9 Top Spots Near Interlaken Switzerland

I went to Interlaken a few weeks ago for a quick weekend trip. I’ve been there several times during the 28 years I’ve lived in Switzerland. I wanted to return to this idyllic place in Autumn for the first time. I also wanted to see some new sights in the area.

Interlaken is a popular tourist spot and is situated between two lakes (Thunersee and Brienzersee) with its surrounding majestical mountains. It’s a great place to see some of Switzerland’s most beautiful scenery.

As usual, when I plan itineraries, I started my research by looking up places to see in Interlaken. I use Google and search hashtags (e.g., #interlaken) on Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok. When doing this, you will find the most popular posts with images or videos that grab your attention. I then look up the exact location of the places and start to plan my day-by-day itinerary based on where our hotel is located.

I would like to share my new discoveries with you as well as my other favorite places to visit in this area. I’ve compiled what I think are the 9 Top Spots near Interlaken, Switzerland!

If you would like my help to plan your trip to Interlaken, just send me an email at Jan@janadventures.com or check out my Itinerary Planning page for details!

Harder Kulm Mountain

I couldn’t believe how beautiful the view is from the top of this mountain! You can do a steep hike 2.5 hrs to the top or take a 10-minute funicular that goes up 730 meters to reach the top. We opted for the funicular this time.

The Harder Kulm funicular station is a short walk from the main train station in Interlaken. You will find the funicular entrance on a walking path on the other side of the river from Interlaken. The round-trip price was 34 CHF per person – not cheap but I believe worth it for the amazing view and easy access to the top of the mountain.

At the highest point (1,322 meters), you will find a spacious restaurant and plenty of outdoor terrace dining. If you want something light to eat or just a drink, there is a small kiosk next to the restaurant.

The coolest part of this trip was walking out on the structure that juts out from the mountain edge. If you are afraid of heights, you might not appreciate the plunging view. I loved the experience and took many pictures in every direction.

At the end of the platform, there is a large colorful cow statue – so appropriate for Switzerland! You can see the three famous mountains directly across from the platform – the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. The three mountains are usually covered with snow year-round.

Iseltwald

I had seen many aerial shots of this mystical lakeside town with its old castle on the edge. I wasn’t sure what it would look like from the ground but wanted to venture there during our last trip.

We stopped here one morning and walked around the tiny village. I learned that, unfortunately, you cannot access the Schloss Seeberg castle. It is now private property and apparently a rehabilitation center.

It is possible to walk along the water edge and get some great views looking back at the ornate building. From this side of the town, you can also see the small island called Snail Island.

Iseltwald is probably pumping in the summer months with locals and tourists on boats, canoes, and standup paddles on the lake. There is not much to do here in the colder months except walk by the lake and do some hiking on the mountain. The town is very scenic and worth a quick stop.

St. Beatus Caves

I came across this spot while researching new places to visit and was amazed that I hadn’t seen or heard of it before! This tourist spot is quite impressive, inside and outside these caves.

The St. Beatus caves are named after the monk St. Beatus who lived in the caves in 100 AD. Legend has it that the monk fought off a dragon who plunged into Lake Thun below.

We walked 1 km to the end of the cave while stopping to read about the stalactites and stalagmites, each with an appropriate name. There are many underground waterfalls and lakes throughout the cave. If you are claustrophobic, this activity might not appeal to you. It was a bit eery walking further and further into the deep rock cave.

At the end of your self-guided tour, you can stop at the restaurant on-site to enjoy the view over the lake.

Thun

I had never been to this town before last month but I will definitely return. It is one of the cutest towns I’ve seen in Switzerland. Thun is situated on the far west end of Lake Thun and is a vibrant colorful village.

We only spent a couple of hours here walking around the canals and having lunch outside by the water. Next time I come, I would like to visit the castle.

There are a couple of old covered bridges with waterfalls and swans swimming in the canals.

This town is a photographer’s delight with its reflecting waters, colorful buildings, and bridges. I highly recommend a stop here while in the Interlaken area.

Giessbach Falls

This is one of my favorite places near Interlaken. I’ve been to the falls three different times with visitors. I mentioned this area in my post called ‘Want to Know the Secret Spots in Switzerland?’. 

You can reach the hotel and falls by car or by a boat ride on Lake Brienz. The boat stops at the bottom of the falls and you can take a 4-minute funicular ride up the 100 meters to the hotel. The Giessbach Funicular ride will cost you 10 CHF round-trip.

One other way to reach the waterfalls is by foot in hiking trails, one of those starting in the lakeside town of Iseltwald. I’ve never done the walk there but may try that the next time I go.

 

The Grand Hotel Giessbach was built in 1874 and is situated on the steep hillside with jaw-dropping views onto the turquoise blue lake and surrounding mountains. 

