Cidade Turismo
Switzerland
Interlaken and the Jungfrau

Berna · Switzerland

Interlaken and the Jungfrau

Interlaken, between the lakes Thunersee and Brienzersee, and the valleys of Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen, from which trains and cable cars climb to the Jungfraujoch, the Schilthorn and car-free villages.

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In the photo: Sphinx Observatory and Aletsch Glacier, Jungfraujoch

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Interlaken is in the Bernese Oberland, in central Switzerland, on a narrow plain between two lakes: the Thunersee to the west and the Brienzersee to the east. The name comes from Latin and means "between lakes." To the south begin the valleys that lead to the massif of the Eiger, the Mönch and the Jungfrau, three mountains that give the region its name.

The town grew as a summer resort in the 19th century, with hotels along the Höheweg and views of the Jungfrau from the Höhematte, a lawn where construction is not allowed. Boats depart from there on both lakes and the trains of the Berner Oberland-Bahn, which climb into the valleys in under an hour.

Grindelwald, at 1,034 m, lies at the foot of the Eiger's north face. It is the base for the Jungfraujoch, whose station is at 3,454 m, and for viewpoints at First, Männlichen and Kleine Scheidegg. Lauterbrunnen occupies a valley of rock walls, with the Staubbachfall and the Trümmelbachfälle; above it are Wengen and Mürren, car-free villages, and the Schilthorn at 2,970 m.

German is spoken, with the Bernese Swiss-German dialect; English is widely used in tourism. The currency is the Swiss franc, and Switzerland does not use the euro.

This destination brings together 3 cities: Interlaken, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Interlaken and the Jungfrau is
InterlakenGrindelwaldLauterbrunnen

Contornos: ©swisstopo. Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Interlaken and the Jungfrau

✈ Aeroporto de Zurique (ZRH), in Zurique · 130 km to Interlaken

The most used airport is Zurich (ZRH), about 130 km away; the train takes just over two hours to Interlaken. From Bern the train reaches Interlaken Ost in about 50 minutes. Check before you buy.

Suggested arrival point: Interlaken

The local experience

Things to do in Interlaken and the Jungfrau

Höhematte
Interlaken · Berna · Park

Höhematte

Lawn in the center of Interlaken, between the Höheweg and the historic hotels, protected from development since 1864. It has views of the Jungfrau and is a landing spot for paragliders.

Jungfraujoch
Grindelwald · Berna · Mountain

Jungfraujoch

Saddle between the Mönch and the Jungfrau, with the train station at 3,454 m. It has the Sphinx terrace at 3,571 m, the Ice Palace, the Plateau over the snow and views of the Aletsch Glacier.

Staubbachfall
Lauterbrunnen · Berna · Waterfall

Staubbachfall

A 297 m waterfall that falls freely from a cliff beside the centre of Lauterbrunnen. A trail with a tunnel leads to a viewpoint behind the fall, open from May to October.

Grindelwald-First
Grindelwald · Berna · Mountain

Grindelwald-First

Mountain station at 2,166 m above Grindelwald, reached by cable car in three sections. It has the First Cliff Walk, a walkway attached to the rock face, and is the starting point of the trail to Bachalpsee.

See 19 more places in Interlaken and the Jungfrau
Harder Kulm
Interlaken · Berna · Observation deck

Harder Kulm

Viewpoint at 1,322 m above Interlaken, served by a funicular opened in 1908. It has a restaurant and the Zweiseensteg, a glass-floored platform over the slope with views of both lakes.

Trümmelbachfälle
Lauterbrunnen · Berna · Waterfall

Trümmelbachfälle

Ten waterfalls inside the mountain, carrying meltwater from the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau glaciers. A tunnel lift and walkways allow close viewing, from April to November.

Bachalpsee
Grindelwald · Berna · Lake

Bachalpsee

Mountain lake at 2,265 m, about an hour's walk from First, with the Schreckhorn and the Wetterhorn in the background. A natural dam divides it into two parts.

Thunersee
Interlaken · Berna · Lake

Thunersee

Lake west of Interlaken, 17.5 km long, served by BLS boats from Interlaken West to Thun, with stops at the St. Beatus-Höhlen, in Spiez and in Oberhofen.

Wengen
Lauterbrunnen · Berna · Village

Wengen

Car-free village at 1,274 m, on a terrace above the Lauterbrunnen valley, served by the Wengernalpbahn rack railway. Host of the Lauberhorn ski race in January.

Brienzersee
Interlaken · Berna · Lake

Brienzersee

A green-blue lake east of Interlaken, about 14 km long, served by BLS boats from Interlaken Ost to Brienz, with stops at Iseltwald and the Giessbachfälle.

Männlichen
Grindelwald · Berna · Observation deck

Männlichen

Summit at 2,343 m between the valleys of Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen, reached by gondola from Grindelwald Terminal or by cable car from Wengen. From there the panoramic trail to Kleine Scheidegg starts.

