Interlaken Day Trip: Where to Go & What to See (+Map & Tips)
Are you thinking of visiting Interlaken in Switzerland and wondering how to plan your Interlaken day trip? Or maybe you’re looking for suggestions on what to see and do in Interlaken in one day or a sample Interlaken 1 day itinerary?
This article features all the nicest places you can visit near Interlaken and will give you a good idea of how to spend a day in Interlaken. Find out!
TIP: If you only have one day for Interlaken in your Switzerland itinerary and don’t know where to start or don’t feel like planning everything, there are also nice day tours that you can consider instead. The most popular tours depart either from Zurich or from Lucerne and visit Interlaken and Grindelwald on the same day.
Visiting Interlaken – OVERVIEW
What to Know Before You Visit Interlaken
The first thing you may want to know when planning to visit Interlaken is that the town itself isn’t big. You can easily see all there is to see in Interlaken town in just an hour or so.
The second thing you should know is that Interlaken – just as the name suggests – is located between two amazingly beautiful lakes.
These lakes and the proximity to many natural landmarks offer countless sightseeing options when visiting Interlaken… However, it might get really overwhelming trying to decide where to go. Especially if you only have one day in Interlaken…
There is so much to see and do in the Interlaken area that you could create many different itineraries. And I’m not even talking about visiting Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Grindelwald, or Jungfraujoch…
This article focuses solely on visiting Interlaken town and the lakes, but if you have at least one day extra, I highly recommend visiting the nearby Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe as well.
We spent a wonderful day in Interlaken this summer. Below, you can read about our experience when visiting Interlaken and how we planned our Interlaken 1 day itinerary.
Further below you can also find the best alternative suggestions for a one day itinerary in Interlaken. As you will see, there is a lot to choose from!
At the bottom of this post, you can find a map and practical information for planning your visit to Interlaken.
Lake Brienz vs. Lake Thun (Brienzersee or Thunersee)
When researching what to see and where to go in Interlaken, you’ll find the two lakes – Brienzersee and Thunersee – mentioned all the time. It’s because a boat trip on one of the two lakes is an absolute must-do in Interlaken! Since the lakes are big and have more sightseeing options than you could possibly see in a day, you’ll have to decide which of the two lakes – Lake Brienz or Lake Thun – you will want to see.
Good to know: It is also possible to tour both lakes on the same day. While I don’t think it’s a good idea to try to see it all in a very short time, I understand that some people want to make the absolute most out of their Interlaken day trip. So if you really want to see the two lakes in one day, you can. In that case, I recommend that you start as early as possible and plan just one or two stops along the route.
There are regular boat trips on both lakes and they both have something different to offer. If you decide to visit just one lake, it might be hard to choose which one to explore. Here’s some info that might help you decide.
Round trip on the Brienzersee is about 2,5 hours, whereas round trip on the Thunersee, is about 3,5 – 4 hours, depending on the boat. You can choose to hop off and hop back on the boat at every stop along the way.
Boats for Brienzersee depart at Interlaken Ost, just near the Interlaken railway station. Harder Kulm funicular is also located just nearby. Whereas boats for Thunersee depart from Interlaken West, on the other side of town.
Both lakes can be visited the whole year-round, but in winter, there are just very few boat rides. For example, in December, Brienzersee boats only run on Sundays, whereas Thunersee has just one daily departure (two on Sundays).
We were told that a boat ride on Thunersee is a bit more varied than on Brienzersee and there is more to see. It’s mostly known for its castles: Schloss Oberhofen, Schloss Hünegg, Schloss Thun, Schloss Schadau, and Schloss Spiez.
You can visit (some of) the castles by hopping off and back on the Thunersee boat, but keep in mind that you’ll probably need the whole day for this and will be able to visit two or maybe three castles.
Brienzersee is a bit smaller and there are fewer attractions along the way. However, it’s really beautiful and more tranquil. It also has the amazing Giessbach Waterfall that’s well worth a visit.
Lake Thun is still on our bucket list, but for our Interlaken day trip this time, we opted to explore Lake Brienz. Since we visited Interlaken for just one day and wanted to see the town, visit Harder Kulm, and tour one of the lakes, this looked like a more relaxing option. And it was – we had an amazing day in Interlaken area. Further below, you can read about our experience.
Interlaken Day Trip – Our Experience & One Day Itinerary
If you are looking for a nice way to spend a day in Interlaken, then I can really recommend a combination of visiting the town, touring one of the lakes, the villages, and enjoying the views from Harder Kulm.
I have to admit that we didn’t know how to best spend one day in Interlaken and so we asked local guides for the best recommendations. The trip we ended up doing in Interlaken was recommended to us by two different people and it turned out to be a great choice. The scenery along Lake Brienz is amazing and this itinerary has lots of variation.
Below you can find our detailed one day Interlaken itinerary that includes visiting Harder Kulm – Top of Interlaken, a boat trip on Lake Brienz (Brienzersee), a visit to the beautiful Giessbach Waterfalls, an easy lakeshore hike to the very picturesque village Iseltwald, and Interlaken town itself. Read on to find out how to see it all in one (relaxing) day.
