Holidays in Interlaken

On an Inghams walking holiday, you have the freedom to explore the area at your own pace. Make each day a new adventure, with as much or as little walking as you like.

Why we love walking in Interlaken

There's an excellent selection of walking for all abilities in and around Interlaken and its lakes. With around 500 kilometres of marked walking trails and some of the most spectacular scenery the Alps has to offer, there's lots of reasons to love Interlaken but it's the variety we love the most. From easy rambles along the lakefront, to more challenging ridge walks or long adventures into the mountains.

There's some incredible viewpoints in easy access too, like the Harder Kulm or Schynige Platte, which is the starting point for several lovely walks, and has a stunning alpine garden. Wherever you choose, the views are jaw-dropping, the walking trails are varied and with the excellent network of trains, mountain railways and lifts, reaching the best viewpoints is a breeze.

Interlaken and the surrounding Jungfrau region has a fantastic network of trains, boats, mountain railways and lifts that make getting around the area really easy.

Trains and mountain railways

Trains are what make Switzerland such a pleasure to explore and Interlaken benefits from two train stations, Interlaken Ost (East) and West. From here, getting to surrounding villages, and further afield is really easy.

Mountain trains run from Interlaken up to the Harder Kulm for an impressive view of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, and there's the Brienzer Rothorn steam train which chugs its way from Brienz (at the opposite side of Lake Brienz to Interlaken) high into the mountains. From Wilderswil, you can catch the historic cog railway to the Schynige Platte where there's great views, plenty of walking opportunities and an Alpine Garden with over 800 species of Alpine Flora.

Further into the Jungfrau Region, mountains trains run from Grindelwald up the Kleine Scheidegg side of the valley, linking the village to Kleine Scheidegg, Eiger Gletscher, and Wengen. You can even take the train all the way up to the Jungfraujoch - the highest railway station in Europe. Alternatively, head to Lauterbrunnen and taken the funicular up towards Mürren, a pretty traffic-free village that's only accessible by lift and is the gateway to the lifts up to the Schilthorn.

Routes and timetables are available locally. The best way to enjoy the trains is to pre-book a travel pass - see the Cards & Passes tab for more information (supplements may apply locally for some routes).

Boats

Taking to the water is one of the must-do's when visiting Interlaken, and boat trips are available on both of the two lakes thanks to a fleet of 14 boats, including two paddle steamers. On Lake Brienz, the nostalgic Lötschberg paddle steamer links all the little places around the lake, including Brienz - at the far end, and the Giessbach Waterfalls. A lake cruise is the perfect way to discover more of Lake Thun, from pretty villages like Spiez, fairytale castles and the larger city of Thun. Gourmet cruises are also bookable locally. 

Lifts

In addition to the boats and mountain trains, cable cars and gondolas open up lots of walking possibilities, fun activities and stunning viewpoints, including:

In Grindelwald:

• Grindelwald First
• Männlichen
• Eiger Express
• Pfingstegg

In Wengen:

• Männlichen

In Mürren:

• Stechelberg
• Schilthorn

Buses

There is a network of local buses helping you to explore the area surrounding Interlaken and the two lakes - Thun and Brienz. Buses within zones one and three are included with your Interlaken Guest Card that you receive from your hotel. Journeys outside this area require an additional ticket. Routes and timetables are available locally.

Bönigen Loop and Erschwandenfall

• Grade: Easy to moderate
• Distance: 8.7km
• Walking time: 2.5 hours
• Terrain: Tarmac, gravel, forest; narrow paths in the forest

This lovely forest walk starts by the shores of Lake Brienz and leads to a beautiful waterfall - Erschwandenfall. The route continues along quiet forest trails, offering peaceful views of the lake and Bönigen village before looping back to your starting point.

Iseltwald – Giessbach

• Grade: Easy to moderate
• Distance: 6.5km
• Walking time: 1.5 – 2 hours
• Terrain: Rocks, roots, and gravel; mainly flat with uphill sections if you choose to hike to the top.

