You’re heading to Switzerland and want to know the best places to visit near Interlaken. We decided to stay here for one month, as it was a central location that allowed us to visit tons of incredible places nearby.
TIP! You may not be aware of this, but if you stay for 1 month in the same accommodation, you get around 50% off your stay when using AirBnB.
This was the main reason for staying put for so long, but also the fact that there is so much to see in the area.
Best places to visit near Interlaken
These are ranked in no particular order. Here are 15 of my favourite places near interlaken.
1.Hike between Harder Kulm & Augstmatthorn
This is one of the most beautiful things to do in this area. The hike between Harder Kulm and Augstmatthorn is not to be missed.
I have written a more detailed blog post here: https://greeneyedtraveller.com/harder-kulm-to-augstmatthorn-vice-versa/
2. Milibachfall & Brienz Aussichtspunkt
Milibachfall is a beautiful waterfall overlooking lake Brienz. A little higher up the mountain you will find an incredible viewpoint called Brienz Aussichtspunkt.
In the summer, there is a train that goes up to Planalp, and from here you can make your way on foot to the viewpoint.
If you want to see the waterfall in full swing, I believe you will have to hike to it from the bottom, like we did. If you get the train to Planalp, you’ll be too high up.
How to get to Milibachfall:
If you have a car, park at ‘parking bei der Kirche’ or ‘parking Pfrundschiir’.
Both parking lots are really cheap, and in the perfect location for you to set off hiking.
If you are arriving by public transport, the closest station is Brienz West.
You can follow the recommendations of Google Maps and head off to the right. The problem with this is that it takes you to the viewpoint, so again, I think you will be too high up, but I could be wrong.
We decided to make our own way up, by walking directly towards the waterfall. This took us through the village, over the train track and we arrived at the bottom of the fall.
We found a path that ran adjacent to the waterfall on both the right and left hand side of it, so it was a very pleasant walk with lots of shade. Going this way you can make it as high up as 3/4 before the path ends.
3. Iseltwald
Voted one of the most beautiful towns in Switzerland, Iseltwald is definitely worth a visit.
There are various things to do in Iseltwald aside from taking in the incredible views.
You can choose to wander around the lake, and maybe grab a spot in the sun to indulge in a picnic. You can opt for a boat tour, go for a swim or even make use of the BBQ area to the right of Iseltwald.
Here you will find a pier for easy access to the water.
There is also a waterfront restaurant where you could have some lunch overlooking the lake.
If you fancy a longer walk, you can hike to the neighbouring town of Giessbach and visit Giessbachfalls.
4. Giessbachfalls
Yet another great waterfall to visit near interlaken is Giessbachfalls. We paid €10 for parking and this essentially acts as your entrance fee. The money collected from these tickets goes to maintaining the area.
There are lots of hiking routes here, and you can even follow the waterfall all the way down to lake Brienz at the bottom.
There are many levels of waterfall to visit, and one spot is perfect for a dip!
Maybe in the summer, it was freezing when I went.
Half way down you will find a hotel, which you can wander round the grounds of, and eat in the restaurant.
I did read a handful of negative reviews though re the attentiveness of the staff, and the food itself, so maybe give it a miss?
Once you reach the lake at the bottom, you can go for a swim and soak up the sun before making your way back up hill.
TIP! If you don’t want to walk all the way back up to the car park (around 25 minutes uphill total) you can take a funicular to the hotel from the lake. From here you would then need to walk just 10 minutes.
The funicular costs 5 CHF per adult, one way. I personally don’t think it’s worth it as the walk back up really isn’t that bad. If you aren’t very fit, maybe this is the best way for you.
5. Hiking at Schynige Platte
One of the best places to visit near Interlaken, is Schynige Platte. I have written a more detailed blog post about hiking at Schynige Platte here: https://greeneyedtraveller.com/hiking-at-schynige-platte/
You will find costs, timings, hike difficulties etc in the blog.
6. Handeckfallbrücke & Furka Pass
Handeckfallbrücke Bridge is a suspension bridge that gives access to the Gelmerbahn. It is 70 meters long and located in Handeckfall, hanging over a deep gorge. It has a fantastic view of the waterfalls below and is surrounded by incredible snow mountains.
In the summer, when the roads aren’t snowed over, you can also visit the Furkapass while in this area.
At an altitude of 2,429 meters, the Furka Pass is one of the best mountain passes in the Swiss alps.
Every year, thousands of people cross Furka with all forms of transport. With its breathtaking views and windy roads, it’s easy to see why the Furka Pass is so popular.
7. Lauterbrunnen
The name ‘Lauter Brunnen’ literally translates to ‘many fountains’ and with that, you know this place is going to be magnificent.
There are a total of 72 waterfalls in this area!
The ‘insta famous’ fall is called Staubbach Fall.
You can spend hours just walking around the area, admiring the views.
It really is spectacular.
Parking here costs 1.50CHF per hour for 1-4 hours. Each additional hour is 1 CHF.
If you would like to stay the night (12-24 hours) there is a flat rate of 14 CHF
TIP! You can also stay long-term. If you buy a pass for 8 days or more, it’s 11 CHF per day.
8. Grindelwald
This mountainscape and the many lookout points across Grindelwald make it one of the most popular holiday destinations in Switzerland.
It is also the largest ski resort in the Jungfrau region.
There are 300 km of walking trails around Grindelwald, which is insane!
There are walking trail signs in all directions so you are completely spoilt for choice.
The walk from Grindelwald-First then on to Schynige Platte is ranked one of the most beautiful hikes in the region.
TIP! If you are a photographer and want to catch the best lighting, it’s in the afternoon between 4-5pm (this was in April). Any later than that and the sun has gone behind the mountains. The fact that Grindelwald lies between a valley makes it difficult to catch good lighting here!
9. Rosenlaui & the glacier
The area of Rosenlaui will take you by surprise.
Here you can expect to find alpine meadows & huts, sparkling glaciers and a superb mountain scape.
In addition to this, the glacier gorge has delighted nature enthusiasts for over 100 years.
I really enjoyed the day that we spent in this area. I can only imagine it looks just as incredible during the months of summer!
There are a few hikes that you can do, and it’s also a great place to bring a picnic.
In this area we spotted the famous Swiss mountain deer with huge horns! Keep an eye out to see if you can spot them too.
10. Oeschinensee
One of the most beautiful places to visit in Switzerland is lake Oeschinensee. In the summer, you can take a cable car to the top, which costs 30 CHF return and will save you at least a 1 hour uphill hike.
If you would like to visit this lake outside of May-October, you’ll have to hike up.
Once you reach the lake, you’ll find a hotel, a restaurant, a small food stand and a waterfall that you can visit.
If you want to see this lake from above, and I highly recommend you do, there are a number of walking routes available.
TIP! If you are hiking up out of season, check out the 2 screenshots below from my IG for guidance.
11. Blausee
So, I may have a bit of a controversial opinion about Blausee, but as always I’ll be honest. One part of the lake is absolutely beautiful. The water colour is breathtakingly clear and there are many fish swimming around.
The reality is however, the rest of the lake is no where near as beautiful. The good side is extremely crowded with people waiting to take photos and there is a entrance fee of 12 CHF per person, plus an extra fee for parking!
I personally don’t understand why this specific lake has an entrance fee when there are much more beautiful lakes in Switzerland.
I think if you have time, you should check it out as it’s one to tick off your list. It’s also something that you’ll pay for once and never go back, so why not enjoy it?
There is a nice picnic area and a small children’s play ground that you can relax in for the afternoon.
If you are short for time, you could give this lake a miss.
12. Adelboden
Adelboden boasts over 300 kilometres of hiking trails (including a wheelchair-passable circular trail).
You can also find many cycling and mountain biking routes.
The countryside is beautiful in this region and invites you to relax in its slow-paced atmosphere.
There are waterfalls to visit, a play park with incredible views, hikes, beautiful meadows, you name it.
I spotted this park as we drove past and had to stop the car! Have you seen a more stunning view from a slide before? I hadn’t!
13. Hasliberg
Hasliberg is not be as popular as other cities in Switzerland, but don’t let that fool you.
It is a smaller, but beautiful upcoming tourist destination that is worth a visit.
There is a cable car from Meiringen that is free of charge for tourists who have a visitor pass (given to anyone who stays in tourist accommodation while in Switzerland).
Dogs are allowed on the cable car.
Once you reach Hasliberg, you make your way back down to the carpark in Meiringen. The people who work on the cable cars are super helpful. Ask them which way to go and they will point you in the right direction (it’s hard to explain!)
It takes approximately 1-1.5 hours and is a lovely walk with incredible views.
14. Harder Kulm Viewpoint
If you are arriving by public transport, make your way to Interlaken OST station. If you have a car, make use of the parking lot at the Interlaken OST station.
You can park here for 7 CHF which allows you to stay for a maximum of 12 hours. This is perfect if you plan to do some hiking once you get to the top.
The funicular station is just 5 minutes on foot from here.
It is very steep, with a 755m incline. To have the best views over Interlaken, make sure to sit at the bottom.
Tickets cost 34 CHF return, or 17 CHF one way. If you have the visitors card, you get a small discount (30CHF return, or 15CHF each way).
TIP! You can buy the tickets separately for the same price. I.e. if you buy a one-way ticket then later decide you want to come back down using the funicular, you can buy a ticket at the top for the same price.
This is a really beautiful sunset spot. From Harder Kulm you have clear views over interlaken and lake Thunersee.
If you fancy doing a bit more exercise, you can make your way back down on foot.
It takes around 1 hour and is pretty steep (I definitely wouldn’t have wanted to hike up it lol!)
There is a restaurant at the top where you can grab a bite to eat or something to drink. There is also the viewpoint to check out.
I’d say you could spend 1-1.5 hours up here maximum so maybe a hike down would make it more worth your while. The other option is to do the Harder Kulm to Augstmatthorn hike.
15. Lake Thunersee & Thun
The area of Interlaken is blessed with two lakes, one of them being lake Thunersee.
There are two areas in specific, called Kifferinseli and Tischtennis that are amazing for lounging by the lake. There is enough space to calmly enjoy a picnic, play Frisbee and watch the water sports on the lake.
They are also the perfect sunset spots as the sun goes down right over the water.
We spent a lot of our nights at these locations and didn’t get sick of them.
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