Best Things to Do in Interlaken (2026 Guide)

Interlaken is Switzerland’s adventure sports capital and one of Europe’s most spectacular mountain destinations. The best things to do in Interlaken are almost entirely outdoors: paragliding in tandem from Beatenberg above both lakes (the view of the Eiger-Monch-Jungfrau triumvirate from a paraglider is extraordinary), the Jungfraujoch cog railway (Europe’s highest railway station at 3,454 metres, with views of the Aletsch Glacier — the longest in the Alps — and the Sphinx Observatory), hiking to First above Grindelwald (cable car to 2,168 metres, then walking the Bachalpsee lake trail and the Eiger Trail), and canyoning in the Saxeten Gorge. In winter, the Jungfrau ski region (Grindelwald, Wengen, Mürren) is one of Switzerland’s finest — the Lauberhorn downhill race at Wengen is the most famous ski race in the world. Interlaken town itself is a tourism hub; the real character lies in the mountain villages above it.

Best time to visit

June-September for hiking, paragliding, and outdoor adventure: the highest trails open from late June, wildflowers carpet the Alpine meadows in July, and the Jungfraujoch is most likely to be cloud-free in early morning. July is the most crowded month (Swiss school holidays). December-March for skiing: the Jungfrau Region has 214 km of pistes. Spring (April-May) and autumn (October-November) are the quietest seasons; some mountain facilities close in the shoulder months. The Harder Kulm above Interlaken (cable car, 10 minutes) offers year-round views of both lakes and all three major peaks.

Getting around

Interlaken has two train stations (Interlaken Ost and West); Ost is the starting point for all mountain railways. The Swiss Travel Pass covers all Interlaken-area trains, boats, and buses. The Bernese Oberland pass covers mountain railways (Jungfraujoch is expensive separately: around CHF 130-180 depending on departure point). Boats on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz operate May-October and are included in the Swiss Travel Pass. No car is needed within the region; mountain villages (Grindelwald, Wengen, Mürren) are car-free and reached by train or cable car.

What to do

Jungfraujoch (Top of Europe) — The cogwheel train journey from Kleine Scheidegg through the Eiger’s north face to Europe’s highest railway station (3,454m): Sphinx Observatory with glacier views, the Ice Palace (tunnels carved inside the glacier), and the Plateau for walking on the glacier. Allow a full day; book in advance and go early for best visibility.

Paragliding — Tandem flights from Beatenberg above Interlaken run year-round (weather permitting): 15-30 minute flights with a qualified pilot, views of the Jungfrau range and both lakes. Multiple operators on the main street; Paragliding Interlaken and Air Sports are the largest.

Grindelwald & First — A mountain village 30 minutes by train with a cable car to First (2,168m): the Bachalpsee mountain lake walk (2-hour round trip from First, with Schreckhorn and Wetterhorn reflected in the lake), the First Cliff Walk (a steel walkway on the cliff face), and the Eiger Trail (3-hour walk from Eigergletscher station to Alpiglen).

Schilthorn (Piz Gloria) — Accessible from Stechelberg via a four-stage cable car: the 360-degree revolving restaurant Piz Gloria (featured in the James Bond film ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’, 1969) at 2,970 metres, with views of 200 Alpine peaks.

Lake Brienz — The turquoise lake east of Interlaken: boat to Brienz village and the Ballenberg Open Air Museum (Swiss rural architecture from 200 years of history, across 66 hectares), or steam train from Brienz to the Rothorn summit (a genuinely historic rack railway).