A peaceful hike along the shore of Lake Brienz with breathtaking views, dramatic cliffs, and even a tunnel to explore. As you reach the Giessbach Waterfalls, you can take the historic funicular up for a unique view of the falls from below, or hike to the top to walk behind the cascading water. Afterward, unwind with a scenic boat trip back to Interlaken Ost.

Schynige Platte – First

• Grade: Challenging
• Distance: 17km
• Walking time: 6 hours
• Terrain: Gravel, rocks, roots, snow

A challenging hike from Schynige Platte to First takes you through rugged alpine terrain with steep ascents, rocky paths, and snow patches. Pass through open grasslands dotted with grazing cows, colourful alpine flowers, and towering rock formations. Stop at the Faulhorn for panoramic views before descending towards the serene lake of Bachalpsee and continuing on to First. The route offers incredible views of the surrounding mountains and Lake Brienz.

Recommended equipment

Comfy walking boots, sun cream, insect repellent, waterproofs, rucksacks and walking poles are useful for hiking around Interlaken. There's plenty of places to buy walking equipment if you don't have everything to take with you.

Walking maps and apps

For Interlaken we recommend picking up a walking map from the tourist office. Maps will have a key to help you understand the nature of the walk before you begin. 

You can view lots more recommended routes from Interlaken Tourism.

Hiking guidelines

The mountains are a natural paradise, with lots to explore and discover. To help it stay that way, and remain an enjoyable and safe place for everyone, we recommend following our little list of do's and don'ts:

• Plan your route well and don't overestimate yourself
• Check the weather forecast
• Tell someone where you're planning to walk and what time you're expecting to be back
• Take all the recommended equipment
• Make a note of emergency numbers:
  • Swiss Emergency Services: 144
• Don't leave the marked trails or go onto a glacier without a guide
• Let nature stay wild by not picking alpine flowers (it's illegal in some places) or getting close to/making contact with wild animals
• Always leave gates as you found them
• Leave no trace

Check out our Responsible Walking insider guide if you want more tips for your summer walking holiday.

Flights to Geneva or Zurich airports are available from eight UK airports.

Flights to Zurich:

We offer holidays by train to Interlaken, which depart on Saturdays for seven or 14 days. The journey takes around 14 hours from London St. Pancras and you'll be able to enjoy the change of scenery out of the train window as you journey through France and into the Alps of Switzerland.

The provisional outbound timings are:

The Swiss transport network is an excellent combination of trains, mountain railways, cable cars, boats, and buses that make it a pleasure to get around and explore at your own pace. 

Swiss Half Fare Card included for all Inghams guests

The Swiss Half Fare Card is included in the price of your holiday and is sent to you as part of your rail transfer tickets. This card can be used around Switzerland for up to 50% discount on various modes of transport - so make sure you keep it with you. It also gives free travel to children from 6 to under 16 years old, when accompanied by a parent with the Family Card.

Subject to change.

In addition to the Half Fare card you may wish to purchase other travel passes depending on your holiday plans, such as the Jungfrau Travel Pass - you can add this to your holiday at the time of booking.

Jungfrau Travel Pass

Enjoy three to eight consecutive days of travel on trains, cable cars, gondolas, and boats within the Jungfrau region including free travel on:

• Interlaken - Harder Kulm
• Wilderswil - Schynige Platte
• Trains between Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Brienz and Interlaken Ost
• Grindelwald - First
• Grindelwald - Männlichen
• Wengen - Männlichen
• Grindelwald - Kleine Scheidegg
• Wengen - Kleine Scheidegg
• Kleine Scheidegg to Eigergletscher
• Lauterbrunnen - Grütschalp - Winteregg - Mürren
• Passes from 3 days validity onward include boats on Lakes Thun & Lake Brienz and trains between Interlaken Ost, Interlaken West, and Brienz allowing for round trips by boat and train on Lake Brienz.

