Switzerland reveals itself to tourists who come to Interlaken from its best side. After all, no matter how beautiful the architecture of Swiss cities is, the main advantage of this country is its magnificent nature, and it is in Interlaken that you can see the most picturesque mountain landscapes of Switzerland.
Interlaken is a climatic resort, a small town in Switzerland with a population of about 5,000 people, comfortably nestled between two lakes – Thun and Brienz, surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks. This tourist center is located 60 km from the unofficial capital of Switzerland, Bern, at an altitude of 570 m above sea level.
Iterlaken received its spa status 300 years ago, and now it is one of the best resorts in Switzerland, attracting with its natural beauties, sights and various types of outdoor activities.
Active holidays in Interlaken
The Interlaken resort is hospitable to all vacationers. For those who need spa treatment, there is every opportunity to improve their health – a favorable climate, healing air, mineral springs, the best milk in the world, ecologically clean fruits and berries. Those who prefer a passive vacation can relax in modern hotels with chic restaurants, pools and spas surrounded by beautiful mountain landscapes. But the most diverse and exciting program in Interlaken awaits lovers of outdoor activities and sports entertainment.
The ski slopes of this resort in Switzerland with a total length of about 220 km are concentrated at the foot of the Jungfrau, Mönch and Aiger mountains. At the service of skiers and snowboarders there are 4 funiculars and about 40 chairlifts, ski tows and cabin lifts.
The most difficult routes are located in Grindelwald and Murren (price from 50 €), more gentle – in Bitenberg (price from 35 €).
The ski pass at the Interlaken ski resort also includes skiing at the resorts Wengen, Murren, Grindelwald plus local transportation costs.
The cost of a 6-day ski pass for an adult is 192 euros, for a child – 96 euros.
Unique impressions will be left by paragliding, which can be carried out at any time of the year. This service is offered by many Interlaken travel clubs. The flight is made in tandem with a guide, if you wish, you can order a photo and video before flying over Interlaken. The maximum weight of the participant is 95 kg.
Fans of extreme relaxation will like kayaking, canoeing or rafting on mountain rivers. And supporters of more relaxed types of tourism will be attracted by hiking on the lakes. All types of water tourism are offered in the warm season. Reliable equipment and experienced instructors guarantee the complete safety of this active leisure.
In Interlaken, cycling is very common during the summer season. Here you can rent a bike and other equipment and go on a bike trip through the picturesque surroundings of Interlaken. You can also make horse excursions, cruise on a boat to nearby lakes, go in for surfing, sailing, mountain climbing, mountaineering, fishing.
sights
Not only is Interlaken proud of its ski slopes, the sights make it one of the important cultural and historical cities of Switzerland.
Mount Harder Kulm with a viewing platform built on it is an attraction of Interlaken, which is its hallmark. It offers amazing views of the mountains, lakes and the town located between them, seeming toy-like from above.
The observation deck on Mount Harder Kulm is open to visitors from May to October daily from 9.00-18.00, you can get there on foot or by funicular. Hiking takes 2-3 hours and is accessible only to physically prepared people. By cable car you can climb to the observation deck in 10 minutes. Ticket price – CHF30 one way.
The observation deck resembles a bridge hanging over an abyss, part of its flooring is made of transparent glass, through which the crowns of trees are visible. There is also a sculpture of the symbol of Switzerland – a cow with a bell. Nearby is a restaurant resembling a castle, souvenirs are sold.
Jungfrau is a mountain in the vicinity of Interlaken, one of the highest peaks in Switzerland. The name (“Young Maiden”) she owes to the convent, which was once located at its foot. Now in its place is a church. Jungfrau is a tourist attraction in Switzerland , listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, a railway was laid on Jungfrau, which is the highest in Europe. This road is the pride of Interlaken and Switzerland, a landmark that demonstrates the high skill of Swiss engineers. Its final point is located on the Jungfraujoch pass (height 3454 m above sea level), where galleries are cut through and a weather station and observatory are built. From here, the Sphinx observation deck offers a circular panorama of alpine mountains and lakes.
Tourists can visit the following attractions on Jungfraujoch: Ice Palace, in which all the exhibits are made of ice, restaurants with panoramic windows, a visual-sound show, a science exhibition, participate in dog sledding (in summer). Going to Jungfraujoch, do not forget warm clothes and sunglasses.
You can get to the Jungfrau mountain pass from Interlaken by train in about 3 hours, the cost of a round-trip ticket CHF90.90 with a Swiss Pass , without it – twice as much.