The hotel and grounds are a perfect place for weddings or special occasions. Even if you go just for the day, try to reserve at the restaurant for a scenic lunch. We’ve eaten there every time and it is the highlight to have a nice meal on the outdoor terrace positioned between the lake and the waterfalls.

Lauterbrunnen 

There are many waterfalls near Lauterbrunnen and a very popular one in the small town. As you approach the village, you can see the water pouring down the vertical mountainside from the road.

The name ‘Lauter Brunnen’ means ‘many fountains’ in German, quite appropriate as there are 72 waterfalls in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. The most visited site is the Staubbach Falls which plunges 300 meters from an overhanging rock face. This is one of the highest free-falling waterfalls in Europe.

I recommend stopping here and walking up to the Staubbach Falls to take it all in! 

Grindelwald and Jungfrau 

I’ve taken many of my visitors to this popular location. Grindelwald is a small mountain town that offers many activities and excursions.

From Grindelwald, you can take a cogwheel train up to the Jungfraujoch station, which is the highest railway station in Europe at 3,454 meters (11,332 ft).

After you pass through a 7 km tunnel in the mountain, you will arrive at the top where you can visit an ice cave and look out onto the deep valleys and glaciers below.

The full train journey from Grindelwald is quite expensive (150-170 CHF per person) but could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience to go to the top of Europe while visiting Switzerland. Of course, if the weather is the least bit cloudy, you don’t want to spend all that money to go up and only see as far as your hand in front of you.

If you want to spend less money and still experience the high mountains above Grindelwald, you can choose to take the train to the lower station of Kleine Scheidegg. This stop offers great views and a restaurant.

If you like to hike, you could save even more money by walking up and/or down the mountain. I chose this option once in winter by taking the train up and then walking back down to Grindelwald on snowshoes. It was not difficult and provided a beautiful descent down the mountain!

If you are looking for a nice hotel in Grindelwald with great views and a hot outdoor jacuzzi pool, I would recommend where we stayed, the Hotel Belvedere Grindelwald.

Schilthorn

Another alternative for seeing the Jungfrau mountain range is to go to the top of the Schilthorn, a mountain summit situated at 2,970 meters (9,744 ft).

If you drive all the way into the valley past Lauterbrunnen, you will eventually arrive at the end of the road in a town called Stechelberg. To get to the Schilthorn from the valley floor, a series of cable cars must be taken.

You will start the gondola ride from Stechelberg and then onto Gimmelwald and Mürren. From Mürren, you will take another cable car to Birg, the final change before the Schilthorn. The price of this round trip is approximately 100 CHF.

I took my mother here many years ago, and other than her being afraid of the steep ride up the mountain, she loved it. We had a nice lunch at the top and saw spectacular views from the snowcapped summit.

The panoramic revolving restaurant at the summit is called the Piz Gloria and was the location of the 1969 James Bond movie ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’. The restaurant revolves 360 degrees in 45 minutes. The view includes the mountains of Titlis, Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau, and Mont Blanc.

Wengen 

One more spot to see in the area of Lauterbrunnen is the scenic hillside town of Wengen. I spent a weekend here visiting a friend several years ago.

Wengen is a resort town sitting at 1,274 m (4,180 ft) and is a 15-minute train ride from Lauterbrunnen. The town can only be reached by train so there are no cars to spoil the typical swiss village ambiance.

Wengen only has 1,300 year-round residents but jumps up to a population of 5,000 during summer months and 10,000 during the winter. Wengen is a popular ski resort and hosts the Lauberhorn ski races of the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in January. If you like hiking or skiing, this is a special place to do just that.

Summary

So, did you learn about some new spots in the Interlaken area? There are surely more places to discover, but this will give you enough fun for a few days when visiting this part of Switzerland.

Save the below pin to your Pinterest when you are ready to plan your trip! And do let me know if I can help you when the time comes!

If you are interested in other great ideas on what to see and do in Switzerland, check out my other posts!

• Best Gorge Hikes in Switzerland
• Want to know the Secret Spots in Switzerland?
• Cool Things to See in Flims Switzerland
• Spring in Switzerland
• Biking the Heart Route in Switzerland
• 9 Activities Not To Miss in Switzerland
• 3 Day Itinerary in Ticino Switzerland
• 5 Lakes Walk in Zermatt Switzerland – a Must-Do!
• 9 Top Spots near Interlaken Switzerland
• E-Biking in Switzerland
• Discover Adelboden Switzerland in Summer
• What to See in Meiringen Switzerland
• Unexpected Excursions in Lugano
• Best of Appenzell Switzerland
• Awesome Autumn in the Swiss Vineyards
• Schynigge Platte Things to Do
• 2 Days in Basel Switzerland
• Pizol 5 Lakes Hike
• Switzerland Destination Page

If you are looking for assistance to plan your next trip, I am here for YOU! I love to plan travel itineraries for myself and others. For more details on how I provide this service, please check out my Itinerary Planning page and drop me a quick email at jan@janadventures.com to get started!

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