Interlaken Section of Populated Place

Website: https://www.interlaken.ch

Interlaken is a Swiss town in the Bernese Oberland located between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, long established as a transport and tourism hub for the surrounding Alps. It acts as a base for excursions into the Jungfrau region and a centre for outdoor activities.

The town offers lake boat services, alpine rail and cableway connections, lakeside promenades such as the Hheweg, and adventure sports including paragliding and canyoning. Short trips take visitors to viewpoints like Harder Kulm and onward rail links to mountain destinations such as Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen.

Interlaken expanded as a resort in the 19th century after rail connections reached the area, and it has remained a primary staging point for mountain tourism in the Bernese Alps. Many of the town’s hotels and visitor services date from the classical era of Alpine tourism.

The town lies in the valley between the two lakes in the canton of Bern, with railway stations that provide frequent connections to regional and mountain rail services into the surrounding highlands.

• Gateway to Jungfrau: the town sits between two lakes - Lake Thun and Lake Brienz - and functions as the principal gateway to the Jungfrau mountain area.
• Best viewpoint: Harder Kulm, reached by funicular, stands at approximately 1,322 metres and is a short ride from the town centre for panoramic views.

What to See#

• Harder Kulm: A viewpoint reached by short funicular ride from Interlaken that sits at about 1,322 metres and provides panoramic views over Lake Thun, Lake Brienz and the Jungfrau massif.
• Hheweg: The town’s main promenade and commercial spine, running along the ridge above the town centre and lined with hotels, shops and viewpoints.
• Interlaken Ost and Interlaken West stations: Interlaken’s principal railway stations, a hub for regional and mountain services with connections toward the Jungfrau region and the Bernese Oberland.

Interlaken is served by Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). Take InterCity or InterRegio trains to Interlaken Ost or Interlaken West (direct or via Bern from Zurich/Geneva). The rail stations sit in the town center; most hotels and lakeside areas are a short walk or taxi from the stations.

• Use Interlaken Ost as your departure point for Jungfrau‑region trains (Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Jungfraujoch) and Interlaken West for connections toward Thun and Spiez-choosing the correct station saves transfer time.
• Visit viewpoints like Harder Kulm early in the morning or at sunset for quieter platforms and better light; taking the funicular out of peak midday hours reduces waits.
• Most visitors stick to the center-take a short lake boat from Interlaken to explore quieter stretches of Lake Brienz or Lake Thun for calm waters and fewer people.
• If you plan mountain excursions, book cable cars and popular experiences (Jungfraujoch, Schynige Platte) in advance or arrive at opening to avoid day‑tour crowds.