2 Days in Interlaken Itinerary
Interlaken is one of my favorite cities in Switzerland. Nestled between two stunning lakes with the breathtaking backdrop of some of the largest mountains in the Swiss Alps, it’s no wonder Interlaken has become one of Switzerland’s most popular tourist destinations. Interlaken is also very accessible from most other major Swiss cities, making it a popular Alps destination, as some other mountian towns can be a but more difficult to reach.
Interlaken is a great jumping off point for exploring other areas of the Alps if you’d like to spend most of your trip in one town, but the town itself can also be explored on a short trip. On my most recent trip to Switzerland, I spent just two days in Interlaken, but that was plenty of time to see a lot of what the city has to offer! Keep reading below for my 2 Days in Interlaken Itinerary.
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!
Day 1: Explore Interlaken
Hike or Take the Funicular to the Top of Harder Kulm
Harder Kulm is hands down the best view of Interlaken, Lake Thun and Brienne, and the panoramic Jungfrau that dominates the backdrop of the Interlaken skyline! Harder Kulm is Interlaken’s own local mountain that 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
Kayak on Lake Brienz
You can’t take a trip to Interlaken without visiting at least one of the two lakes that bookend either side of the city. Lake Brienz is the prettier of the two in my opinion, and is the perfect spot to rent kayaks and explore Interlaken by water! Or you can just grab a spot on the shoreline and swim in the chilly mountain water!
Watch the Paragliders land in Höhematte Park & the Höheweg
Höhematte Park, at the center of Interlaken, is a great area to wander and watch the paragliders land. I also recommend stopping by the infamous Victoria Jungfrau Hotel to grab a drink on the patio with perfect views of the paragliders landing! The Terrace at the Victoria Bar also offers unparalleled mountain views, but be warned the drinks can be pricy here!
Day 2: Day trip to Jungfraujoch & Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen & Mürren
Interlaken has a ton of great options for day trips! Two of my favorites are a trip to Jungfrau (tthe highest accesible railway in Euope) or a trip to two of my favorite Swiss Alp towns, Lauterbrunnen & Murren
My recommendation between the two would be Jungfrau. No trip to Switzerland is complete without a trip to the top of the Alps!
Day Trip to Jungfraujoch & Grindelwald
Jungfrau is famous for housing the highest railroad station in Europe. You can travel there on your own from Interlaken, which will require taking a series of trains & gondolas. You’ll want to take the train to Grindelwald (45 min) then the Eiger Express Gondola to the Eiger Glacier Station where you’ll catch the Jungfraujoch train to the top of Europe. Take your time to explore at the top – there are epic views, chocolate shops, ice sculptures & more.
Tickets and details can be found here.
On your way back I recommend taking some time to explore Grindelwald before getting on the train back to Interlaken. Grindelwald isone of the most stunning mountain towns in the Alps.
If you’re overwhellmed by all the changes and stops to get to Jungfraujoch, you can consider an organized trip. For that, I recommend this day trip through Viator. This is a full day trip (7.5 hours) where your travel from Interlaken train station to the station at the top Jungfrau. You’ll get two and a half hours to explore the top of Jungfrau and all it has to offer before heading back to Interlaken.
Day Trip to Lauterbrunnen & Mürren
If you’re looking for a bit of a shorter day trip or you don’t want to brave the icy cold of the top of Jungfrau, head to two of the most charming towns in the Swiss Alps, Lauterbrunnen & Mürren. I am so in love with both of these towns.
From Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen is only a 20 minute train ride. Lauterbrunnen is a small, picturesque town that can be easily explored in an hour or two. The epic Staubbach Falls dominates the backdrop of the town, and the entire valley that Lauterbrunnen sits in is lined with waterfalls, it’s so beautiful.
From Lauterbrunnen you can take the gondola to Mürren, a carless village filled with classic Swiss Chalets. It’s only a five minute cable car ride up to Mürren, so you can easily visit both towns in one day before heading back to Interlaken.
For more Interlaken recommendations head to my full Interlaken Travel Guide or follow the links below for details on:
