Travel Guide to Interlaken, Switzerland

Why Adventurers Love Interlaken

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Interlaken sits in a flat valley between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, directly below the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau — three of the most famous peaks in the Alps. That geography makes it one of the best places in Europe for paragliding, with long, smooth thermals and jaw-dropping mountain scenery on every flight. The adventure industry here is mature and well-organized, with canyoning, skydiving, white-water rafting, and bungee jumping all running daily from May to October. In winter, the Jungfrau ski region offers over 200km of pistes with views that are hard to beat anywhere.

Top Activities

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• Tandem paraglide from Beatenberg — 15-20 minute flights soaring over the lakes with Jungfrau views
• Canyon the Saxetbach or Grimsel gorge — Rappelling, sliding, and jumping through alpine canyons
• Hike to Schynige Platte — Panoramic ridge walk with views of the entire Bernese Oberland
• Skydive from a helicopter — Tandem jumps from 14,000ft with the Eiger as backdrop
• Ski Grindelwald-Wengen — Part of the Jungfrau ski region with runs from 2,500m

Where to Stay

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Interlaken has two train stations (Ost and West) and the main strip runs between them. Budget travelers should book Balmers Hostel or Funny Farm ($35-55/night for dorms) — both are legendary backpacker institutions. Mid-range options include apartments in Unterseen, the quieter old town area ($90-140/night). For hikers heading into the mountains, stay in Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen for direct trail and lift access. Lauterbrunnen in particular offers stunning valley accommodation at slightly lower prices than Interlaken itself.

Getting to the Adventure Spots

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The Swiss rail network is excellent. Trains from Interlaken Ost reach Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen in 20 minutes. The Jungfraujoch train to the Top of Europe (3,454m) departs from there. Activity operators provide van pickups from both stations and most hotels. A Swiss Half Fare Card cuts all transport costs in half and pays for itself in 2-3 trips. Zurich airport is 2 hours by train, Bern is 50 minutes.

Budget Tips

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Switzerland is expensive but manageable with planning. Buy groceries at Coop or Migros and cook at your hostel. Get the Jungfrau Travel Pass for unlimited transport in the region. Visit in June or September for lower prices while conditions remain excellent. Book paragliding and canyoning online in advance for discounts of 10-15% over walk-up prices.