5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Interlaken, Switzerland

View from the Harder Kulm, Interlaken
View from the Harder Kulm, Interlaken | © lukasbieri / Pixabay
Sean Mowbray

Interlaken, sandwiched between two lakes in the centre of Switzerland, is surrounded by natural beauty. It’s also a hotspot for adventure sports and sightseers alike. Discover five reasons why you should add it to your Swiss travel itinerary.

Loved by over 40s

The adventure

Interlaken is where those seeking a thrill go. It’s known as the adventure capital of Switzerland and adrenaline junkies are sure to love it. Whether you’re into river rafting or canyoning, skydiving or bungee jumping, you’ll find your particular rush here.

The hiking

Interlaken is surrounded by prime hiking spots. It’s the ideal base to explore the Jungfrau region. There are hikes for all levels of fitness and you’ll be sure to find your way on trails that are well marked out. A 50-minute hike from Interlaken takes you to Harder Kulm, where you’ll be rewarded with wonderful views of the town, the twin lakes and mountains beyond. The Pizol 5-Lake hike, a five-hour round trip, is another highly recommended trail. Take a look here for some more inspiration.

Hiking around Lake Thun

To enjoy the lakes

Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, which Interlaken sits between, are good places to go for a dip during the summer and escape the heat. Or you can embark on a lake cruise and sail across the calm waters, soaking up the rays or just relaxing and taking in the views of the surrounding mountains. One thing is for sure, the setting could not be more spectacular.

To discover a legend

To discover a legend

As the story goes, Saint Beatus, while wandering Switzerland looking for a place to hole up, stumbled upon some caves that just so happened to be home to a dragon. Saint Beatus fended off the dragon, with God’s help, and drove it into Lake Thun, killing it in the process. Whether or not Saint Beatus really did kill a dragon is debatable, but the beauty of the caves which he inhabited is not. Here, you can follow the caves for 1,000 metres into the Niederhorn massif.

St. Beatus Caves, Beatushöhlen-Genossenschaft, CH-3800 Sundlauenen, +41 33 841 16 43

The Jungfraujoch

A two-hour scenic train ride takes you from Interlaken, passing through Grindelwald and under the shadow of the Eiger mountain, to the Jungfraujoch, known as the Top of Europe. Once here, an icy wonderland is at your feet. You can explore the Aletsch Glacier, Europe’s longest glacier, enjoy beautiful panoramic views from the Sphinx Observatory and breath in the pure, Alpine air.

The Top of Europe
culture trip left arrow
 culture trip brand logo

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

women sitting on iceberg

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

culture trip logo letter c
group posing for picture on iceberg
group posing for picture on iceberg

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points
culture trip brand logo
culture trip right arrow
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

X

Keen to explore the world?

Our passionately curated premium small-group trips are an invitation to connect with like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences.