Updated on:
If you’re planning to visit the Swiss Alps, you’ll likely be passing through Interlaken at some point. Interlaken is one of the largest and most accessible cities in the Swiss Alps. Interlaken was the first city in Switzerland I ever visited. I was 20 and studying abroad in Italy, and fell absolutely in love with Alps. We visited during the winter and everything about Interlaken felt like a snowglobe, it was perfect.
I’ve been lucky enough to be back to Interlaken several times in all seasons. I’s a great place to base yourself if you’d like to stay in one place while exploring the towns of the Swiss Alps, as it has a wide variety of hotels, restaurants and is well connected to other areas of the Swiss Alps.
In terms of what to do in Interlaken, the city can be easily explored in one day, leaving the rest of your trip to explore the many other charming towns of the Swiss Alps. I’ve compiled all my suggestions for how to spend 1 day in Interlaken below with different options based on the time of year you’re visiting!
This itinerary keeps you mainly within Interlaken if you’ve never seen the city before. If you’re looking to venture out of Interlaken and take advantage of some of the more extreme sports offered (paragliding, skydiving, etc.) head here for all the details!
If you have a second day, add a day trip – find my 2 days in Interlaken itinerary here.
Itinerary Overview
- Morning: Hike or take the Funicular to Harder Kulm OR a snowshoe adventure
- Early Afternoon: Explore Lake Brienz
- Late Afternoon: Downtown Interlaken & Höhematte Park
- Night: Cozy Swiss Dinner
Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!
Interlaken 1 Day Itinerary
Morning: Hike or Take the Funicular to the Top of Harder Kulm (Summer, Fall or Spring)
Interlaken’s own mountain, Harder Kulm, is my top recommendation for what to do in Interlaken. Heading to the top offers excellent views of Interlaken, the two lakes it’s nestled between (Brienz & Thun) & the stunning Alps beyond. It offers particularly great views of Jungfrau on a clear day.
Interlaken’s mountain can be hiked or reached by funicular. The funicular and the bottom of the trail can both be reached on foot from downtown Interlaken, depending on where in the city you are staying it can be about a 20 minute walk!
The funicular runs every 30 minutes and it takes less than ten minutes to reach the top. It costs 40 Swiss Francs round trip (you can get 50% off if you have the Swiss Pass) The funicular is only open from Mid-April through November
At the top of Harder Kulm enjoy the panoramic views from the viewing platform. There’s also a sit down restaurant serving traditional Swiss food that offers epic views if you can snag a table on the patio. Next to the sit down restaurant is a small snack bar with takeaway drinks & food. You can grab a snack or a beer and enjoy the stunning views.
Morning: Winter Hike or Snowshoe (Winter)
Exploring the views and nature of Interlaken is a must! Interlaken is a n outdoor lovers dream. Winter is the perfect time to snowshoe to the best views in Interlaken, or do some winter hiking. They keep the trails maintained in the winter. You can find all the details here on Interlaken’s official winter hiking site. Personally, I’d recommend a guided snowshoe tour for the best views! They last about 4 hours, so it’s the perfect morning activity.
Afternoon: Explore Lake Brienz (All Seasons)
Interlaken sits between two lakes, Lake Brienz & Lake Thun and it is definitely worth exploring one or both while you’re in Interlaken. Brienz is the more picturesque of the two in my opinion.
Summer: If the weather is nice enough you can enjoy a swim in the stunning blue lake. Be warned, even in the summer the mountain water is quite chilly, but refreshing! You can also rent kayaks and explore Interlaken by water!
Spring, Winter, Fall: The lake is worth exploring even if you can’t swim, it offers some of the most stunning views of Interlaken! Some of my favorite non-swimming lake activities include
- Year round Kayaking
- Renting a floating hot tub (or tug) – an electric boat hot tub where you can explore Lake Brienz, this is so unique & fun!
Explore Downtown Interlaken & Höhematte Park
Summer, Spring & Fall
Höhematte Park is the center of Interlaken. In the warmer months this is the perfect place to watch the many, many paragliders land after their journey from the Alps above.
If you’re looking for a place in downtown Interlaken to grab drinks or dinner with a view try the stunning Victoria Jungfrau Hotel. They have a terrace that offers views over the park and the mountains beyond. The price tag can be a bit high for dinrks, but to me it was worth it!
Another great outdoor option for dinner outdoors is Fondue Villa & Garden – a perfect traditional spot.
Winter
In the winter Höhematte is stil stuninng to visit, and the stunning Victoria Jungfrau Hotel is still worth a visit for a drink and some views. And for the perfect apres vibes and all the fondue head to Restaurant Bären or Taverne
But my favorite evening/winter night activity in Interlaken is a night sledding + fondue advenure. This is such a vibeeee! Sledding through the snowy hils & icy waterfalls, and ending at a cozy chalet for some fondue. It’s the perfect winter in Interlaken experience!
Where to Stay in Interlaken
Interlaken has more accommodation options than a lot of the other smaller Swiss Alps town, making it a good place to stay. Even the budget options can be slightly pricy, Switzerland is not a cheap vacation, but Interlaken gives you some cheaper options.
The Hey Hotel
On my most recent trip I chose to stay at The Hey Hotel ($200 per night at the end of June) The Hey Hotel was one of the cheaper options I could find during peak tourist season. It’s very conveniently located, and the lobby + restaurant/bar area were really nice.
The rooms were super basic, but had great mountain views! I was barely in the room so I wasn’t looking for anything too fancy!
Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel
If you’re looking for a more high end Interlaken experience the Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel and Spa is a must-stay. This stunning hotel overlooks the main square of Interlaken. Even if you don’t stay here I recommend sitting on their patio or visiting their bar for a drink it’s a stunning place with great views!
This hotel is expensive – think $600-1000 a night in the winter and $1000+ in the summer. But if you’re looking to splurge you can’t go wrong. Also, if you’re a winter person (like me) it literally looks like a postcard in the winter!
Interlaken Extreme Sport Adventures
Interlaken is one of the premier extreme sports destinations in the world! It’s the perfect vacation spot if you’re looking for adrenaline pumping activities! Here are some of the best things to try in any season!
Paragliding
Paragliding through the Swiss Alps (aka one of the most breathtaking places in the world?) Yes please! This is one of the most popular things to do in Interlaken and your views of the mountains and lakes will be absolutely unmatched. This is a tandem activity, so let the expert handle the logistics, while you enjoy the view!
Skydiving
Take the advenure one notch further with skydiving (personally I preger paragliding for the views) but this is a mix of heart-pounding adventure and ending with some scenic views. Check out sky dive Interlaken here.
More Switzerland Recommendations
For more Interlaken recommendations head to my full Interlaken Travel Guide or follow the links below for other Switzerland recommendations:
