Interlaken in 2 Days: A Dreamy 48 Hours in the Alps Itinerary

Interlaken is one of my favorite cities in Switzerland, and the first I ever visited. 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 bit more difficult to reach and have less accommodations.

This makes Interlaken is a great jumping off point for exploring other areas of the Alps, and a great place to stay if you’d like to spend most of your trip in one town. 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, and spend a day exploring some nearby stunning Alps towns! Keep reading for all my suggestions on how to spend 2 days in Interlaken in any season!

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

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

• Renting a floating hot tub (or tug) – an electric boat hot tub where you can explore Lake Brienz, this is so unique & fun!
• Year round Kayaking

Evening: Watch the Paragliders land in Höhematte Park & the Höheweg

Summer, Spring & FallSummer

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!

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 worth a visit for a drink and some views, their cozy Winter Garden offers the best views of Jungrfrau and downtown Interlaken. For a cheaper alternatie, 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!

Day 2: Day trip to Jungfraujoch & Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen & Mürren

For your second day I recommend venturing out of Interlaken into one of the many stunnning Alps towns nearby. Interlaken has a ton of great options for day trips! Two of my favorites are a trip to Grindelwald & Jungfraujoch (the highest accesible railway in Euope) or a trip to two of my favorite postcard Swiss Alp towns, Lauterbrunnen & Mürren

My recommendation between the two would be Jungfrau. No trip to Switzerland is complete without a trip to the top of the Alps, but, alternatively, Mürren is one of my favorite towns I’ve ever visited!

Both of these trips can be done in any season and all are stunning!

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 is one 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.

Where to Stay in Interlaken

Interlaken (and Switzerland generally) is not a cheap place, so accommodations can be pretty expensive! These are my 2 reccomendations for a lower-budget options and splurge option!

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.

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!

More Switzerland Recommendations

For more Interlaken recommendations head to my full Interlaken Travel Guide or follow the links below for details on:

• Best towns in the Swiss Alps
• 4 Days in Switzerland Itinerary
• 7 Days in Switzerland Itinerary
• 10 Days in Switzerland Itinerary