This is a relatively easy Interlaken day trip that starts and ends in Interlaken town center. Further below, you can find some tips for alternative Interlaken itineraries that also start and end in Interlaken. Take a look!
Harder Kulm – Top of Interlaken
We started our day in Interlaken with a short ride on a steep funicular to Harder Kulm. This is one of the most popular Interlaken attractions. In my opinion, visiting Harder Kulm is one of the best things to do in Interlaken!
Harder Kulm is a viewpoint at 1,321 m height overlooking the towns of Interlaken and Unterseen and the two lakes of Interlaken – Thunersee and Brienzersee. The view is amazing and well worth visiting.
No matter how much time you have in Interlaken, make sure to go up to Harder Kulm!
Because it’s one of the best things to do in Interlaken and because it’s so easy to visit, Harder Kulm can get extremely busy. Especially if you come here in summer. We visited at 10 am on a weekday in August and it was already quite lively at the top…
On top of the mountain, there is a souvenir shop and a restaurant with a beautiful terrace. Phenomenal views included. This is a very popular place for sunset, but if you want the views without the crowds, it’s best to come early in the morning.
Practical info: Harder Kulm can be best reached by the funicular that’s located across the river, just near the railway station in the center of Interlaken. The funicular ride takes 10 minutes with departures every 30 minutes… It’s only operating from approximately mid-April till mid-December. In season, you can book your tickets for this funicular here.
You could also hike to Harder Kulm. It’s a short hike of just 4km (2,5 miles), but it’s very steep. It takes about 2.5-3 hours one way. You can choose to ride the funicular one way and hike back, but that would take you a good part of the day.
Boat ride on Lake Brienz
A boat trip on Lake Brienz is a nice experience in itself – the azure blue water and the surrounding mountains are a treat for the eye. Colorful picturesque villages along the lake make the scenery complete.
Accidentally, the boat we took was a historic paddle steamer. It goes a bit slower than the modern boats, but it’s an experience in itself. It was fun to see that some passengers were even dressed in Belle Époque-style clothing…
Below you can read about the places along the lake which we chose to include in our Interlaken one day itinerary after visiting Harder Kulm. Take a look!
Giessbach Waterfalls
Following advice from the locals, we took a boat from Interlaken to Giessbach where we disembarked. This part of the journey takes approximately 1 hour.
Giessbach is just a tiny place by the lake, there isn’t even a village here, just the beautiful historic Grandhotel Giessbach with a restaurant. You can have lunch on the terrace of the hotel or have a picnic on a beautiful lawn next to the hotel, as most people do.
When you arrive in Giessbach by boat, you’re at the lake level which is much lower than the hotel or the waterfall. The easiest way to get to the top is to take a steep funicular. A ride on this historic Giessbach funicular is an attraction in itself! Kids loved it and it saved us a steep walk uphill.
The main reason to visit Giessbach is the famous Giessbach waterfalls. It’s a really impressive waterfall, one of the best ones I’ve seen in Switzerland, that tumbles down in 14 stages till it reaches the lake below.
My pictures don’t do it justice because the sun made it impossible to get a really good shot of all the waterfalls at once, so you’ll just have to take my word for it. Giessbach waterfalls are really beautiful!
It is also possible to walk behind the Giessbach waterfall and that makes a visit even more special! Prepare to get a bit wet – no big deal, just a refreshing splash of water on a warm summer day.
Unless you go hiking in the area, you don’t need more than 30-45 minutes to visit Giessbach, maybe a bit longer if you also have lunch there.
Afterwards, you have several options. You can take a boat to Brienz, take a boat back to Interlaken, or to one of the smaller towns along the lake (more suggestions below).
We opted for yet another option and walked to the nearby village Iseltwald, following the scenic hiking path along the shore of the lake. From there we would take a boat back to Interlaken. Read on!
Giessbach to Iseltwald – Lakeshore Trail
There are several hiking paths connecting Giessbach with Iseltwald. The shortest, the easiest, and the most scenic one is the trail that follows the shore of the lake (so not the one higher up the hill that goes through the forest). It should take you 45-60 minutes to walk between the two places.
Now, I have to be honest with you, the lakeshore trail between Giessbach and Iseltwald is a really nice walk, but it’s not comparable to any other amazing hiking trails in the nearby mountains. So it’s something that is nice to do if you have an hour or two to spare when visiting Interlaken, but it’s definitely not a must if you are short on time.
The first part of this hike is quite boring, actually, but then about halfway, it gets really beautiful. The hiking trail follows a stunning coastline with the azure blue lake on one side and impressive rock formations on the other side. The closer you get to Iseltwald, the better the scenery… Take a look at the pictures below!
Iseltwald
Iseltwald itself is a very picturesque village. In summer and weather permitting, you can go swimming in the lake, rent a boat or a kayak, and spend at least half a day just enjoying the ‘beach’.