A supplement applies for going up from Eigergletscher to the Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe (discounted rate of CHF63/75 (low season/high season)).

Please note that Family Cards are not valid with the Jungfrau Travel Pass and children must have the Jungfrau Junior Travel Card. 

Pass inclusions are subject to change. Pre-book prices include Swiss Half Fare Card discount. Please note that we act at all times as selling agent for the suppliers of travel passes.

Things to do in Interlaken

Enchanting towns and villages

Interlaken may be the adventure capital of Europe, but that doesn't mean there aren't some wonderful towns and villages to leisurely wander through. Interlaken has its fair share of great shops, bars, and experiences including the Funky Chocolate Club where you can make your own Swiss chocolate.

A cruise along Lake Thun will take you to Thun itself, a bustling city with impressive architecture. The shores of Lake Thun are home to villages like Spiez which is known for its castle and rich history. Wine lovers will enjoy the vineyards in this stunning area.

Just ten minutes from Interlaken is Bönigen - a small village on the edge of Lake Brienz, where traditional wooden houses, rural life, and natural beauty combine to create a picture-perfect and peaceful lakeside setting.

Relaxing lake cruises

One of the best places to relax around Interlaken is undoubtedly aboard one of the cruises - book a culinary cruise for an extra special treat, and gaze at the view while you enjoy lunch on board. The shores of Lake Thun, with castles, vineyards, and the St. Beatus caves invite you to hop off and explore along your route.

On Lake Brienz, take a boat to the impressive Giessbach waterfalls, or all the way to Brienz, at the opposite end of the lake to Bönigen. Here you'll find the Brienzer Rothorn steam train which takes you high into the mountains, for - you guessed it - more incredible views.

Spectacular viewpoints

Unsurprisingly, there's no shortage of these in the area. The funicular up Harder Kulm takes you to a viewing platform overlooking Interlaken and both its lakes while the Schynige Platte's historic steam cog railway from nearby Wilderswil takes you to an impressive Alpine Garden and a hut with daily alphorn performances.

Head further into the Jungfrau region with ease on the Swiss Transport Network to visit some of Switzerland's most famous destinations - the Jungfraujoch and the Schilthorn plus the villages of Grindelwald, Wengen, and Mürren.

Grindelwald is famous for the iconic Eiger mountain, while Wengen overlooks the incredible Lauterbrunnen valley. Between the two, the Jungraujoch is a col between two mountain peaks, and a staggering feat of engineering means you can visit easily - via a train through the Eiger mountain itself - to enjoy unrivaled views and visit the Ice Palace for an inside look at the glacier.

Mürren is a chocolate-box village, well worthy of exploring - head up the Schilthorn for a brunch in the revolving restaurant, visit the spy museum, or try the exciting Thrill Walk at Birg.

Unique experiences

Interlaken itself is quite a unique place, with its blend of adventure, culture, and pristine nature, but there are still some things that - even for Interlaken - are quite unique. The Ballenberg open-air museum is like going back in time and is Switzerland's only open-air museum. The historic buildings and traditional crafts showcase rural life as it once was, and covering an area of 66 hectares, there's plenty to see. 

Sticking with the historic theme, the Brienzer Rothorn steam train is a real highlight to an Interlaken holiday, chugging from Brienz up into the mountains, where you can walk through alpine meadows, explore lush forests, and admire the view. The sausage train is a particular highlight - at the end of the journey on selected departures, you can enjoy a sausage that's been cooked in the steam engine itself along the route.

Adventure and water sports

There's no shortage of adventure and water sports on offer in Interlaken, from paragliding and bungee jumping to speed boats and canyoning. There's something for everyone, regardless of how full-throttle you want your adventure - head out for a relaxing afternoon on a paddleboard or kayak, or jump full-swing into the canyon on the canyon-swing. For the water lovers, there's rafting too, and of course, plenty of opportunities to swim. And, if you prefer your adventures up high, try the high ropes or some rock climbing and via Ferrata, the opportunities are endless.

