There is literally so much to do in
Chapters
There is literally so much to do in Interlaken that we did something (often more than one thing!) new every day for a week and still had things we wished we had time for! Never have I been somewhere in the world that was just so stunning, alive with youthful energy and full of so many options that are so easy to come by.
We walked up to the paragliding hut one night and just booked in for the next morning, adventure is literally around every corner if you want it, and yet it is so serene and beautiful. Surrounded by the Bernese Alps and the turquoise lakes of Breinz and Thun it’s almost like being in a dream!
For us, this week we spent in Interlaken is what life should be all about, full of fun, adventure and simple pleasures! Interlaken is one of those places which will be forever in our hearts, where ever we go we will always have a longing to return as we do with New York or Tokyo…and one day we most certainly will.
Our Favourite Backpacks
Osprey Farpoint/ Fairview
Here’s a guide to the most amazing little town in the world! A microcosm of activity, a bubble of energy, an island on its own away from the rest of the world. A place where the only rules are to live every day to the fullest, a place for renegades!
To Do in Interlaken
Canyoning
Canyoning is where you follow the path of a river as it runs through a canyon, rappelling, jumping, sliding and swimming its course. Interlaken is one of the best places in the world to experience this thrilling adventure sport. It even has 3 different canyons which offer different difficulty levels! We chose the extreme “Chli Schliere” and had a day we will never forget in this stunningly beautiful and challenging sculpted canyon.
Read all about our adventure here:
Canyoning: Chli Schliere
SafetyWing Travel Insurance
SafetyWing
Travel insurance is one of those annoying things that no one likes to think about, let alone pay for, when you’re planning your next trip. It can also be bloody annoying as a backpacker/long-term traveller to find affordable coverage that meets the itinerary-less lifestyle (*cough* World Nomads *cough*).
So instead of getting subpar travel insurance, now we just always go with SafetyWing. It takes like 5-10 minutes to purchase your policy and essentially functions as a monthly subscription plan with near-global coverage!
White Water Rafting
Another must-do in Interlaken for the adventure sports enthusiast is White Water Rafting. Not only will you experience one of the most thrilling and wild rides in your life but it will be in the glacial melt waters drained directly from the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau!! Once again all confidence and skill levels are provided for but for us, the grade 4 lutschine river was the adrenaline rush we were after!
Read all about our adventure here:
White Water Rafting in Interlaken!
Via Ferrata
Via Ferrata is an extreme hike where you follow a route of precarious staples thousands of feet above the valley below, cross swaying wire bridges and experience a level of exposure not usually available unless you are up an alpine climb! The Via Ferrata which runs along the Lauterbrunnen valley is not only an amazing adrenaline rush but one of the most stunning places in the world to find yourself hanging by your hangs 2000ft up!
Read all about our adventure here:
Via Ferrata Lauterbrunnen!
Schilthorn
Sitting in the middle of the impressive Bernese Alps this mountain of just under 10,000ft offers amazing views of the infamous Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau as well an exhilarating cable car ride up to its rocky peak. Standing up here you feel like you are on the top of the world and the view will stay with you forever. A truly breathtaking experience!
Read all about our adventure here:
Book Your Accommodation
Booking.com
Over the course of the last 10+ years of travelling, we’ve used Booking.com to book probably around 90% of our accommodation. These days you can book anything from a luxury resort to budget hotels and even hostels and rentals similar to Airbnb.
Plus, if you make an account, you get access to their ‘Genius’ loyalty program… and DISCOUNTS. Everything is laid out super easy so you know what you’re getting, and honestly, I’m just a really big fan of the platform over other major providers.
Paragliding
Another bucket list item to be ticked off, and what better place to do it! Running off a steep hill and flying right over Interlaken itself this is the ultimate rush. With stunning views of the twin lakes of the town, the alpine mountains, traditional houses and the turquoise river meandering through Interlaken you will be left speechless!
Read all about our adventure here:
Paragliding over the Swiss Alps
Other Adventure sports
Interlaken is the adventure sports capital of the world, not only can you go canyoning, rafting, paragliding and on the Via Ferrata but there are countless other activities to try. Skydiving, Bungee jumping, canyon swings, high ropes, kayaking, surfing on the lakes, helicopter rides, skiing and Snowboarding in the winter…the only limit is your bravery!! We could return to Interlaken every year and still have a new activity to try, after you visit your bucket list is going to need some new additions!
Harder Kulm
The house mountain of Interlaken and walkable from the town centre, you can either choose to hike up this challenging but doable mountain or take the funicular! Whichever way you get up there the journey is an adventure rewarded by an amazing view of Interlaken and the surrounding mountains and valleys. From up here you will really be able to appreciate the beauty and vastness of the area you find yourself in!