We made this day trip to Interlaken at the beginning of August, but it wasn’t really swimming weather that day. Our kids took a quick dip in the water and quickly came out. Swimming at the mountain lakes in Switzerland is really only doable with air temperatures of at least 25° C and lots of sunshine…
Because of this short swim, we missed our boat from Iseltwald to Interlaken. This meant that we had about an hour extra in the village. Luckily, Iseltwald is not the worst place to be stuck in for a few hours, that’s for sure. We found a beautiful restaurant terrace near the harbor and enjoyed some drinks and ice cream. When the next boat came, we didn’t feel like leaving…
From Iseltwald, it takes about 35-45 minutes to get back to Interlaken, depending on which boat you take. In summer, there are boats running every hour during the day.
We have been to the Interlaken area so many times in the past but never heard of Iseltwald or Giessbach before.
I’m really glad that this time we took some time to explore these places. They are both really nice, so typically Swiss, and have little crowds. In any case, not much compared to the busy Interlaken town itself or the nearby towns of the Jungfrau region…
Interlaken
There isn’t that much to do in Interlaken town itself, but it’s a very pleasant place. Beautiful buildings, grand hotels built over a century ago, busy little streets lined with shops and restaurants, flowers everywhere, and horse-pulled carriages with tourists… This is what you can expect to find in Interlaken.
We decided to take a walk in town, have a drink, and just take it easy. It was the perfect way to end our day in the Interlaken area. Afterwards, we took a train back to our hotel in Wengen.
So, this is how our Interlaken day trip looked like. Below you can find some alternative recommendations for things you could do when visiting Interlaken. Further below, you can find four different Interlaken one day itinerary suggestions. Read on!
Alternative Sightseeing Options for Visiting Interlaken
As already mentioned, there are so many different ways to spend your day in Interlaken. Below are a few alternative suggestions for you.
Interlaken – Lake Brienz – Giessbach – Brienz
If you are not keen to go hiking or swimming in the lake, we have an alternative suggestion for your day from Interlaken.
In the morning, follow our trip itinerary up to Giessbach. After you visit the waterfall, get back down to the lake and take the next boat to Brienz. That way you can see the entire lake and also pay a visit to Brienz town.
If you take a boat all the way to Brienz, it will take you about 1,5 hours to get back to Interlaken. This would be another good option for your Interlaken day trip.
Lake Brienz – Giessbach – Interlaken – Thunersee
First, follow the same itinerary and visit Harder Kulm in the morning. Then take a boat on Lake Brienz and visit the waterfalls (same as above).
Then afterwards, take a boat from Giessbach back to Interlaken. Have lunch on the boat (to save time) and then take a boat trip on Thunersee in the afternoon.
If you want to see both lakes, I advise to start your day in Interlaken as early as possible and take the very first boat in the morning. Otherwise, just pick one stop on each lake and maybe don’t travel the entire length.
Interlaken – Thunersee
Thunersee is the second one of the two lakes of Interlaken. Just like at Brienzersee, there are also boat tours on Thunersee. In addition, there is a beach area close to the hotel Neuhaus in Unterseen as well. In summer, it’s a busy place…
Just as with Brienzersee, you could spend the whole day just exploring Lake Thun. There are some really nice castles along the shores of Thunersee: Oberhofen Castle, Hünegg Castle, Thun Castle, Schadau Castle, and Spiez Castle. If you take a boat, you can hop off and back on and visit several of these castles along the way.
Thun town is also a very nice place to visit if you have more time…
Good to know: If you decide to visit Thun, you should know that it’s also possible to return to Interlaken (or wherever you’re staying at) by train. This is a faster option than the boat.
Interlaken 1 Day Itinerary Suggestions
As you can see, there are countless ways to plan a day in Interlaken. To make it easier for you to plan your own day trip to Interlaken, I created some sample itineraries based on the suggestions above.
Pick any of these itineraries and you’ll have a great day in Interlaken area. Alternatively, use this for inspiration and create your own unique Interlaken day trip.
To not complicate things even more, all my suggested itineraries for one day in Interlaken start and end in Interlaken town. Take a look!
Option 1: Harder Kulm – Giessbach – Iseltwald – Interlaken (our itinerary)
- 10 AM Harder Kulm
- 11.07 AM Boat from Interlaken to Giessbach (Brienzersee)
- Visit Giessbach waterfall and have lunch in Giessbach
- Hike from Giessbach to Iseltwald
- Swim in Iseltwald
- 4.08 PM Boat from Iseltwald to Interlaken
- Interlaken town
Option 2: Harder Kulm – Giessbach – Brienz – Interlaken
- Harder Kulm (or leave it for in the evening)
- Boat from Interlaken to Giessbach
- Visit Giessbach waterfall
- Boat from Giessbach to Brienz
- Visit Brienz
- Boat from Brienz to Interlaken
- Interlaken town
Option 3: Brienzersee – Thunersee – Harder Kulm – Interlaken
- Boat trip on Brienzersee without any stops
- Lunch on the boat or in Interlaken
- Boat trip on Thunersee with 1 stop
- Harder Kulm
- Interlaken
Option 4: Brienzersee – Giessbach – Thunersee – Harder Kulm – Interlaken
- Boat from Interlaken to Giessbach
- Visit Giessbach waterfall
- Boat from Giessbach to Interlaken
- Boat trip on Thunersee
- Interlaken and Harder Kulm
Map of Interlaken Area
To help you get a better idea of where all these places are located, I created this map indicating all the places in the Interlaken area mentioned in this article. Take a look below.
How to use this map: Use your computer mouse (or fingers) to zoom in or out. Click on the icons to get more information about each place. Click the arrow on the top left corner for the index. Click the star next to the map’s title to add it to your Google Maps account. To view the saved map on your smartphone or PC, open Google Maps, click the menu and go to ‘Your Places’/’Maps’. If you want to print the map or see it in a bigger window, click on ‘View larger map’ in the top right corner.
Where to Stay
Interlaken has many nice hotels and other accommodation options. If you are looking for a really nice place to stay in town, one of the best luxury hotels is the historic Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa.
Here are some of the best-rated Interlaken hotels for all budgets:
$$$$ The HEY HOTEL.
$$$ Hotel Interlaken.
$$ Hotel Lötschberg.
TIP: Using the map below, you can compare hotels, apartments, and short-term rental accommodations in Interlaken. Simply insert your travel dates and group size, and you’ll see what’s available for your stay. Check it out!
Practical Information for Visiting Interlaken
- Boat: Here you can find timetables for boat trips on Brienzersee as well as Thunresee. On this website, you’ll also find more information about ticket prices. The holders of the Swiss Pass can travel on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz for free (in the same class as your pass).
- Tickets: If you have a Jungfrau Travel Pass of 5 days or more, boat tickets for both lakes, as well as Harder Kulm funicular fees are included. Since we were staying in the region longer, we bought this pass; it’s an amazing value and saves you so much money if doing lots of sightseeing.
- Discounts: There are discounts available for the holders of the Swiss Travel Pass and several others. Kids under 6 years old travel for free. For kids between 6 and 16, I really recommend getting Junior Travelcard.
- Harder Kulm: Funicular only runs from mid-April till the end of November. If you don’t have a Travel Pass and you need tickets, you can normally get them on the spot. If you want to get tickets in advance, you can also book them here. Booking in advance might save you a long wait if there’s a queue at the ticket desk.
- When to visit: Interlaken is a year-round destination and you can see most places in any season. However, there is much more to see and do if you come between April and November.
- Boats in the low season: There are many more boats in summer than in winter, so make sure to check the schedules when planning your visit. The high season is from the end of June till the beginning of September, shoulder season is June and September to mid-October. In the low season, there are daily boats on Thunersee, but not on Brienzersee.
READ ALSO: Swiss Travel Pass: Complete Guide
So, this is our guide to visiting Interlaken and the best way to plan your own perfect Interlaken day tour. I hope that you find this guide useful and that it will help you make the most of your trip to this beautiful part of Switzerland.
If you have any questions about visiting Interlaken that have not been covered in this article, don’t hesitate to leave a reply below and I’ll try to help.
TIP: If you have one more day in Interlaken area in the summer season, don’t miss Schynige Platte! It’s one of the most beautiful and somewhat lesser-known mountain destinations in Switzerland, and just a short trip from Interlaken. Check it out!
READ ALSO: 10 Days in Switzerland – First-Timer’s Itinerary
FAQ
Interlaken town is quite small and the biggest attraction that you have to see here is Harder Kulm which can be reached via the funicular. So you can easily visit Interlaken town center and Harder Kulm in 2-3 hours. So, one day is enough to see in Interlaken and also take a boat trip on one of the lakes.
There is so much to see and do near Interlaken that you can easily spend a week or even two weeks here and never get bored. However, as a minimum, try to plan 3 days in the area: 1 day for Interlaken town and one of the lakes, 1 day for a trip to Jungfraujoch in combination with Wengen and Lauterbrunnen, and 1 day for visiting Grindelwald and the Grindelwald-First area.
The best time to visit Interlaken is during the summer, from mid-May to September. That’s when everything is open and accessible in the mountains and the temperatures are pleasant for all the outdoor activities that this area has to offer.
Interlaken is a charming town, but what makes it special and worth visiting is its spectacular location and the stunning mountain scenery of the surrounding Bernese Oberland region. So while the town itself is worth an hour or two of your time, the real reason to visit Interlaken are the lakes and the mountains around it.
Interlaken town can easily be explored on foot or by bike. The two lakes of Interlaken are best explored by boat. The nearby mountain resorts of the Jungfrau Region can easily be accessed by train or by car, and once you are in the mountains, you can also go hiking!
Interlaken is centrally located for visiting many places in central Switzerland. It’s easy to get to by car and it also has excellent railway connections. So yes, depending on what you are planning to see in the area, Interlaken can be a good place to stay for exploring the Berner Oberland region.
READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Lucerne
More tips for your trip to Switzerland:
- Must see: Visit Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe and Mount Titlis
- But which one is better? Mt Titlis vs Jungfraujoch
- Grindelwald: Best Things to Do in Grindelwald-First
- Winter in this region: Jungfrau Region in Winter and Skiing in Wengen
- Skiing in other regions: Skiing in Switzerland on a Budget & Skiing in Engelberg
- Best cities: Things to Do in Geneva & Things to Do in Bern & Best Things to Do in Lucerne
- Zermatt area: Things to Do in Zermatt & One Day in Zermatt & Klein Matterhorn & Gornergrat
- Lucerne area: Best Day Trips from Lucerne & How to Visit Mt Pilatus from Lucerne & Pilatus Golden Round Trip
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Some of our favorite hikes in Switzerland:
- Matterhorn Glacier Trail (Zermatt)
- Hiking at Schynige Platte (near Interlaken)
- Oeschinen Lake & Hike (close to Interlaken)
- Four Lakes Hike in Engelberg (near Lucerne)
- Bachalpsee Lake (Grindelwald)
- Stoos Ridge Hike (close to Lucerne or Zurich)
- Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge Hike (near Zermatt)
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Thank you very much for this excellent website and information about interlaken. My husband and I are staying in Interlaken from December 29, 2024 to January 2, 2025. The boat sked for Lake Thun does is not available during our stay, we also are not skiers. Thank you very much also that you offered in your website site the option to ask questions.
Please help us with information / itinerary for this particular time when options are limited as compared to other dates. Some specific questions:
1. Can we still use the funicular to Harder Kulm? It is stated in your website that it runs only until November? If not through the funicular, can we still go there?
2. What is the best way to get to Giessbach & its waterfalls?
3. We plan to take the the train to Grindelwald. Is that a good idea so that we can visit another Swiss town?
4. What other Swiss towns do you highly recommend as a “must – see “ from Interlaken that we can visit on our own?
We hope you can reply to us and help us have a blessed trip.Thank you again very much.
Teresa Cruz
Hi Teresa, here are my answers to your questions:
1. No, you can’t visit Harder Kulm by funicular at this time of the year; it’s closed until April 5, 2025. Hiking up there is quite a climb even in the summer, so I don’t think I would advise doing it in the winter. It will likely be covered with snow.
2. Giessbach – I don’t think the boat runs at that time of the year. Even the Giessbach Grand Hotel is closed between mid-December and late January. So I am not sure if you can visit there. Pus, the waterfall and the paths would likely be frozen.
3. Grindelwald is a great idea and you could visit either Grindelwald First or Jungfraujoch (but likely not both on the same day). You could do Grindelwald + Grindelwald-First one day and e.g. Wengen + Jungfraujoch on another day, and also walk around Lauterbrunnen Valley (you will pass here on your way to Wengen). These mountain destinations can be visited year-round and it’s nice to do in winter, even if you are not interested in winter activities such as skiing or sledding. Schilthorn would be another nice option, but it’s closed this winter for renovations. You can still visit Mürren, but it’s a small village with not that much to offer apart from the views and it’s likely not worth the ticket price just for that.
4. If you want to visit towns, there are many options. Thun is nice and not too far away, but it’s rather small. Bern or Lucerne have more to offer.
Hope this helps. Have a nice trip!
@Jurga, thank you very much!! The information you provided really helps a lot in finalizing our plans. We’ll go to 2-3 towns that you suggested. With the limited options at this time of the year, we are excited to just relax most of the time in Interlaken, and in our cozy hotel with a beautiful view, and literally “ chill “. Thanks again and have a blessed holiday season!
Hello. Thank you for sharing such wonderful information in your blog. In the Interlaken itinerary you shared, you said you visited Harder Kulm at 10:00 AM. Was that the time you took the funicular? How long did you spend at Harder Kulm? What time did you take the funicular back down to make the 11:07 boat on Brienzersee? Thank you.
Hi Brenda, we went up around 10 AM and were back down in town and already on the boat around 11 AM. I can’t remember the exact schedule; this is based on the timestamp in my photos. The journey by funicular is just a few minutes and the walk from the funicular station to the viewing platform is also very short. Half an hour is plenty at the top, unless you want to do some extra hiking or sit down for some coffee at the restaurant. If you want to spend more time at Harder Kulm and take it easier, simply arrive a bit earlier than we did. Also, we didn’t have to wait long for funicular, but you never know how busy it is on the day when you visit, so if you can foresee some extra time, you may want to do that.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for sharing such a informative blog with so many alternatives to travel.
We have planned for 11 Nights in Switzerland from 21.06.2024 to 02.07.2024
Will be staying in Intelaken (Six Nights), Montreux (Three Nights) and Zurich (Two Nights)
Information provided by you will be very much useful to us.
We wish to make one day trip to Gstaad & Saanen. Please advice that we should plan this trip from Interlaken or Montreux ?
We are senior citizens and will avoid hiking. Plan to do only one mountain trip i.e. Jungfrau from Interlaken.
Also please suggest best day trips from Montreux.
Thanks and Regards
Sunil
Hi Sunil, you didn’t say how you travel – by car or public transport.
Gstaad/Saanen can be visited from both places and by car there’s not much difference. By train is a bit easier from Montreux.
As for excursions from Montreux, you can visit Geneva, take <https://www.getyourguide.com/-t372795/?partner_id=6N2B5KS&cmp=C” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>a boat ride on the lake, and visit Lausanne, Vevey, etc. You can also drive to Chamonix in France or visit Glacier 3000. You can also find some nice guided tours from Montreux.
Enjoy your trip!
@Jurga,
Thanks for your quick reply
We will buy 15 days Swiss Travel Pass ( First Class ) and as advised by you we will visit Gstaad from Montreux.
Since we have plenty of time in Interlaken and Montreux, please suggest more day trips
Thanks
Hi Sunil, from Interlaken, you can visit both lakes as described in our article above. Since you have more time here, spend a day at each lake visiting by boat and hopping off at a few places along the way. In Interlaken itself, take a funicular to Harder Kulm.
You already mentioned Jungfraujoch. In addition, you can take a train to Grindelwald and visit Grindelwald-First area by gondola or take a train to Wilderswil and from there a mountain train to Schynige Platte. Even if you don’t want to hike, both these areas are well worth visiting for the amazing scenery.
You can also visit Lauterbrunnen, walk through the valley towards Trümmelbach Falls passing Staubbachfall Waterfall on the way. In that same area, you can also visit Mürren and go all the way up to the Schilthorn mountain peak.
If you rather see some cities (or if the weather turns out not too great for the mountains), you can always take a train from Interlaken to Bern (about 1 hour) or Lucerne (almost 2 hours).
Hope this helps.
Hello Jurga
Big fan of your blogs !!
Need your guidance to plan one day in Lauterbrunnen with the train routes and bus routes/ numbers/stoos
We will be coming from Lucerne or Interlaken.
Hi Snehal, there are dozens of ways to plan a day in the area around Lauterbrunnen, so you’ll have to do it yourself based on your interests.
Decide what you absolutely want to visit and then see how to fit it all in. My advice would be to not visit two different mountain peaks in one day or you’ll spend more time in transit than actually exploring AND it will cost you a fortune. So concentrate on one area – either Mürren/Schilthorn, or Wengen/Kleine Scheidegg/Jungfraujoch, or Grindelwald-First, or Schynige Platte.
If you visit either Mürren or Jungfraujoch, you can also spend some time in Lauterbrunnen Valley and visit the waterfalls there (don’t miss Trümmelbach Falls).
We also have detailed guides for most of the top places in this area on our blog. So once you decide which place you want to visit, you can find more information on our blog (all except Mürren). See the overview in our Switzerland travel page.
Hope this helps.
We only have 4 nights and three days in Zurich. We were thinking of doing Interlaken, Lucerne and ending in Zurich. Leaning towards renting a car. Does this seem doable? Would you suggest staying in Lucern and daytripping to Interlaken and then ending last two nights in Zurich? I really enjoyed stumbling on your blog, so much great information.
Thank you,
Liz
Hi Liz, if you are mostly interested in cities and popular mountain destinations, then you don’t really need a car – a train will likely be much easier. But if you want to visit many smaller places and villages, a car might be nice to have, but it’s definitely not a must.
As for how to plan the itinerary, there are so many ways. If you just want to stay in one central location, then Lucerne is likely the best option. You can just take a train to/from Zurich airport to Lucerne (via the city but you can skip it altogether). With just 4 nights in Switzerland, there are many better places to visit than Zurich ;).
You may want to take a look at our guide to the best day trips from Lucerne. Even if you decide not to base yourself there and stay in Interlaken for a few nights, it will give you plenty of ideas of the best places to visit in that area.
Hope this helps. Have a great trip!
Scary. Holiday means for us to relax and don‘t have a look at the clock.
Everyone travels differently, Stephi… For many international visitors, a day is all they have in one or the other area. Most people only have a few weeks holidays per year and if they take an expensive trip to the other side of the world, they want to see as much as they possibly can in the time that they have… Our 1-day itineraries are written for those people and not for the locals who have weeks to spend in one place.
Think of it this way – if you spend thousands of dollars to travel to the USA or Australia and you only have a week or two, you’ll also visit some of the best national parks or cities in just a day or two and try to pack in as much as you can, while most locals will book a longer holiday in just one place and explore it to the fullest.
PS There is no need to comment on every 1-day itinerary on our website saying that you could stay a week there and go back every year :). I know you can, even a few weeks. We usually do that too when we have the time and we have been to all these areas multiple times too. Once again, these articles are written for those people who don’t have the luxury of time and want to see the best that each place has to offer in a day.
Happy travels!
Hi
Is this itinerary doable
– Boat form Interlaken Iseltwald (early morning)
– Boat from Iseltwald to Giessbach
-Visit Giessbach water fall
-Giessbach to Interlaken
– Harder Kulm (evening)
Thank you
Yes, sure, it’s pretty much what we did and what is described in detail in this article. Just one thing – we went to Giessbach waterfalls first and then hiked to Iseltwald. Even if you don’t hike but take a boat, that’s a bit more logical way to do it since you go to the furthest point first and then make your way back. If you don’t hike, then you can even do all this in about half a day.
@Jurga,
Thank you so much
Happy & safe travels!
Hi Jurga,
In your opinion should I spend 2 days in interlaken or 2 days in Zermatt. I have 3 days total then one day in Lucerne.