On the shore of Lake Thun (Thun), only 10-15 minutes drive from the center of Interlaken are Beatus Caves – one of the natural attractions of Switzerland. The caves are located in a cliff above the lake; from the stop you will have to make a small pedestrian climb. From above, a picturesque view of the lake and mountains opens, a waterfall falls from the cliff. A visit to the cave can be individual or with a guided tour that takes place every 30 minutes. The air temperature inside even in summer will not rise above + 5 ° C, so when planning to visit this attraction, do not forget to take warm clothes.
Beatus Caves got its name in honor of the Irish monk Beat who lived in the 6th century. According to legend, he defeated the dragon who lived in these caves and kept the locals at bay. Having freed the settlement from the dragon, the hermit monk settled in these caves and was canonized.
The length of the excursion route is about 1 km, the excursion lasts a little more than 1 hour. Inside there is electric lighting. Here you can see bizarre stalactites and stalagmites, underground lakes and waterfalls. Children will be interested in a dragon boat ride on the underground lake. As with most tourist sites in Interlaken and Switzerland, photo and video shooting are allowed here, but only without the use of tripods.
Near this attraction there is a museum of minerals, a restaurant, a playground for children, a souvenir shop.
- Beatus Caves are open only from mid-March to mid-November daily from 9.45-17.00.
- Ticket price – CHF18, for children – CHF10.
- Visit to the Museum of Minerals – CHF6.
You will be interested! 20 km from Interlaken is the popular ski resort Grindelwald, which is called the “Village of Glaciers.” Find out more about this place in this article .
The most beautiful places in Switzerland run along the Golden Pass railway line. A golden express train with panoramic windows follows from Montreux to Lucerne via Interlaken, with a tour of all the natural and historical sights on the way. Since Interlaken is the central point of the Golden Route, you can leave from it either on a two-hour journey to Ost-Lucerne or on a three-hour trip through Zweisimmen to Montreux.
Going towards Lucerne, you will see the famous Giessbach waterfall, overcome the steepest climb to the Pilatus mountain on toothed rails, and admire the stunning views of Lake Lucerne.
Choosing a trip to the active city of Montreux , you will visit the Grand Chalet Castle and see the famous Chillon Castle on the shores of Lake Leman . Unusual beauty of the Swiss mountain scenery will accompany you throughout the trip.
The cost of one ticket for the entire Golden Pass route is CHF114 first class and CHF69 second. Booking a ticket for the entire route – CHF17, lunch – CHF28. For an incomplete route, the price of the ticket and reservation will depend on its distance. If you have a Swiss Pass, travel to Lucerne is free.
On a note! Not far from Interlaken is the picturesque village of Lauterbrunnen, which served as a prototype of the world of elves in the film “Lord of the Rings”. Learn more about the valley on this page .
Camping in Interlaken
There are more than 100 hotels in Interlaken, they offer about 7 thousand beds in a wide price range. However, in the months of peak attendance of this resort – from January to early March – there may not be enough places for everyone, so it is recommended to book them in advance. Through the Internet you can find camping in Interlaken on your own.
The following campsites offer the most affordable prices:
- Alpenblick 2, located near Lake Thun, 2 km from the center with a cost of bed from CHF6 per day.
- TCS camping Interlaken – 2 and 4-bed cottages on the Aare River at CHF50-100 per day.
- River Lodge – Hostel with 2 and 4-bed rooms from CHF26 per place.
There are many mid-range hotels in the area of the railway station. One of the most popular is the Neuhaus Golf & Strandhotel, located on the shores of Lake Thun, a double room will cost from $ 175 per day.
Hotel Interlaken is located in a reconstructed old mansion of the 15th century, the price for a double room is from $ 200 per day.
The most prestigious in Interlaken is the Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel Spa with views of the famous Jungfrau Mountain, the cost of a 2-bed room in which starts at $ 530.
Schedule and prices on the page are for the season 2018.
Weather when it’s better to come
Although, basically, Interlaken is a ski resort, you can come here in any season of the year. The ski season at this resort lasts from November to March. The best time for skiing and snowboarding are the winter months – from December to February. It is coldest here in January, in the mountains the thermometer can drop to -27 ° C.
Summer at this climate resort is sunny, but due to the high location and proximity of the mountains, it does not happen hot. Daytime temperatures in the warmest months rarely rise above 23 ° C. July and August are usually rainy, this should be taken into account when planning a trip.
Fans of swimming in ponds can be disappointed: the water in the lakes is cold. Its temperature at the beginning of summer usually does not exceed 14 ° C, and in its midst barely reaches 18 ° C. But even without swimming, this resort in Switzerland has a lot of interesting activities that attract tourists from all over the world. Thanks to such cities as Interlaken, Switzerland is one of the most visited countries in Europe.
Video: a walk around Interlaken and excursions to the waterfalls
