Switzerland
Interlaken
Base here 2–3 days for lake cruises, Lauterbrunnen's waterfalls and one high-mountain day. This guide pulls together 4 activities, 3 outdoor spots and 2 places to eat from our curated routes.
- Places
- 10
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- May – Oct
- Warmest month
- July
- Coolest month
- January
- Wettest month
- August
4 Do · 3 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Drink
Swiss Lakes by Rail
from our route notes
25°C / 77°F avg high
4°C / 40°F avg high
about 165 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Interlaken
10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
Do
4 activities for when the group wants to do more than look across Interlaken Ost, Wilderswil and Jungfrau Region.
Photo: Smith Smith · GoogleDoHarder Kulm
Funicular to a viewpoint over Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, with Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau views.
Tip Go for sunset dinner at the panorama restaurant.
Photo: BLS Interlaken Lake Cruise · GoogleDoLake Brienz Cruise
BLS boat from Interlaken Ost across turquoise water to Brienz.
Tip Swiss Travel Pass covers it.
Photo: Audrius Meskauskas (Audriusa) · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Pmau · CC BY-SA 4.0DoJungfraujoch
Rail trip to Europe's highest railway station, with glacier views.
Tip Expensive; go on a clear day and check webcam first.
Outdoors
3 outdoor spots for fresh air across Lake Brienz, Lauterbrunnen and Lauterbrunnen Valley.
Photo: Eric Lawton Forbes · GoogleOutdoorsGiessbach Falls
Waterfalls dropping in 14 tiers, reached by boat and historic funicular.
Tip Stop for coffee on the Grandhotel Giessbach terrace.
Photo: Francesca De Angelis · GoogleOutdoorsStaubbach Falls
297-m waterfall dropping off a cliff into Lauterbrunnen village.
Tip Short walk from the station.
Photo: Rafael.corvalan · CC BY 3.0OutdoorsTrümmelbach Falls
Glacial falls thundering inside the mountain, reached by a tunnel lift.
Tip Open Apr–Nov; bring a jacket.
Eat
Where we would book a table in Interlaken across Harder Kulm and Höheweg.
Photo: Panorama-Restaurant Harder Kulm · GoogleEatHarder Kulm Panorama Restaurant
Restaurant at the top of the Harder Kulm funicular with lake and Jungfrau views.
Tip Reserve a window table for sunset.
Photo: Grand Café-Restaurant Schuh · GoogleEatRestaurant Schuh
Classic Swiss restaurant and confectioner on the Höhematte park.
Tip Try the chocolates and terrace in summer.
Drink
Our picks for a drink in Interlaken in Matten.
Photo: Rugenbräu AG: Brauerei + Rugen Gnuss-Wält Verkaufsladen · GoogleDrinkRugenbräu
Local brewery in Matten bei Interlaken with tours and a shop.
Tip Book brewery tours in advance.
How to fit Interlaken into a trip
Interlaken is stop 3 of 3 on our Swiss Lakes by Rail route. Follow it as-is or lift Interlaken into your own plan.
Stop 3 of 3
Swiss Lakes by Rail
Lake promenades, mountain trains & storybook towns
- Trip length
- 5 days
- Best season
- May – Oct
- Pace
- easy
- Before: Lucerne
Getting here and onward
- Lucerne to InterlakenLucerne is about 53 km / 33 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Interlaken month by month
Average daily highs run from 4°C / 40°F in January to 25°C / 77°F in July. August is the wettest month, with about 165 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan4° / 40°F average high
- Feb5° / 41°F average high
- Mar8° / 47°F average high
- Apr13° / 56°F average high
- May18° / 65°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jun23° / 74°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jul25° / 77°F average high, in our recommended season
- Aug25° / 76°F average high, in our recommended season
- Sep21° / 69°F average high, in our recommended season
- Oct16° / 61°F average high, in our recommended season
- Nov10° / 50°F average high
- Dec5° / 42°F average high
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Interlaken weather and the best time to visit →
Near Interlaken
8 other destinations from our guides within about 250 km (155 mi), measured in a straight line.
Interlaken questions, answered
How many days do you need in Interlaken?
Our route notes suggest 2–3 days in Interlaken. On our Swiss Lakes by Rail route it is stop 3 of 3 in a 5-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 22 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Interlaken best known for?
Base here 2–3 days for lake cruises, Lauterbrunnen's waterfalls and one high-mountain day. Standouts on our list: Giessbach Falls (Waterfalls dropping in 14 tiers, reached by boat and historic funicular); Staubbach Falls (297-m waterfall dropping off a cliff into Lauterbrunnen village); Trümmelbach Falls (Glacial falls thundering inside the mountain, reached by a tunnel lift).
When is the best time to visit Interlaken?
Our Swiss Lakes by Rail route is best May – Oct. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (25°C / 77°F), the coolest in January (4°C / 40°F) and the most rain in August (about 165 mm).
What are the best things to do in Interlaken?
Start with Harder Kulm, Lake Brienz Cruise, Giessbach Falls, Staubbach Falls and Trümmelbach Falls. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 4 activities, 3 outdoor spots, 2 places to eat and 1 bar or café.
Where should a group eat in Interlaken?
Our picks: Harder Kulm Panorama Restaurant; Restaurant Schuh (Höheweg). Reserve a window table for sunset (Harder Kulm Panorama Restaurant).
What is near Interlaken?
The closest destinations in our guides are Lucerne (about 53 km / 33 mi), Andermatt (about 56 km / 34 mi) and Zermatt (about 75 km / 47 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Interlaken with your crew
Open the Swiss Lakes by Rail route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.