My wife and I are active.
I love your blogs so much!
Thank You,
Angie
Hi Angie, that’s really not something I can decide for you. 🙂 Both areas are amazing and both have a lot to offer. Interlaken is logistically easier since it’s much closer to Lucerne and there is probably more choice for things to do in the area in any weather.
A lot also depends on when you are traveling, how the weather is, and what exactly you are planning to see and do there.
Good luck with your decision and have a great trip!
@Jurga,
Thank you so so much for your response. Do you think I could do Zermatt one day then do interlaken for two days and hop over to Grinderwald and Lauterbrunen while staying in Interlaken?
It’s going to be the last week in September hoping for some great weather!😊🙏
Hi Angie, Zermatt is quite a trip from all the rest so just getting there and back will take you a big part of the day, but if you plan well, yes, it’s doable. And yes, you can easily visit Grindelwald and/or Lauterbrunnen from Interlaken.
Have a great trip!
Thanks for sharing. I personally find it very useful. Especially for those travelling to that region for the first time. I will be spending 8 nights spread out to Interlaken/ Lauterbrunen/ Grinderwald / Brienz then back to Zurich for few days. Do you think it is a waste to spend so much days in that area? Or should I just travel to farther place like Geneva.
Hi Jung, no, I most definitely don’t think it’s a ‘waste of time’. It’s such a beautiful region and there is so much to see and do that 8 days is really not too much. That being said, a lot also depends on the season and the weather, but if you are traveling in the summer season and the weather cooperates, then 8 days will fly by and you’ll still have a long list of places you didn’t get to. 😉 And if the weather isn’t great, you can always adjust the plans a bit and visit some towns and villages instead.
I highly recommend that you get a multi-day Jungfrau Region travel card for the duration of your visit. It will save you a fortune on trains/gondolas, etc.
Have a great trip!
@Jurga,
Thanks for reassured me that it’s a good idea to spend longer time there. And you saving me big time as I never though of getting Jungfrau travel pass. I was going to get Swiss travel pass but again I don’t travel everyday so i decided to get a Swiss half fare + Jungfrau travel pass. I did the math and it’s sure save alot more.
Glad to help. Have a great time in Switzerland!
Your detailed itinerary ideas have been most helpful in planning for our upcoming stay in Switzerland. We are staying three nights in September based at Lucerne and would love to have a day trip to Interlaken and Grindelwald. Would you suggest bus or train as the best mode of transportation for our day trip?
Thank you!
Hi Laura, trains are by far the best means of transportation between the bigger places in Switzerland.
Have a great trip!
Thank you for all of this information, it is helping me plan my one day in Interlaken!! Do you know if you can purchase the boat ride tickets in advance, and do you suggest to? That question also applies to the funicular at Harder Kulm, I have read mixed reviews on purchasing tickets ahead of time. Thanks for your help 🙂
Hi Rachel, yes, you can normally get tickets on the boat or at the harbor. As for Harder Kulm funicular, it should be fine too. The latter you can also get in advance and – depending on how busy it is at that moment – it can save you some time since you can skip the queue at the ticket desk.
Have a great trip!
Hi Jurga, first thank you for your comprehensive review of so many locations. We will be traveling in August starting in Munich, through parts of Switzerland, and then will end in Italy – we are basing a large portion of our itinerary off of you blog, we can’t wait!!! Our question is regarding rental passenger vans. We are traveling with a larger group + luggage and therefore would like to avoid trains, thus we are looking for a 9 passenger Mercedes-Benz sprinter van. We looked on the site which you suggested as well as eurocar but haven’t had any luck. We will need to pick it up in Munich and return in Milan. Do you have any leads or suggestions as to where else we should reach out to set up this reservation? Any thoughts and recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
Hi Kathy, if you can’t find the car that you are looking for on Booking, then your best bet is to check the websites of each and every bigger rental company directly. They sometimes have more special models, but only a few, and so they only rent those out directly. However, often, you’ll pay a much higher price that way. An alternative would be to rent two cars.
PS I checked some random dates and found a few cars with 7 seats, but nothing with 9. Sometimes it can also be worth trying to check alternative pick-up or drop-off locations.
Good luck!
Hi Jurga, we are planning to do a one way boat trip from Interlaken West to Thun in June and taking your suggestion to ride the train (IC61) back to Interlaken West. Is it easy to get to the train station from where we disembark from the boat?
Hi Ed, in Thun, the railway station is just next to the ferry terminal.
@Jurga, thanks for the prompt reply.
Hi Jurga, What a helpful write up on Interlaken, thank you so much! We’re planning a 5 week trip over the summer and unfortunately won’t have much time in Switzerland but looking into a daytrip from Germany, Interlaken looks like the perfect spot and your itinterary makes it seem doable 🙂 One quick question, do you think it’s necessary to book boat tickets in advance or can we just hop on one when we get there? We’ll be there in late July so I expect it will be crowded… I’d rather not have to book in advance so we’re not tied to a certain date. No rush but if you could let me know your thoughts I’d appreciate it. Thanks in advance!