Family activities in Interlaken

Funky Chocolate Club

Put your aprons on and have your chocolatier hats at the ready as the Funky Chocolate Club allows children to create and decorate their very own chocolate bars. There is even some chocolate tasting during the process – what's not to love about that?

Trails and treasure hunts

It's time to put your youngster's detective skills into practise as you explore the surrounding areas on interactive trails and treasure hunts. Discover the town of Thun by following the Foxtrail, or complete tricky puzzles in Ballenberg. You can also go on a riddle-solving treasure hunt in Bönigen for incredible views of Lake Brienz.

Canoeing trail

Grab your paddle and take the kids on a spectacular journey from Gwatt to Leissigen. As you make your way along the side of the lake, there are plenty of places to swim or take a short rest with a picnic stop. For a shorter trail, take the ferry or train to Spiez bay.

Pedalo hire

Sail on Lake Brienz or glide across Lake Thun. You should definitely hire a pedalo and take a dip in the lake on a hot summers' day. With panoramic views and crystal-clear turquoise waters, exploring the lakes is a must when staying in Interlaken.

Interlaken Rope Park

Harness up, you're about to experience the thrill of zip lines, swings and over 160 obstacles. Climbing up to heights of 23 metres, the rope park in the centre of Interlaken offers non-stop fun for all the family. You will be spoilt for choice with multiple courses, including the Butterfly path for smaller children.

Mini-golf

Visit Spiez Bay by ferry from Interlaken and challenge the little ones to a game of mini golf. With 18 holes and beautiful views, there's no place like it for some healthy competition. You’ll love the natural scenery and adventurous day out.

Regional adventures

Using your included Swiss Half Fare Card allows you to explore the Bernese Oberland at a fraction of the cost. Take the kids to the Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe, or brave the Cliff Walk at Grindelwald First. For any James Bond loving teens, then head to the summit of the Schilthorn to visit the museum and rotating restaurant.

Pre-book your excursions and travel passes online or give us a call

All pre-bookable train excursions start from Interlaken Ost.

Schynige Platte, plus Alpine garden - from £29

Take the charming cogwheel railway up to Schynige Platte at 2000 meters and visit the wonderful Alpine garden with some 600 different Swiss alpine plants including Edelweiss and Enzian (Schynige Platte railway opens 14 Jun).

Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe - from £107

A must-see for all visitors is the ultimate rail journey through the Eiger mountain and up to Europe’s highest railway station at 3,454m, for breath-taking views including the 14km-long Aletsch glacier and the Ice Palace.

Schilthorn - from £49

A trip up the spectacular Schilthorn peak above Mürren, famous for being the set of the James Bond film ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’. Visit the museum and enjoy the fantastic views of the surrounding snow-clad peaks. If you have a good head for heights, the Thrill Walk at Birg is an exhilarating metal walkway that clings to the mountain edge, providing an exciting walk and some unbeatable photo opportunities.

Day on Lake Thun or Lake Brienz - from £33 (2nd class) or £48 (1st class)

Spend a day cruising with this ticket, valid for one day on your choice of either of the lakes, Thun, or Brienz. Upgrade to 1st class for seats on the top deck!

Harder Kulm funicular - from £15

A 15-minute funicular to the spectacular viewing platform - a sight not to be missed - look down on Interlaken, Lake Thun, and Lake Brienz.

Bookable locally

Many more options are available locally through your Representative including:

Fun Package: First Flyer / Glider & Trottibike / Mountain Cart

Prices shown include a Swiss Half Fare Card discount.

Please note that the price of excursions will vary depending on the resort you are staying in. We act at all times as a selling agent for the suppliers. All excursions require minimum numbers to run and are subject to change. Some excursions may not be available to pre-book in low season but may be available to book locally subject to numbers. Prices will be confirmed at the time of booking. Please see our terms & conditions.