CH
Interlaken
Between two lakes and below the Jungfrau: the base for Switzerland’s best-known mountain railways
Between two lakes and below the Jungfrau: the base for Switzerland’s best-known mountain railways
At 3,454m, the Jungfraujoch has an observatory, ice palace and views of the Aletsch Glacier. It is reached by train via Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen and Kleine Scheidegg.
Check the weather webcam before you go; tickets are expensive and views depend on clear skies.
Photo: Ank Kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0
A funicular climbs from Interlaken to this 1,321m viewpoint above the town, with views of both lakes and the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
Good for sunset.
Photo: Giles Laurent, CC BY-SA 4.0
A short train ride away, this deep U-shaped valley has dozens of waterfalls, including Staubbach Falls by the village. Cable cars lead to car-free Mürren and the train to Wengen.
Photo: chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
East of town, the turquoise lake is lined with villages such as Iseltwald and Brienz, known for woodcarving. Boats sail from Interlaken Ost.
Photo: Oleg Yunakov, CC BY-SA 4.0
West of town, Lake Thun has castles at Oberhofen, Spiez and Thun. Boats sail from Interlaken West.
A Swiss Travel Pass covers many lake boats.
Photo: Carsten Steger, CC BY-SA 4.0
Swiss specialities include fondue, raclette, rösti and Älplermagronen (alpine macaroni with potatoes, cheese and apple sauce). International restaurants cater to the many visitors.
Supermarkets help keep costs down, and mountain huts serve simple meals on hiking routes.
Trains from Bern take under an hour, and there are direct services from other Swiss cities; Zurich Airport is about two hours away. Interlaken has two stations: West and Ost (East), the hub for Jungfrau trains.
Mountain railways, buses and lake boats link the region. Passes such as the Swiss Travel Pass or regional passes can reduce costs.
Switzerland uses the Swiss franc (CHF). Interlaken is expensive, and mountain excursions are a major cost.
Many guests get a free local transport card from their hotel.
Jungfraujoch tickets cost far more than other excursions.
Book adventure activities in advance in summer.
Three days lets you see the lakes and the mountains.
Take a boat on Lake Brienz to Iseltwald or Brienz, then ride the funicular up Harder Kulm for sunset.
Travel to the Jungfraujoch or, for a lower-cost alternative, to Grindelwald First or Männlichen for hiking.
Go on the clearest day.
Visit the Lauterbrunnen valley waterfalls and take the cable car to Mürren.
🛂 Entry rules: EES and ETIAS
Switzerland is in the Schengen area, which has two EU border systems for non-EU visitors.
EES (in force): since 10 April 2026 the EU’s Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors’ passport details, fingerprints and a photo the first time they enter the Schengen area, replacing passport stamps. Allow extra time at the border on your first trip; later crossings are quicker. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are not registered.
ETIAS (not yet running): a €20 online travel authorisation for visitors who don’t need a visa, such as UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens. It hasn’t started and no start date has been confirmed, so nobody can apply yet; ignore websites that offer to “pre-register” you for a fee.
Visa-free visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, not per country.
Official information: EU: Travel to Europe (EES & ETIAS) · Reviewed September 2026
Compare travel passes before buying individual tickets.
Check mountain webcams before high-altitude trips.
Use licensed operators.
Jungfrau trains leave from Interlaken Ost.
Quick answers for planning time in Interlaken.
By train from Interlaken Ost via Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen to Kleine Scheidegg, then on the Jungfrau Railway.
3,454m, the highest point in Europe reachable by train.
Yes, as a base for the Jungfrau region, the lakes and outdoor activities.
Three to four days to see the lakes and the main mountain areas.
June to September for hiking; December to March for winter sports.
Planning a wider trip? Our Switzerland travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.