Janice
Hi Janice, these boats in Interlaken serve a bit like public transport and normally, you don’t have to book a specific time slot. You can just arrive and get the tickets on the spot. But it sure helps to check the schedule and arrive well in advance for the boat you want to take, especially if you are starting out in Interlaken.
Have a great trip!
Very informative article..will be visiting interlaken tomorrow (20.9.2022) as recommended by a friend…hoping for a great visit😊😊😊
Hope you had a great time in Interlaken today, Edu.
Enjoy the rest of your trip!
Do we need to book transportation in advance or can you count on always being able to jump on a train to get where you want to go? We start in Vienna, to Salzburg, to Lucern, to Interlaken then reverse order. Thanks!
Hi Bradly, normally, you don’t have to book regular trains in Switzerland, except for the tourist routes like Jungfraujoch or Bernina Express. For the fast trains in Europe, generally, advance bookings (with reserved seats) are recommended. So it really depends on your exact itinerary and which trains you are planning to take.
Great write up! I am on the train from basel to Interlake and plan to spend a day there. you r article gave me a good idea for the itinerary: harder Kulm then one way boat to lake thun ( really want to see castles along the lake scene ) and then taking train back to Basel. Since I arrive in interlaken train station about 11:50am, do you think it is doable? Many thanks!
Hi Michael, I assume it’s too late to answer your question now. 🙂 We really can’t answer all the questions we get in real-time, as I’m sure you can understand.
Hope you have a great day in Interlaken. Feel free to share your experience – it might help our other readers!
Happy travels!
During July 2022 we (8 p) plan to stay at Interlake for few days, besides Interlaken we also would like to visit Luzern, Bern, Zermatt (one day each) and maybe ride on Bernina Express train.
I appreciate your advice and recommend.
Andy Liao
Los Angeles, California
Hi Andy, sounds like a good plan. Unfortunately, I do not have the time to help you craft a detailed itinerary.
I would recommend staying in different places to limit travel times. You can do Interlaken – Luzer – Jungfrau area from one place if you absolutely want to, but for Zermatt, it’s best to stay there, and for Bernina Express, probably best to stay closer to Chur.
You can find information about many of these places in our Switzerland travel guide.
Have a great trip!
Such a nice vlog but I need one information that while on The visit to jungfrau, Europe’s top,can we do first cliff grindelwald also?as we will not get a separate day for first cliff.kindly reply…
Hi Susmita, if you start very early in the morning from Grindelwald and take a new cable car between Grindelwald and Eiger Glacier that makes the journey to Jungfraujoch much shorter, theoretically, it could be possible to also visit Grindelwald-First on that same day in the afternoon.
However, it would cost you a fortune (you’d need two separate tickets for each area) and it would be very rushed. If you already pay for the Jungfraujoch ticket, I’d make the most of it and explore the area around Kleine Scheidegg, maybe take the Panorama Walk to Männlichen, etc. Otherwise, you’ll just run from one thing to another feeling very stressed (also because most gondolas stop at around 4 pm).
Please also see our guides to Jungfraujoch and Grindelwald-First to get a better idea of what to expect at each. I personally would pick just one area and explore it deeper rather than trying to see both on the same day. But if you don’t hike, don’t mind the budget, and want to quickly ‘see it all’, it should be possible.
EXCELLENT DESCRIPTION, CONGRATULATIONS, I WILL FOLLOW ONE OF YOUR ITINERARIES. VERY CLEAR, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Glad to help, Marianella. We are just back from yet another trip to Switzerland and we briefly visited Thun and Spiez this time and loved them too. One day is really short for the lakes of Interlaken – there’s just so much to see! The good thing is that you really can’t go wrong with any of the options – it’s all beautiful!
Have a great trip!
Hi Jurga,
That’s a really nice and insightful blog! Thanks for this!
Glad you found it useful, Elena. It’s not easy to narrow down the options when visiting Interlaken (there’s so much to see in the area!), but I hope that this guide gives our readers a somewhat better idea of where to go.
Hi, such a nice blog. This really inspires me to visit Switzerland in December.May I know if your Interlaken day Itinerary possible if we are coming from Lucerne and back in the afternoon? We will be in Switzerland for one week and plan to stay in Lucerne as our base.
Hi Joyce, if you are traveling in winter and only visit Interlaken for a few hours from Lucerne, you’ll probably just see the town. There are only very few boats running in winter and you’d have to check the schedule to see if you can take a boat tour on Thunersee, but if you only have a few hours, I don’t think it makes much sense.
Furthermore, the funicular to Harder Kulm doesn’t run in December… So there is really not that much to do in Interlaken except visit the town itself…
If you are staying in Lucerne, a much better day trip would be that to Mount Titlis. It’s just a very short train ride away and it’s great in winter. We have an old article on the blog that might give you a better idea of what to expect (Visiting Mt. Titlis). Here you can find more information and book a day tour from Lucerne.
Alternatively, if you haven’t seen it yet, the most popular mountain excursion from Lucerne is that to Mt. Pilatus, just outside of town.
Hope this helps a bit. Enjoy your time in Switzerland!