fill up.
Day 4
Grindelwald + First
Cliff walks, a turquoise tarn, and the Eiger up close
First Cliff Walk + activities
A walkway bolted to the cliff, plus a zipline and mountain coaster for the brave.
The First gondola from Grindelwald climbs to 2,168 metres and the Cliff Walk by Tissot — a metal walkway cantilevered out over the void with the Eiger filling the view. Thrill-seekers can add the First Flyer zipline, the Glider, and the mountain cart and trottibike descents. It's the adventure-playground end of the region, with the scenery to back it up.
Bachalpsee hike
An hour's gentle walk to a mirror lake reflecting the Wetterhorn. The Alps' best easy hike.
From First, the roughly one-hour walk to the Bachalpsee is the region's most rewarding easy hike — a near-level path to a glassy alpine tarn that mirrors the Schreckhorn and Wetterhorn on a still morning. It's gorgeous, accessible, and the photo you'll keep. Continue toward Faulhorn if you've legs and time; otherwise stroll back for the gondola.
Grindelwald village + Eiger Glacier
A classic Alpine resort village sitting directly beneath the Eiger's notorious north face.
Back in Grindelwald, the village itself is worth an hour or two — chalet- lined streets directly under the Eiger's fearsome north face, with the Eiger Glacier viewpoint reachable by the Eiger Express gondola if you want to get closer to the ice. Have a late lunch on a terrace and watch the cloud play across the mountain that broke so many climbers.
Day 5
Lake Brienz + Iseltwald
Turquoise water and a storybook lakeside day
Lake Brienz boat cruise
A vintage paddle steamer across water so turquoise it looks photoshopped.
Lake Brienz is the more vivid of the two lakes — a deep glacial turquoise fed by mountain meltwater. Take a boat from Interlaken Ost and glide along the shore past waterfalls and chalets. The historic paddle steamers are the best ride. It's a slow, restorative day after the high-altitude excitement, and the lake swimming in summer is unforgettable.
Iseltwald + Giessbach Falls
A tiny lakeside village (yes, the K-drama one) and a multi-tier waterfall across the water.
Hop off at Iseltwald, a postcard hamlet on a little peninsula that went viral thanks to a Korean drama — it gets busy, but it's genuinely lovely. Across the lake, the Giessbach Falls tumble in fourteen tiers to a grand old hotel, reachable by Europe's oldest funicular. Wander, swim, and let the afternoon stretch.
Brienz village — woodcarving town
Switzerland's woodcarving capital, all geraniums and chisels, at the far end of the lake.
The village of Brienz at the lake's east end is the heart of Swiss woodcarving — flower-decked chalets, workshops, and the Jobin gallery for the real craftsmanship. It's quieter and more authentic than Interlaken's centre. Grab an early dinner lakeside before the boat or train back. A gentle, lovely end to a slow day.
Day 6
Schilthorn + Mürren Ridge
James Bond's revolving restaurant and a skyline walk
Schilthorn — Piz Gloria
A revolving restaurant at 2,970 metres, famous from a Bond film, with 200 peaks in view.
A series of cable cars from the valley climbs to the Schilthorn summit at 2,970 metres and Piz Gloria, the revolving restaurant that starred in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. The 360-degree panorama takes in some 200 peaks across three countries. Have the Bond Brunch if you're feeling it. Like Jungfraujoch, this is weather-dependent — check the cams.
Birg — Thrill Walk + Skyline View
Glass walkways and a cliff-clinging via ferrata-lite for people who like their views vertical.
On the way down, stop at the Birg station for the Thrill Walk — a series of glass-floored walkways, tunnels, and a crawl-tube bolted to the cliff face, with the valley a long way straight down. It's safe, exhilarating, and free with your Schilthorn ticket. The Skyline View Platform here is a quieter spot to take in the panorama.
Gimmelwald — the village time forgot
Walk down to a 130-person farming hamlet with no road and zero pretension.
Below Mürren clings Gimmelwald, a tiny car-free farming village of around 130 people that has somehow resisted resort development entirely. Walk the steep path down from Mürren (or ride the cable car), pass the cowsheds and the honesty-box cheese stalls, and feel the tourist gloss fall away. It's the most authentic spot in the region.
Day 7
Lake Thun + Thun Castle + Farewell
The gentler lake and a medieval finale
Lake Thun cruise
The bigger, balmier lake, ringed by castles and vineyards rather than glaciers.
Lake Thun, on the western side, is the warmer and gentler of the pair — dotted with lakeside castles, vineyards, and the lovely village of Spiez. A boat from Interlaken West makes a relaxed final-day outing. The water is swimmable and the pace is slow. After a week of altitude, this is the decompression you want.
Thun Castle + Old Town
A 12th-century hilltop castle above a covered-bridge old town at the lake's foot.
The town of Thun, at the lake's western end, has a striking 12th-century castle on the hill and a charming old town built along the Aare with shops set above the street on the upper level. Climb the castle for the view back down the lake to the mountains, then wander the riverside lanes. A lovely, low-key contrast to all those summits.
Schuh — farewell dinner
An old-world Interlaken institution for a final fondue with the Jungfrau in the window.
End where you started, in Interlaken, at Confiserie Schuh — a grand, slightly old-fashioned terrace restaurant facing the Hohematte and the Jungfrau. Have a final fondue or a lake fish, save room for the legendary house chocolates, and watch the last paragliders drift down. A fittingly civilised goodbye to a wildly scenic week.
Interlaken is, technically, a small town wedged on the flat strip between two lakes. In practice it’s the front door to the Jungfrau region — arguably the most jaw-dropping pocket of the Alps, and certainly the most accessible. You don’t really come for Interlaken itself; you come because every astonishing valley, glacier, and cliff-village in the Bernese Oberland is a scenic train ride away, and this is where the trains all meet.
That said, the town is a genuinely pleasant base: a paraglider-filled meadow in the centre, two swimmable lakes, and the Jungfrau staring down at your breakfast. This itinerary uses it as a hub. Two days covers the lakes and the unmissable Lauterbrunnen valley. Three days adds Jungfraujoch, the “Top of Europe.” Four brings in Grindelwald and the First cliff walks. And seven days lets you live in the region properly — Schilthorn, the car-free villages, the lake days.
Now, the honest part: this is one of the more expensive corners of an expensive country, and the mountain railways are where it bites. A Jungfraujoch ticket alone can run well over CHF 200. Look hard at the Berner Oberland Pass, the Jungfrau Travel Pass, or at minimum a Half Fare Card before you buy anything à la carte — they pay for themselves fast.
Two Weather-Dependent Splurges
The two big summit trips — Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn — are only worth the money on a clear day. Cloud at the top means you’ve paid a fortune to stand in fog.
Check the live webcams (both peaks have them) the morning of, and build flexibility into your schedule so you can swap a cloudy summit day for a lake day. The lower-altitude sights — Lauterbrunnen, the lakes, Grindelwald village — are beautiful in almost any weather.
Use the filter above to see exactly which stops apply to your trip length.
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