Hiking
Of course, in the mountains, there is always great hiking to be had. Whether you are an experienced alpine mountaineer or a casual walker there are routes for all fitness and ability levels. From the gentle slopes of “First” to the challenging hike up the amazing Schilthorn or even tackling the Eiger, there is something for everyone! Walking through fields of wildflowers with the sound of cowbells and trickling streams, the warm sun and deep blue lakes. Wonderful!
Our Favourite Travel Camera & Lens
Sony A7IV & Sony FE 24-105 f4
The Sony a7IV is the perfect travel camera. Offering incredible image quality, great portability and a varied lens selection.
Our favourite travel lens is the Sony FE 24-105 f4. it’s a great all-rounder, super sharp and a perfect focal range for travel.
Lakes/ Swim/ Kayak
Interlaken is given its name due to the twin lakes of Thun and Breinz that flank it. Both drain from the huge mountains and glaciers that surround the town. The deep and bright turquoise colour of each lake is like nothing I have ever seen in my life before, the shades of blue almost unreal. Both lakes are not only wonderful to walk around but also in the summer make for a lovely swim, kayak or boat trip.
Read more:
Beautiful lakes of Interlaken
Cable Cars
Being in the mountains the whole region is covered in cable cars, and some places are only accessible by this mode of transport. Not only do these gondolas take you to come amazing locations high up in the Swiss Alps but the ride itself is often unforgettable. Some of the cable routes are steep and thrilling in their own right!
Lauterbrunnen, Murren, Breinz
Surrounding Interlaken are numerous little towns and villages which offer a quaint and traditional view of the Swiss Alps. Places such as Murren are totally traffic free and the picturesque streets a joy to explore. Wooden houses lined with colourful flowers, flags and carvings with unforgettable mountainous views as a backdrop. These make for a refreshing change of pace and a glimpse into the Bernese culture.
Brienz was also a firm favourite of ours and it is only 13 miles away from Interlaken, right at the other end of Lake Brienz! This wonderful little village is much more sedate than Interlaken and offers tranquil and beautiful surroundings as well as ornately decorated wooden houses right by the lake.
Wander the town
Interlaken town itself is also a wonderful place to explore, it is filled with traditional wooden Swiss architecture, lakes, rivers, and parks and is surrounded by breathtaking mountains. Walking around the town you really get a feel for the energy and culture here, you can call for a cheese Fondue, make your own chocolate or hang with the crowds of adrenaline junkies who venture here year-round…all this whilst in a town which looks like a real-life Christmas market! Interlaken really does fulfil all those dreams you had of Swiss Alpine towns!
Trummelbach Falls
The amazing power of the Trummelbach Falls will both scare you and leave you in awe. The glacial waterfall has carved deep caverns down the side of the valley into which it drains. Over 20,000 litres of water a second roar through here and the noise is deafening! Exploring these falls is a pretty amazing experience and also hardly costs a thing!
Read all about our adventure here:
Jungfrau
Although we chose on this occasion to skip a trip up Jungfrau as it was too expensive for us (and we preferred the mountaintop experience of Schilthorn) this is undeniably one of the main attractions of the region. Many thousands of people flock over to Interlaken to take the Jungfrau Cogwheel train up to this glacial landscape high in the mountains.
Nightlife and Atmosphere
One of the things we loved about Interlaken was the fact that it was full of so many like-minded people, from backpackers to adrenaline seekers inspiring people are everywhere to be found. We ended up speaking to some awesome people, some travelling the world, some backpacking around Europe, and others who live in Interlaken in the summer and travel for the winter. Guides, adventurers, travellers and fellow “normal life” escapees make the atmosphere one of youthful exuberance and energy!
Where To Stay In Interlaken
There are many hotels, hostels and guest houses in Interlaken. Some, especially along the main stretch, will set you back a small fortune. The most expensive areas of Interlaken are generally inhabited by rich Arabs or groups of Chinese tourists. But if you move slightly further out, the town itself isn’t all that big, you enter the backpacker’s district. This area has a range of awesome hostels filled with those travellers and adventurers mentioned above, the huts for outdoor activities are all also located up here and many of the guides hang around in the bars and clubs up here too.
The two best hostels are:
Funny Farm:
Large old hotel converted into a hostel, includes cheap breakfast and swimming pool!
Balmers:
Right next to the Outdoor Interlaken hut and had its own, and possibly the most famous in Interlaken, amazing nightclub!
Book Your Accommodation
Booking.com
Over the course of the last 10+ years of travelling, we’ve used Booking.com to book probably around 90% of our accommodation. These days you can book anything from a luxury resort to budget hotels and even hostels and rentals similar to Airbnb.
