By the beginning of the 19th century, Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland was already widely known for its wonderful mountain landscape. Famous contemporaries Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Felix Mendelssohn traveled in these mountains. The popularity of Interlaken among mountain travelers increased even more after the completion of the Bernese Oberland railway line in 1890 and the Jungfrau railway in 1912.
Both as a place for active recreation and as a venue for international congresses, Interlaken has become an ideal starting point for numerous trips around the region. More than 45 mountain railways, cable cars, chairlifts, and ski lifts connect 200 km of slopes and an extensive network of hiking trails. Excursion boats, including historic paddle steamers, ply the waters of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz.
Trains to the Jungfrau region towards Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen with transfers to Mürren and from there to Schilthorn, as well as via Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch depart from Interlaken Ost railway station. A fleet of ships, including a historic steamer on each lake, operate cruises on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. Interlaken lies on the panoramic route 'Golden Pass', which goes from Montreux on Lake Geneva, through the luxurious resort of Gstaad to Interlaken, and from there via the Brünig Pass to Lucerne.
Just 10 kilometers from Interlaken, on a sunny southern slope, lies Beatenberg-Niederhorn – a paradise for paragliding enthusiasts. For hikers, an extensive network of trails is available. And Niederhorn is also a place where ibex, chamois, and marmots live.
In winter, guests benefit from Interlaken's central location and the opportunity to choose a new ski resort every day in the combined Jungfrau Top Ski region (Mürren and Schilthorn; Kleine Scheidegg and Männlichen; Wengen) or head to family resorts Beatenberg and Axalp-Brienz. There are excellent toboggan runs and cross-country ski trails. There are also over 220 km of winter hiking trails – in Interlaken, Beatenberg, Axalp-Brienz, Habkern, Wilderswil, and the Jungfrau region. Guests staying in the Interlaken region can use a daily shuttle bus connecting the ski areas: Mürren – Schilthorn, Kleine Scheidegg, Männlichen, Wengen.
Interlaken is becoming the number one destination for recreational and adventure sports. Paragliding fans love it for the excellent flying opportunities and good conditions almost all year round.
During a sightseeing flight over the Alps, you will be treated to a high-altitude panorama; from a hang glider or paraglider you can see the landscape up close, and a parachute jump is guaranteed to give you an unforgettable adrenaline rush.
In Interlaken, there is a wide selection of unique paragliding opportunities. Take a bird's-eye view of the lake and mountains! As a passenger, you will not need any prior training (you will receive basic instructions before the flight), and after just a few steps, you will be soaring in the sky with your instructor. Getting your own 'angle of view' on the unique Jungfrau panorama, you will forget about everything else for a while!
The Tourism Museum in Interlaken was opened in 1980. It is the first and only museum entirely dedicated to the history of tourism. The interactive exhibition offers a chance to learn about the 250-year history of alpine tourism and see how and by what means tourists traveled in different eras.
The museum is located in the old town – Unterseen – just a few minutes' walk from the center of Interlaken and the Höheweg boulevard. The museum can be easily reached by local bus or by car, for which a parking space is always available.
We thank Switzerland Tourism for their assistance in preparing this material.
Switzerland Tourism.