Things to do in  Interlaken

Situated on the shores of sparkling Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee), at the base of Mt. Pilatus, the small city of Lucerne (Luzern) is one of Switzerland’s most scenic destinations and a popular basecamp for exploring the Swiss Alps. Stroll through Lucerne’s historic center, complete with medieval ramparts and alpine views, then head into the mountains for hiking, cycling, and winter sports adventures.

Commanding the views over the Lauterbrunnen Valley is the Jungfrau, part of the mighty Swiss mountain trio that includes the nearby Eiger and Mönch. As a visitor, you can’t actually visit the Jungfrau peak. Instead, you visit Jungfraujoch, a saddle of the mountain range that connects Jungfrau to the Mönch and is marketed as the Top of Europe. An ice palace, glacier viewing platform, and terrace are among its attractions.

Perched on a rocky precipice 11,716 feet (3,571 meters) above sea level, the Sphinx Observatory is a working lab with a large telescope. The landmark sits on Jungfraujoch peak—known as the "Top of Europe"—and offers stunning views of the Bernese Alps and beyond from its observation deck, one of the highest in Switzerland.

Lake Thun—or Thunersee as it’s known locally—is a glacial lake near Interlaken. Its bright turquoise water and the surrounding mountains and valleys are pure picture-postcard Switzerland.

High above the Swiss town of Interlaken stands Harder Kulm, a viewpoint with panoramic views of the mountains and valleys of the Berner Oberland region. Visitors can hike to the spot from town, or take a funicular railway. Once at the top, you can enjoy the views, have a refreshment, and enjoy a variety of attractions.

Lake Brienz (Brienzersee) is one of the two lakes that flank the popular resort town of Interlaken. The village of Brienz, which sits on the opposite side of the lake (and from which the lake takes its name), is a picture-perfect Swiss spot made up of traditional wooden chalets with the snow-capped Alps rising behind them.

Known by serious mountaineers as one to conquer, or to chocolate eaters as the former face of Toblerone, the Matterhorn is one of the most famous European mountains. Its pyramid-like peak may look perfect, but it's a place that only mountaineers or serious climbers can scale. However, everyday sightseers, skiers, and hikers can revel in its magnificence from the surrounding mountainsides, which straddle both Switzerland and Italy.

A series of suspended walkways and cave tunnels make this limestone gorge easily accessible for explorers after an intimate glimpse of the Alpine landscape. Formed by Ice Age glaciation, the mile-long Aare Gorge (Aareschlucht) ranges in width from three to 100 feet and flanks the Aare all the way from the Grimsel Pass to Lake Brienz.

It might not be a household name, but with a panorama spanning some of Europe's most iconic peaks—including Jungfrau, the Eiger, and even the distant Mont Blanc—the Schilthorn summit offers one of Switzerland's most spectacular mountain views. The 9,744-foot (2,970-meter) mountain lies in the Bernese Alps and is famous for its revolving mountaintop restaurant, Piz Gloria, which was featured in the 1969 James Bond movieOn Her Majesty's Secret Service.

Grindelwald First sits at an altitude of 7,106 feet (2,166 meters) on a ridge of the Schwarzhorn. This summit station offers a grand welcome with the Grindelwald Valley at its feet and mighty mountain peaks all around. While clear-day vistas provide the wow factor alone, the summit also offers access to winter ski slopes along with different adventure attractions. Highlights include the First Cliff Walk by Tissot, First Flyer, First Glider, and First Cart.

Legend has it that in the 6th century, a dragon took shelter in these caves while the monk and hermit Beatus of Lungern was hunting him. The St. Beatus Caves (St. Beatus Hohlen), which sit next to the lakes of Interlaken, were formed over many centuries and are full of stunning stalagmites, stalactites, lakes, and waterfalls.

Covering a total area of over 45 square miles (72 square kilometers, the Great Aletsch Glacier is the largest glacial landscape in Europe. It’s located in the eastern Swiss Alps flanked by the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau mountains.

The Grimsel Pass route through the Swiss Alps reaches some 6,500 feet (1981 meters above sea level—linking the canton of Bern with the canton of Valais. Wild and often treacherous, the path was once used by traders and mules to transport Swiss cheese, and holds a sacred place in Switzerland’s history.

Home to nine unique courses of varying difficulty level, this high ropes park in Interlaken is a nature lover and thrill seeker’s paradise. Adventurers can experience more than 120 unique physical challenges across the park’s treetop ziplines, bridges, and swings, while little ones can have a go on the family-friendly Butterfly Walk.

Step inside one of the wooden coaches of the historic cogwheel railway that trundles up to Switzerland’s Schynige Platte, and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Then get out on the Alpine plateau, where sweeping views of the Eiger mountain and the Jungfrau countryside await you.