Mürren
Lauterbrunnen · Berna · Village

Mürren

Car-free village at 1,638 m, on the edge of a cliff above the Lauterbrunnen valley, facing the Eiger, the Mönch and the Jungfrau. It is a stop for the Schilthorn cable car and the base station for the Allmendhubel funicular.

Kleine Scheidegg
Grindelwald · Berna · Mountain

Kleine Scheidegg

Mountain pass at 2,061 m, at the foot of the Eiger's north face, where the Wengernalpbahn train meets the Jungfraubahn. It's a train-change point and the start of trails.

Schilthorn
Lauterbrunnen · Berna · Mountain

Schilthorn

Summit at 2,970 m above Mürren, with the rotating restaurant Piz Gloria, used as a location for a 1969 James Bond film. At the intermediate station Birg are the Thrill Walk and the Skyline platform.

Schynige Platte
Interlaken · Berna · Mountain

Schynige Platte

Viewpoint at 1,967 m, reached by a rack railway opened in 1893 from Wilderswil. Beside the station is an alpine botanical garden with about 800 species.

Allmendhubel
Lauterbrunnen · Berna · Observation deck

Allmendhubel

Hill above Mürren, where a funicular reaches 1,907 m. It features the flower trail with more than 150 alpine species, a themed children's park and a restaurant with views of the Eiger, the Mönch and the Jungfrau.

Gletscherschlucht Grindelwald
Grindelwald · Berna · Nature

Gletscherschlucht Grindelwald

Gorge of about 1 km carved by the Unterer Grindelwaldgletscher, traversed by walkways and tunnels, with rock walls and the Spinnennetz net stretched over the river.

St. Beatus-Höhlen
Interlaken · Berna · Cave

St. Beatus-Höhlen

Caves on the north shore of the Thunersee, with about 1 km of lit galleries, underground lakes and stalactites. Legend says the monk Beatus lived there and drove out a dragon.

Brienz
Interlaken · Berna · Village

Brienz

Village at the eastern tip of the Brienzersee, a center of woodcarving in Switzerland, with wooden houses on the Brunngasse, a carving school and the Schweizer Holzbildhauerei Museum.

Giessbachfälle
Interlaken · Berna · Waterfall

Giessbachfälle

Waterfall in 14 tiers that descends the slope to the Brienzersee, beside a large 19th-century hotel. A funicular from 1879 connects the pier to the hotel, and a trail passes behind one of the falls.

Ballenberg, Freilichtmuseum der Schweiz
Interlaken · Berna · Museum

Ballenberg, Freilichtmuseum der Schweiz

Open-air museum near Brienz, opened in 1978, featuring more than 100 rural houses brought from various regions of Switzerland, about 200 farm animals and demonstrations of traditional crafts.

Brienzer Rothorn
Interlaken · Berna · Mountain

Brienzer Rothorn

Mountain rising 2,350 m above Brienz, reached by the Brienz Rothorn Bahn, a rack railway from 1892 usually hauled by steam locomotives up to the Rothorn Kulm station at 2,244 m.

GoldenPass Express
Interlaken · Berna · Panoramic train

GoldenPass Express

Panoramic train between Interlaken Ost and Montreux, passing through Spiez, Zweisimmen, Gstaad and Château-d'Oex, in about 3 h 15 min, with no train change despite the gauge change.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From June to September most mountain trains, trails and boats operate, and the European summer is the high season. From December to March it is ski season in Grindelwald, Wengen and Mürren, with short days. April, May, October and November see fewer visitors, but some cable cars stop for maintenance.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Three days allow for one major ascent (Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn), one day in the valleys and one day on the lakes. With five days you can add First, Männlichen, Schynige Platte and Brienz at a relaxed pace. Since the weather changes quickly in the highlands, having a spare day helps pick the clearest day to go up.

Which city to stay in

Interlaken is the most practical base: hotels near Interlaken Ost and Interlaken West stations and along the Höheweg put trains and boats within walking distance; Unterseen, across the Aare river, is quieter. Grindelwald suits those who want to wake up at the foot of the Eiger and close to the Jungfraujoch. Lauterbrunnen has campsites and guesthouses in the valley bottom, and Wengen and Mürren, car-free, are high-altitude options accessible only by train or cable car.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Interlaken and the Jungfrau

How many days to set aside for Interlaken and the Jungfrau region?

At least three days: one for the Jungfraujoch or the Schilthorn, one for Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald, and one for the lakes. With five days there's time for other viewpoints and to adjust plans if the weather closes in at altitude.

Do you need a car in the region?

No. Trains, boats, buses and cable cars have coordinated timetables, and Wengen and Mürren do not admit cars. There are regional and national tourist passes that cover much of these transports or provide discounts.

Can you do a day trip from Zurich or Bern?

From Bern, yes: Interlaken is about 50 minutes by train, and one day allows for Lauterbrunnen or a boat trip. From Zurich the journey takes just over two hours each way, and doing the Jungfraujoch in the same day is long; it's best to stay overnight in the region.

What's the best time to visit?

From June to September almost all mountain trains and trails operate. From December to March there is skiing and snowy scenery. In the shoulder seasons—April, May and November—several cable cars stop for maintenance.

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