Plus, if you make an account, you get access to their ‘Genius’ loyalty program… and DISCOUNTS. Everything is laid out super easy so you know what you’re getting, and honestly, I’m just a really big fan of the platform over other major providers.
Getting There/ Transport
Interlaken isn’t served by any airports as it is in the middle of the mountains.
The town however has a train station which is well-connected to all major cities in Switzerland.
The nearest major city is the capital, Bern. However, as a city and an airport, it is not the best connected but is only an hour away.
Zurich is probably the closest well-connected airport to Interlaken. It takes around 2 hours by train or 1.5 hours to drive.
We actually flew into Geneva and drove to Interlaken. It is a little further out but the airport is connected to Manchester by the budget airline EasyJet and so worked out cheaper for us (we planned on renting a car for the trip anyway!)
The journey from Geneva is 2hr 20mins by car
and 3hrs by train (connecting in Bern)
Interlaken is very doable without a car as the public transport systems are well-connected and included trains, buses and cable cars.
However, due to the number of things we wanted to get done in our time here as well as our flights from Geneva and planned trip over to Liechtenstein, we decided to rent a car. One of the things we loved was driving through the Swiss countryside and stopping whenever we wanted to take it all in!
Interlaken itself is small enough to walk around, you also get a free transport card for the town (as you do in other Swiss towns and cities) to use on the buses and get a discount on the funicular. Bike hire is also available from many places for reasonable prices.
Other awesome places to visit in Switzerland!
So there you have it, Interlaken, a picture-perfect alpine town which fulfilled not only all our dreams we had of Switzerland and the Alps but many of our lifetime ambitions too. The turquoise lakes, snow-capped mountains and endless adventures make this a place we truly fell in love with. Some other places we loved in Switzerland are Lucerne and Basel.
Have you ever been to Interlaken?
SafetyWing Travel Insurance
SafetyWing
Travel insurance is one of those annoying things that no one likes to think about, let alone pay for, when you’re planning your next trip. It can also be bloody annoying as a backpacker/long-term traveller to find affordable coverage that meets the itinerary-less lifestyle (*cough* World Nomads *cough*).
So instead of getting subpar travel insurance, now we just always go with SafetyWing. It takes like 5-10 minutes to purchase your policy and essentially functions as a monthly subscription plan with near-global coverage!
Organise Your Trip Here
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Yo, I’m Nic, one-half of The Roaming Renegades.
I’m an adventure (and halloumi) obsessed traveller with a passion for hiking mountains, exploring cities, watching Arsenal win, moshing out to Rammstein in random European fields and getting hopelessly lost on a motorbike somewhere in Asia!
I’ve explored 80 countries, lived in Australia and New Zealand, and spent months wandering Southeast Asia, south America and Eastern Europe all while trying to avoid growing up!
Did it work, I dunno, but my back hurts and I still collect Pokemon cards! Who wants in?!
Hello!
It looks like Queenstown, NZ has a rival 🙂 I don’t know I never realized before how cool interlaken is.. thank you for sharing 🙂
Queenstown is somewhere we can’t wait to visit too, love these places so full of adventure. We didn’t know about it for so long either!! Thanks! 🙂
Wow looks like an amazing adventure! I also loved Interlaken – but I visited with a 2-year old and 5-month old so it was a bit of a different experience! Maybe next time we can be a bit more adventurous.
Ahh yeah I imagine it was a different experience with kids, but still what a wonderful place to take them!
If you take the trip up the cog wheel train to Jungfrau Joch you can hike down parts of the way if you wish.
I know there is a lot of hiking but didn’t know you could hike down from there. Thanks!
Hiking is one of my fav parts definately! Nature in Swiss is just so stunning! And you got a great shirt Nic 😀 Love it!
Yeah it’s good to get out into nature and see it so close up! Ha ha, thanks! 🙂
What a fantastic adventure guide! And wow it really looks like you had an amazing time of fun and adrenaline! I’d love to do all those activities except white water rafting…that still is terrifying to me! 🙂
Thanks! Yeah we had the most amazing time over there, such a great place! That was the one I was a little worried about once I had seen the river but they really do take good care of you!
I am planning a trip to Interlaken this summer and Hardergrat is high on my list of hikes to do. The instructions I’ve found on the train we need to get back are a bit confusing. Did you hike that one while you were there?
Hey, We didn’t go up there, sorry about that. Hope you figure the route out.
Your travel blog is a source of inspiration and cultural enlightenment. Your deep appreciation for the places you visit shines through in your writing. I love how you delve into the local customs, traditions, and flavors, allowing readers to truly immerse themselves in each destination. Thank you for broadening my travel horizons!