Ultimate 1 Day in Interlaken Itinerary
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. It’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 al my suggestions for how to spend 1 day in Interlaken below.
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!
Hike or Take the Funicular to the Top of Harder Kulm
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.
Explore Lake Brienz
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. 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!
Explore Downtown Interlaken & Höhematte Park
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. In the winter the whole park is turned into a series of ice skating rinks connected by ice bridges. It truly is a winter wonderland.
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!
For more Interlaken recommendations head to my full Interlaken Travel Guide or follow the links below for details on:
